Author Topic: Cubs in '20  (Read 49112 times)

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1275 on: December 12, 2019, 03:10:38 pm »
https://www.mlb.com/breaking-news/trevor-megill-cubs-rule-5-draft

Cubs tried to trade for him before the draft.

Tony Andracki
@TonyAndracki23
Hoyer on free agent OF Shogo Akiyama:

"Yeah, we met with him. Listen, a lot of teams were involved. Obviously he's a very good player and he's gonna have a good role on a major-league team this year, but I can't comment beyond that."

The way Hoyer talks about him makes me think they view him as more of a 4th OF instead of just being unable to afford $5 million.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1276 on: December 12, 2019, 03:18:24 pm »
If we are full on thrift mode as some say then I could understand giving Chatwood the #5 spot since you've already got a lot invested in him and seeing that we need to develop young pitching Alzolay should be fine as your #6/long man.

We already have a closer in Kimbrel who I still believe with a true Spring Training will be elite.

With that said with Strop,Cishek,and Kintzler leaving our setup men are non existent.

We have to sign a couple better than average relievers.

Position player wise one could see a situation where Contreras,Rizzo,Bote,Baez,Bryant,Schwarber,Happ,and Heyward could be your everyday 8 with Caratini,Hoerner,and Almora on the bench but IMO a leadoff man is a must.

Now none of us know if we do trade anyone and what we'd get in return and what holes that would cause or fill but if we are going to stand pat we AT LEAST have to sign a couple better than average relievers.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1277 on: December 12, 2019, 03:32:48 pm »
I dont believe we're in anywhere near as bad of shape as some here would love to believe and I dont think much money has to be spent to contend in the NL Central.

I also believe trading anyone that you dont expect to be able to keep is a smart baseball decision.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1278 on: December 12, 2019, 03:37:01 pm »
If they have to get under the CBT threshold this year, there isn't any money for the bullpen.  To add to the bullpen or position players you are going to have to trade players.  Bryant + Contreras would give you about $16 million to spend.  If the Cubs could spend to just close last years they would have close to the same amount.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1279 on: December 12, 2019, 03:37:02 pm »
If you're already bogged down with a few bad contracts and your cornerstone players are about to need big time raises then how is spending another 100 million or so on one player smart?

I get it.

Im just surprised some here dont.

I dont believe we'll stand pat and go into next season not trying to compete.

We'll spend money just not crazy money.

How has that worked out with Jason Heyward?

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1280 on: December 12, 2019, 03:41:48 pm »
And I didnt leave out Darvish's contract on accident.

That contract now looks OK.

He's our ace.

We just need him to pitch like one.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1281 on: December 12, 2019, 03:50:57 pm »
We have a Hall of Famer running our baseball operations.

We have an owner who has been willing to spend and has one of the highest payrolls in baseball.

We hired the obvious choice for manager.

We released the player everyone but me hated and wanted to see gone.

What decision has been made that has turned everyone so doom and gloom?

I didnt want to spend 350 million dollars on Gerrit Cole,oft injured Stephen Strasburg, or Anthony Rendon.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1282 on: December 12, 2019, 03:55:31 pm »
The Cubs had $400+ million in local revenues last year and that doesn't count the money coming in from Rickettsville.  They could easily afford many, many, many more bad contracts.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1283 on: December 12, 2019, 04:05:58 pm »
The Yankees were not gonna be outbid for Cole so he wasnt an option,I wouldn't have paid what it took to get Strasburg,and why give Rendon that contract when you could probably keep Bryant for that money?

We havent lost out on anyone useful but maybe Treinan.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1284 on: December 12, 2019, 04:19:19 pm »
The Yankees were not gonna be outbid for Cole so he wasnt an option,I wouldn't have paid what it took to get Strasburg,and why give Rendon that contract when you could probably keep Bryant for that money?

We havent lost out on anyone useful but maybe Treinan.

Signing Bryant to an extension for similar money to Rendon would make me very, very happy.  Just keeping Bryant on the team will be a win for me.  I don't think either of these are a likely outcome.  I think more than likely you are subtracting Bryant and Willson and with their money bringing in Brock Holt and a CF/4th OF, Strop and a 5th starter.  This will allow Ricketts to avoid paying a few million to the other owners, because we have to reset the luxury tax for 2122.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1285 on: December 12, 2019, 04:41:03 pm »
The status quo is a very, very bad option.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1286 on: December 12, 2019, 05:33:57 pm »
**IF** the "must-get-under-any-lux-tax-threshold" premise is true, then I think the status quo is the best option.  Keep Bryant and Contreras and Baez and Schwarber.  Keep Chatwood. 

The Cubs have won a bunch of games with the existing cast, and almost got in last year too.  If some guys play better and improve, and they get some luck, and some guys develop somehow, they might get into the playoffs with the status-quo roster. 

I think it's much less likely that they compete for the 2020 playoffs if selling Bryant or Contreras for money-relief and futures prospects. 


Plus "status-quo" isn't really a thing.  Even if they don't trade any of the big 4, the roster will still be significantly adjusted from what they opened with last year. 


Plus even if guys are the same, that doesn't mean they'll play the same.  Maybe Schwarber will be better.  Maybe Hoerner will be a whole lot different than Russell.  Maybe Happ will be different and better.  Maybe Q won't be 4.68-ERA bad again?  Maybe the bullpen won't lose so many saves?  Maybe Kimbrel won't be the worst pitcher in the league? 


You can bring the same core personnel back, "status quo", but the season won't play out the same. 
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 05:38:15 pm by craig »
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1287 on: December 12, 2019, 05:50:46 pm »
The status quo is a very, very bad option.
unless you're okay with not winning in 2020.
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guest61

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1288 on: December 12, 2019, 05:51:40 pm »
The market place for the Cubs and Kris Bryant can become robust after Josh Donaldson gets paid soon . Numerous teams love Bryant at 3B or the outfield . Don t forget his versatility and love for playing multiple positions.--Levine

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #1289 on: December 12, 2019, 06:00:15 pm »
unless you're okay with not winning in 2020.

What happens to the Cubs without Bryant?