Author Topic: Cubs in '21  (Read 53834 times)

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #30 on: October 06, 2020, 05:20:08 pm »
Major changes.  This time for sure.  For sure.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #31 on: October 09, 2020, 08:40:09 am »
Kaplan suggested that the Cubs lost $200 million this year. No idea if that is $200 million in revenue or an actual loss.

Mooney/Sharma/Taylor suggested that Hoyer is likely taking over Theo’s spot but it isn’t a guarantee.  They thought this was mostly likely because of all the player development changes last year. There isn’t a standout for Jed’s replacement though. They also ruled out the Cubs spending money in free agency.

Mooney basically said they are going to bring everybody back and minor league free agents.
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #32 on: October 09, 2020, 09:30:10 am »
I am curious how Mooney (or Sharma) would know exactly what the Cubs are going to do. I doubt that the Cubs know what they are going to do at this point.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #33 on: October 09, 2020, 10:00:47 am »
The rumor is that the Cubs have to cut 25% off of the payroll.  If they bring everybody back then that is $8-10 million left to spend.

They are very sure that expensive free agents where not an option.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2020, 11:13:07 am by CUBluejays »
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #34 on: October 09, 2020, 11:07:41 am »
Free expensive?  Oxymoron

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #35 on: October 09, 2020, 11:42:24 am »
The rumor is that the Cubs have to cut 25% off of the payroll.  If they bring everybody back then that is $8-10 million left to spend.

They are very sure that expensive free agents where not an option.

I get that, but that's not the same as bringing everybody back. I'd be surprised if there is not an effort to avoid doing that. Who knows what trade options will be in this highly uncertain period, but I expect they will make every effort to make changes through trades.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #36 on: October 09, 2020, 11:57:40 am »
I get that, but that's not the same as bringing everybody back. I'd be surprised if there is not an effort to avoid doing that. Who knows what trade options will be in this highly uncertain period, but I expect they will make every effort to make changes through trades.

They tried last year as well.  Now the guys they want to trade are coming off a bad season with only 1-2 years of control left with expensive contracts.  Throw in every team dealing with COVID money issues and I don't think there will be much of market.

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #37 on: October 09, 2020, 12:14:08 pm »
They tried last year as well.  Now the guys they want to trade are coming off a bad season with only 1-2 years of control left with expensive contracts.  Throw in every team dealing with COVID money issues and I don't think there will be much of market.

That's a very reasonable assessment. But in the immortal words of Gust Avrakotos, "We'll see."  (Charlie Wilson's War)

craig

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #38 on: October 09, 2020, 03:02:31 pm »
Thanks, Blue.  Those ballpark numbers, $200M loss, 25% payroll reduction, those are helpful round numbers.  I get that they aren't perfect, but $200M versus $500M, that's helpful.  I'm guessing the Cubs will have lost more than some teams, because our payroll is 2nd in league and top-5 in the game.  (Most teams have leaner front-offices, too.). 

I'm pretty encouraged by the -25% payroll rumor.  I'd feared it might need to be way more severe than that.  The idea that we can just let the expirings expire, and bring back the core for another shot, is also encouraging.  I'd thought we might need to be releasing some from the Bryant/Baez/Schwarber group, since they don't have guaranteed salaries. Pleasant surprise if their is still so much budget willingness to pay salaries of their magnitude, or pay equivalent money to other players. 

Not sure that a rotation with Mills locked in as #3, Alzolay as #4, and Colin Rea and Tyson Miller competing for the 5th spot isn super exciting or a real world-series contender.  But if it's major change we want, committing to mills-Alzolay-Rea could provide change.  :):):)

craig

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #39 on: October 09, 2020, 03:18:06 pm »
They tried last year as well.  Now the guys they want to trade are coming off a bad season with only 1-2 years of control left with expensive contracts.  Throw in every team dealing with COVID money issues and I don't think there will be much of market.

I agree, I can't really imagine guys like Bryant, Baez, or Schwarber having any significant trade value.  Assuming everybody else lost $150-200M, how many teams are going to be trading valuable prospects to voluntarily take on $18+ Bryant unnecessarily?  Or .238-OBP Baez?  Might be some bad-contract-for-bad-contract exchanges, though. 

I've got to assume it's going to be kinda rough for free agents.  And that other teams might be releasing high-salaried arb guys, rather than paying them.   So, perhaps releasing Bryant and freeing up his $18M to invest in other ways might be pretty wise. 

I still suspect some of the arb guys may agree to reduced-dollar deals.  For example, might Bryant be better off agreeing to $14 from Cubs; getting a year to rebuild his stature entering a hopefully non-Covid FA; and stay home with his Cubs friends?  Rather than refusing to back off of $18+, getting released, and finding no FA market from $200M-loss teams. 

Dave23

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #40 on: October 09, 2020, 03:41:02 pm »
It's going to be an interesting offseason, for sure...bad time to be a FA...

davep

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #41 on: October 09, 2020, 04:08:28 pm »
ArizonaPhil says that he absolutely expects Schwarber to be non-tendered if they fail to get ANYTHING in a trade.  He also thinks Bryant will be non-tendered, although he is not as certain of that than of Schwarber.

Reb

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #42 on: October 09, 2020, 05:42:39 pm »
ArizonaPhil says that he absolutely expects Schwarber to be non-tendered if they fail to get ANYTHING in a trade.  He also thinks Bryant will be non-tendered, although he is not as certain of that than of Schwarber.

That’s not what Phil said about Bryant. Said possible, but not likely.

This is what he said:   “Is it possible that Kris Bryant could be non-tendered on 12/2? I have thought about it, and I'm not sure now. It's possible (though not likely).”

Said thinks Cubs will try to trade Bryant.

guest405

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #43 on: October 09, 2020, 06:25:04 pm »
Interesting times.

The norm doesnt apply this offseason.

I still say of the soon to be free agents Baez and Contreras should be our priorities to resign and build around.


davep

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Re: Cubs in '21
« Reply #44 on: October 09, 2020, 10:37:57 pm »
I agree.  Also Happ.  The rest should be traded for the best prospects possible.  If they can retain Rizzo for a reasonable amount of years, that would be fine also.