Email a copy of 'Quick Hits: MASN, Cubs, Mariners, Cruz, Minniti, Santana' to a friend
Loading ...
By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'Quick Hits: MASN, Cubs, Mariners, Cruz, Minniti, Santana' to a friend
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
bobbybaseball
I know a lot of people are expecting the Cubs to make a big splash in free agency this offseason, and while it’s certainly conceivable that they go after a Jon Lester, for example, I think it’s too soon. Their young players and prospects are going to need time to become consistent major league ballplayers and are probably not ready to contribute to a contending club just yet. Plus, the revenue isn’t lining up yet.That said, I think they will bring in a vet – personally, I would love to see Russell Martin – but it’s more likely to be a Jonny Gomes-type of platoon player. As for pitching, I think a mid-tier rotation guy is more likely than Lester or Scherzer. They have season tickets to sell, and this year the $$ are due earlier than before, so of course they say they will contend. But it’s too early IMO.
Dock_Elvis
I believe they have a sizable season ticket waiting list. I know the ownership has reportedly had debt issues in the past. But this is one of the most highly valued franchises in baseball. What I hear from all this is that the Cubs aren’t ready to play in the Dodger or Yankee stratosphere… but that certainly doesn’t keep them from a Lester or Scherzer… especially at less than what will be surely an ever increasing free agent salary structure in the coming years.
CascadianAbroad
If you look at the free agent crop of pitchers in 2016, you’ve got guys like Clay Buchholz (club option), Doug Fister, Mat Latos, David Price and Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs are entering a 5-7 year contention window with this group of prospects, so unless you think Price has more upside than Lester or Scherzer (and the Cubs would have to be willing to throw a TON of money at him), I think you see the Cubs go after one of those guys this winter. Other than Price, none of the other 2016 FAs are doing it for me.
LazerTown
Cueto.
Don’t need the best pitcher, but a good rotation overall. Lester will start declining immediately. It may be better to wait and sign the younger free agent next year if that’s when they will start competing. I don’t think the Cubs will have only a short window, they will eventually have money coming in to keep their players. This isn’t KC, they have market potential, they just need to tap it.
Also even if you think Lester is the best of the bunch, in year 3 of their window that maybe starts in 2016, so 2019, Lester won’t be the best. You are probably better betting on the ages of Latos/Cueto/Price. Lester is a win now piece, the other guys may be as well, but will be better in that Cubs window.
CascadianAbroad
Cueto has a team option for 2015. I can’t imagine the Reds don’t lock him up even with their cash flow issues. If you’re waiting until 2016, Price at age 30/31 vs. Latos at age 28… that might be a toss-up assuming Latos’ elbow problem is resolved this winter.
I agree the Cubs are looking at a long contention window (at least 2021). But Epstein is publicly talking about competing for the division in 2015, which predicts at least an attempt at making a splash in free agency this winter.
The other thing that will be interesting is to see if the Cubs decide to sell high on any of the prospects. I’m not sure they’ll bail on Almora before he reaches AAA, but a player like Dan Vogelbach doesn’t really fit in their MLB plans. Billy McKinney could be another one.
LazerTown
2015 option makes him a free agent next winter alongside Latos and Price. Reds already have too much locked up in Bailey and Votto. I doubt they can add another $20MM player.
Flash Gordon
The Twins could indeed put Santana in center or at Shortstop but they really can’t go counting on him for much offense. He struck out 5 times for every time he walked and I’m going to go out on a limb and say he is not a true .405 BABIP guy. His peripherals suggest a 700 OPS. Here come the regression monster.
Mikenmn
Regarding Cruz and Mariners ownership’s nixing of the deal, I wonder if they decided they couldn’t in light of Montero’s suspension at the same time Cruz was.
GD
This means that Jack Z had a deal in place, but the “ownership group” nixed the deal. A “lot” of fans were against the Cruz signing too all last offseason due to the Bio-G and his Defense UZR ratings in the OF.
So it makes sense why the ownership group was very sceptical. It was definitely a buy low/high risk contract. But $7.5m 2014 + a team $9m 2015 option??!! Instead Seattle picked up Corey Hart which was a very high risk without the Bio-G issue. “If” Corey Hart produced anything at all…I mean “anything” to just win just “one” of those games we lost Seattle would be in the post season.
Cruz’s HRs and BA in Road games away this year was pretty outstanding. Hindsight is 20/20 though, and the Mariners have a lot of ROOT Sports revenue to spend this offseason. I’m sure they will be aggressive once again.
Jeff Jones
The Cubs should be looking at free agency. When the rookies came up they started winning. Since June the Cubs were 53-46 (with a bad July). That translates to 86 wins over a full season. The Cubs should go after a legit ace Scherzer,Lester,Shields) and a catcher like Martin, This should help to improve the young pitchers Free agency is not the only the Cubs could improve they have so much young talent it is possible they could make a trade.
Scratch
Thats also with Edwin Jackson for a majority of the time in the rotation.