Bleacher Bums Forum

After having a full day to think about it more, I really, really hate the Boyd signing. Jed Hoyer is the worst big market executive in MLB, and it's not even close.

Here's how my perspective has evolved on ownership and management. The Ricketts made their money in finance. Joe founded TD Ameritrade. Tom worked as a market maker out of school and moved up through the ranks at various finserv firms and banks.

I don't know what Tom's personal investment philosophies are, but he's certinaly hired a particular type in Hoyer - Jed runs the Cubs like a long-term value fund manager: mitigate risk, do not target outlier performance, focus on undervalued assets, and shoot for just right-of-center outcomes. I think Hoyer is pretty good at this kind of management.

The problem is that fans don't want value fund managers running their teams. They want agressive growth managers who will lean into risk, target outlier performance, and focus on returns.

In this way, I fault Hoyer less and less, and just want new ownership. Glad that credible voices like Rosenthal are publicly shaming the org, because the self-imposed limitations are just stupid.

…I wonder if there might be some trades Hoyer might be discussing that would involve both reliever-in and reliever(s) out?…

Craig- As you note, Keegan Thompson is out of options. Thinking that good chance he’s not with Cubs by time spring training comes along.

Could see Thompson attached as part of multi-players trade. He’s not much of a trade value guy but would think there are clubs out there who have room for him in their bullpen, especially as his 2025 deal isn’t much more than MLB minimum salary. If Cubs are busy re. bullpen in off-season, would seem to follow that are going to need relievers-with-options among the holdovers.

Hilarious


And you so much want to taken seriously.

When will gas be $1 a gallon?

Hilarious



J maga REDUX where are you? Are you bearing down?

I wonder

...
If the Morosi report is credible, Cubs will be active in bullpen market—perhaps adding another guy or two. Could be a lots-of-bullpen-depth situation with some dominant stuff guys at back-end.....

I wonder if there might be some trades Hoyer might be discussing that would involve both reliever-in and reliever(s) out? 

I realize ERA is an imperfect represetation of relief work.  But for simplicity, consider the following:
Tyson Miller:  2.15, 0.8 WHIP
Keegan Thompson:  2.67, 1.2 WHIP
Nate Pearson, 2.67, 0.99 WHIP
Porter Hodge:  1.88, 0.88 WHIP
Luke Little:  3.46, 1.27 WHIP
Ethan Roberts:  3.71, 1.51 WHIP
Hayden Wesneski:  3.86, 1.11 WHIP

That's before including any of Merryweather, Eli Morgan, Assad, Brown, Wicks, Horton, Neely, or Palencia or Killian. 

Seems like we've got some volume, and some guys who were reasonably productive ERA and WHIP-wise last year.  I could imagine some possible trade discussion with relievers going both ways?  Miller and Roberts for one reliever back?  A no-options guy like Keegan out, some options-remaining prospect back?  Maybe somebody with better player development thinks they could get something out of Palencia, so a combo of both Wesneski and Palencia for one slightly more established reliever back?  Or, a reliever to us with only one or two years of control left, traded for a guy with a bunch of control years left, like Miller or Keegan or Wesneski or Palencia or whomever? 

Obviously reliever+prospect for reliever might also be a thing.  Miller + Long.  Keegan + Rojas.  Pearson + Cristian Hernandez.  Palencia + Canario. 


Seems like a lot of teams really like to diversify the looks from their bullpen.  So maybe somebody we're not super-buzzed about might seem like a different-look guy for them, Miller or Ethan Roberts or somebody funky like that?