TUESDAY: Per Heyman, Graveman will earn an additional $100K for each of the following performance milestones: 15 games started, 18 GS, 21 GS, 23 GS, and 25 GS. The incentives package means that Graveman can earn up to $2.5MM in 2019.
SUNDAY: Chicago has announced the signing.
SATURDAY: The Cubs have agreed to a deal with free agent pitcher Kendall Graveman, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (via Twitter).
Graveman gets a major league contract worth $575K for 2019 with a $3MM club option for 2020. That option year does not include a buyout. Even one day on the 2019 roster, however, will trigger an escalator clause to bring Graveman’s salary to $2MM, and he can earn an additional $500k in performance bonuses.
Graveman, 28, had been relatively productive the last four seasons for the Oakland A’s when not dogged by injury. His high water mark came in 2016, working to a 10-11 record in 186 innings over 31 starts with a 4.11 ERA (4.39 FIP). For his career, Graveman carries a 23-29 record and 4.38 ERA across 78 career starts.
The A’s say goodbye to another piece from the Josh Donaldson trade of 2014. Infielder Franklin Barreto is now the only player remaining from the trade that sent Oakland’s star third baseman to Toronto the year before he would win the MVP award with the Blue Jays. Graveman spent four seasons in Oakland, the last of which was mostly lost to injury. He made only seven starts in 2018 with a 7.60 ERA before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
For the Cubs, they get to closely monitor the recovery of a potential rotation arm in 2020 at a very low cost. From their presumed 2019 rotation, only Hamels will be a free agent after next season, but Kyle Hendricks will be entering his final year of arbitration, and Jose Quintana will be facing the first of consecutive club options. There’s almost no downside for the Cubs here, while Graveman gets to benefit from the medical resources of the a large market team as he rehabs from Tommy John.
The timetable for his 2019 return is as of yet unclear, but it’s not expected he will play much of a role, if any, on the Cubs next year, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times (via Twitter).The Cubs signed Drew Smyly in a similar situation before last season, only to flip him to the Rangers to help cover the cost of Cole Hamels’ club option this year. Garrett Richards, in a similar situation, signed for two years and $15.5MM guaranteed with the Padres, though he carries a longer track record of success than Graveman.
The financials of the deal were first reported by 670thescore.com’s Bruce Levine, while Fancred’s Jon Heyman noted earlier than Graveman received a major league deal (Twitter links). Heyman added the information about the escalator clause and performance bonus (via Twitter). Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They’ll grossly overpay him because it’s the Cubs’ way of handling business.
Hey.. It says the cubs are just “dealing” with him
Or not
So is winning.
lol seriously?
Who’s this guy?
He is a former Toronto Blue Jay prospect who the A’s considered key in the Josh Donaldson trade fiasco
@nmendoza
If you knew how to read he is paid the MLB minimum plus incentives.
He is guaranteed the minimum salary. So much for your “overpaying” analysis.
Yes, gravemen will compete for the dl cy young with yu darvish. Those signings didn’t work out last year, the cubs never learn.
Something about the Cubs and injury prone players.
They have no money for anyone else.
Spent it all last off-season.
It doesn’t mean they should overpay for someone who won’t be able to play until July. Drew Smyly 2.0 if you ask me. They’ll trade him for something before the trade deadline. But the Central is stacking up on talent, so we’ll see how things go from this point in.
@scastro
They are paying the major league minimum but yet you say they are “overpaying”. Lol. Too funny.
Drew Smiley 2.0 huh? Smiley was not paid the minimum so how is it Smiley 2.0?
Hey I know it sucks when the facts get in the way of your predisposition
They have an abundance of money, especially having their own regional TV network coming in 2019.
They just appear to be playing it safe with the luxury tax.
Either way they have no money for good players.
Cubs will finish no better than 3rd place behind STL and Milwaukee.
They don’t need to add good players.
So they should add “bad” players?!
