MONDAY: While the Cubs are evidently still looking at a number of rotation options, the interest in Darvish appears to be serious. Top Chicago execs Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are meeting with Darvish and his reps in Texas, according to Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com (Twitter link) and Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter).
An in-person chat hardly suggests a deal is inevitable or even likely. But it’s a definite step beyond internal discussions or swapping texts with an agent. At the same time, to this point all indications have been that the Cubs are looking for the right price among a field of possibilities, with trade options and other free agents also in play.
SATURDAY: The Cubs have been very active on the pitching market this winter, and now they’re looking at the top free agent arm available. The club has interest in right-hander Yu Darvish, Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reports. He’d be the fifth pitcher the Cubs have signed this offseason, joining two starters (Tyler Chatwood and Drew Smyly) and a pair of relievers (Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek).
As MLBTR’s No. 1-ranked free agent (notably, Tim Dierkes & Co. forecast Darvish to the Cubs entering the offseason), the 31-year-old would require a far bigger commitment than anyone else Chicago has added in recent weeks. For a lofty price, Darvish would provide the back-to-back National League Central champions with a replacement for fellow free agent Jake Arrieta at the front of their rotation, filling out a starting quintet that would also include Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, Jon Lester and Chatwood. It’s worth noting that Smyly might not pitch at all in 2018, having undergone Tommy John surgery last year, while Mike Montgomery would likely slot in as a reliever (to his chagrin, it seems).
Darvish, who debuted with the Rangers in 2012 and underwent a Tommy John procedure two years later, has pitched to a 3.42 ERA/3.30 FIP combination and logged 11.04 K/9 against 3.32 BB/9 across 832 1/3 major league innings. He ended last year with the Dodgers, who acquired him at the trade deadline, and mostly performed well. Darvish even earned one of the Dodgers’ four wins over the Cubs in a five-game National League Championship Series, tossing 6 1/3 frames of one-run, six-hit ball and notching seven strikeouts against one walk in Game 3. While Darvish struggled mightily in two World Series losses to Houston, including in Game 7, it’s up in the air whether that will tamp down his earning power to any noticeable extent (if at all).
Because Darvish was part of a midseason trade, he was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer after the conclusion of the campaign. Consequently, the team that signs him won’t have to surrender draft-pick compensation in the process. That’s not the case with fellow free agent righty Alex Cobb, who rejected a QO from the Rays and whom the Cubs were aggressively courting last weekend. But it seems the Cubs cooled on Cobb during this week’s Winter Meetings, where they found his asking price “prohibitive,” Levine reports.
Might as well resign Arrieta as long as Yu and Jake have similar prices.
I’d actually rather have Darvish. As much as Jake did for the Cubs these past few years, I think he’s about done. Diminishing velocity and his control issues concern me. He has such great movement on breaking pitches but he just can’t always control them. Plus he has a ton of Minor league innings under his belt that adds to his total life time pitch count
You must have watched the World Series or some of Darvish’s outings in Arlington then. He’s not exactly peaking himself.
I agree madmantx. Arrieta is less injury prone and he has proven that he can win big games. The Cubs without a doubt have the best players in the game and the young core guys haven’t hit their peak. I say sign both Darvish and Arrieta and forget about Harper next year. Good pitching trumps good hitting any day of the week. Go to a six man rotation of Darvish, Arrieta, Lester, Hendrick, Quintana and Chatwood. Montgomery, Smyly can fill in gaps if someone gets hurt. With a 6 man rotation the arms will be strong in September and October.
“Without a doubt”? Astros, Dodgers, and Yankees beg to differ, just to name a few…
I mean they do have the best 3B and 1B out of the 3 u named. But, Correa, Seager and DiDi r better SS.. Altuve is by far the best 2B in baseball. The Cubs outfield doesn’t compare to the Yankees or Red Sox. And the Yankees have one of the top catchers in baseball. Plus the Dodgers have Kershaw which by all means in the ultimate trump card.
