Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
Better than a sharp stick in the eye...
Better return than they got for Tepera last year. Arguably better than Chafin, but that’s a harder call since they got two guys for Chafin; it’s not apples to apples.Better than a sharp stick in the eye...
A lot of people were upset they weren't extending him, which these few months gives you time to do. There would have been no reason to extend him until figuring out his market value. Their plan now should be extend -> Re-sign -> QO compensation. We don't know what we were offered on the open market for him, so who's to say if a post-first round draft pick isn't better than what they could have gotten this season.They have time to figure out Happ. Keeping Contreras makes no objective sense. There is a zero% chance the QO compensation will be better than what they could have gotten.
If they want to keep him, they could have signed him in the off-season.
Missed opportunity.
Christian Vázquez is sort of a less extreme version of Contreras - not as much a plus on offense, not as much of a minus on defense, one year older, also a free agent at the end of the year.A lot of people were upset they weren't extending him, which these few months gives you time to do. There would have been no reason to extend him until figuring out his market value. Their plan now should be extend -> Re-sign -> QO compensation. We don't know what we were offered on the open market for him, so who's to say if a post-first round draft pick isn't better than what they could have gotten this season.
Those two prospects slot into 28 and 29 in the Red Sox system. I'll take the 31st pick any day of the week. Grandal at the time of signing with the White Sox was undoubtedly the best catcher in baseball, Willson is not, the White Sox breaking him doesn't change that.Christian Vázquez is sort of a less extreme version of Contreras - not as much a plus on offense, not as much of a minus on defense, one year older, also a free agent at the end of the year.
Boston got Houston’s 12th and 26th best prospects for Vazquez. I think it’s safe to say that the Cubs would have gotten a little more for Contreras, but I’m not sure it would have been that much more.
I can certainly see Jed’s reasoning being, “If that’s what the rest of baseball thinks off Contreras, we’ll just re-sign him.” Not sure why there’d be any more demand for him in free agency with a QO attached to him.
In terms of comps for a Contreras extension, Yasmani Grandal got 4 years and $73mm from the White Sox. He was the same age as Willson, basically identical offensively and perhaps somewhat worse as a defender. I think the perception in year 3 of that contract is that was an overpay.
Quite the feat considering how the Reds started the year.With the loss yesterday the Cubs are in sole position of last place of the NL Central.
Since May 6 the Reds are 41-41 and the Cubs are 34-49.Quite the feat considering how the Reds started the year.
A 36 million difference seems pretty steep until you consider that's 7 million less than the Mets are paying Max Scherzer this season.Since May 6 the Reds are 41-41 and the Cubs are 34-49.
The Cubs are 14th in MLB payroll, the Reds are 22nd. Approx $36mm difference.
I’m an idiot… Strasberg obviously not an angel…A 36 million difference seems pretty steep until you consider that's 7 million less than the Mets are paying Max Scherzer this season.
The Angels are paying 2 guys over 35M each. One of whom has played in 8 games in the last 3 seasons (Strausberg)...and the other has played about a season worth of baseball in the last 3. (Rendon)
It's not about how much you spend, its about how you spend it.
Honest question, why is the new GM, whatever the name is, getting no heat on this? Never hear him mentioned in this mess.How awful was the off-season for Hoyer?
Starting CF for the season released.
Starting 2B hurt all year and ineffective when healthy.
Starting 1B demoted and only drought back because no one else is available to play the position.
Frazier, Villar and Simmons all released before the end of the season.
Mikey and Smyly both hurt and not able to be flipped.
Carter (not Coleman) Hawkins.Honest question, why is the new GM, whatever the name is, getting no heat on this? Never hear him mentioned in this mess.
Wasn't Heyward the starting CF, after the acquisition of Suzuki? With Happ in left, the OF was pretty well decided. I'd hang that one on Epstein.How awful was the off-season for Hoyer?
Starting CF for the season released.
Starting 2B hurt all year and ineffective when healthy.
Starting 1B demoted and only drought back because no one else is available to play the position.
Frazier, Villar and Simmons all released before the end of the season.
Mikey and Smyly both hurt and not able to be flipped.
It's generally considered that the payroll reduction was forced on Hoyer by ownership, and the looming reality of what that would mean was why Theo quit.Honest question, why is the new GM, whatever the name is, getting no heat on this? Never hear him mentioned in this mess.
If the Cubs are willing to spend this offseason
They better hope they do, attendance is down 6k/game since 2019. Cubs fans aren't nearly as forgiving as we once were.That is a big if...