Or they can just stick with what they had and add a few minor pieces, save their money for when the players they’ve already been to three LCSs and. World series with, just hope they return to form
Sometimes doing nothing is a perfectly viable option for an already good team
@ChiSox_Fan
What you are really saying is you hope the Cubs finish 3rd since you are a Cub hater.
Petrie ChiSox Fan does not understand reality. He is just a White Sox troll
Theo the boy genius
Truth, ended the Red Sox “curse” in fact, much of their current championship young core was acquired/drafted by Theo before he left for Chicago.
Then… well, we all know what happened when he got to the Northside. Ended that “curse” as well, meanwhile putting together a young championship core that hasn’t even peaked yet, 4 straight playoff appearances (and counting), including 3 straight trips to the NLCS and a ring already in the bank. They’ll likely treat the millions of Cubs fans to yet another post season run next year. (Would be their 5th straight) with a young PROVEN championship core still under team control for years to come.
There’s a reason why those that ACTUALLY get paid for their opinion consider him one of the best front office guys in the business. The resume speaks for itself. Stay tuned haters, you think you’re sad now… it’s only gonna get worse… hahaha.
You’re really drinking the kool-aid. The entire division has improved and Theo has done nothing. Meanwhile our coaching staff has turned over, the bullpen isn’t any good, still no leadoff hitter, our best bat off the bench was traded and his replacement was non-tendered, the offense seriously regressed last year, oh, and that defensive liability schwarber is still on the team. But everything is great.
As a Cubs fan, the only thing funnier than reading ignorant tripe by fans of other teams is reading the same from ignorant Cubs fans who think the ship is sinking. Beyond comical.
Kyle schwaber was one of the top defensive left fielders in the game last season, so now I’m openly questioning what team you were really watching last season. Pretty sure they were not wearing blue…
Stop yourself. By your post, you would think they were a below .500 team. They still won 95 games… relax
Our bullpen was #2 in the MLB last year, so get out of here with that “our bullpen is no good” BS. Also, you’re really concerned that we got rid of a permanent bench player?
A bench player with no power at that. Bote’s more than an adequate replacement and actually useful in the field
#2 in the MLB, and your manager still doesn’t trust anyone when the game is on the line. Too bad he doesn’t have a guy in the pen that he can use and abuse throughout the playoffs.
Cubs leadoff hitters did fine.
Schwarber was above average on defense.
That’s what coaching staffs do. Also, if the team regressed, wouldn’t coaches be on the chopping block?
That regressed offense had injuries, too.
The rest of the division is playing catch up.
#2 is subjective and the stats are at times misleading. Some stepped up and got the job done, others took it for the team. Some of the guys that you think are good by the numbers sure gave up a lot of inherited runners. Judging last years bullpen by stats only, yes they were #2. Watching them day in/day out…It wasn’t fun at times, but no one remembers all the young arms that were went through 1st half to have that #2 well rested playoff team.
So the stats say they were no.2, but we’re supposed to throw out the objective numbers because they don’t fit the narrative?
That crashing noise you just heard was your argument collapsing entirely…
If you want to evaluate the bull pen honestly. Chatwood didn’t pitch nearly as bad as his numbers indicated. Yes he through lots of pitches, lots of walks and lots of runs. Fair portion of those runs was bullpen letting inherited runners cross. Chatwood got out of lots of jams in games but only to leave a runner or two, three on base only to have relief let in runners that go on Chatwood thus padding relief. Strope is a huge benefactor of this situation of the last few seasons. Lower that ole era on the starters or previous pitchers back. Bull pen ate lots of innings but they also gave up more than their share of inherited runs. I stand on my “narrative” having watched games rather than the stat lines and what I”m told to believe about the Cubs.
So you’re standing by your eye test?
Yeah, the objective stats still say you’re wrong, and I know which one I trust more…
I’m a Cubs fan, and I have to agree with him — at least to a point.
I honestly don’t know if Theo is drunk, high….both?? But, most of his moves, the past year, have been absolutely disasters.
I certainly appreciate getting a World Series, but this guy almost has a fetish for signing injured players.