To say the best players in the game without a doubt is setting ur self up for extreme comments. I’m sure most ppl went troll and didn’t comment
Contreras?
Even that isn’t so clear cut if the Dodgers put Bellinger at 1B full time. I’d still give the slight edge to the Cubs, but Turner/Bellinger looks like it’ll be VERY close to Bryant/Rizzo.
Turner Bellinger 2017 but Bryzzo 2018 and after.
Darvish is more of a risk. They could get cobb,Davis and McGee for what Darvish and arrieta are asking.
But, Cobb stinks. Theos going to reel in the big fish.
I don’t want any dodger on my team. Cobb is younger and better. Way less of a risk. Darvishs 2 ws starts he only pitched 3innings.
Cobb wants $18M+ & McGee signed a 3 yr $27M contract with Colorado. Davis probably worth about $13M. So you’re saying Yu & Jake want around $40M a year…basically you have no idea what’s going on so stop talking.
I say Arrieta has proven he can sub the big game. And his 1 year old is obsolete with his physical condition. However, someone else previously wrote about how Arrieta can’t quite control his movement. If and when he does he is so nasty and so dangerous. I wouldn’t want to have to make this decision. BUT! Jake Arrieta has simply priced himself right out of Chicago. Even if he were reasonable, at say, 5 years 120 or even 4 years 88 , they would have more talks. Darvish may prefer Chicago to elsewhere and may, just maybe, sign with the Cubs for a touch less, to be competing well into his 30’s in the United States of America. I wonder where these talks are. 5 years 110m?
3 years 75m? I’m sure the Cubs would love 5 yrs 100 mil. But I don’t know if that’s reasonable. And I don’t know that they’re willing to go to 22/yr for ages 31-35. I feel like Chi is up to something. Or maybe they kicked the tires and liked something they heard initially from Darvish’s camp. Maybe Darvish and this newly rumored Japanese reliever are “tighter” than anyone else knows. I’d love to hear more about this.
Darvish = Ace
Arietta = very good #3
Too many walks and long balls from Arietta to justify Boras’ asking price imo.
Darvish walks alot also.. but darvish can rely on the strikeout to get him out of trouble. Jake can but the past couple years his K numbers have dropped big time and his walks get him in trouble.. also u have to consider length of the contract.. darvish will get a 6 year contract at least as with arrieta, he will get 4 max… If I were cubs I’d try to overpay darvish and get a 3 yr deal.. like 3 for 80.. or pay him normal give him a 5 year deal with opt out clauses after year 2 and 3 and hope he opts out.. if I were cubs I wouldn’t want either lol. I’d rather trade Happ and a few prospects for Fulmer and addy and prospects for Machado n britton
No offense, but you’re delusional if you think Darvish, or any other pitcher of his stature would accept a 3 yr contract. That’s well below market value.
You had me at least partially agreeing with you until the end. I’m not giving up addy for 4 years(or more) for 1 year Machado and Britton. Fulmer going to cost more than Happ and prospects as well. Get Darvish
@internet1toughguy1
Why would Darvish take 3 years?
You are not getting Fulmer for Happ and a few random prospects and you want to give away Russell and more prospects because why? For one year of Britton and Machado? Then what?
Darvish has been a half of walk per nine lower than Jake each of the last two years.
There is no way you get Fullmer for Happ and any of the few true prospects we have left.
Addi and prospect (would we even have any left) for Britton and Machado is one of the most ridiculous suggestions I have ever heard.
Jkb, why wouldn’t darvish take a 3 year deal if he was being paid 5 mill a year more per year? He’d still be a free agent at age 32 I believe and would still get a 3-4 yr contract no problem..
And I guarantee you tigers would trade Fulmer for Happ and a couple of the Cubs top pitching prospects.
And for cubs trading Russell for for Machado and Britton? The cubs would do that. That alone would make them favorites because their improved pen would be one of the best being 6-7 good relievers deep, and a lineup of
Almora/Happ CF
Kb 3b
Rizz 1b
Machado SS
Contreras C
Schwarber lf
Baez 2b
Heyward rf
Would average 6.5 runs a game.
