Some items from Wrigleyville…
- The Cubs aren’t one of the teams that have shown early interest in trading for Manny Machado, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (via Twitter). Kris Bryant is obviously locked in at third base, though with Machado reportedly looking to return to shortstop, there’s at least some room to imagine Machado playing at the Friendly Confines if the Cubs were willing to move Addison Russell. Trading significant assets for just one year of Machado (who is a free agent after 2018) doesn’t seem to fit the Cubs’ long-term plans, however, especially since the team has already moved several other young prospects in other trades over the last two years.
- Cubs GM Jed Hoyer believes his team will add at least one more pitcher before the Winter Meetings are over, ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers reports. Chicago has been linked to a wide array of starters and relievers this offseason, with Tyler Chatwood and Brandon Morrow already joining the roster.
- Speaking of Chatwood, the Baseball Writers Association Of America is considering making him ineligible for NL Cy Young Award voting due to a clause in his contract, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. If Chatwood receive even one vote for the Cy Young Award in either 2018 or 2019, his 2020 salary will rise from $13MM to $15MM; a single Cy Young vote in both seasons will boost Chatwood’s 2020 figure to $17MM. This creates a conflict of interest for writers covering Chatwood, and the BBWAA, the league and the players’ union had an unspoken agreement that such clauses would no longer be used in player contracts. The last such contract to include such a clause was Curt Schilling’s deal with the Red Sox in 2007, which was overseen by then-Red Sox GM and now Cubs president of baseball ops Theo Epstein.
Coudnt the cubs always just move Kris Bryant into the outfield to fit Machado. They have done it in the past and he wasn’t bad
They could. But they would have to surrender Russell and maybe even more to get one year of Machado, so theoretically he would then slide to SS. Very unlikely.
The whole point is that they’re not going to give up big parts of their future for one year of Machado when they really don’t need him. It makes no sense for them to trade for him.
Thats not an invalid point, but that will be the case with most any team. I thought the “rumor” was that any team they agreed to trade him tonwould get a window to negotiate an extension? That really seems the only conceivable way the Orioles can maximize their return, otherwise they’re best served waiting until the trade deadline and letting playoff hopefuls give their best offers.
If you get to sign him to an extension, you trade Russell etc and don’t look back. The talk when Bryant got drafted was that he’d eventually have to go to the OF. Don’t know if that will still eventually be the case, but it is what many evaluators believed.
There’s no way he signs an extension
So you want to give Machado a monster extension? Huh? What about Bryant? Your gonna pay huge bucks to Machado and move Bryant to RF?? Like Bryant is an afterthought?
Jesus forget about Machado. He does not fit in Chicago. Get over it.
Why would the Cubs be concerned about making room for Machado for one year. He is not coming for free. Baltimore will want core players back
Machado has said he wants to play SS next season.
lol yeah I remember seeing that when they signed him and thought someone might just vote for him because it’ll cost the Cubs money. I’m guessing he and his agent won’t be too thrilled if he’s deemed inelligable.
Yeah, that would be pretty unfair to the player. Alternative solution: hold the writers to a standard of casting objective award ballots. I feel like this is more of an indictment of the voters, who apparently can’t be trusted to take their vote seriously enough to evaluate it based on the players’ on-field contributions
BBWAA
Objectivity
Pick one
Ik, it’s impossible. These players care about the awards and the recognition deeply though, even if just for reputation. It’s unfortunate that not all of the writers reciprocate
Alternative solution: have the writers agree on certain stats for him to meet in order for him to be eligible. Like a maximum ERA, minimum innings, minimum strikeouts, etc. Stats that normally make one a Cy Young contender. That way, if he does turn in an arguably Cy Young worthy season, he’s not punished for it.
Then again, Cy Young worthiness is compared to the rest of the field, so depending how the season goes next year, no one might not reach them or more than normal might. Plus, it might set a bad precedent
*”there might not be any pitchers that reach them”
Correcting the very confusing part, sorry.
Yeah, I’d support that more than I’d support making him ineligible entirely, although I would really just leave things as is. The onus should be on the writers to take their votes seriously, and many of them do, but throwing a 7th place vote to an undeserving candidate whom the writer likes as a person shouldn’t really be a thing anyways, given that these mater to players and to fans.
Only stats allowed for incentives are things outside the player’s control like games played, plate appearances, games started or finished, etc.
Some newspapers don’t allow writers to vote for awards or HOF considering it a conflict of interest.
@bradenbaseball18
So now you want to spend time and energy making it the BBWA’s problem. Now they have to have a special meeting to please Chatwood.