Once a guy is injury prone, it’s usually always a nagging thing. I don’t know why you would set yourself up for failure like that.
And many of these injury-prone guys he’s signed have had a well-documented history of being injured. It’s not like these guys being out for long periods of time is a surprise.
Stevie Wonder could see this coming, but not Theo. It’s just been a bewildering and head-scratching year of signings. I simply don’t get it.
WaTcH TeH gAYmEz!!1!!!11
I mean, this is the strategy that lead to the Scott Feldman signing….
That turn out pretty well
Turned*
turned *…
Lmfao can’t even get it right the second time.
Yes theo broke 1 curse and 1 drought, but all it says to me is that he is able to see a big market team, with endless resources, and plenty of ammo in the system after years of failure, and turn it around quickly by spending and firing that ammo to build a winner. Short-lived as it may be, he gets the job done, and he’ll begin scouring for his next team..rangers maybe? Not a knock on him or cubs, he gets the job done, and cubs still have a really good team, but doesn’t mean he doesn’t seem leech-like, or he’d still be in boston. Maybe parasitic is better word, or so it seems to me. Just my take.
@chitown
Yea he is a genius and future hall of famer and that drive you White Sox trolls insane!
This will be one of the offseasons most underrated additions, and KG could be a Comeback POTY candidate
Is this serious? He’s not scheduled to pitch in 2019
LOL
Love these cubbie fan know-nothings
@chitown311
Says the White Sox fan who thinks Theo is not a future hall of famer.
Gotta love these White Sox fan know-nothings
Somebody the Giants should have taken a flyer on. Farhan has been quiet…
Giants arent a move or two away from contention. We dont want a division, we want another world title. I’m glad the Giants are staying quiet instead of grasping at straws which is what this move would have been. I’m sure Farhan has a pretty good idea of what he is doing.
Kendall Graveman is a headline move? No. He’s somebody you invest in and given the giants infield defense and spacious ballpark he could become the next Derek Holland.
yeah that was my thought, he could have been a cheap bounceback guy
Personally think the Giants need to invest in bounce back candidate outfielders and pitchers. Currently Kikuchi is somebody we need to go after, maybe a trade for someone like Danny Duffy, go for an outfielder like Keon Broxton or Michael Taylor etc. None of these moves would empty the farm or the bank. Pretty doable moves that I would like to see.
Keon is a guy they should try to get. At the very least he will provide excellent defense, and who knows maybe he will get it figured out at the plate. The talent is there. And since he is relatively young, he can be apart of their future plans if he works out. Or is that grasping at straws as well? Not sure but I’d rather go after under performing high ceilings guys than the Gravemans of the world.
Graveman was actually a decently regarded prospect who had a high ceiling a few years ago. Still does kind of.
3 years/$37.5 million. Chatwood money.
Kendall who??? That should change the power balance in the N.L. central.
You mean elevate the Cubs higher than first?
Pretty sure the Cubs finished second in he division last year
So basically we’re gonna sign another Drew Smyly? Graveman isn’t even supposed to pitch in 2019!!
that was my question too
And?
I was looking for the 2016 World Series champion banner. What park is it flying at ??? Wrigley Field you say?? Thanks Theo
Cubs fans before 2016: Dont talk about the past.
Cubs fans now: 2016 blah blah blah 2016 blah blah blah.
And then there’s Cub haters then and now: 108 years blah blah blah 108 years blah blah blah
You hit the nail right on the head there stealth! They have 1 fluke year in 110 years and now they think they are the king of baseball. Laughable really! I really think they might have a chance of getting back to last place where they are very familiar with. They’ve got Aton if question marks and no help on the way.
Yeah if it were 2016 and that were it then you could call it a fluke ala 2005 white Sox. The Cubs were in the NLCS on both sides of 2016 though you morons.
I love everyone hating in on a team that lived through every possible disaster they could last year and still won 95.
But 1 World Series appearance in 80 years is nothing to be proud about. The Cardinals have 4 appearances in the last 15 years as comparisons
That doesn’t sound dumb or anything.