They would not lack for offense but, 6.5? I don’t think so.
Darvish would almost certainly care about the total guarantee rather than annual value. Players typically want as many years and as much money as possible. 3/80 gets laughter from his agent and a dial tone. 6/150 is the likely floor. He had TJ surgery already, no guarantee he’ll be an ace 3 years from now. The Tigers are also not trading Fulmer for less because of his injury. Fulmer is a TOR arm who has what 4 years of control left with arb salaries? Happ, Baez and Edwards and even that feels a little low. Also Russell and some prospects for Machado AND Britton? Orioles want pitching and not someone with domestic abuse problems. If you want Machado and want them to accept non-pitchers then start with Happ or Baez.
Boras clients will have a rough time this year, teams are trading for their upgrades. Free agents are not that appealing.
And I wonder whether his patient, wait until February strategy will back fire this time around. For reasons you listed.
# 3 might be a little low
Troll
I agree with Chisoxcity on Arietta all the way around. U disagree on Darvish though. Personally I do not think Darvish is an ace or even close.
Darvish is pretty much a 2-3 now. Maybe an ace on a mediocre team.
If the Cubs don’t want to resign him they know something, Jake has a better career WAR, but Yu is projected to have a better WAR next year and had a better year last year. It’s a crap shoot, neither will be worth the money they are getting..
How did Darvish have a better year last year?
It’s not a crapshoot. Arrieta has consistently declined since 2015, Darvish is easily better and it‘s hardly close. Not to mention Steve Adams and Jeff Todd said the same thing.
by not signing jake we gain a draft pick also
If Jake would not be asking for 200mil. I guess he got his Championship so now he is all about the money.
“Yu Darvish has thrown 14,512 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2009 and 2017, including pitches thrown in the MLB Regular Season, the MLB Postseason, The World Baseball Classic and Spring Training. In 2017, he has relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (95mph) and Slider (83mph), also mixing in a Sinker (94mph), Cutter (89mph) and Curve (73mph). He also rarely throws a Change (88mph) and Splitter (88mph).”
I’m a big fan of Yu Darvish’s Pitching repertoire^ I prefer him over Arrieta.
Source- brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?player=50643
Untrue. Arrieta will get a significant amount more than darvish
good lord. the benefits of having the big market and huge payrolls. would have been great for the Brewers to hold off the cubs last year for that reason alone.
Payroll played no part. Guts did. When it came time, the Brewers didn’t have the guts to trade from their strength to land Quintana. The Cubs did.
Maybe they wouldn’t have needed to if they had an opening day payroll that was $115mil+ larger…
I hear the brewers have the same budget as the Iowa cubs
I hear you have the same mental capacity of a banana slug.
Lmao
Seems like that’s the Brewer’s fans fault. The Cubs sell out their stadium regularly, the Brewers only sell out when they play the Cubs…
You can’t have a large payroll with a small revenue.
Then put a better product on the field, draw more, pay more. It is no rocket science.
The CUbs stunk for many years and had a loyal fan base.
Deal with it.
While we’re on the topic of tickets, the reason why Milwaukee sells out when they play the Cubs is because Miller Park tickets are roughly 2/3 of the price of what you pay at Wrigley Field (which is now more expensive than Yankee Stadium, meaning only Fenway Park is more expensive) and you don’t have to book your tickets +2 months ahead of time to get good seats.
Which is why the Cubs have more revenue and a higher payroll. Cubs had years of cheap owners doing nothing with the payroll.
Are you trying to get Cub fans to apologize because their team has money?
payroll played no part? it just isn’t physically possible for a team like the Brewers to have a payroll $70million or more each year which exactly what the cubs do.
Just be thankful that Milwaukee’s only 90 miles away so the Cub fans can sell out Miller 9-10 times per year for you.
lol so true
$70 million payroll is for big markets? Lol. Sure pal
28 of 30 teams had a payroll over $70 million last year genius. I guess those are all big markets.
