***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

Tom told Sharma that the team can go up to $241 this year and anticipates that being used, but there are a few out there who are adamant that Jed will not go much above $220M heading into the season.

Putting the two together, my guess is Jed is capping himself at $220M going into the year and then adding at the deadline. Why this could potentially work is the tax hit is cut by more than half at the deadline. So instead of $28M for Vladdy, it’s $14M. Instead of $18M this year for Sandy Alcantara, it’s $9M. The risk is ensuring you don’t have a repeat of last year, where you have 2.5 months that complete destroy your season.

It won't matter if the Cubs are 5-10 games out of the Wild Card like they have been the past 2 seasons when they should have been sellers and not buyers. They need to make some significant additions now to put them into a buyer situation at the deadline as the 1st half of the season still matters. If they don't have the high leverage bullpen guys to win games before the deadline there is no point trading for 1 at the deadline and sacrificing prospects to miss the playoffs when you can just pay for that kind of talent before the season starts.

 

[Cyforce]

It won't matter if the Cubs are 5-10 games out of the Wild Card like they have been the past 2 seasons when they should have been sellers and not buyers. They need to make some significant additions now to put them into a buyer situation at the deadline as the 1st half of the season still matters. If they don't have the high leverage bullpen guys to win games before the deadline there is no point trading for 1 at the deadline and sacrificing prospects to miss the playoffs when you can just pay for that kind of talent before the season starts.

Those NTC have killed us. Imagine how much wiser Swanson’s money could have been spent? Hoerner is still a bargain that could give us a solid SS. Combine that with dealing Happ at the deadline and suddenly between the two we have near Soto money for LF. How nice would Soto, Tucker, Suzuki look. Maybe it would of looked too good for Sasaki to pass up. Takes a lot of pressure off the young guys and now $20 mill for a closer is doable because you got an ace on the cheap. Now you can move Tailion and sign Bergman to a short term deal. Move Shaw to 2nd and we have the best lineup in the majors. Yes these move might put us over the cap but who cares other than our owner?

 

[ISUCubswin]

It won't matter if the Cubs are 5-10 games out of the Wild Card like they have been the past 2 seasons when they should have been sellers and not buyers. They need to make some significant additions now to put them into a buyer situation at the deadline as the 1st half of the season still matters. If they don't have the high leverage bullpen guys to win games before the deadline there is no point trading for 1 at the deadline and sacrificing prospects to miss the playoffs when you can just pay for that kind of talent before the season starts.

I agree but from what I understand, this seems to be the risk Jed is willing to take

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Those NTC have killed us. Imagine how much wiser Swanson’s money could have been spent? Hoerner is still a bargain that could give us a solid SS. Combine that with dealing Happ at the deadline and suddenly between the two we have near Soto money for LF. How nice would Soto, , Suzuki look. Maybe it would of looked too good for Sasaki to pass up. Takes a lot of pressure off the young guys and now $20 mill for a closer is doable because you got an ace on the cheap. Now you can move Tailion and sign Bergman to a short term deal. Move Shaw to 2nd and we have the best lineup in the majors. Yes these move might put us over the cap but who cares other than our owner?

They were never signing Soto no matter what and they're not re-signing Tucker.

I have zero issue with any of the deals out there. The issue is that people have allowed Tom and Jed to convince people that Swanson and Happ are making superstar money when in reality they're making exactly what the market is for what they're producing. They're both incredibly valuable players on a team that's willing to spend on a real superstar which the Cubs obviously aren't.

 

[Cyforce]

They were never signing Soto no matter what and they're not re-signing Tucker.

I have zero issue with any of the deals out there. The issue is that people have allowed Tom and Jed to convince people that Swanson and Happ are making superstar money when in reality they're making exactly what the market is for what they're producing. They're both incredibly valuable players on a team that's willing to spend on a real superstar which the Cubs obviously aren't.

They will sign Tucker, guaranteed.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

They will sign Tucker, guaranteed.

An organization that has never committed $200M to a player and is obviously not doing anything big until the next CBA, in the hopes of getting a hard cap, isn't committing the $400M+ that it's going to take to sign Tucker.

They found a way to trade for a superstar for one year and REDUCE payroll. The icing on the cake is going to be them unlocking Wesneski and Cam Smith turning into an above average everyday regular.

I'm just really out on this organization right now. Everything is about saving money.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Scott to the Dodgers, 72/4. Sounds like Cubs made that exact offer. Can not blame Scott for choosing a proven team.