Truth, they’ve enjoyed ACTUAL sustained success with a young proven championship core that hasn’t even hit their peak years yet. It’s likely that Theo & Co. will treat the millions and millions of Cub fans to a 5th straight playoff appearance.
Of course it’s not. But we’re not having an 80 year conversation. Just who’s relevant right now. Brewers got better last year and the Cards are getting better right now sure.
Cubs still have the most wins in MLB over the last 4 years and just need to keep Bryant from sliding head first into first and theyll be fine.
The cubs are not relevant right now. Back to back losses in postseason at home which by the way has never happened before is the beginning of the end. Don’t you cub fans ever get embarrassed?
Sox have 4 appearances too. And 4 wins.
What’s your point? It doesn’t matter how many times you make it if you don’t win the last game.
Hahaha, themed… TROLL BETTER. At least be clever… entertain us. How do you screw up trolling? In your troll comment you mention “back to back losses in postseason” that means they made the playoffs the last two years… hahaha, how many teams can say that? How about this… what happened the year before that? Yep, they won a ring… year before that? Made it to the NLCS. Hmmmm, so why would Cub fans be “embarrassed” by that? Hahaha, 4 straight playoffs (and counting) 3 straight NLCS and a ring in the bank all done with a young core that hasn’t even peaked yet and still under team control.
Just about every fanbase in baseball would love to have that “embarrassment”.. hahaha, don’t leave tough, themed, just try harder. You got this. It’s pathetic enough to be a troll but it’s downright sad .. or “embarrassing” to be bad at it. Ok, that 2 minutes was enough to waste on you. Take care… lol
Back to back losses as in lost the Division playoff tie breaker one day then the following day lost the wild card playin game. That’s never happened before. I’ve got to make things so simple for you cub fans so that you can understand things. Fresh!
Sox no fluke.
They swept the Astros.
Not the year itself being a fluke the overall run of the team. Sox did great in 2005 only lost 1 game all postseason was a great championship year. But they didn’t make the playoffs on two years on either side of 2005. So that’s not a sustained run of success. That’s the fluky part.
Cubs go to three straight NLCS’s, win a championship in the middle and win 95 last year and while they exited early they still made the playoffs.
They got nothing from Darvish, a lot of walks and losses from Chatwood, lost Russell at the end, lost Morrow half way through, lost KB from a dumb head first slide that really destroyed his season, had 30 games in 30 days after rainout-palooza, and had their all star catcher forget how to hit.
All that happened and they still won 95 games. If even half those crappy things improve they’re back to a 100 win team.
The fluke is the fact the Sox did absolutely nothing the year before or after their fluke World Series. It has nothing to do with if you swept a team in the World Series or not
@themed – back to back losses in the postseason at home? The Brewers game wasn’t in the postseason you mashed potatoes for brains idiot.
You don’t need to “explain” anything better, you need to actually say it correctly. The division playoff tiebreaker is not a postseason game.
It was a lot of watching their futility though. As far as you all whining about all the bad things that happened to the cubs last year that’s just normal. All teams have injuries. As far as 95 wins go I’m sure they played well against the bottom feeders but they had trouble beating above .500 teams all year. And of course had no business being in the playoffs as the results proved.
Winning ANY World Series is plenty to be proud of. Nobody is saying the Cubs are the best team since dluced bread but don’t knock us for getting over the hump and winning it all, not to mention Playoffs in 4 straight years. I respect the Cardinals for what they have done but until you guys pass us back I am happy to be where we are.
Had trouble beating teams above .500? Cute. The Cubs literally had a losing record against ONE NL team all season long, and it was just by one game.
Oh really and do prey tell let us all in on that one team they had a losing record against. We’ll all be waiting patiently.
We’re embarassed…..for you
You are the one who said they struggled against TEAMS, PLURAL, over .500.