Maybe if Brewer fans would show up and support their team your would not be so pathetic.
But naw just wait for the Cubs to come to town and sell out for you.
Haha nice
That’s not CHicago’s problem. Put a better product on the field.
*Wrigley North
Savage lol.
But the brewers get more draft picks, bigger draft pool and get money from the big boys. If you’re getting 3-4 picks before the cubs get to their 2nd pick that evens it out a little bit and they’re paying you for it
What are you talking about??? The Brewers just broke the bank to land their 2018 ace in Gallardo!
@Appbrewers
But Quintana did not cost much financially so what is your point.
Brewers had the pieces to land Q. They just did not have the balls.
Explain to me how finances stopped the Brewers from landing Q please.
The cubs overpaid for Q, so the brewers would’ve drastically overpaid.
(1) Arrieta will command less money per year. Both will likely want 6-7 year deals (if not Arrieta will will want 6-7, Darvish 7-8), so possibly shorter.
(2) Darvish has a history of arm issues; Jake none.
(3) Darvish imploded in the postseason when he pitched against anyone other than the Cubs. Jake, pitched well once he was healthy and forced Game 5.
(4) I think they’re both the same age, Jake maybe 1 year older?
(5) You know Jake better.
My question to anyone who wants to weigh in: given the 5 points I listed above, why the hell are you going after Darvish and ignoring Arrieta?
Arrieta velocity has gone down the last two seasons, and his numbers and advance metrics all agree he’s regressed. Yu tippong his pitches is kess concerning than habing your ERA continue to going up.
Agreed. And Jake wants a huge pay day. He spurned Cubs offers in season the past few years. Even though the Cubs staff gave him everything to turn his career around from Baltimore.
Look at Jakes velocity trends the last few years, and dont judge darvish solely by his post season
darvish is better
They know Jake better is exactly why they won’t pay him what hes asking.. it’s probably the years more than the price though
What you declined to address in any of those points is that Darvish is the better pitcher. He’s got better stuff, better results. There’s a reason he’ll command more money this off-season than Arrieta will
This is highly subjective, considering actual stats besides velocity regression. Arrieta’s issues stemmed from location problems—which improved once season progressed. He’s a Cy wi. We with an outstanding post season resume. His age is regressing, and he lost the Cy mojo that, had he maintained location, would’ve gotten him paid. His asking price is too much, but so is Yu’s. None of the FA pitchers is worth more than 4 years, as they’ve all aged out of long term at ace prices.
In the most simple terms, Darvish has much better strikeout and walk numbers. Had been consistently excellent, whereas Arrieta has had a history of struggles in between in excellent (better then Darvish) results. But, Darvish was better last season and his velocity and peripherals aren’t trending down like Jake’s. If it were me, I would gamble on Darvish before Arrieta.
Arrieta wants 6-7 year deal? I couldn’t even imagine paying a pitcher that kind of money until they are 38-39. It would be like a Wainwright 2.0 contract. I like Arrieta, wish Cardinals could pick him up for 2-3 years.
Both want big money, teams will turn to Archer.
Every one would like him for 2-3 years. Lol
The contract with Lester is that long and he will be old.
Because Jake is kind of a D***
You answered yourself in full with #5. “You know Jake better”. You know all the medicals, you have every analytic from every pitch, etc. You had at least a year to get him to stay.
As much as I like him, Jake has been getting worse.
1. Arietta is too inconsistent to justify giving him an Ace contract. He’ll look amazing for four innings, then walk two batters and give up a long ball and get pulled.
2. Darvish has a longer track record of high performance than Arietta, particularly during the regular season.
And mostly in a tougher Al for Darvish.
Both players look bad to me for a contender, they might be good for a team trying to become contenders. The back end of a six year contract will be bad.
I’d love be Darvish on Cubs staff.. he would probably slide in as a 3 behind Lester/Hendricks? Hendricks/Lester/ Q/Darvish/Chatwood maybe.
