After a bounce-back showing in the second half of the 2019 season, right-hander Yu Darvish could emerge as a winter trade chip for the Cubs. Chicago has “received inquiries” regarding Darvish, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. It doesn’t appear a trade is in the works right now, but as Sherman notes, that could change when the best remaining free-agent starters (Madison Bumgarner and Hyun-Jin Ryu, for example) come off the board.
A year ago at this time, the idea of a Darvish trade would’ve been unthinkable. At that point, the former Ranger and Dodger was coming off a brutal, injury-ravaged first season with the Cubs, who inked him to a six-year, $126MM guarantee entering 2018. Darvish totaled a mere eight starts and 40 innings that year, when he put up career worsts in ERA (4.95), FIP (4.86) and walks per nine (4.73).
Last season began in similarly rough fashion for Darvish, owner of an ERA upward of 5.00 as late as July 3, but the light bulb went back on thereafter. The 33-year-old ended the summer on a tear, as he posted 124 strikeouts against a paltry seven walks in 88 1/3 innings from July onward. All said, Darvish concluded the campaign with 178 2/3 frames of 3.98 ERA/4.16 FIP ball, 11.54 K/9, 2.82 BB/9 and a 45.5 percent groundball rate (up from 37.6 the previous year). He also managed a career-best swinging-strike percentage (13.4) and tied a personal high in average fastball velocity (94.2 mph). If there’s one major red flag, it’s that Darvish gave up more home runs than ever (1.66 per nine with a 22.8 percent homer-to-fly ball rate), though that was a common theme throughout the league last season.
Despite his late-2019 rebound, Darvish elected against a return to free agency, instead deciding not to opt out of the remaining four years and $81MM on his contract. It was a predictable call, especially considering Darvish has made it clear he has enjoyed his time in Chicago. Still, in a league where Red Sox lefty David Price – despite coming off an injury-plagued season and having three years and $96MM left on his contract – has drawn trade interest, it’s not that surprising teams have eyed Darvish in the wake of his personal renaissance.
Whether the Cubs would deal an integral rotation member like Darvish is unknown, and the fact that his contract includes no-trade rights — complete protection for now, then a dozen teams in 2020 — could complicate matters. However, there has been word that the Cubs would like to cut payroll. As Jason Martinez of Roster Resource estimates, they’re currently set to enter 2020 with a $214MM luxury-tax payroll. In that scenario, the Cubs would be $6MM over the threshold, and that’s without having made any clear improvements yet this offseason.
Furthermore, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is no doubt frustrated after a season that saw the Cubs miss the playoffs. The possibility of a shakeup has led to trade speculation surrounding other Cubs notables such as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Willson Contreras. So, any number of drastic roster-altering scenarios might be on the table (perhaps including a Darvish deal), but Epstein did say this week that the Cubs currently have “the makings of a very good team,” one that has “a chance to win a division.” On paper, getting rid of Darvish could decrease their odds of doing that.
kris Bryant and yu to the rangers, what would that cost them
The state of Texas
well we already gave Chicago Whataburger why not let them take the rest of the state cause it’s not like a whole lot is working out for them
Hard to say that anything has worked out for the ringless Rangers either.
lol they are ringless lololololol
California gave Dallas in and out so it’s not a complete lost out there
Can we get some In-N-Out in Chicago? We’ve been spreading Portillo’s and White Castle like wildfire, across the nation.
Dude Chicago has fhs greatest Italian beef sandwiches in the world. Al’s Beef. Portillo’s is good but Al’s Beef is 100x better.
Al’s is overrated and too expensive. I had some family grow up on Taylor St. None of the local Italians I knew went there. They also didn’t go to Mario’s for Italian ice. They went to the place around the corner.
Gallo, Calhoun, Allard, Leclerc
tavarez, winn, leclerc and prospwct
and a partridge in a pear tree
Globe Life Field.
This is fake news. Nobody wants that Darvish contract.
That Darvish contract looks a helluva a lot better now after his very solid season last year. In light of the newest deals signed. he is a freaking bargain.
He’s not a bargain at all. He’s a #3 starter making $20m/year. I suppose he could be a salary dump for the Cubs, but he’s not bringing back anything else of note.
I’d take a deal that send Darvish to the rangers, and Palumbo and Hearns to the cubs.
Apparently, Barney, you haven’t paid attention to current events. Have you seen what “#3” starters are getting right now? He’s not gonna get traded because he has a lot of value for them. The second half last season he pitched like a #1. If he continues like that this season, he’ll most definitely be a bargain.
He’s been a total stiff since the Cubs signed him. He JD a good finish last year to up how value. I said maybe another team would take the contract now, but nobody is giving up anything of note for that right.
Calhoun and Solak by themselves. Yu has zero trade value and Bryant isn’t controllable.
if he has zero trade value then teams wouldn’t be inquiring about a trade…
Texas would give its left nut for Darvish so yea he’s got some value
Unless they think they can get him for free because the Cubs are desperate to cut salary…
Zero trade value? What’s your source on that? He had a good year and a good resume. KB is potentially under control for 2 years pending a decision on his grievance. Please don’t drink and comment.
Darvish is not insanely expensive compared to a lot of pitchers, his career numbers are quite good, his 2019 season was worth 3.0 WAR (bbref), his fastball velocity is up, and his 2nd half was very impressive (2.76 ERA, 118/7 K/BB ratio).