Way to dance around your point being destroyed
Here is where you are 100% wrong, themed. You say the Cubs are not relevant right now. Not relevant? A story about Kendall Graveman has 100 comments. About 90 of them are from trolls like you—-so the Cubs must be relevant if there are enough of you out there to care. Not very many come fans on here trumpeting the move as a division, playoff maker. The first time you see me comment on a Cardinal story, call me out. Guess what….it won’t happen. I don’t care about them.
Sox won 90 in 2006.
Unfortunately they were in a tough division and didn’t make the playoffs.
They also ruled all of baseball in 1994 when baseball went on strike.
The Cubs winning in game 7 was the fluke.
Saved by the rain delay.
Still won it. Nothing you say will change that, you’ll just have to live with the pain
Or root for a major league team, if you live in Chicago you have that option…
Absolutely embarrassed, I actually flipped my Cubs Flag to distress midway last season.
You cannot, cannot be serious. First off neither of those, ahem, “points” disprove they didn’t make the playoffs in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 observation. And secondly in simply discussing a sustained run you bring up what happened in 1994?!?!!??
At least it didn’t take 108 years.
For the love of god it took the White Sox 87 years!??? Is that really so much less embarrassing geez dude c’mon. Historically both teams are insanely futile. We can’t change that. All you can do is be relevant for a long a stretch as possible and try your damndest to win a couple titles. Cubs are about halfway through this 8 or 9 year window with a title and 3 NLCS’s. I’ll take that.
Go back to enjoying the next couple weeks where you actually can still believe you have a shot at Manny or Bryce. Once they pass you over oh man I’ll feel for ya. Can’t wait to see how Hahn will try to spin that.
Cubs are 3-8 all time in the World Series. White Sox are 3-2. Neither is much to be proud of.
You are pathetic. Your reasoning is laughable and you sound like you ate ‘Aton” of paint chips as a child. Move along rookie.
Best invention/idea since sliced bread. Pretty sure nobody says best team since sliced bread.
Cardinals have had the best run in baseball this century. Just from 2011-2024 they were in 4 straight NL Championship series and cub fans think it’s something just to be in playoffs 4 years in a row. The Cardinals averaged 99 wins a year during that span. No other team has come close. Now with these new additions this year they are ready to take back the NL Central which actually should just be named the NL St Louis Cardinals since they’ve won it more times than any other team in the division.
@endin, hahahaha… exactly.
Every idiot fan prior to 2016….it’s been 100, 101, 102….years
Every idiot fan since 2016….the Cubs only have won once….
Changing goalposts for decades.
I’m guessing Red Sox fans talk 2018 and Astros 2017?? Sick of bashing Theo without giving him credit when his teams win. Broke Red Sox and Cubs drought . Oh wait you get to be the before 2016 0 World Series since 1908. Now only 1 since 1908.
So many Cubs haters on this message board, it’s actually quite pathetic.
Cubs fans said don’t talk about the past before? Really. Or was it clowns like you talking about the past? My money is on you clown (Endinstealth)
One WS banner in how many years?
Three.
We already knew Cubs fans couldn’t count
How many teams have won it since 2016?? 2. How many do they have to get?? Dodger have how many since 1988 when was last time Yankees won it ? Cards?
Act like you been there before..it’s in the past. Not 108 years, but still.
They will have Grave results
Rolling the dice……
If he is healthy he can be a 4, if he is healthy..
A Drew Smyly signing.
This signing is about building SP depth for 2020 and beyond. He’s not expected to pitch before Sept., and may not even then. After 2020, Lester, Q, Montgomery, & Hamels all will most likely be gone.
And you really think Kendall Graveman will be a valuable piece then? Good luck.
No, but if he’s even capable of starting a few games, for 3 million that’s a bargain
He doesn’t even take a roster spot until he’s off the dl
Depth signing? They already have a 5 man rotation
If they use him in relief, he’s a candidate for the comeback player of the year award.
As a Cubs fan, this really amps me up
he says sarcastically. Who dat?
If his sinker is as good as advertised I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Normally signing an injured pitcher like like this is reserved for guys with enough upside to make it worthwhile. Michael Pineda, Drew Smyly, and the others that did this had shown flashes of being special pitchers, and it was worth paying them a little for a lost year to try to catch lightning in a bottle the second year.
