Chicago Cubs 2021 season

#826      
Just by way of example, the current lowest projected salary in the MLB is the Baltimore Orioles, at just under $30mm. Their principle owner, Peter Angelos, has a net worth of about $2 billion. Note that he only owns roughly 25% of the team. Other owners include filmmaker Barry Levinson, with a net worth around $150mm. Tom Clancy (net worth near $400mm at the time of his death) owned a portion when he passed. I don’t know whether his shares passed to his heirs or were sold. Anyway, you get the idea.

Don’t believe for a second these teams are being operated at a loss and even if they were taking in no income at all, these owners could pay the entire salary of their teams for decades while remaining absurdly wealthy. (Not that I think they should. I think owners that provide an entertaining product should make a sizable stack of bills for the effort.)

Owners crying poor remind me of Moe Green in The Godfather claiming that his casino was operating at a loss. A real MLB commissioner who wasn’t a lapdog for the owners would go full Michael Corleone and suggest that new ownership might be luckier.
 
#827      
To turn this back to the Cubs, they have to do something this off-season. As it is, right now they have nothing to sell.

Look back to the dregs of 2012 and they had the kids - Rizzo and Castro - along with several former all stars who’d had fun runs with the Cubs - Dempster, Soto, Soriano, Marmol - and Epstein clearly enunciating the process they were going to go through to get better. They also had a payroll approximately $25mm higher than it’s projected to be right now.

The team as currently constituted has none of that. Whatever their plans are, are as clear as mud. There’s no Epstein or Maddon honestly talking to the fans about process. They just went a full season without a GM. It’s been 3 1/2 years since the team signed a free agent to a multi-year contract. Both the owner and President of Baseball Ops say that they’ll spend, but free agents keep coming off the board and the Cubs are by and large absent from the rumor mill.

They absolutely cannot head into next season without making some big acquisitions, and yet…. <gestures broadly>
 
#829      
Cubs just signed Yan Gomes who seems like a luxury as a backup catcher for a team with so many other holes to fill. Which of course suggest the Cubs plan on him being the starting catcher after they move Contreras.

Gomes’ 2 year $13mm contract is the largest free agent contract for a position player the Cubs have signed since…

Jason Heyward in 2016.
 
#830      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Yeah that’s not rebuilding, that’s for sure.

maybe they are holding out for Correa…😂
 
#831      
Cubs just signed Yan Gomes who seems like a luxury as a backup catcher for a team with so many other holes to fill. Which of course suggest the Cubs plan on him being the starting catcher after they move Contreras.

Gomes’ 2 year $13mm contract is the largest free agent contract for a position player the Cubs have signed since…

Jason Heyward in 2016.
Absolutely mind blowing
 
#832      
Yeah that’s not rebuilding, that’s for sure.

maybe they are holding out for Correa…😂
I don't know the extent that it's informed speculation versus wishcasting, but both Cerami and Rosenthal mentioned the Cubs as a possible landing spot for Correa. There's also been some rumors around the Cubs and Stroman.

Add Correa and Stroman, plus a filler starter like Danny Duffy, a filler outfielder like Joc Pederson redux, and a relatively high leverage reliever like Ryan Tepera to Miley, Gomes, and what the Cubs have returning and their projected win total would be within spitting distance of the Cardinals and Brewers assuming the Cardinals and Brewers don't make any more major additions (which the Brewers probably won't and the Cardinals still might).

Their team payroll would be under $170mm, which would be in line with the what it's been under the Ricketts for the past several years, and other than Correa and Story, they'd have no long term contracts past 2023.
 
#835      
This could be anywhere from greatly exciting - Willy part of a larger package to get one of the Guardians’ young pitchers - to a complete dud - picking up a couple 17 year old who’ll be in the Dominican League this summer.
Given their recent history...more likely the latter.

I still think Willson might stay. I wouldn't be saying that if Amaya wasn't having Tommy John.
 
#837      
I don't know the extent that it's informed speculation versus wishcasting, but both Cerami and Rosenthal mentioned the Cubs as a possible landing spot for Correa. There's also been some rumors around the Cubs and Stroman.

