Every player has different priorities, many of which go beyond maximizing earnings, though that’s not always easy to discern from publicly available information. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports provides an interesting recent example, though, in Jason Hammel of the Cubs. The right-hander and his wife were disappointed to be dealt away from Chicago at the trade deadline in 2014, with Hammel telling Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein that he would “pitch well enough that you bring me back” even as he departed for the A’s. Though Hammel wasn’t as good in Oakland as he had been before the deal, that’s just what happened, as Hammel inked a two-year, $18MM deal in the offseason. It looked like a nice value for the team at the time, and the veteran has rewarded the Cubs with 204 2/3 innings of 3.43 ERA pitching since his return.
Here’s more from the NL Central:
- Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta has been cleared to begin swinging a bat, as MLB.com’s Jen Langosch reports on Twitter. Peralta’s thumb injury looked like a major blow at the time, and while his loss has been softened by the stellar play of Aledmys Diaz, he should still provide a boost for a club that’s hovering around .500 while their division rivals to the north lay waste to the rest of the league. Fellow middle infielders Kolten Wong and Jedd Gyorko haven’t been nearly as effective as Diaz, and could cede playing time to Peralta when he’s healthy.
- Shane Victorino is active at Triple-A Iowa for the Cubs, but he might not spend much time there before a decision is made on his future with the organization. Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register tweets that Chicago has informed the veteran outfielder that his status will be reevaluated after a few weeks with the team’s top affiliate. Victorino is off to a solid start, with five hits — including two doubles and a triple — in his first four games.
- There’s long been talk that Epstein would sign a new deal with the Cubs before reaching executive free agency after the season, but he tells Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link) that there are no imminent extensions — either for himself or with any of the team’s players. Nevertheless, the presumption still seems to be that Epstein will re-up with the organization at some point.
- It was always expected to be a difficult season for the Reds, but the organization has dealt with more injuries than might’ve been hoped. C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer provides updates on several situations. Righty Michael Lorenzen is just now returning to the hill after experiencing elbow issues this spring and then suffering a bout with mono. Fellow pitchers Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, and Jon Moscot are all making progress with their own injury matters, but certainly that’s not a list of arms that the club hoped to see on the DL at this stage of the year. DeSclafani, like Lorenzen, has yet to appear in the majors this season.
I’d be curious to see how Theo would do with a team in a market like Colorado or Milwaukee. He’s done good work in Boston and Chicago but the task is likely easier when ownership is willing to lay out the money.
Lay out the money? How so? Theo tore down the roster and rebuilt through the draft. With the exception of Lester, Heyward, and Zobrist. The reason there was money to spend, is because all of the roster is guys who were recently called up. Colorado and Milwaukee both had higher payrolls in 12,13, and 14
My thoughts exactly.
The Cubs were the #3 spenders in free agency after 2014 and #1 this off season. Heyward’s contract alone is for more than the Brewers and Rockies combined to spend in free agency over the last three years.
It doesn’t seem debatable that Cubs ownership is willing to spend more than most clubs to build a consistent winner, on international signings as well as free agents.
……….you forgot to credit the Orioles for their “development work” with Hammel, Strop, and Arrietta
Credit them how? I hope you’re being sarcastic. Strop maybe. Hammel and Arrieta* were turned around by the best pitching coach in the league. Bosio turned Scott Feldman into Arrieta and Strop. He turned Garza into Hendricks. And also had Shark pitching good enough to get Russell and McKinney back
shark did not get Russell and McKinney. Shark + Hammel did.
And they signed hammel right back, so no, Shark got Russell and McKinney
Are you stupid? It’s not like the A’s just traded for Hammel expecting he’d do 0 for them that season.
Do you honestly think the cubs would have not traded Hammel for someone else during that trade deadline? Just go away
I’m talking in the end, they only ended up giving shark for Russell and McKinney. Hammel coming back kinda cancels it out. If you want to talk about who should go away, it clearly should be you. I’ve seen a ton of your comments on articles that are so ridiculously stupid, that you’re starting to sound like bigpapi4ever
^^Like
You need to throw in the Millions of dollars thrown out to International players before giving GM’s too much credit for building through the draft. Small to Mid market clubs can’t compete with the Large market clubs when it comes to International player signings. Money hides mistakes!
Rizzo, Russell, Fowler, Montero, la stella, arrietta, Hendricks, strop, Grimm, wood, warren and then hector rondon was a rule 5 pick. All those guys were acquired through trade. The only guy on the 25 man that was an international signing is soler, and they are winning in spite of him not because of him. You are right the draft narrative is overblown, although Bryant, Schwarber, almora, Underwood, pierce johnson were all first or second round picks who could be on the team by the end of the year.
