Prior to being hired by the Cubs, manager Joe Maddon reached out to the Rays with an “olive branch” offer that is believed to be for less guaranteed money than he received from the Cubs, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Heyman writes, however, that even Maddon’s lighter offer was more than the team was willing or able to pay. The Rays offered Maddon an annual salary approaching $3MM, Heyman continues, which would have represented a raise from his previous $1.8MM salary. Of course, that number is still well shy of Maddon’s reported five-year, $25MM deal with the Cubs. Maddon’s agent, Alan Nero, recently appeared on MLB Network Radio with Jim Bowden and said that the Cubs verified the opt-out and received permission from the league before reaching out regarding Maddon’s availability, calling accusations of tampering “insulting.”
Here’s more on the Cubs and the game’s central divisions…
- The Cubs are rich with hitting prospects, but one whose future with the team is a bit cloudy is first baseman Dan Vogelbach writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times in a piece for Baseball America. As Wittenmyer notes, Vogelbach is seen by the Cubs (and other clubs) as a first baseman only, and he has Anthony Rizzo to serve as a firm roadblock to the Majors. The Cubs have already fielded calls on his availability in trades, writes Wittenmyer, who notes that Vogelbach, formerly listed at 6’0″ and 250 pounds, dropped 30 pounds and improved a good deal defensively this season. He does note that the improvement took him merely from “unplayable” to “below average.” Vogelbach recovered from a slow start at High-A to hit .285/.373/.461 over his final 115 games.
- Two A.L. Central teams — if not more — could be among the key competitors for the services of veteran outfielder Torii Hunter. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweeted last night that the Twins are “already in on” Hunter. And Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports on Twitter that there is mutual interest in a reunion with the Tigers.
- Reds starter Mat Latos tells MLB Network Radio (Twitter link) that he has not had any extension discussions with the club. Nevertheless, Latos — who stands to reach free agency after the coming season — said he would be interested in trying to find agreement on a new contract if Cincinnati is willing to talk.
Cubs could trade Addison, Olt, Alcantara, Lake, or Valaika.
Didn’t they DFA Valaika the other day?
Does Olt really have a lot of trade value? He hasn’t had a truckload of MLB experience but he has looked really, really bad, and he’s 26 now.
Idont see Russel, going anywhere just yet.
Out of that group you should only trade lake, olt, and Alcantara.
Addison you keep. And see what you have in him. (Potentially a all around ball player)
Valaika got non tendered so unless he accepts a AAA assignment hes a FA.
As for the other 3, olt has no trade value, change of scenery guy, or filler at AAA with the potential of being a bench bat at rhe most.
Lake isnt much someone my wanna buy low on him and hope he turns it around in a new environment. Or a team could let him go back to playing ss/2b.
Alcantara is the best trade chip u mentioned but there is no reason to give up on him, he can play Cf/2b/ss to give guys days off. He xan help build a bridge to Almora, or even play 2b with Baez tuning his swing in the minors. But if the right trade comes along u have to trade him
Could see the cubs dealing Almora, Russell, Vogelbach and Castillo (if Martin is signed) for pitching while holding onto Castro Bryant Baez Schwarber Alcantara and then spending where they need to around that
Not sure I want to deal Russell, that kid just oozes special and should be our #2 prospect behind only Kris Bryant. I’d actually deal Baez first, but that’s just me.
I wouldnt trade russell either. Jus throw him in the OF. Russel Alcantara Soler. Bryant at 3rd, Baez Castro Rizzo
Almora is suppose to be a very great leader too.
It would be a shame to have Russell’s glove in the outfield. Shift Castro to 3rd and Bryant to the OF maybe? Or Castro to OF? I don’t know much about Bryant’s glove but Castro is nothing special.
Bryant to LF solves most of the positioning problems. It’s not like you’d just be ‘dumping’ him there either… he played pretty good right field in college, and an outfield of Soler, Alcantara and Bryant would be pretty darn good defensively.
Why throw the teams best ss in the out field?
I agree, Russell has less holes in his swing and from the eye test looks smoother defensively. Not as much power, but Baez has got to learn the strike zone.
I could see it as well… But I think when push comes to shove they’d rather just sign pitchers in FA. If they miss out on one of the guys they may be vying for, then I think we’d see them entertain the trade market more aggressively.
I dont get why everyone keeps writing off Almora. He is going to be the leaser of this team.
He is going to the the one manning CF in 2016 and beyond. Alcantara is going to end up being a utility player on the cubs or trade bait.
Now you said trade Russell? O boy. Russel is going to be the ss of the future with casteo moving to either 2b, 3b, or lf (pending on how the rest if the roster shapes out. Russel is a complete ball player there is I reason why we got him in the deal for shark.
Hopefully you will see my points I September when Russell and Almora get there cups of coffee
Tigers, Twins, and White Sox are in on Hunter it looks like
What makes you say White Sox?
Viciedo will be non-tendered or part-timered
They’re looking to add a left-handed bat
yeah most likely for DH like V-Mart, Larcohe, Panda, Headley, trades, etc.
I think it might be the Tigers, Twins and Royals. Could be the white sox but I think Victor Martinez is higher on their wish list and he won’t come cheap.
I would like a platoon of Hunter and Ichiro in RF for the Tigers. Pay each $5MM.
dream on. both should be full time players because both batted over .280 last year
In 2014 Hunter’s fWAR was only 0.3. Ichiro’s was only 0.4.
Both finished just above “replacement level”.
replacement level and war dont mean anything. batting average and solid defencs counts.
Lol, I love the sarcasm!
not sarcasm. Would you rather have Ichiro’s .280 batting average and solid defence or Ezequiel Carrera’s .190 batting average and amazing defence?
I’ve wanted the Sox to trade for Vogelbach for a couple of years now. I’d love to see him in Fenway in a year or two.
Hunter has been one of my favorite players and I would love a reunion with Torii. He would provide a perfect stopgap/mentor in the outfield. The problem with this is Torii likely is looking for one last crack at a World Series and as optimistic as I am that’s just not in the cards next year for the Twins.
Well the central division is changing and the Tigers hold at the top is fading fast. One thing about the Twins is they are young and very talented and they could put it all together fairly quickly with the right leadership. Hunter fits in perfectly with that. The fans love him and always will and he is held in the highest regard within the entire organization.
Vogelbach seems like a hard worker and a good dude, I can see him being part of the first wave of Cubs prospects traded for vets to actually help improve the big league team.
Several GMs are talking about a rule change to bring the DH to the National League. Vogelbach could fit the bill in that role, especially since he seems to be 2-3 years away still. Otherwise, he’d be great trade bait for an AL team looking for a DH.
Yeah they could hold onto him until then
several AL gms maybe… there’s virtually no enthusiasm for the DH among NL fans i talk to and i can’t see why NL teams want yet another position they have to overpay for.
In layman’s terms: More Hitting = More $ (Casual fan likes offense more). Also the pitcher hitting is stupid as it is just a free out in the order, the ultimate rally killer and just plain annoying to watch since pitchers (in general) don’t even practice hitting.
Theo Epstein is among those quoted as saying he expects it to happen in the next few years. It’s tossed around as a move that could help Rob Manfred make a mark on the league early in his administration.
With interleague games increasing and each league having 15 teams which forces interleague games all year long, it creates a disadvantage for NL clubs who don’t naturally carry a DH-type player on their rosters as the AL teams do. The AL has finished with a better record for 14 of the 18 years interleague play has existed. It’s time to either dump the DH from the AL or add it to the NL.