Even at his best, Graveman isn’t really more than a 4 or a 5. If he was healthy and could contribute now then I could understand it, but I don’t see the point of going to this type of effort for that.
He’s only 550k so why not take a shot
Yeah it’s only $550k but there’s a 3 million dollar option, sounds like it’s a player option, meaning really this is probably going to be a 3.5 million dollar contract.
I doubt it’s a player option.
An extra $2mil plus possible $500k incentives if he is on roster for 1+ games in 2019.
As Mr. Natural answered when asked “where will it all end?” – in the grave, man.
The Cubbies better watch out, as St.Louis and Cincy have both made some pretty nice moves so far this offseason. Don’t they need starting-pitching??
Cubs need starting pitching? They have Lester, Hendricks, Hamels, Quintana and Darvish as a starting 5
Darvish likely will be beat down by the media and intimidated by the fans and not likely to win 10 games.
Cinci’s still a fourth place team even with all thier moves, honestly
Maybe he’s the inlaw of some second cousin of Harper or Manny…
Basically everyone so far agrees that, on its face, unless it’s a really really cheap contract, this is a total waste!
They paid Smyly millions to rehab and eventually get back and pitch for the Cubs at the latest in 2019, but wait, oh yeah he’s not a Cub anymore he plays for the Rangers. They say they have no money but they’re willing to pay pitchers to rehab.
These are the moves you have to make when you’ve tied your hands with bad signings. In 2019, the Cubs will be paying a combined 55M to Heyward, Darvish, and Chatwood. Yikes!
Epstein shutting the Cubs down one non-move at a time. 2019 will either be epic, or a monumental disaster.
At least the Cubs have an option other than disappointment. Only team in Chicago that can claim that…
Its a 2 year deal with the cubs signing off if he can’t pitch after TJS. So he gets minimum wage this year and if his arm responds they use the option. So its just a 500,000 gamble.
I don’t get it from some of these commenters. Is every signing suppose to be a holy cow moment? Every signing serves a purpose no matter how big or how small. Chill folks. Root and go nuts for your team but bashing another team from the comfort of your $30 sofa serves no purpose. Happy holidays btw.
This is a very negative place.
People who pay attention to baseball know what moves like this mean. Especially for a club that is reluctant to spend money or make changes.
A lot of people wish the Cubs were falling, and think if they say it enough it’ll be true
Cubs are probably the fist team ever to have a 220 million dollar payroll and be declared ‘broke’ by the internet…
Maybe they forgot about the other non payroll expenses to run a team.
They admit they have no money.
They have money just not for baseball players. They need to open hotels and restaurants first.
No ‘more’ money. Big, big… Really, like, huge… Difference.
They had the second best record in the NL last season and have decided the team needs no major upgrades. You have to be biased, dumb, or both to interpret that as ‘broke’
Especially after they’ve already given out one 20 million dollar contract this off season…
Cubs don’t win the World Series without the two wife beaters on the team! Way to sell your soul to win it all. Classy
Good lord
Next year will really be crucial for the Cubs going forward. If they don’t win then there has to be and there will be a lot of changes. There will be a few contracts coming off the books and a few guys who will be traded. It won’t be a rebuild but more like a reboot.
Cubs will make a deal with ChiSox to bring Renteria back!
Will cost the Cubs a couple of good prospects – if they have any left.
He was/is a terrible manager. Until he was hired by the Cubs no one ever heard of him. You can keep him on the south side and enjoy your 65-78 wins each of the next 4 years.
He was actually pretty good for a rookie manager. Players responded well to him and he didn’t make a lot of boneheaded mistakes.
Does this dude that wrote this article forget that that Cubs traded Donaldaon to the A’s? The Blue Jays gave up nothing for him. I dont even think Donaldson was a highly touted prospect.
At the time the Cubs traded him he wasn’t much of one. He was a catcher that few people thought much of.
