MLB: Official Chicago Cubs Offseason Thread
- Thread starter chuckd4735
- Start date
I'd like to see the rotation next year with the 2 aces and then move on to the young guys.
Bryant and Schwarber are the 2 pieces that will likely move on.
Bryant and Schwarber are the 2 pieces that will likely move on.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Trade them all for a bunch of hungry minor league guys and a hot female manager. I'd rather watch that.
Epstein talks about transition in role with Cubs
Cubs president of operations Theo Epstein, entering the final year of his contract, says for him there is a benefit to change.
www.espn.com
This sure sounds like Theo is going to move on after next season.
Given the current market and diminished trade value of some of the players on the roster I'm starting to think there will be no big moves with the roster once again and either the next person in charge will blow things up and start a new rebuild or be the one who has to try and retool the roster around certain players. Either way this just reeks of another offseason of the status quo and an inevitable gutting of the roster either mid season if they aren't in contention or after 2021 is over. It is just crazy to think how quickly this thing crumbled after the 2016 World Series and many thought this team was destined to put together multiple title runs.
IMO Cubs will need to take some risks in their off-season moves. It's not like the guys they are willing to trade will automatically bring a sure thing player or prospect.
They may next to take a risk on another teams underwhelming 2020 player in hope that new surroundings resurrect a career. aka JD Martinez or Joey Votto, Trevor Storey, Daniel Murphy. Yasiel Puig or Joey Gallo. In part they need a slugger to play DH.
Not too earth shattering or in depth but they touch base on the catching market this offseason and how Contreras could factor into that:
www.bleachernation.com
I love the passion Contreras plays with but if the Cubs are looking to restock the system he may be their biggest trade chip and they have depth at the position that if they made the move and made Caratini the primary catcher I don't think they would see much of a fall off at the position. It's already been debated if Caratini is a better catcher when it comes to handling the pitching staff and pitch framing and offensively he may not be the power hitter that Contreras is at times but he's probably less of a free swinger and more of contact hitter.
One of 2 things probably happens this season, they move some pieces in trades where it makes sense and can get a decent return to start the rebuild now or they bring everyone back along with some cheap pieces to fill in the holes in the roster then gut the whole thing when Theo likely leaves after next season. Gut feeling is they stick with the status quo like they have the past few seasons and they let possible new leadership make the big moves after next season. This will be a strange market too after the fallout of a shortened season with less revenues so probably will be less teams willing to take on salary and move cheaper prospects than usual plus some of the Cubs trade chips like Bryant are coming off of down seasons that what team is going to give them a decent prospect in return for an expensive 1 year rental that they don't know what kind of production they will get out of him now.
Lukewarm Stove: Cubs Trade Chips, Intertwined Catching Market, Sanchez Showcase, KBO Lefty Coming Over, More - Bleacher Nation
The catching market is going to touch on the Cubs this year (trading Contreras?), but what about the team's other trade chips?
www.bleachernation.com
I love the passion Contreras plays with but if the Cubs are looking to restock the system he may be their biggest trade chip and they have depth at the position that if they made the move and made Caratini the primary catcher I don't think they would see much of a fall off at the position. It's already been debated if Caratini is a better catcher when it comes to handling the pitching staff and pitch framing and offensively he may not be the power hitter that Contreras is at times but he's probably less of a free swinger and more of contact hitter.
One of 2 things probably happens this season, they move some pieces in trades where it makes sense and can get a decent return to start the rebuild now or they bring everyone back along with some cheap pieces to fill in the holes in the roster then gut the whole thing when Theo likely leaves after next season. Gut feeling is they stick with the status quo like they have the past few seasons and they let possible new leadership make the big moves after next season. This will be a strange market too after the fallout of a shortened season with less revenues so probably will be less teams willing to take on salary and move cheaper prospects than usual plus some of the Cubs trade chips like Bryant are coming off of down seasons that what team is going to give them a decent prospect in return for an expensive 1 year rental that they don't know what kind of production they will get out of him now.
Hindsight is always 20/20, of course, but Bryant (and Boras) really ****** up. His value is never going to be as good as it was when the Cubs offered him a deal (a good one for him in my eyes) and they turned it down. Stupid.
Going into 2021 with a status quo approach won't work. Sure the Cubs will be competitive, but I think the Cards pitching staff gives them an advantage over a 162 game season if their injured/opt out players come back strong. With the current roster, I don't feel the Cubs are much different than the Reds, Brewers or even Pirates.
I would agree with the article that Contreras is one of the Cubs most valuable trade pieces. Solid hitter, strong arm and under team control for a couple more years.
Whatever moves the Cubs make in the off-season for position players they need to add guys with a good eye for balls and strikes.
I'm not a big fan of trading Kimbrell in the off-season if the Cubs need to pay the bulk of his contract. Would prefer to have 2 closers (Kimbrell & Jeffress) with the trend for managers to use their "closer" in high leverage situations in the 6th-8th innings.
I would agree with the article that Contreras is one of the Cubs most valuable trade pieces. Solid hitter, strong arm and under team control for a couple more years.
Whatever moves the Cubs make in the off-season for position players they need to add guys with a good eye for balls and strikes.
I'm not a big fan of trading Kimbrell in the off-season if the Cubs need to pay the bulk of his contract. Would prefer to have 2 closers (Kimbrell & Jeffress) with the trend for managers to use their "closer" in high leverage situations in the 6th-8th innings.
obviousshirts.com
A guy started his own shirt company back in 2017(?) when he had a friend create a shirt for him saying "Kris Bryant is Good at Baseball" and received a whole bunch of positive feedback. They're running a 40% off sale for just today with the code SPORTS40 at checkout. This brings most of the t-shirts down to $18. And they're the nice, soft quality material. Cheap high quality t-shirts! I happened to get my Cubs fan/history buff husband this one for his birthday.
obviousshirts.com
Thought the Cubs fans on this board would be interested.
A guy started his own shirt company back in 2017(?) when he had a friend create a shirt for him saying "Kris Bryant is Good at Baseball" and received a whole bunch of positive feedback. They're running a 40% off sale for just today with the code SPORTS40 at checkout. This brings most of the t-shirts down to $18. And they're the nice, soft quality material. Cheap high quality t-shirts! I happened to get my Cubs fan/history buff husband this one for his birthday.
THE BRITISH BLEW A THIRTEEN COLONY LEAD.
THE BRITISHBLEW A THIRTEEN COLONY LEAD. OUR SHIRTS ARE SOFT:- Premium Pre-Shrunk Polyester/Cotton Blend- Tagless Neck, Eco-Friendly Inks- Regular Fit - See Size Chart CARE: WASH COLD AND DRY ON LOW HEAT. FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $75.00!- Please allow 24 hours for your order to process- Free...
Thought the Cubs fans on this board would be interested.
Good move. They'll get it back by the time the season starts next year. Why pay for something nobody is watching?
Dish has never picked it up but I have to say I was too busy this summer to really miss the games anyways. Caught a few when they were on FOX or ESPN I guess.
The year is 2030. Cubs leadership takes the podium for a press conference and assures us that Baez, Rizzo, Bryant and Schwarber, as the Cubs core, know that this is the year they have to turn it around or they will have to break the group up.
Some things have happened over the past few days.
Cubs declined the option on Lester, will buy him out.
Cubs declined the option on Descalso.
Cubs picked up the option on Rizzo.
Cubs apparently trying to get Tommy LaStella back.
Cubs declined the option on Lester, will buy him out.
Cubs declined the option on Descalso.
Cubs picked up the option on Rizzo.
Cubs apparently trying to get Tommy LaStella back.