Theo’16 are implying that if Theo knew he had a ceiling of 120-130m that he would have made ALL of the same personnel moves? Really?
Yes, all those guys were in arbitration or pre arbitration when acquired. They got more years of control. The only signings you could question would be Lester but even the Rockies and brewers have 20 mil plus per year contracts. Reyes and braun. All those trades were short term assets for long term and had 0 relevance to salary. With Montero the only one over 10 mil.
Cubbie fan, curious to see what numbers you are looking at. According to spotrac.com, ’12 payroll: chiC 116m (10th), mil 112 (11th), col 88 (22nd); ’13 – chiC 106 (13th), mil 88 (20th), col 79 (24th); ’14-mil 110 (15th), col 96 (19th), chiC – 92 (23).
Today the cubbies are looking at a payroll of 168m. The point that you are missing is that Theo has been given the resources to go big. How would Theo do in a market where he did not have the ability to go north of 120-130? Dude is obviously very good at his job.
He doesn’t sign heyward or lackey and the payroll is 130mil. Soler plays every day and adam warren becomes a starter instead of a reliever. Basically they just lose some depth. They would have also had basically an extra second round pick every year (see competetive balance picks).
It’s Cubs* not “Cubbies” go read the article on bleacher report today about that whole phrase. These aren’t the “lovable losers” anymore
They will be the lovable losers until they win it all. Until then it’s just another year of unfulfilled expectations. I don’t think regular season dominance is relevant. But that’s just me.
No it’s not relevant at all. It just makes the difference if a team gets to make sure they make it to the playoffs and not have to play the wildcard game. Go away if you’re going to be a troll. Don’t be crying because the BEST team in baseball, are indeed, the Chicago Cubs
What the deuce. How am I a troll? I must be too old. I thought hozie had a great question and you dismissed it with inaccurate info. I was trying to engage in dialogue. And you come back name calling and tell me I’M crying. I hope they get to 117 and win the World Series. My family is from the Chicago area and many of my aunts and uncles would die happy if that happened. Having said all that, Cubs fan are starting to sound like the new Red Sox fans.
Well said Kaps…
Theo isn’t in hurry to get a deal done, because the number of zeros increase if they win this year.
Theo is definitely hitting on all cylinders. The hiring of Joe Maddon was the Final piece of the puzzle when putting this all together. If Joe thought Soler was anywhere close to Heyward’s equal (and I don’t believe Heyward was worth the contract he received), Soler would be playing RF and perhaps they would have used Heyward’s money to wrap up Arrieta.
They will know more about what money they want to give Arrieta when their TV deal is negotiated
I have no doubt in my mind that Theo is the main reason his own contract talks aren’t moving forward with the Cubs… I think he’s betting on the Cubs at worst making it to the World Series this year (if not winning it all). That gives him **ALL** the leverage in negotiating his next contract with the Cubs, “I won you your first World Series in 107 years. Tell me why I don’t deserve to be the highest paid executive in baseball.” ::mic drop:::
But seriously, my biggest question is this: Who would realistically be the Cubs main “competition” for re-signing Theo on the open market? Which teams could offer him the salary AND the deep pockets to compete?
Cubs ownership has already publicly stated that they want to make Theo the highest paid executive in the game. But with that being said, if he does win or even just make it to the ws, then he’s just making sure he won’t ever get passed as the highest paid executive.
Washington would pounce on Theo if given the chance. Their Prez/GM Mike Rizzo is potentially in the final year of his deal and so far Nats ownership hasn’t made a big push to sign him to an extension or simply pick-up a one year option that’s included in the deal. I’d have to believe, the Lerners would jump at Theo.
I’m not sure what % of the credit goes directly to Theo, maybe a good amount. I will say, that guy absolutely knows how to surround himself with great people. I don’t think the cubs front office and coaching (no, not Maddon) in general gets enough respect and it’s largely given to Theo. That said, he will remain with the cubs, will become the highest paid gm, and will hopefully continue to captain a pretty impressive ship.
Highest paid gm that isn’t a gm. He’s the team president, Hoyer is g.m.
All you Cubs fans better pray arrietta doesn’t go down with an injury or your screwed! That automatic win turns into a rotation that is mediocre at best… Hammels, Hendricks, lackey, Lester, and wood? Doesn’t compete in the post season. No matter what I don’t see anyone getting around the mets staff in the post season… 4 guys throwing 96-100 with filth will prevail again…
We Cubs fans are well aware of your (mets) point. Wrong injury (any one of arrietta, Lester or lackey) .. And yes match ups against your hard throwers…
Hoping mets get wildcard and have to burn some pitching … But we do not have enough to have confirm de against certain match ups in the post season.. More improvements to be made