If I am BBWA I say a better idea is banning Chatwood from eligibility. Bam. Done.
@JKB
First of all, your initial paragraph makes no sense. How am I wanting to make it “the BBWA’s (sic) problem”? They’ve already decided it’s a problem for them. That’s why they’re contemplating making him ineligible. I’m just theorizing a better possible solution than declaring him ineligible.
Because, secondly, if they make Chatwood ineligible and he turns in an arguably Cy Young caliber season in one of the next two seasons, they’re going to look foolish. The odds of that happening are small, yes, and I’m sure the BBWAA is willing to take that chance, but I think that the potential for it to blow up in their face should push them to look for a better solution.
I have a better idea. Rule the clause invalid because it is
Smart move by the writers to make him ineligible. Performance bonuses are odious- one look at the NFL (see Adam Vinatieri, just this week) shows how truly unfair they are.
Classic Theo.
He knew Chatwood would disqualify for the Cy vote and sold him on it anyway.
He/Jed sold him on 3/$38 mil
Must’ve been a tough sell
I doubt Theo sold him. There is no way this is Theo’s proposal. This must have been his agents idea.
They should void the whole illegal contract.
“Unspoken agreement” lol
pretty much a handshake agreement
It’s not illegal though. It’s the BBWAA who has a problem with it because they don’t trust their members to have the integrity to not take that into account when voting
I completely understand DD wanting to be competitive but I think its at least a year to late for maximizing the trade value of machado and britton. It will be interesting to see what they may get for them. I wonder if he would be best served by seeing how the first half of the season shakes out for them
I feel for the Orioles and their fans. It’s always hard to compete in that division, and it now looks that much harder. Same in the NL West. Better off tearing it down a la Cubs, Astros and White Sox and rebuilding over the next 4+ years.
How about they have an agreement to just make a voter who misused his/her vote ineligible for future voting? Given that it only requires one vote, I doubt the Cubs were ever too concerned anyway. But this one isn’t that hard. If his numbers put him in the top 5 or 10 of NL pitchers, he’s likely worthy of a vote. If he doesn’t put up CY #s and he gets a vote, you take away that voter’s privileges. That actually sounds like a good way to weed out some of these idiots.
So the solitary guy who voted got Alex Wood and his 2.72 ERA this year should be kicked out of the BBWAA…or at least should be kicked out if Wood profited due to receiving the vote. This is so out there.
16-3, 2.72, worthy of a vote. 11-13, 4.31, not so much. Huge difference.
Most likely won’t receive any Cy Young votes anyway
Well Cubbie Steve how did that work out in the HOF voting when writers abuse it
I know you said it was just for fun haha but it’s pretty much established that Machado won’t sign for less than Stanton’s deal.
Machado is a great fit on the Cubs. Move Russell and maybe Schwarber and some minor league pieces to the O’s and put Machado at SS. Then if he walks, you slide Baez back to his natural position and Happ will slide into 2B and Happ’s outfield spot will be empty for Bryce Harper.
Win win.
Never talk again
U mad bro?
@jasonpenn
Are you an idiot?
First how is Machado a perfect fit for the Cubs. He has not even played SS in like 3 years!!
Then you are trading Addison Russel! And Schwarber and so oh if Machado walks after one year no big deal.
So you give away Schwarber and Addison Russell. Two young potential star core players for nothing after one year?
Seriously I am so sorry but you are just a moron!
@jasonpenn
P.S. on top of that dumb proposal how do the Cubs even benefit in 2018?
Russell is a MUCH better shortstop. Machado hit what in the 260 range with how many homers? Russell had almost 100 RBI in 2016. Is 23. Covers more ground then almost anyone. Has a great glove. Clutch hitter and 25 homer power in his bat.
And with 5 more years of control and COST EFFECTIVE control at a PREMIUM position and you just tossed him aside for one year of a third baseman playing SS.
My god if anyone knows less about baseball … sorry … that is impossible
Why doesn’t MLB have the umpires vote then for these awards? The umps are supposed to be impartial on who they are fans of already
Lester would never get a single vote again after yelling at the umpires for years for not giving him anything 6 inches off the plate
I continue to be impressed with the Cubs front office and ownership for the moves they are “quickly” making during the off season for 2018. There front office have the respect of others and so does their players. The rotate players for the future and it is paying off. They don’t sit around on their hands concentrating on one player. If a deal isn’t apparent, they quickly move on and sign another top tiered player. I never see this bunch dumpster dive. They go after the players they need and sign them right then!!!