Here’s the latest from Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, mostly several reporters, including ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers and the Daily Herald’s Bruce Miles.
- Epstein says there was strong mutual interest between the Cubs and David Price, but that the Red Sox made a bigger offer, Rogers tweets. Rogers adds that he hears the Cubs were not especially interested in Jordan Zimmermann, who ultimately signed with the Tigers.
- The Cubs will, however, continue to look for pitching depth, as Miles tweets.
- Javier Baez will play at least some center field during winter ball, Miles tweets. Given the Cubs’ crowded infield, the ability to play center might provide Baez with a path to more playing time in the big leagues. (To this point, Baez has never played the outfield, either in the Majors or the minors.) Epstein says a platoon in center could be an option, as Rogers notes.
- Epstein says the Cubs’ discussions with Jeff Samardzija “tastes great and is less filling,” Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets. Earlier today, ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote that the Cubs might be becoming uncomfortable with Samardzija’s price.
- Along with starting pitching and and a center fielder / leadoff hitter type, Epstein didn’t discount the possibility of adding relievers, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
“Epstein says the Cubs’ discussions with Jeff Samardzija “tastes great and is less filling,”… WTF is that?
Clearly while he had discussions with Jeff Samardzija he was drinking some Miller Lite.
He drank some Miller Lite with Shark at a Wrigleyville bar a couple weeks ago.
What about Odubel Herrera for Javier Baez? I think that could make some sense.
The Phillies have Quinn and Williams on the way, they have Bourjos and Altherr ready to go, still have to find out what they have in Sweeney and Asche, plus they have no sure thing at 2B for the future. Cesar Hernandez isn’t that good, and Scott Kingery didn’t really impress anyone his first year in A ball.
The Cubs get a potential 3-4 WAR CFer with the risk of regress. it would sort out their infield.
The Cubs aren’t worried about a LT solution in CF. They’re worried about a one-year stop gap while Almora plays in Triple A. So the dilemma isn’t really, “There are no CFs available…” It’s that there aren’t a lot of guys the Cubs can get for just one season.
I’d like to see what Javy can do for the Cubs this year, but that is an intriguing offer.
Is this a joke? This isn’t MLB the show.
Hmmm. I think if the Cubs were to trade Baez (which they really don’t want to do) it would be for pitching, but this is a tempting offer. I think though if they were thinking about trading for a young CFer they’d probably convince themselves not to because the chance of regression is still there. They have their own top CF prospect in Almora who they’d probably rather ride the ups and downs with than trading away a potentially solid bat with HR power in Baez to potentially ride the ups and downs with another team’s CF prospect who has 1 season of ML experience under his belt. If there was some sort of indication that Herrera’s 2015 was 100% legit and that is what is to be expected from him, then hell yes they accept this offer. But Herrera is young….. they have Almora….. so I would probably say no myself now that I’ve talk/typed myself out of it, haha.
Don’t think the rebuilding Phillies will give away building blocks for unproven guys.
Baez is not gonna be traded. If anyone is it will be Castro.
That’s a pretty logical scenario. The Phils and the Cubs would seem to be pretty good trade partners considering what they each need and what they each have yet there doesn’t seem to be a connection reported (not like there has been with the Mets/Cubs and Braves/Cubs).
Angels younger pitchers for Javier Baez, maybe Santiago and the rest of the farm that’s nonexistent haha. Pipe dream.
Santiago was among the worst starters in baseball last year… highest xFIP and 3rd lowest WAR among qualifying starters.
All that said he mustered an all star appearance, but numbers don’t lie as your point in stats.
This gives me hope that the cubs aren’t the ones making these offers to shark
I’d rather have Samardzija at 5 years, $90 million than Lackey at 2 years $34 million.
Good thing lackey didn’t get 3 years then.
Samardzija has one good season as a starter. He was awful last year. Lackey has a proven track record of success when healthy and his deal is only for two seasons.
I’ll never understand the fascination with Samardzija. Five years and $90 million seems insane to me, even if numerous teams are offering it.
The fascination is that he throws hard. That is all.
Shark shouldn’t get more then 60mil lackey is better.
I hear ya. With the farm stocked they are better off trading than paying too much for a mid tier pitcher. Hell, they are still paying Edwin Jackson.
Sure, why not give him time in centerfield ? I don’t think the Cubs are ready to move him out yet. I don’t think we really have seen what this kid is fully capable of . He was certainly better at the plate at the end of the season once he came back up. Much more selective, stuck out less, better at recognizing pitchers out of the zone. Let’s see what he can do out there. He has a strong enough arm .
I would not be surprised to see Bryant get a look in CF during spring training, too.
No man is worth Prices pay
Especially for 31 mil for 6 months a year that’s basically 62 for 12 months. Times 3.5
Well…… I was hoping that with the recent signing of friggin Lackey they would now be serious players in the Heyward sweepstakes. News that Baez will be tried out in CF the winter and spring though makes me think they’ll just sign another stopgap player. Likely Gerrardo Parra……. boooo. I wish Theo and Hoyer wouldn’t have hyped up this offseason so much. These lame moves would be less of a punch in the gut then.
Last offseason was supposed to be the build up to this offseason where they were going to be SERIOUS players in free agency. Last year’s free agent signings so far are looking like they’ll blow this year’s out of the water though. If they don’t trade for a pitcher I see them signing someone like Kazmir and Gerardo Parra to play CF…… yawn. If that’s the case I wonder who leads off because parra is no lead off hitter (.326 career OBP).
Lead-off could be someone unorthodox like Schwarbs or Soler.
I agree, total letdown this off-season!
Unless its a deal like Colby rasmus got from Houston last year with no risk the cubs should not sign shark or even want to. They need to bring back Fowler for a 2 year deal it’s a no risk for him either. 2017 almora will be ready unless he’s has a monster start in Iowa next year and they have to bring him up like Schwarber and he tear it up and they have to keep him on the 25 man roster.
Ha! I suggested weeks ago that the Cubs would be wise to have either Javier Baez or Starlin Castro play CF in winter ball to give the Cubs an option there in 2016 and provide manager Joe Maddon with the additional roster versatility he relishes.
Unfortunately, the Cubs still need a lead-off hitter and their current roster options aren’t very encouraging. That role will likely need to be filled from outside the organization this offseason, most likely with an acquisition for CF or perhaps at 2B.
With the Cubs signing of John Lackey to fill the #3 spot in their starting rotation, they will have additional money to spend this offseason. Those savings might purchase them another versatile player in free agency, Maddon favorite Ben Zobrist. He could be the Cubs primary second baseman and fill the role of the #2 man in their batting order, as well as add a veteran presence to the clubhouse. If the Cubs fail to find a traditional leadoff hitter, Zobrist would also be a possibility as a non-conventional #1 batter with his ability to work the count and his excellent OBP numbers. With Maddon’s fascination of hitting the pitcher #8 and SS Addison Russell as the regular #9 hitter, Zobrist batting lead-off would essentially have him be the #2 hitter even as the lead-off man with the Cubs.
Price is a waste of money considering his playoff record. Cubs need hitting, especially when their Aces had an ERA around 4+ in the NLCS.
Beaz can play CF like I say he is the B.Zobiest of the future if given time to grow Theo keep all the team together wait for are pitching and understand Solar will be are MVP next year as we win 100 games. If we stick to the plan 1 1/2 more years but pick up Henderson Alvarez for Lackey after 2 years and believe Hendricks will have a great year
In 2 years Torres will be are 2b but till then 2017 Summer keep Castro and Beaz who will be are CF/2B