Despite a morning report of possible tension between Cubs president of baseball ops Theo Epstein and manager Joe Maddon, Epstein said at today’s end-of-season press conference that Maddon’s “status remains unchanged” and firmly stated that he’s happy to have Maddon as his manager (video link via MLB.com). “I know there was a sort of high-profile report this morning,” said Epstein. “That was not accurate. … There were some claims that he and I had personal friction. Not true at all. We have a terrific working relationship. We don’t agree all the time about baseball issues, and that’s the way it should be. I don’t want a ’yes man’ as a manager, and I don’t want a ’yes man’ relationship working the other way, either. I think there should be discord and debate and healthy, trusting relationships where you can work together to make the organization better.”
Epstein added that the team’s loss in the Wild Card game was “not on [Maddon]” and left little to no doubt about his status, saying he looks forward to Maddon coming back in 2019. As for the rest of the coaching staff, the Cubs have not made any firm decisions (video link), but Epstein cautioned against making changes to the staff just for the sake of making changes, stressing the importance of continuity.
More from the press conference…
- Epstein was blunt in suggesting that the Cubs’ offense “broke” at some point in the season and will need to be addressed heading into 2019 (video link). The Cubs “should be” an offensive force with the talent on their roster, he said before adding, “It’s probably time to stop evaluating this in terms of talent and start evaluating it in terms of production.”
- ESPN’s Jesse Rogers has more from the press conference, including some quotes on how pleased the Cubs were with their acquisition of Cole Hamels, who was dominant following a move from Arlington to Chicago. Epstein called Hamels a “breath of fresh air” and indicated he’d love to have both him and righty Pedro Strop back in the mix. The Cubs have a $20MM club option on Hamels for next season that comes with a $6MM buyout, though the Rangers would be responsible for that buyout if that route is taken. If the Cubs exercise the option, they’d be responsible for the full $20MM sum. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets that Epstein called Hamels “absolutely someone we want to be part of the mix going forward,” though that vote of confidence is still a bit shy of definitively stating that the option will be exercised.
- Strop’s $6.25MM option seems like a more straightforward decision. On Strop, Epstein was extraordinarily complimentary of his longtime setup man (Twitter links via Wittenmyer), calling him “such a big part of the heartbeat of this team” and lauding the way in which he pitched through pain when returning from a “four to six week injury” in roughly half that time frame. As for injured closer Brandon Morrow, the Cubs are “very comfortable” with him as the team’s primary closer next season and will “commit again to a very structured role with him” in an effort to maintain his health.
- The status of Kris Bryant’s left shoulder has been a talking point among Cubs fans as the former MVP struggled through a down season (by his lofty standards), but Epstein doesn’t believe that Bryant will require surgery (Twitter link via Rogers). Shoulder woes limited Bryant to 102 games (including Game 163), and he posted a .272/.374/.460 slash with 13 homers, 28 doubles and three triples. For most players, that’d be a terrific season — it checked in about 19 percent better than league average, per OPS+, and about 25 percent better according to wRC+ — but each of those rate stats checked in well south of the .293/.397/.546 Bryant posted from 2016-17.
Heyward and Schwarber for Haniger
Cubs need to get out of at least one of those bad contracts (Heyward, Darvish, and Chatwood). No one will take Heyward without a stud joining him.
Why are comments turned off on the Addison Russell article?
Regardless of the dollars, Cards and Cubs should swap Fowler, Hayward.
Cardinals would agree to that
Can’t say regardless of dollars…if they agreed that dollars equalled out, and honestly maybe the Cardinals pay a little more, I personally would take that deal…at least Heyward can play defense
I don’t see why Cards would need to pay anything. Cubs would be saving over $50M
If I’m the cubs I would jump on that swap. That is 106 mil vs 49.5. They’d be saving 56.5 million and I don’t think that dexter is just done at this point
Cards could then bench Heyward and he’d opt out. Cubs get Fowler back since he was only good for them. Win-Win
I really really doubt that Heyward would opt out. He would get a fraction of the money he’s owed. Ridiculous IMO to think that he forgoes all of that just because he’s benched
If I were the Cub I’d turn down Hamels option and then tell him I’d give 1 extra million then the highest offer he gets on the open market on a one or two year deal.
They’d be happy in not having to pay the 20 million and he’d be getting his 6 million on top of another deal which would definitely be over 14 million.