He had to completely redo his swing mechanics later in his minor league career just to stay in baseball
The A’s made a terrible move when they got rid of him, though
Oakland A’s still best uniforms in MLB.
Thank you Charlie O!
Yes, but 1977 Sox uniforms were cool and exceptional!
The idea of there being a 100 game winner in the NL Central in 2019 is highly unlikely, the Reds and Cardinals are better and many other teams in the NL are considerably better since the end of last year. Feasting on poor teams is what gets teams to 100 wins, not playing teams that are competitive.
Reds aren’t even a .500 team yet. They jumped ahead of the pirates, but that’s no real feat
They may not be a .500 team but they are not gonna be as easy to beat as in years past. There offense will be as good as any in the Central.
I’ll be worried when their rotation isn’t Alex ‘glass’ Wood and a bunch of rookies.
Outscoring them won’t be that hard, especially at the great American launching pad.
I wonder if this is a sign of things to come for the A’s? Perhaps a signing of Bud Norris, maybe pull off a trade with the giants for Pat Vendite?
I don’t get the “hating” on this deal. Minimum wage this year, 3M IF they exercise THEIR option for 2020……teams spend more than that on Draft choices and International signs that never get past A-ball……..
Absolute worst scenario? It cost you a roster spot unless Spring Training, when you park him on the 60-DL for the year….Best possible? You get a 3/4/5 starter for relative peanuts in 2020.
I can’t imagine anyone not liking this deal, and wondering what THEIR FO was doing while Theo was arranging it……
It’s not the deal people hate, it’s the typical Cubbie non-move that’s questionable. The Cubs are sliding, and Baez might not be able to carry them like he did last year. A big bat or a solid closer addition might have been enough to keep them in the driver seat for the division. As of right now, the only place they have to go is down—3rd place and out of the playoffs.
What’s questionable about it? It’s a no risk, possibly some reward move. He won’t take up a roster spot until he’s healthy and at that point he’s completely disposable if he’s no good
Throw out everything you just said that’s pure speculation on your part and you didn’t say a word about the actual move in question.
It’s only speculation to Koolaid drinkers like you. Everything negative about the team is an abberation. They’re so delusional, they chaulk up a last place finish to “bad luck”.
So you’re still not going to say anything about the deal itself, just lash out at anyone who disagrees with your unsubstantiated opinion?
Cubs won 95 games with an injured Kris Bryant and you’re here whining that they need Bryce Harper on they’re done for. You don’t need need any kool-aid to see the problem with that massive jump in logic, just some perspective on the actual facts.
If Bryant and Morrow come back healthy, that right there fixes the issues you’re pretending are so dire, but I bet that never even occurred to you. And the idea that maybe the smart thing to do is wait and see before spend a boatload of money is an option you’re completely unwilling to consider
Just because you want to Cubs to fail doesn’t mean they are.
I believe I gave my opinion a few times already—it’s a non-move, as was the Drew Smyly signing last year. The reason why it’s particularly onerous this time around is the fact that the Cubs window for contending is closing fast. Theo and his staff have clearly shown incompetence when it comes to making impactful moves when they try to plug holes in the roster. Instead of focusing on low risk/high reward moves for the future, they should be fighting like hell to stay in the hunt for a championship. I realize this isn’t something Cubs fans (or any fans in Chicago) are accustomed to seeing, but it is precisely what other contending teams are doing right now. In any event, the Cubs met with Harper for three hours during the winter meetings, so who knows what could happen between now and Spring Training. I wouldn’t hold my breath though. None of Epstein’s big contracts have worked out for them—he might be escorted off the premises if he pulls another Heyward/Darvish-esque move.
Lol!!
top nickname in the league…DIGGER
Lots of illiterates on the board, as usual. It’s a $575,000 contract, with incentives (that will only trigger if the Cubs want him to pitch in late 2019…unlikely), and a club option for 2020.
Exactly! Good deal.
No, just White Sox fans
Wait, same thing… Carry on
Twitter headline for this article: “Good things come to those who wait.” Seriously, MLBTR? Nice clickbait.