Point is any of those top four guys could be aces or 2’s but someone will be the 3/4
Not so sure Lester is a top 2 pitcher anymore. I’d start Hendricks and Q over him
Could be. But those top 4 could go in any order
The answer is neither, trade for Archer instead!
Yeah, let’s get the guy with the even higher ERA, two years running AND give up a bunch of players.
Who said they are ignoring Arietta? I would prefer Jake over Darvish but Jake is still looking for too much and the Cubs are just kicking the tires on Darvish as they should
I think they’re out on Jake. Kicked by tires on Darvish and will get him if money is right. At same time they’re putting pressure on another free agent former Rays SP to sign deal now
1. Arrieta costs a draft pick and Darvish does not. Darvish is not getting 7-8 years, he‘s getting 5-6 just like Arrieta wants.
2. Arrieta also only has 1 year when he was actually an ace while Darvish was a legend in Japan and is one of the top 5 in the Majors in strikeouts.
3. Irrelevant due to sample size.
4. Jake is a few months older.
5. Which is exactly why they’re more interested in Darvish and even prefer Cobb over him.
Declining velo, rising ERA, and H/9 rate.
NY aint the same, it’s OT playa!
Darvish has a solid recird as a top starter. Arrieta has been good for only 2-3 yr and seems to be trending down. I would put my money on YU
U will be making a big mistake anyone who signs Arrieta for more then 3 years
Actually, I’d make that argument for any power/strikeout pitcher who is over 30. Once you get passed age 35, unless you’re a total freak (e.g. Randy Johnson), you’re going into decline. I’ll give him until age 35, after that, year-to-year.
For the record, Darvish did pitch well against the Dbacks on the playoffs in Arizona, a hitters park. But he typically has always had trouble in high pressure situations. Would only sign Arrieta to a 3 or 4 year deal max. On a contending team like the Cubs, you are only playing to win a championship; anything less is a lost season. Do you wanna give big money to a guy who can’t be counted on when it matters most? Not worth the chance for that money.
If I’m the Cubs I trade for Archer over signing either of these guys!
I’m a Cubs fan too, but TB isn’t just going to give Archer away for nothing. Trading for him would cost the Cubs too much, not money, but players, and they may not even have the players to do it.
Exactly. FA only costs money. Not prospects which we are now low in except in the low minors. Yu won’t cost a draft pick and Jake going elsewhere gains a pick
the Jays need Darvish.
Toronto is, at best, a 3rd place team in the AL East with Darvish. The Jays need to rebuild like the White Sox and Tigers.
The Orioles would actually be scary with Darvish and a Cobb or Archer in the rotation, their owner situation ensures zero percent chance of that ever happening.
O’s need to rebuild, anything else is just dreaming!
O’s just awful leadership. Should rebuild but to stubborn. No excuse for dumb
Chisoxcity making a lot of sense today. Lol
White Sox fans know their stuff 😉 40 years and counting…
except how to buy tickets and show up at #istillcallitcomiskey
That’s because Sox fans are idiots. #woosh
Meant to say Sox fans AREN’T idiots. Posting messages from an iPhone is torture.
If I could get Lance Lynn for 1/3 of the price, rather go that road.
Lynn is the type of pitcher I think ages better (see: Lester). I agree with that and would love to see the Cubs get Lynn to round out the rotation and slide him in at #3 over Quintana.
Hell no on Lynn. His perifeals looked awful. Don’t have them memorized, just remember reading on fangraphs.
I agree that he ages better. He is Lackey and that ain’t bad. These other two turds are on the downside
Did you see la key last year? Ouch
Before anyone gripes about Darvish imploding in the post season, find the article from a couple days ago that explains how the Astros figured out Yu was tipping his pitches. This is fixable.
Cubs found Cobb’s price prohibitive? Any idea what his asking price is currently? If CHC is no longer interested Cobb must be asking for too much $$$ and too many years.
