Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75582 times)

method

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #495 on: December 01, 2017, 08:34:09 pm »
His performance in Japan justifies it, as it has for so many free agents who came over before the restrictions in international spending. Moreover, if you can extend multimillion-dollar, multi-year offers to minor leaguers, who have no history of major league performance, why can't you do that with Otani the instant he signs?

What a load of crap. 29 owners would revolt if this occurred if the deal didn't land in place with prior deals...

Specifically, the agreed upon best baseball player in MLB right now will have earned 77.842 million by the end of his 6th year in baseball. If a team signs him for a 300K bonus and then waits 1 month to hand out a 7 year 200 million dollar extension, that would definitely draw the ire of 29 other teams.

Currently the best case scenario was either Moncada or Jose Abreu, however both were under different signing rules,the moment the cubs/dodgers/yankees can offer up a 300K contract to sign him followed up by a massive deal shortly there after without amazing performance 29 other teams will be screaming murder...

method

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #496 on: December 01, 2017, 09:10:42 pm »
Actually, it wont be 29 other teams. It will just be the JR/Selig bloc that has driven the international signing/Draft pool decisions for the last 15 years.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #497 on: December 01, 2017, 09:49:35 pm »
Ohtani would be worth significantly more under the old IFA rules or if he was a free agent. The players union is also happy to throw IFA under the bus too.

ticohans

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #498 on: December 01, 2017, 10:11:33 pm »
A potential extension can easily “land in place with prior deals” and still be an enormous sum more than what Otani will get.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #499 on: December 01, 2017, 10:15:19 pm »
When we see the heavy punishments handed down to the Cardinals for their hacking fiasco with the Astros and the Braves' situation resulting in their GM banished for life, playing games with signing bonuses and premature extensions would not be smart.

JR

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #500 on: December 04, 2017, 08:14:16 am »
The Cubs are one of seven finalists for Ohtani.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/937672406935785472

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #501 on: December 04, 2017, 08:36:16 am »
As Ron and deeg and blue and others have noted, still seems remotely long shot that Cubs would get him.  If there were 7 West Coast teams, don't imagine the Cubs would still be on the list! 

Still, I think it's kinda cool that the Cubs are one of the two "other" teams.  Seems like for most of our memory as Cub fans, how often would the Cubs situation or management be able to stack even that favorably?  Speaks well for the capability/persuasiveness of management and the evident competitiveness of the Cubs. 

Any given the uncertainties of what Otani is looking for, who knows.  Cubs have set a major priority on "character", and Otani's choices suggest that he may have a high value for values other than $$ and glamor.  (For Jeff's sake, I have to mention values other than wine, women, and song!  :) 

Cubs have also seemed to really profess, and demonstrate, a priority on caring and protecting the individual guys and their families, on treating people well.  Chicago may not exactly qualify as "small market" (and who knows whether that's really much of a priority for Otani anyway).  But it may be that "small market" is less about actual population than it is code for a situation where a man is respected and appreciated for his own individual personality, rather than as a commodity.  Cubs might perhaps come across very favorably as a place where a guy can be himself, and that might be very appealing. 

JeffH

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #502 on: December 04, 2017, 09:11:23 am »
Always appreciated, Craig!

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #503 on: December 04, 2017, 09:48:02 am »
I would imagine, Theo being Theo, our presentation was the best of the lot.  Plus, for a unique player like Otani a manager like Maddon is a real asset (and I'm pretty certain he was involved in the pitch).  If we were on the West Coast, I think we'd be the favorites. As is, the only teams I'd rank as longer longshots would be Texas and San Diego.
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Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #504 on: December 04, 2017, 10:08:36 am »
I don't get the West Coast thing.  Why would that be so important?
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Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #505 on: December 04, 2017, 10:16:52 am »
I don't get the West Coast thing.  Why would that be so important?

I can think of two obvious reasons...

1. The largest Japanese-American populations in the U.S. are on the West Coast.  Especially SF, Seattle and L.A. metro.
2. Shortest direct flights to Japan are from the West Coast.  Not so important for the player in-season, but for people the players wants to have visit him during the season.

Also, weather could be a factor, lansdcape - who knows?
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Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #506 on: December 04, 2017, 10:28:58 am »
I can understand wanting to live where one feels comfortable as a Japanese man, but I would think that would be possible in a number of major cities across the country.  As far as reducing travel time, a few additional hours added to an 11 hour trip doesn't seem like a big factor.

ticohans

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #507 on: December 04, 2017, 10:43:54 am »
10 hrs to 14 hrs... it's a 40% increase in time in the air. It's also additional time zones to have to work through. Not saying this is what tips the scales for Otani, but I think it's a legit (if secondary or tertiary) concern.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 10:47:31 am by ticohans »

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #508 on: December 04, 2017, 11:16:26 am »
One would think that being on the right team from the point of view of winning and practicing your craft optimally would be paramount.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #509 on: December 04, 2017, 11:21:58 am »
Heyman wrote an article that the small market west coast thing was "a sense" from the Yankees brass. 

I really think where he lives is a less important to him.  He sounds like he is a baseball rat that plays video games in his off time, he can do that anywhere.  I really think it comes down to those 8 questions he asked.

A lot of conventional wisdom as been wrong on what Ohtani wants.  First it was AL DH teams, but he choose 4 NL teams to 3 AL and 2 of the AL have full time DH's already.  Then it was the Yankees as the prohibitive favorites, and they were the first team announced as out. 

I have no clue what he wants or where he is going to end up.  Any of the 7 teams wouldn't shock me and as long as it isn't the Dodgers, I'm good with it.
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