MLB: ***Official 2016 - 17 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS Offseason Thread***
- Thread starter Bret44
- Start date
I figured you Cubs fans would enjoy this. Just did a week long trip to Disney, and everywhere I went down there it was people in Cubs gear.
Interesting move, OF depth wasn't a big need even with not retaining Fowler. Thought coming into this season LF Schwarber CF Heyward RF Zobrist with Almora filling in where needed plus still have Szcur and Soler with Soler being trade bait. Now you just made things interesting if Jay and Almora platoon CF because where does Zobrist play is Baez plays every day at 2B? Bullpen is where the money needs to be spent because the Cubs have depth both on the current roster because other than Fowler and Ross there is not going to be a big change with the core of the position players.
The bullpen is likely losing Chapman, Wood, Montgomery (going to the rotation to fill Hammel's spot most likely) and Smith, need a veteran lefty to pair with Zastryzny and if you go back to Rondon as the closer which I hope they don't you still need to get a late inning reliever or closer. I know this free agent market for pitching is not stellar but they can't go cheap to replace the guys they will lose. Either you have to pay up for a top notch closer or make a trade. Hendricks likely won't repeat his season, Lackey is regressing, Arrietta hopefully rebounds in a contract year so can't take the rotation depth for granted and you have to stock up on relievers to make up for losing Chapman and hoping Rondon does not blow up if you trust him as closer again.
I know they will have to pay up for the young position players soon but coming off a Championship I hope the Cubs do not skimp on filling the holes while they have the core of the roster intact. If you can defend the title this year, spending a little more on a guy that gets you there that may not be worth it in 4 years (like Zobrist was this year) you do it because you will bring in revenue to pay for it with another World Series
The bullpen is likely losing Chapman, Wood, Montgomery (going to the rotation to fill Hammel's spot most likely) and Smith, need a veteran lefty to pair with Zastryzny and if you go back to Rondon as the closer which I hope they don't you still need to get a late inning reliever or closer. I know this free agent market for pitching is not stellar but they can't go cheap to replace the guys they will lose. Either you have to pay up for a top notch closer or make a trade. Hendricks likely won't repeat his season, Lackey is regressing, Arrietta hopefully rebounds in a contract year so can't take the rotation depth for granted and you have to stock up on relievers to make up for losing Chapman and hoping Rondon does not blow up if you trust him as closer again.
I know they will have to pay up for the young position players soon but coming off a Championship I hope the Cubs do not skimp on filling the holes while they have the core of the roster intact. If you can defend the title this year, spending a little more on a guy that gets you there that may not be worth it in 4 years (like Zobrist was this year) you do it because you will bring in revenue to pay for it with another World Series
Not surprising but it looks like Fowler is indeed gone:
fielding percentage...really? Did we travel back to 1985?
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Looks like they're renovating everything, but I don't remember the details on this one.
A lot of the place was ready to fall apart. It really needs an overhaul everywhere.
8 million is cheap for a quality 4th outfielder (who can play center field) on the FA market. Dex is gone, but the Cubs were never going to match what he was going to get on the open market anyway. If Cespedes can get 110 million over 4 years, it's reasonable to assume Dex can get 80.
I like the idea of easing Almora into the job by platooning him with Jay next year and if Almora shows he's not up to the job, go looking for a centerfielder either in july or next off season
https://theringer.com/how-the-cubs-can-become-a-dynasty-b8a61245d849#.61woi1kvu
don't read this at work, it may cause uncontrollable erections
an interesting idea floated in the article is trading Kris Bryant and a couple of prospects for Mike Trout. He makes a good argument for it, though after leading the team to its first world series title in 108 years, I'm not really ready for them to trade Kris Bryant for anything.
don't read this at work, it may cause uncontrollable erections
an interesting idea floated in the article is trading Kris Bryant and a couple of prospects for Mike Trout. He makes a good argument for it, though after leading the team to its first world series title in 108 years, I'm not really ready for them to trade Kris Bryant for anything.
2016-17 OFFSEASON PROJECTS
To continue playing Cubs baseball at the corner of Clark and Addison streets, the majority of construction work will occur during the offseason. Here's a list of projects that will be executed during this offseason:
- Home and Visiting Team's Bullpen Relocation
- New Seating Area in the Bullpens' Former Location
- Visiting Team Batting Tunnel
- Partial Façade Restoration on Addison Street
- Structural Improvements in Right Field
- Continued Terrace Reserved Seating Replacement
- Replacement of Seats Behind Home Plate
- American Airlines 1914 Club (to be completed by Opening Day 2018)
- Concession improvements near Gate F (to be completed during 2017 baseball season)
- Office Building and Plaza
- Hotel
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I love the versatility that Jay brings along with the lack of pressure to really force him anywhere. A guy that can play every outfield position can get everyone a day off, and like you said, ease Almora into the job.
Where exactly are the bullpens going? Ive never quite figured that out. Im assuming under the bleachers, but how will the bullpen then view the games?
Home bullpen under left field bleachers and visitor bullpen under right field. Left field will have a window on the concourse so that people could actually stand and watch guys warm-up. The doors to the field will likely be plexiglass is my guess. They will add 5 rows of seast to the areas where the bullpens were located and also move the dugouts farther down the line and expand them. I believe the dugout stuff will allow for football games to be played and not have the Illinois/Northwesten situation back in 2010.
The area behind home plate will most likely look identical, but with a club added to below. They have to excavate all the dirt, lay foundation for the club, and then build the new stands with seats before April 11th. They will do all the finishing work on the club during the season.
The area behind home plate will most likely look identical, but with a club added to below. They have to excavate all the dirt, lay foundation for the club, and then build the new stands with seats before April 11th. They will do all the finishing work on the club during the season.