Cobb should get around 18 million a year for 4 years, but an Archer trade makes more sense to me.
They both want a deal but all of a sudden a few other teams have jumped in. Now his agent is asking 20 million a year since he’s got a feeding frenzy. He will still go cubs if they haven’t already signed Yu. But he won’t get his agents stupid asking price.
If Cobb is asking $20m per year then there is no feeding frenzy any longer and that explains why he is not signed
True. Lol. Darvish is our “take the deal mr Cobb, or we walk to Darvish “
I heard Cobb is looking for $20M per.
Delusional asking for $20m a year. Guy needs to come back down to earth.
Well, the Cubs did just give $13mil/yr to someone with a 4.58 career FIP. Suddenly Cobb doesn’t look so delusional.
Well that sucks
6 years/135m
lol, 6 @ 180m minimum.
Shocker
Any other dodgers the cubs looking to sign? Tony Watson maybe?
That’s Called a double whammy. Making the team that beat you weaker by taking the players who beat you. I know losing morrow really stings.
Yes you know Jake which is why they dont want to pay him. Darvish has better stuff and lets not forget if they resign Jake they wont get any draft pick compensation from him turning down the QO. Sign Darvish, lose no picks since his mid-season trade, let Jake sign elsewhere, get pick, profit.
What’s a deal for Yu look like? 6years/23M per year with an opt-out after 5?
I wouldnt even give Darvish more than 5 years. 4 years with an opt out after 2 and option for a 5th. 19mil max a year. Would rather have Cobb at 4/64
Why?! Stay away!! They don’t need to be giving out large contracts! They need to prepare for next off season! Machado, Harper, Kershaw, blackmon, Donaldson, Andrus, Pollock, Keuchel, Richards, Cody Allen, Brach, familia, kimbrel, Madsen, Ramos, Britton, Andrew Miller ARE ALL FREE AGENTS!! they can get their closer next year, try out a prospect as their fifth starter. And next off season they need to sign Pollock to play center and leadoff, and if they can trade addy and a few prospects for Machado and Britton then do it, cuz even if Machado doesn’t resign, they can go all in for Harper, and slide Baez over to short and then they can trade heyward and package schwarber with him so the team eats heywards contract..
Pollock cf
Rizzo 1b
Kb 3b
Harper rf
Contreras C
Happ/zobrist 2b
Baez SS
Happ/almora/zobrist Lf
With trading heyward they could sign 2-3 big contracts. They could in reality go get Harper and Machado. Just imagine that lineup but I assume they’ll want a pitcher, and the 2 best available are Kershaw and Keuchel. Be great to get Kershaw but I don’t think they’ll get him if they get 1 of Harper/Machado.. but Keuchel I think is a possibility..
Keuchel
Hendricks
Lester
Quintana
Would be a super strong rotation with them 4..
Pen would be great with a addition of 1 of Miller/Britton/Brach/kimbrel/Allen
So I think they need to save for next year. So many things they can do next year. They can literally make a super pen by signing 5 closers and they could walk through any playoff game.. biggest targets should be 1 of Harper and Machado, and Pollock and a reliever and a starter. Just need to trade heyward
Heyward contract too big to go away. And trading for Q was the big deal. He’s so cheap on contract that it gives Cubs the money to sign a Darvish size contract. And don’t forget.. cubs aren’t in cap problems and they print money.
Cubs should stay away from Darvish.
Their number one target next year should be free agent Charlie Blackman to hit in front of Bryant, Rizzo, Contreras. Will literally cost $300 million less than Harper / Machado leaving room for pitching acquisitions. Blackman, Heywood, Almora the best defensive outfield.
I actually like that idea. I think Harper wants to come to cubs but you have a great point. Not a big drop off in talent and cheaper. Throw him in CF
Bryce Harper is gross. I don’t want him anywhere near a Cubs jersey.
First Heyward has a no trade clause so that ends that.
Next even if you traded him no other team is going to pay his entire contract. Thus you save no money and there goes your other theory of adding olayers with the savings that do not exist.