My $$$ is Finnegan will be a Cub soon.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Dodgers end up signing the #3 and #4 FA SPs, #1 RP, and #3 OF

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Dodgers end up signing the #3 and #4 FA SPs, #1 RP, and #3 OF

Total BS what the Dodgers are doing.

 

[ISUCubswin]

The hope is that the 2026 CBA talks end up changing the game. There is potential for the other 29 owners to completely **** over the Dodgers.

Right now, the penalty is essentially just money. And when you own 40% of the Japanese economy, money isn't really a factor.

 

[BigJCy]

The hope is that the 2026 CBA talks end up changing the game. There is potential for the other 29 owners to completely **** over the Dodgers.

Right now, the penalty is essentially just money. And when you own 40% of the Japanese economy, money isn't really a factor.

Heard some say they think there could be a full season lockout if the Owners really dig in to totally changing the system.

 

[TheCaptain]

Scott to the Dodgers, 72/4. Sounds like Cubs made that exact offer. Can not blame Scott for choosing a proven team.

My $$$ is Finnegan will be a Cub soon.

I could get on board with Kirby Yates and Andrew Chafin.

 

[Cyforce]

An organization that has never committed $200M to a player and is obviously not doing anything big until the next CBA, in the hopes of getting a hard cap, isn't committing the $400M+ that it's going to take to sign Tucker.

They found a way to trade for a superstar for one year and REDUCE payroll. The icing on the cake is going to be them unlocking Wesneski and Cam Smith turning into an above average everyday regular.

I'm just really out on this organization right now. Everything is about saving money.

They wouldn’t have traded Smith if they weren’t serious about extending him. I think they offer a big signing bonus to keep 25 and 26 bases down then when multiple big contracts with NTC come off the books we’ll see a team of our young prospects built around Tucker.

PCA, Caissie, Alcantara, Busch, Traintos, Shaw, Ballestareos. Some of these guys have to hit. Keep Hoerner if the price is right to play short. Hopefully pitchers like Horton and Brown become mainstays in the rotation.

 

[CYdTracked]

They will sign Tucker, guaranteed.

Bold prediction there. I think there is more of a chance he's traded at the deadline if we aren't in the playoff hunt than there is of him resigning. The arbitration offer alone was a slap in the face that the Cubs were trying to pinch every penny they could with him. Should of show you are serious about keeping him around and not come in 2.5 mil below what he asked for. They already moved Bellinger to save money and Tucker is not only cheaper this year but also a better player. Already started off on the wrong foot towards resigning him with the offer they made and not adding anything of significance so far after trading for him doesn't put much faith that they want to build a winning roster around him.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Being it is Jed’s last year if they don’t make the playoffs, I can guarantee you they are not selling at the deadline

 

[Cyforce]

Bold prediction there. I think there is more of a chance he's traded at the deadline if we aren't in the playoff hunt than there is of him resigning. The arbitration offer alone was a slap in the face that the Cubs were trying to pinch every penny they could with him. Should have show you are serious about keeping him around and not come in 2.5 mil below what he asked for. They already moved Bellinger to save money and Tucker is not only cheaper this year but also a better player. Already started off on the wrong foot towards resigning him with the offer they made and not adding anything of significance so far after trading for him doesn't put much faith that they want to build a winning roster around him.

Well it’s easy to be negative, I have been myself. But come offseason I try to see where they can go to make it works.

If they aren’t competitive before the deadline they should trade Tucker but fire Jed first. Then go full rebuild. Then all the NTC will take care of themselves.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Lots of speculation from smaller Cub accounts that we’re pretty close, if not done, with Kirby Yates, pending physical. Sounds like he’s had multiple year offers on the table - my hope is we are not one of them. Love the guy, don’t love giving a guy his age that money, though.

Edit: The accounts are walking it back, now

 

[Clonefan32]

Total BS what the Dodgers are doing.

I haven't seen the system abused like this since CFB.

 

[cycart]

Total BS what the Dodgers are doing.

I love what they are doing. Wish the cubs would do it and act like a big market team.

 

[Clonefan32]

I love what they are doing. Wish the cubs would do it and act like a big market team.

This is where I come down on it. You can complain about it all you want, but all the teams play by the same rules. If you have committed owners you can do the same thing. But we have a guy that's more interested in building hotels than building a contender, and fans who continue to accept mediocrity.