What if the deal is 2/40 or something. There’s some possible downside if they decline the option. A team like the Yankees might really be high on Hamels after seeing what he did in Chicago and be willing to throw some extra dollars his way. I’d feel more comfortable with Hamels on a 1/20 than a net of 2/34. You just never know with an aging pitcher. Rich hill got a chunk of money at a similar age.
I like that in theory but I feel like that would really sour relations with the Rangers and may turn rival GMs against Theo. Just speculation on my part though, I don’t have a firm grasp on the inner-workings and trust between GMs
I was hoping we would have traded Bryant for Syndergaard in the early summer
Then he was injured and now he’s terrible
Can we get a pitcher for him ?
Bryant will rebound next year and be great again, this has happened many times in the past with players like him
Maybe
But he’s very wimpy and winey
Also not only can’t he hit but he can’t field now also
We sure could use him but he’s become my least favorite player on the team
Huh? He was playing through a pretty serious shoulder injury all season. His hitting was fine but of course his defense was going to suffer.
I see the idiot farm missed a row in harvest .
His hitting was not fine. It does not matter that he was better than average. He is a young recent league MVP and key cog. He stunk
If any .834 OPS “stinks”, then I’ll take stink out of most of my players any day of the week. It wasn’t up to his usual standards, but it was still good considering how much time he missed.
You’re one of the fans that make other fans hate us. That’s the dumbest thing ever. He’s been hurt all year and also got hit in the face. He needs to get his confidence back. He’s your least favorite? So you like Happ or Contreras weak hitting ass more?
We were in a pennant race
Get your confidence back in spring training
Bryant will be back and better than before. He got beat up this year. Chili Davis needs to go.
I don’t get the hate on Davis. He’s a hitting coach he just helps them. These are major league players who know how to hit. It’s not like he tells them how. But whatever if they think it’ll help can him
Its his philosophy. He doesnt believe in launch angles.
Launch angles? ROFLMAO!
Do you mean he doesn’t believe in uppercut sswings for all players? That sounds like a good coach.
I watched the entire Theo press conference yesterday. I would really be surprised if there is not a serious Chili conversation today. Theo, multiple times, mentioned that the Cubs were first in ground balls, on base percentage went way down, slugging percentage went way down, that they only needed to win one game of the Saturday, Monday, Tuesday games this week and only scored one run in each of those games. He was pretty direct that the offense was the problem and needs to be fixed.
angels should bring back maddon as their manager. eppler seems to want only a yes man but the team needs a bright mind as the manager of the team.
I would do Schwarber and Happ for Degrom
Thanks for the best laugh on this thread yet!
Mets wouldn’t. And shouldn’t.
I agree about Bryant. He definitely doesn’t give off that confident alpha male vibe, like Rizzo does. I always thought Bryant was a very good player, but just a bit overrated. Now with the injuries, I think he’s extremely overrated. I hope it works out, but he’s also never been able to hit in high pressure situations, when it really counts.
On Hamels, I could see the Cubs rejecting the option,then see him signing a 2/28 type deal
I think you are assuming that Tex pays the 6MM even if the Cubs re-sign Hamels. I do not know that to be the case.
jmi1950…..I agree. One would assume that the Rangers where smart enough to include language to that effect….e.g. If they decline and then resign Hamels the $6M is not paid. To not do so would be stupid.
I think at the time that deal was made it was widely assumed that the option would be turned down. People forget how bad Hamels was up to that point. And I’m pretty sure Hamels would have to agree to modify his contract in that way and I highly doubt he would have done so
Hamels has no say as long as he gets the 6MM. It makes sense that part of the trade requires Cubs to pay the 6MM if they resign him. But maybe Jon Daniels wasn’t thinking ahead when he made the deal.
Hey Theo & AA time to bring Heyward back home just eat some of that contract and Gohora is all yours
No idea who Gohora is but I agree please trade Heyward to anyone.
Every time there’s a report about tension, they almost always come out and flatly deny it and giggle about how silly it is anyone would think that there was tension… and then it almost always seems to turn out to be absolutely true.
The media is always stirring the pot, and turning molehills into mountains. Especially Chicago media, which consists of mainly out-of-town hacks from different parts of the country.
Feels like only evidence of “tension” is lame duck status, due to a lack of extension
Sure, he wasn’t offered an extension, but no pity for Maddon. Maddon’s one last of his kind— 2019 salary: $6M. Dont think any other makes close. Ok Bochy does, but 2019 is expiring. Buck made $4M. — Scioscia $6M.
