The Cubs’ celebration of their World Series win took them to the Saturday Night Live stage, as Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and David Ross made two cameo appearances on last night’s show. The players first appeared in a sketch as (of all things) dancers at a bachelorette party, and the trio returned later in the show to sing “Go Cubs Go” alongside SNL legend and Cubs superfan Bill Murray. Since Fowler officially elected to become a free agent last evening (slightly before SNL went on the air), this may mark the last time we see the outfielder in a Cubs uniform. Here’s the latest from Wrigleyville and elsewhere around the NL Central…
- In a recent interview on ESPN 1000’s Waddle and Silvy Show (hat tip to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune), Miguel Montero admitted that he frustrated by his diminished playing time during the season and wished he had received more input from Joe Maddon about his role on the team. Montero appeared in 86 games and hit .216/.327/.357 over 284 plate appearances, with Ross and Willson Contreras getting an increasingly large share of the catching workload throughout the year and in the postseason. Though Montero is owed $14MM next season, he’ll likely still be limited to backup duties behind Contreras and possibly Kyle Schwarber if the Cubs still consider the slugger an option behind the plate. As Gonzalez notes, Montero’s large salary will make him a tough sell on the trade market unless the Cubs are willing to eat some of the money.
- Exercising Jaime Garcia’s club option gives the Cardinals rotation depth and some possible breathing room to make a trade, GM John Mozeliak tells Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “As we look to the trade market as we get to the GM meetings, we want to be able to not have our hands tied. For example, if we had not picked up the option, and all of a sudden we feel there’s a trade that might make sense for us that’s going to have to include a starter, then we’re left with having to backfill,” Mozeliak said. “Given what Jaime was able to accomplish last year, clearly it didn’t end the way he would’ve liked it to, but he still ate a lot of valuable innings for us. When I think about what’s out there on the free-agent market, I still think it’s an asset to have….And what if we have to move someone else? It would be nice to still have the depth in our rotation.” Hochman figures the Cards will be more active on the trade market than in free agency this winter, and he thinks the team will look at upgrading the defense in the wake of club-wide defensive metrics ranging from middling to below-average.
- Brewers GM David Stearns doesn’t expect as busy an offseason as last winter’s roster overhaul, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. “I think the amount of transactional volume that we had over the past 12 months was probably unprecedented. It would be tough for me to imagine that we would see a similar-type volume,” Stearns said. The GM also spoke of the importance of keeping a flexible 40-man roster, so the club has the opportunity to make additions if they unexpectedly arise.
Cardinals defense was atrocious, but not quite as bad as their base running. It was the year of running into the easiest outs at third and home, foolishly trying to take the extra base. You would think the manager would be held accountable for the obvious lack of preparation or improvement, but nope, 3 year Extension!!!
Agree, my question in response is how much of that has to do with Jose “the secret weapon” Oquendo not being around and the additional item of learning the qwerks of McKay at 3/infield coach?
I could see a trade between the Cards and Yanks with Gardner and Garcia.
I don’t see the match. Gardner wouldn’t hit in stl and doesn’t really play center and is owed more for longer.
There would need to be cash going to stl or more talent. Even if both players are equal in talent today.
I read Moz’s words to mean they don’t know which pitchers they want to move yet
In other words, Jaime might be in the rotation all season.
Jaime as a #3-#5 starter is pretty good. SOMEONE has to eat those innings.
I don’t think the Cards will sign Fowler due to the amount of money he wants and if Im correct, has a draft pick tied to him. Same for Cespedes. The free agent market doesn’t have much to offer, so finding a trade partner is the way to go IMO
Both should have decline their QO, correct. However I disagree. I think the Cards were nervous to lose draft picks last year and missed out on a few players because of it. I think they’ll get creative this year.
Especially considering the amount of depth the cards have.
I’m thinking that the emergence of Willson Contreras will spell the end of Kyle Schwarber’s catching career. Miguel Montero will be a more than sufficient backup to Contreras, and a great mentor to him, a role that he already stepped into this season. And if we need alternate options, there’s never any shortage of Tim Fedorowicz’ and such, not to mention Victor Caratini probably being a year or two away from big league ready.
The cubs have some choices to make in the offseason, do they resign chapman or make a run at melencon or jansen?
I’d feel much better locking up Jansen or Melencon than Chappy. But I’m grateful for what he gave us over the last couple of months and in the postseason.
There were rumors that Montero was on the bubble of making the post season roster. Not shocked how little he was used, but he had some big moments when he was.
I think the emergence of Kyle Schwarber’s bat spells the end of his catching career. I’m sure they much rather put him in the OF than behind the dish doing damage to his knees daily. With Fowler likely departing I would be surprised to see Schwarber in right and them shifting Zobrist to left.
I can see them making a trade then if they let fowler go, Heyward or Almora will take over in Center, Soler could be a trade piece. Baez takes over at second, I wonder if they trade Soler and Ian Happ for a pitcher.
Cubs will continue to have a lot of depth to keep the team rolling in case of an injury like Schwarber last year. Bryant, Baez, and Zobrist give them obtions that no other team has. They will be looking for upgrades to their relief pitching, Maddon didn’t have a lot of confidence in the people he had this year.
I thought of something crazy, If they don’t resign chapman or sign jansen or melencon, maybe they trade Soler and Ian Happ plus another prospect, for Zach Britton
Really? You think they would trade Britton for them. Dream on
I mean Britton had a fantastic year but Soler, Happ and any other prospect, at least a good one that is, does more for the Orioles long term than Britton will.
I mean Britton didn’t even play in the post this year (wink wink lol)
Soler is locked up for 4 more years. Ian Happ will never play for the Cubs ML team. Unless they trade Soler and happ has an incredible spring and he makes the team. And platoons with baez at 2nd and with Zobrist and Schwarbs in LF.
Monteiro is now a clubhouse cancer. He isn’t going to mentor anyone.
Great mentor? Did you not read his statements? He wants to start. People who lose their job to you don’t tend to be the best mentors.
Cards-Red Sox seems like a good fit, with JBJ heading west for a SP plus prospect package.
might have to give up weaver or wacha? Im not a gm but I think the red sox will ask for weaver
For sure Weaver over Wacha. I know Sox fans think JBJ is like the next Trout, but fact is Weaver seems like a pretty decent match, maybe plus a decent prospect.
Weaver for JBJ would be a fine deal for the Cardinals. We’d probably throw I’m another good prospect too as we are searching for a better CFer
Losing weaver would definitely hurt though as he has solid 2-3 starter for many years written all over him
Yeah it seems fair. JBJ had a good season last year (4.5 fWAR or about) but he was awful the year before and has some worrying splits (of all three kinds: platoon, home/away, and early/late season). Basically, he was only above average in the first half of 2016, against right handers at home. That’s just hitting of course. Dude’s a major plus with glove.
No, most Sox fans don’t think jbj is the next trout. He’s great with the glove but he’s a total enigma at the plate and a lot of us are hoping he gets traded before other teams figure that out too and he loses all his value.
A lot do
I hate the Cubs
Well, this winter, please enjoy stewing in your stew of hatred, hater!
Lol your name ^^ is awesome KSM
Clearly, Mozeliak and I disagree on the definition of “a lot of valuable innings.” There were some but not a lot. I just don’t see how Garcia is worth anywhere near $12M anymore as either a trade chip or a rotation piece. He finally stayed healthy all season for the first time in years, and he pitched like a #5 starter at best.
Many teams need a good catcher and Montero fits the bill. Could get a nice bullpen arm should the Cubs eat half of Montero’s contract.