Bleacher Bums Forum

What are we saving it for? 

Mooney uses the word "and", not "or", in between "starting pitcher" and "an established hitter".  That's what I want to see.  But I think logically, that also best explains the extreme scrimpo mode thus far.  If looking for only one or the other, you'd not need to be so scrimpy. 

"By avoiding a huge commitment to a reliever thus far this offseason — the Cubs have signed Webb, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar for $24.25 million combined — the club is presumably leaving more room in the baseball budget to potentially acquire an accomplished starting pitcher and an established hitter."



Heh heh, while over-analyzing some speculative media guy's rushed-article wording, which doesn't prove anything obviously, I also note the "accomplished" and "established" phrasing.  Which probably doesn't really apply to either Imai or Okamoto. 

The Marlins or Pirates would heartily approve.

Heck the Pirates have even signed Ryan O'Hearn and Gregory Soto, traded for Brandon Lowe and made an actual genuine attempt to sign Kyle Schwarber, which while altogether is nothing special is more than what the Cubs have done so far this offseason. 

Fairbanks to Miami for more dollars than club option declined by Rays that led to his release.

Apparently, Cubs not too interested. Ditto Keller.

Cubs have a strategy for the 2026 bullpen….and at this point I have no idea what it is.

Clearly, bullpen spending not a priority. Nothing new about that.

Either Cubs (1) basically done with bullpen or (2) going to trade for some kind of pre-arb or 1st year arb, modest cost back-end quality bullpen piece once SP and perhaps significant-bat-addition settled. If can get those pieces via free agency, Cubs will still have trade capital for a reliever. There are some very good low cost relievers out there that will require significant trade price.

Still almost two months before spring training to add bullpen. Would like to think another substantial bullpen guy on the way but dunno.

Man if Hoyer has lost Craig….

Man, if Hoyer has lost Ron...

Man, if Hoyer has lost Ron...

Nuance and complexity, Deeg, nuance and complexity.

Merry Christmas, friends!  In Christmas story, people had been waiting. Hopes realized, waiting answered, promises fulfilled, expectations fulfilled in unexpected ways.  (Heh heh, I'll tie this in with Cubs!). 

We Cub fans have been waiting too!  Sooner or later, Hoyer will make a move.  Who knows how expected vs unexpected it might be?

3+ months till season, so rather premature to judge.  Next weekend has deadlines for both Imai and Okamoto, so maybe lots will be wrapped up.  Or not, who knows. 

I'm still pretty optimistic both that Imai will be the guy next week, AND that he'll end up being very good, even if not great. 

I'm still expectant that there will be a variably significant position player as well.  Maybe just Willi Castro type or less.  But I think Okamoto might still be in play. Or maybe Bregman; and I'm still not even precluding Bellinger or perhaps even Tucker.  As I've reasoned before, I don't think they really needed to be so thrifty on bullpen if there was no intent to spend beyond a pitcher and a low-priced utility guy.  Were that true, they could have afforded more $$ on relief.  But I reason that they thrifted on pen because they really do have hopes to land a variably significant player in addition to a pitcher.  At *least* one big chunk to go, but very possibly two.  And two could complete the roster. 

How far they're willing to go, I have no idea.  That may be dependent both on the player and the perceived value of a possible deal.  Bregman was perceived as a possible value opportunity last spring, enough to expand the budget to make a come-in-3rd offer.  Perhaps that same will be true this round:  maybe Casto fits normal "budget" but Okamoto doesn't?  Maybe Okamoto does, but Bregman doesn't?  But maybe Hoyer is willing to stretch for Bregman if his price seems decent value, rather than being inflated long and high.  Beats me. 

What does a given deal do for the team now and in the future?  That needs to be a major consideration.  It can't be only about how smart the deal is financially.