Alex Cora makes $800k lol. Dave Roberts? $1M.
Farrell’s dead salary this year would be top-5, 2019.
All you Cubs fans talking about trading Heyward and Schwarber for actual good players reminds me so much of Yankee fans last year asking for top prospects for Jacoby Ellsbury.
Schwarber still has great value to an AL team. He can solely concentrate on hitting, and I can easily see him doing very good.
Schwarber’s defense was much improved in 2018; he lost a bunch of weight and every metric shows him as an above-average left fielder now.
Schwarber has trade value to be an al dh. the avg rebounded from last year. I’d pick tampa to do a deal. heyward, not so much, unless the padres can swing a deal.
it isnt like either player has been perpetually inured.
and to deny hammels the 20mil and offer something lower is insulting.
the payroll is artificial. the owner is a billionaire. if wants a player he can get it. i can’t spell his name arneldo the third baseman for the rockies also a free agent. i rather have him than machado. the cubs have to do something with this offense. i believe harper is going to stay with the nationals or goes to the cubs. However the cubs can’t be obsessed with harper., they are other really good players out there.
Nolan Arenado is not a free agent until after 2019.
My question is can we trade Heyward with an asset attached to facilitate the trade, even if it’s to another contender, like happ, Almora, Schwarber or (my preference) Russel with prospects? To use Heyward’s 21.5 mil avg salary to offset the 30+ Machado and Harper will get. And I hope Epstein would go bold and get both Harper and Machado and trade the schwaber Almora and Happ to get a Fulmer ordegrom/thor and maybe move quintana/Hendricks or both to restock the farm. You figure Lester, resigned hamels, darvish and fulmer plus whatevers left for 5th/6th starters still one of the best rotations in baseball with hopefully top pitching prospects to fill in for the retired Lester/hamels in a couple years. That keeps the window open another 7/8 years.
The Cubs need to find a way to improve the offense. The possible positions would be SS/2B depending where Javy plays. Lf/Cf because they are stuck with Heyward. Maybe Bryant moves to LF full time but it’s doubtful at this point. They need a difference maker (Machado type), or multiple contact guys. Way too many strikeouts from the club with not nearly enough power.
I would like to see Josh Harrison in a Cub uniform cause I think Machado or Harper are highly unlikely. He would fit right in on this team
DJ LeMahieu…….solid defensive player—good average hitter….has won gold gloves and a batting title in the past. This is only if Addison Russell is gone. Tough spot for the Cubs on that one. No value at all to trade—-public relations nightmare if he stays…but it will be seven months before he can play…out of sight, out of mind for a while.
DJ would be a great fit at leadoff, not much power since.his career high was this year at 15 but he has high on base, takes walks hits career .300 and won like the last two or three gold gloves at second base and prolly winning this year as well. And he won’t be a.ton of money and years since he’s 30. Pair him with Harper as a lefty power high average guy and the cubs will have a nasty offense again and nice righty-lefty mix
So proud to have guys like Theo and Maddon representing the organization. They are ALL class, and represent the city well.
Theo is correct. Why would any GM/President want a “yes man?” Only insecure guys need that reassurance.
You want someone who is on the ground floor to always give you an HONEST assessment of how it is and what he needs and thinks.
That’s what debate is all about. The media is always trying to stir up some b.s.
Djones—Theo is first class. Here’s a story non-baseball related. I have a brother in law, who about four years ago was diagnosed with two different forms of leukemia. He is a huge Red Sox fan and made it his mission to get an autographed baseball from every member of the 2004 Red Sox….every one—one at bat, fill in coach–every one. It took almost twelve years, but he did it.
I’m a Cubs season ticket holder and got hold of my tickets rep, telling him the story, adding that I thought it would be pretty cool to add Theo’s autograph on a ball to this collection. Two hours later I got a personal email asking my address and wishing my brother in law well. Two days later I received a delivery at my door, personally from Theo, with a handwritten letter and autographed baseball from him.
It’s certainly easy for anyone to troll a site and bash about some signing that went awry….but in my book, Theo is nothing but class.
Always great to hear things like this. Especially great to hear that media coverage was not needed.
Maddon is way overrated. Should of won at least 2 by now with that talent. Lucky winning the first one with the dumb moves he made during. Great radio interview poor manager.
90 wins nine of last eleven seasons and if you want to insert all those (Devil) Rays that are going to the Hall of Fame, please insert here…….I have Baldelli, Crawford, Shields….who am I missing?