Author Topic: Cubs in '12  (Read 203036 times)

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10410 on: December 13, 2012, 06:08:01 am »
Tweets from Olney:

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Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN
Over the last week, have heard compliments from other teams about the way that the Cubs are methodically rebuilding, from the ground up.

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN
One more thing about the Cubs: I don't think Price will be traded until next winter, but by then, they could be well-positioned to land him.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10411 on: December 13, 2012, 06:10:48 am »
Lim looks to be very interesting.

96 mph and sidearm should be effective.

Also good to see Olney's comments.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10412 on: December 13, 2012, 09:31:01 am »
Here's some (probably baseless) speculation by Phil Rogers:

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Phil Rogers ‏@ChiTribRogers
Could Alfonso Soriano and much of the $36 million he's owed be part of a Bud Norris trade? Makes sense but would Sori waive 10/5 rights?

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10413 on: December 13, 2012, 09:42:10 am »
Here's some (probably baseless) speculation by Phil Rogers:

"Probably" baseless?

Why in goc's name would Soriano agree to a trade to Houston?

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10414 on: December 13, 2012, 09:45:29 am »
Yeah, doesn't make sense...especially for one of Houston's few good trade pieces.

Maybe Phil has heard Soriano's and Norris' names mentioned together, but it's really as part of a 3 team deal.  Or, maybe the Astros believe that if the Cubs are willing to eat ~$25 million of the deal, the Astros would be in a position to eat even more of his contract and flip him for something nice.  Does Soriano actually have a NTC, or is it just 10/5 rights?  Because he'd lose those if he went anywhere else.


But yeah...it's probably just Phil being Phil.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10415 on: December 13, 2012, 10:03:19 am »
Somebody mentioned that even if the Cubs ate a lot of Soriano's contract he was still out of Houston's price range.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10416 on: December 13, 2012, 10:10:00 am »
I saw that too, but I have a hard time believing it.  Their payroll right now is $5.8 million--$5 million to the Pirates for Wandy Rodriguez, and $800K for Phil Humber.  And looking at service time, it looks like there are only two guys on the roster (one of them being Norris) who are arbitration eligible.  Even if the Astros go into the season with a $50 million payroll (their lowest since at least 1999--Cots only goes back to 2000), they have something like $40 million to play around with right now. 

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10417 on: December 13, 2012, 10:12:37 am »
Actually, it's three arbitration eligible players (somehow I missed Jed Lowrie, who will be their most expensive player).  Still, the third is Wesley Wright (an average reliever), so he's looking at $1 million at most--Lowrie and Norris are the only two guys they currently have who are going to get paid well this year.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10418 on: December 13, 2012, 10:49:50 am »
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Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst

Clubs pursuing Mike Adams say he could sign in next couple of days. Among teams linked to him: Nats, Jays, Phillies, Rangers, Cubs, Brewers

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10419 on: December 13, 2012, 10:54:03 am »
Adams would be a nice pick-up on a 1-2 year deal.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10420 on: December 13, 2012, 12:14:52 pm »
The Cubs' bullpen strategy this offseason has been kind of interesting.

It might best be described at Hoyer already explained the plain -- "getting a good number of arms" for the bullpen... but NOT getting a number of good arms.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10421 on: December 13, 2012, 12:17:06 pm »
If we had someone like Bourn, we'd have one of the strongest defensive teams in baseball, and a team with good pitching and defense could surprise some people.

The last thing I want is for the 2013 Cubs to "surprise some people" by being a good deal better than expected, causing them to become buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline.  That would be the best way to undermine the game plan and to further delay building the foundation this team needs to become strong for several years.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10422 on: December 13, 2012, 12:40:16 pm »
I doubt that they will do well enough that they will be come buyers in July.  Nor do I think that Epstein or Hoyer would scrap their plan before it comes to fruition.  2014 might be a different situation.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10423 on: December 13, 2012, 01:44:08 pm »
The first roster domino falls, and it's a little surprising:

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Jeff Beliveau - R - Cubs

Cubs designated LHP Jeff Beliveau for assignment.

Beliveau posted a 4.58 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 17/12 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings this past season for Chicago. The 25-year-old seems likely to pass through waivers.

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Re: Cubs in '12
« Reply #10424 on: December 13, 2012, 01:45:57 pm »
Yeah that is a little surprising.  He pitched fairly well at times last season.

Rotoworld seems to think he'll pass through waivers easily, but I'd be kind of surprised if he did.  Lefties who show anything at all have some value.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2012, 01:47:35 pm by JR »