MLB: Official Chicago Cubs Offseason Thread
- Thread starter chuckd4735
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CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Kolton Wong could be intriguing, but he would want more than the $10/hour the Ricketts are looking to pay.
Free agent Jon Lester spends $47K on beers for Chicago fans in possible farewell
Jon Lester bought beers for patrons over Halloween weekend at four Chicago bars, tweeting out his tab, which included a 34% tip, the same number he wore on his uniform.
I sure hope they find a way to keep Lester in Chicago at least 1 more year. Would be nice if the could get win #200 as a Cub. I have no idea what kind of contract he is seeking but hopefully they can get him on a reasonable 1 year deal to be the #4 or 5 guy in the rotation.
ESPN ranks him #72 on their free agent rankings with a projected contract of 1 year $3.5 mil. They have Chatwood and Quintana 45 and 46 on the list with 1 year $5.5 projections. There seems to be a lot of veteran SP on the free agent market this year and with the current financial situation I see a lot of guys taking 1 or 2 year deals for very reasonable money if ESPN projections hold true. Other than about a handful of players in their top 10 most of the guys on their list they are projecting 1 or 2 year contracts and even some of the better names in that top 10 most are just 3 year deals. If you have ESPN+ it's interesting to see how they broke down their rankings: https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/30170872/ranking-every-mlb-free-agent-2020-offseason
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Likely means two things
Theo is going to Philadelphia or NYC (Mets)
Or
Cubs want this rebuild/restructure completed by someone who is here for the long haul.
Theo is going to Philadelphia or NYC (Mets)
Or
Cubs want this rebuild/restructure completed by someone who is here for the long haul.
I believe he's been promoted to Theo's position, so he'd be insane to leave.
That being said, I've never been impressed with Jed
My guess is this is more of a move knowing that he won't be back next year, so why let him be a part of figuring out what the team looks like after 2021.
Which also means, in my opinion, that we are looking at beyond 2021, so if you're KB, Baez, or Schwarber, sign a long-term deal or get the **** out
Appreciate everything he's done, but probably time for some new ideas.
This move makes sense, let Jed break the core and get something to build on, time as come. Theo was never going to re-up, but has left a foundation and the Cubs are built to be players in the years to come.
Right move and the right time. Theo has proven to be great at building a winner, but not sustaining. He did an amazing job getting the org turned around and delivering a title but, as others mentioned, he was never going to be there for the long haul.
Hand the reins over to Jed and allow a bunch of internal promotions to, hopefully, stave off more talent poaching from our FO. They've lost a lot of important figures in the last few years.
I expect a pretty sizeable roster shakeup. Cubs will be active and creative this offseason let's hope.
Hand the reins over to Jed and allow a bunch of internal promotions to, hopefully, stave off more talent poaching from our FO. They've lost a lot of important figures in the last few years.
I expect a pretty sizeable roster shakeup. Cubs will be active and creative this offseason let's hope.
Pretty sad press conference. Theo saying what we've known but I didn't realize the depth. He said they've been working on a transition team for a few years because he was open that he didn't want to be here more than 10 years, then said over this latest summer it started to hit him how he needs to step away for what's best long-term for the Cubs.
Also says he wants to stay in baseball; wants a summer off but will listen to phone calls. Talked a lot about his interest in becoming a part of an ownership group (not only to stay involved with baseball but feels he could do a lot of good for whatever community he was a part of) but obviously capital is a factor.
I personally would love to see him eventually take over for Manfred but I would guess that would be Theo's Chapter 4.
Also says he wants to stay in baseball; wants a summer off but will listen to phone calls. Talked a lot about his interest in becoming a part of an ownership group (not only to stay involved with baseball but feels he could do a lot of good for whatever community he was a part of) but obviously capital is a factor.
I personally would love to see him eventually take over for Manfred but I would guess that would be Theo's Chapter 4.
He built a world series team, so you won't see me drag him on the way out. He probably won't ever say whose responsibility this current mess is. It's obviously either him or Ricketts but if he wants to work in baseball again he's not going to say anything negative about an owner.
I just find it hard to believe that Theo would say in August of 2018 that the offense was broken and then the next two offseasons he willingly ignored making serious changes to the offense.
I think he's tired of owners forcing baseball decisions on him, not surprised he'd like to be an owner.
His career as a Cub was up and down he made some great signings and trades and some bad ones. Best of luck to him wherever he goes next.
I just find it hard to believe that Theo would say in August of 2018 that the offense was broken and then the next two offseasons he willingly ignored making serious changes to the offense.
I think he's tired of owners forcing baseball decisions on him, not surprised he'd like to be an owner.
His career as a Cub was up and down he made some great signings and trades and some bad ones. Best of luck to him wherever he goes next.
It's pretty wild to think about being in this position when after 2016 you had Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, Contreras, Javy, Russell, Happ, Jimenez, Cease and Happ. You'd just have never guessed we could be where we are.
A few other tidbits
Biggest regret with the Cubs? The performance when it mattered since 2017. When backs were against the walls, they always rose up to the challenge, and since 2017, they just lost it.
What changes would he like to see in baseball? The quality of on-field play. He takes blame for this, but for example - strike out rate is out of control, starters not going deep in games, 1 inning relievers. Essentially, he wishes to make the game fun again, and feels like his deep dive into analytics and boom or bust players actually hurt the game.
Credits Jed with getting Pedro Strop in the Jake Arrieta trade - evidently the trade was pretty much settled but Jed demanded Strop be included in the package.
Says Jed demanded Rizzo from the Red Sox when he was with the Padres.
Biggest regret with the Cubs? The performance when it mattered since 2017. When backs were against the walls, they always rose up to the challenge, and since 2017, they just lost it.
What changes would he like to see in baseball? The quality of on-field play. He takes blame for this, but for example - strike out rate is out of control, starters not going deep in games, 1 inning relievers. Essentially, he wishes to make the game fun again, and feels like his deep dive into analytics and boom or bust players actually hurt the game.
Credits Jed with getting Pedro Strop in the Jake Arrieta trade - evidently the trade was pretty much settled but Jed demanded Strop be included in the package.
Says Jed demanded Rizzo from the Red Sox when he was with the Padres.