Add Correa and Stroman, plus a filler starter like Danny Duffy, a filler outfielder like Joc Pederson redux, and a relatively high leverage reliever like Ryan Tepera to Miley, Gomes, and what the Cubs have returning and their projected win total would be within spitting distance of the Cardinals and Brewers assuming the Cardinals and Brewers don't make any more major additions (which the Brewers probably won't and the Cardinals still might).

Their team payroll would be under $170mm, which would be in line with the what it's been under the Ricketts for the past several years, and other than Correa and Story, they'd have no long term contracts past 2023.
In the “get the Cubs within spitting distance of the Cardinals and Brewers via free agency” hypothetical, it looks like Clint Frazier will be the place holding outfielder.

A one year deal. He hits lefties. pretty strictly a platoon guy.
 
#838      
Frazier was at one point a really highly regarded prospect. I suppose the Cubs could be hoping there’s something left of that at age 27.
 
#841      
Just by way of example, the current lowest projected salary in the MLB is the Baltimore Orioles, at just under $30mm. Their principle owner, Peter Angelos, has a net worth of about $2 billion. Note that he only owns roughly 25% of the team. Other owners include filmmaker Barry Levinson, with a net worth around $150mm. Tom Clancy (net worth near $400mm at the time of his death) owned a portion when he passed. I don’t know whether his shares passed to his heirs or were sold. Anyway, you get the idea.

Don’t believe for a second these teams are being operated at a loss and even if they were taking in no income at all, these owners could pay the entire salary of their teams for decades while remaining absurdly wealthy. (Not that I think they should. I think owners that provide an entertaining product should make a sizable stack of bills for the effort.)

Owners crying poor remind me of Moe Green in The Godfather claiming that his casino was operating at a loss. A real MLB commissioner who wasn’t a lapdog for the owners would go full Michael Corleone and suggest that new ownership might be luckier.
Rich people get that way by caring a lot about money. Doesn’t stop when you get to any level. Owners of these teams would like to win but they would LOVE to make more money.
This Cubs team needs pitching in the worst way. I think with a few minor deals the offense could be good enough. In fact, they were pretty darn good the last few months of last year. What Cubs pitcher would you feel good about starting a playoff game? Kyle Hendricks maybe?? Who is next?
 
#842      
What Cubs pitcher would you feel good about starting a playoff game? Kyle Hendricks maybe?? Who is next?
Ware Miley was 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA over 163 innings last year. He has a 2.08 ERA in the postseason over 17+ innings with the Brewers and Astros. He’s hardly an ace, but he can take the ball for a postseason start.
 
#843      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Rich people get that way by caring a lot about money. Doesn’t stop when you get to any level. Owners of these teams would like to win but they would LOVE to make more money.
This Cubs team needs pitching in the worst way. I think with a few minor deals the offense could be good enough. In fact, they were pretty darn good the last few months of last year. What Cubs pitcher would you feel good about starting a playoff game? Kyle Hendricks maybe?? Who is next?
How sustainable is the offense over a full year?
 
#844      
How sustainable is the offense over a full year?
Most likely not with what they have right now. A few additions (not mega free agent signings) might be enough though.
I am much less optimistic that they can put together a pitching staff that would truly give you a chance in the playoffs. Hope I am wrong but none of the young arms (except Marquez if healthy) scream top three starter to me.
 
#845      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Most likely not with what they have right now. A few additions (not mega free agent signings) might be enough though.
I am much less optimistic that they can put together a pitching staff that would truly give you a chance in the playoffs. Hope I am wrong but none of the young arms (except Marquez if healthy) scream top three starter to me.
I think Marquez has Aroldis Chapman written all over him, minus the domestic issues. I think he’d be a high end closer for years.
 
#846      
Ware Miley was 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA over 163 innings last year. He has a 2.08 ERA in the postseason over 17+ innings with the Brewers and Astros. He’s hardly an ace, but he can take the ball for a postseason start.
I was hoping for a Noah Syndergaard signing for a couple years. High risk high reward. I think the Cubs are going to be content to wait a few years until the prospects start coming up before filling in holes with big $ / long term deals.
 
#847      
I was hoping for a Noah Syndergaard signing for a couple years. High risk high reward. I think the Cubs are going to be content to wait a few years until the prospects start coming up before filling in holes with big $ / long term deals.
I was too. Some louder whispers coming out today regarding a different Met free agent, Marcus Stroman, who I'd be thrilled for.