Then you want to get rid of Russell and Schwarber and others to go for one year of Machado and one year of Britton they you say thats ok since after they walk after one year they can just go “all in” (whatever the heck that means) and just sign Haroer so easily huh?
Suppose Harper has other suitors? So then you just outbid everyone? Sign a monster contract that kills the team and hamstrings them on resigning Bryant.
So no more Bryant or Schwarber or Russell or Happ and you just closed the window and destroyed all the hardwork Theo did in building the chance for sustained success.
In short do not quit your day job as running a front office is not for you bozo
Or, the Cubs could pony up and spend $250MM for a few more WS runs. They’ll get rid of Heyward at some point, plus a tv deal gives them present financial flexibility.
Yeah, teams are lining up to trade for Heyward and that albatross of a contract. Cubs are stuck with him unless they eat 50% of that deal.
Just to clarify, Heyward only has a limited no trade clause in 2019 and 2020, so the Cubs will have a window to trade him without his consent. Also, I believe Mr. Tough Guy proposed packaging Schwarber with Heyward so that a team will agree to take Heyward’s contract off our hands. Not packaging Schwarber with Russell.
In short, don’t quit your day job, as reading comprehension is not for you bozo.
I don’t think Happ is going anywhere. He is going to start taking over for Zobrist more and more at second I think. I can’t see Baez getting traded right now either because who backs up SS if Russell gets hurt again? I also would like to see the Cubs try and get Schwarbers stock up some before trading him
Yah, because Schwarber is valuable enough to get someone to take on that garbage contract…
Good point
I believe they’re the top two FA pitchers— a play on one greatly impacts the other and the Cubs just might be using Darvish as leverage.
Jake would cost less, has never had arm trouble and has not choked in the playoffs.
Arietta has some barely average in the playoffs. Put it this way, no TOR starter should be getting pulled from a playoff game in the 4th or 5th inning.
Arrieta has a 3.08 playoff ERA. That’s much better than average.
You’re obviously including his Cy Young year—Arietta was the best pitcher in baseball that year. He’s not that guy anymore, which is why his market value has diminished.
We need to trade for Archer, re-sign Davis, re-sign Jon Jay and go win ourselves another World Series
How would trading core players for Archer and his 4 plus ERA help win
the cubs do not have the prospects to trade for Archer , they would have to trade happ and others for him, they were better off trying to sign cobb, or maybe lance lynn.
I think they should pass on both unless the asking price goes down to something like an opt out after 4yrs and 100mil, but I am pretty sure a team will give a 6yr and 150mil or more deal to Jake and 6yr 170 or more to Yu.
I said from the start that Cobb would be 5/20 and you all told me I was nuts.
I still say your nuts. What they ask is not going to be what he gets
If you do not like the SMyly signing, due to the surgery, you can’t be wanting Cobb or Darvish.
Why? People don’t like the Smyly signing because he’s not even going to be able to pitch for half of his contract. He’s already out for most, if not all, of 2018.
Why does everyone think the Rays are just going to give Archer away? He’s not going to Chicago!!!
Russell, Happ or Schwarber and a few minor league nubs could get Archer.
that would hurt the cubs , unless they go out and sign escobar for shortstop after trading russell.
Shortstop is Baez’s natural position, and he’s a better fielder than Russell. Zobrist can platoon at 2nd with a free agent add, or Happ if they keep him.
Cubs wouldn’t offer it to begin with, and secondly the Rays would probably say no. Rays don’t need Russell (overrated anyway), Cubs won’t trade Schwarber (they are higher than anyone on him), and Happ is too important to trade. Archer is not going to Chicago.
No way archer comes to cubs
Archer is on the decline. No way he’s worth anymore than prospects right now. He will not perform in a big market. I don’t care if he’s controlled until 2025 I wouldn’t trade for him
Archer has been average the past two years. He is not that good
Remember, when you trade one of your top players, you’re looking toward the future. So projection plays more into it than present day…
Realize that and you’ll see that Russell, Happ or Schwarber and a few minor league nubs is unequivocally less than what Cubs gave up for Quintana.
