I think with Theo stepping down we can close the books on 2020 and start a 2021 thread.
It sounds as if the Cubs want to reshuffle the lineup and slash payroll. So, my fairly grim predictions for this offseason...
1. The Cubs trade Bryant for a cheaper bad contract. Maybe Inciarte from the Braves and get a non-prospect or two to go with him.
2. The Cubs trade Contreras for a couple actual prospects, neither of whom are MLB ready.
3. The Cubs non-tender Schwarber.
4. The Cubs go on a dumpster diving free agent “spree,” signing some veterans to cheap one or two year contracts - a couple starting pitchers - maybe Archer and Desclafini, high upside guys with questions, to put it lightly; a formerly high leverage reliever coming off a bad year, trying to catch Jeffress-style lightning in a bottle again - someone like Melancon; a cheap all-glove/light bat infielder - Caesar Hernandez?; a 3rd/4th OF who can play CF - Jackie Bradley Jr.; a league minimum level back up catcher - Sandy Leon.
Going by BR’s arb estimates and MLB trade rumors free agent salary predictions, that roster would have a payroll of roughly $135MM, about $60MM less than last year. The team would likely hit worse than the current roster is predicted to, but not worse than last year’s team did, particularly if you get any bounce back from Rizzo and Baez. It would be a better defensive team and a deeper pitching staff.
Not a great team by any stretch, but probably still the favorite to win a mediocre/bad NL Central.
It sounds as if the Cubs want to reshuffle the lineup and slash payroll. So, my fairly grim predictions for this offseason...
1. The Cubs trade Bryant for a cheaper bad contract. Maybe Inciarte from the Braves and get a non-prospect or two to go with him.
2. The Cubs trade Contreras for a couple actual prospects, neither of whom are MLB ready.
3. The Cubs non-tender Schwarber.
4. The Cubs go on a dumpster diving free agent “spree,” signing some veterans to cheap one or two year contracts - a couple starting pitchers - maybe Archer and Desclafini, high upside guys with questions, to put it lightly; a formerly high leverage reliever coming off a bad year, trying to catch Jeffress-style lightning in a bottle again - someone like Melancon; a cheap all-glove/light bat infielder - Caesar Hernandez?; a 3rd/4th OF who can play CF - Jackie Bradley Jr.; a league minimum level back up catcher - Sandy Leon.
Going by BR’s arb estimates and MLB trade rumors free agent salary predictions, that roster would have a payroll of roughly $135MM, about $60MM less than last year. The team would likely hit worse than the current roster is predicted to, but not worse than last year’s team did, particularly if you get any bounce back from Rizzo and Baez. It would be a better defensive team and a deeper pitching staff.
Not a great team by any stretch, but probably still the favorite to win a mediocre/bad NL Central.