To acquire Archer, given his contract, you’re looking at Two of Russell, Baez, Happ, Schwarber or Almora. Plus one of Caratini, Tseng, or Alzolay.
Yes. It would take three young players that project to be above average to great. Archer’s contract is that valuable.
The Cubs gave up a prospect for Quintana. How is that more than MLB ready players?
That’s why cubs won’t trade for archer. 312 beer will go up a $1. That should pay for darvish.
I agree. Archer would not only cost the Cubs 2 pitching prospects but Happ, Baez at the very least if not Swarb added. I laugh at fans when they say you should do this do that trade this trade that only problem it takes two to trade and the other team is thinking a lot bigger no matter what fans say or think. Their opinion doesn’t matter
Who cares if Archer goes to Chicago or not
Cobb shouldn’t get more than 4yr 60mil with being out all of 2015 and being terrible in 16. 2017 was pretty decent but he didn’t have many strikeouts at all. I am guessing he will get 5yr 90mil from some team.
The Cubs could make it easy on themselves and just repeat the sales pitch they made to Japanese P/OF Shohei Otani two weeks ago…only this time with a boatload of cash!
Levine is usually wrong on Cubs rumors. I don’t see them going beyond 4 years for Darvish.
His report has been confirmed by other outlets. The Cubs front office is in Dallas meeting with Darvish.
As for “four years.” Logic says you’re wrong. Recent history shows that TOR pitchers in their young 30s get a minimum of 5-6 years on their deal. Now, I’m sure you’ll say the Cubs FO is too smart for that. But saying as much would create a paradox. See, if they’re too smart to offer Darvish the requisite 5-6 years it would take to sign him, then they’re also insanely stupid to fly to Dallas to meet with him. They’d be wasting their time, and they’d piss off his agent.
Not saying the Cubs will sign him. But there’s zero chance they fly to Dallas, meet with him, and aren’t prepared to offer 6 years.
I do not think the Cubs are the least bit concerned with whether the agent is pissed or not at the multi million dollar offer
The Cubs gave Lester 6 years, why wouldn’t they do the same with Darvish?
I do I see 5 years with an opp after 4
5/100. Watch
Daniels and company needs to get off there lazy asses and re-sign Darvish. We need him back in Texas
The negotiating is all, but over. Theo and Jed are flying down to close the deal. Otherwise they could negotiate on skype or on the phone.
Agreed.
Stop.
This is what Theo does. Builds the machine and does well with Ws titles. But then gets team in trouble spending stupid (Crawford/Gonzalez) until blows up in his face. Beware Cub fans….beer and chicken are coming to your town next!
Nah, I think the Cubs will be alright if they sign Darvish. The Cubs have enough financial flexibility to cut deals like this. Plus they have a ton of trade assets if things don’t pan out the next three years or so.
Totally agree. Probably best choice.
JA is declining, and Theo is going to seek out the best option wether FA or trade. Cubs are not worried about cash that’s for sure. They have plenty of assets. Hope the deal goes through. Beca tough rotation next year.
If we get another ring first bring on the chicken and beer.
Not every single deal is going to pan out. I think his World Series titles (and “curse”-busting ability) speak volumes.
If everyone could predict the future, we’d all be billionaires. Fact of the matter is, the guy is a winner, and is arguably (currently) the best executive, not just in baseball, but in all of sports.
Cobb is overrated
Darvish got hammered by the Astros twice why wound anybody want to give him big money is beyond me.
He had a bad WS so what. Pitchers have bad series even CK had bad games. You give money to Chris Sale. Yet he gave up 6 runs in his playoff game. You guys judge 1 series. Get real. Stupid post.
It turns out and it came out that he was tipping his pitches. The Astros came out and said so. Basically they were so on it they basically knew if each pitch was a fastball or off speed and they jumped all over him twice. So that is actually correctable