He has at least some trade value, especially considering the cost of FA pitching this off-season.
2 years of Bryant. Texas doesn’t have the prospects for Bryant let alone a Bryant and Darvish deal. They don’t want roster players. They want pitching prospects. Only a couple of teams qualify: Dodgers,Braves,Padres. Texas is out.
Given teams are asking about a trade that seems like a bad take. Can’t imagine the Cubs moving him.
I don’t think Darvish’s contract is an asset for an acquiring team. I don’t think he’d get 4/$81M on the open market. Inquiring about Darvish is likely as a bad contract swap, or teams know the Cubs need salary relief and wonder if Darvish could come with another asset (like Bryant or a prospect) to help offset the pain of his contract.
Maybe the Giants would do another Cosart like deal.
Just like with Arenado and when Stanton was dealt. These huge contracts aren’t going to be easy to move. And won’t likely be bringing back much in the way of prospects.
If the Cubs could unload Bryant and Darvish in one trade, they’d free up so much cash. Get LeClerc and his long term value driven contract back and maybe a mid level prospect, and the Cubs will improve their overall window to compete by a lot, even if it means they gave up the most talent in the trade.
Fangraphs has Darvish’s 2019 season valued at $20.8 mill in salary. That is exactly what he is being paid, and the prevailing wisdom is that going forward he is likely to look more like the second half than the first half of 2019, although you wouldn’t necessarily think that reading MLBTR comments.
Great. So the Cubs have spent $42m for $25 of “value”. He’s been a bust and little else. He had a strong finish lad season so the Cuvs might be able to flip the contract now, but there is ZERO surplus value and nothing of note would be coming back for him.
Bryant has 2 years of control
Texas doesn’t have the prospects for Bryant much less Bryant and Darvish. Not going to happen.
dont take a lot of prospects for KB he’s to expensive for Chicago and not controllable Darvish is the bug chip in that trade way more value than Bryant
Lol wrong
Given that Darvish makes more money than Bryant that seems a bit off too.
Cubs going to be lucky if they get a bucket of balls for KB he’s a bigger liability than unsecured student loans
You don’t know a heckuva lot about baseball, do you?
@2weeks
KB as in Kris Bryant the guy with the .903 OPS last year. Only question I have is…Girl Scout Cookies or Purple Urkle?
2weaks… What kind of an idiotic statement is that? Good lord, get past whatever “homer/hater” bias you have and smell the roses.
ok you have convinced
me Bryant is worth more
than a bucket of balls
how about 1 million
international slot bonus
money, 2 hot dogs and
2 slightly
used hookers
I can confirm this deal
is happening cause I
am one of the hookers
it has been reported
that one of
the hot dogs
is the #4 prospect
in the rangers
organization
Lol what? How is KB a liability?
Geez, just about every Cub is in the Trade Rumors posts. Feels like click bait to me. who is next, bullpen catcher Chad Noble?
Noble has a full no trade lol
Whew!
Heard the Mets were interested
Inquire about that Jekyll and Hyde career track as well, while you’re at it.
If I were the Cubs I’d jump on that immediately
It would be awfully strange for a team looking for more pitching to trade a guy who pitched like an ace the 2nd half of last season. Baseball is so weird. A year ago trading Yu was a pipe dream. Cole and Stausberg re-wrote the book on the cost of top notch stuff. Considering Darvish’s ceiling, his contract may not prove to be the albatross most casual observers believe.
adkuchan – It depends – if the Cubs are actually doing a full tear down, but have chosen not to announce it, then unloading everything of value for a boatload of promising AA and AAA players in fact makes a ton of sense. Suppose that they sell off Bryant, Darvish, Contreras, Schwarber and Happ… if they sell relatively high on each of them between now and July, that could be a very good idea. 2020 and 2021 would suck, but what do you think they would look like in 2022-2025 or so?
3- way trade:
Yu + Contreras to Padres
Kluber + Carrasco to Cubs
Indians get a boatload of prospects
You’re definitely a Padres fan
bbyrkett@shmetalproducts.com
“And no Gore, Tatis, Trammell or Patino in that”
Maybe I’m just a fan who likes to suggest fun trade ideas?
Cubs cant afford prospects let alone Kluber and Carrasco that’s why they are in so many rumors
Yeah, I figured that was the case. Just remembered Cubs need pitching if they were to trade Darvish and since they have a good catcher in Caritini, figures this might be interesting trade.
2weeks sounds like a Sox fan who’s mad because the White Sox money isn’t as good as everyone else’s. No matter how much money they have or how much they rebuild with young talent the big dogs won’t go there. The city’s younger brother.
Bencole sounds like one of those Cubs fans still thinking that his team “prints money” and is somehow a dynasty because they had a decent 4 year run, that is coming to an end.
They do print money….that’s fact.
What did I say that would suggest either of those things? This guy saying Cubs will just give Darvish away because of the salary. If they dump someone as a giveaway it won’t be someone good. They have a ton of leverage with KB and Darvish.
Cubs can afford anything they want. It’s whether they want to operate with a budget…
OMG what an awful return for the Cubs! You must be a Padre fan
awful for the cubs?!?! what drugs are you on?
Yeah i’ll take that trade if I’m a Cub fan
Kluber is well North of 30 and coming off an injury plagued season. Not a good sign for a power pitcher with a power slider. Carrasco is recovering from leukemia.
He’s recovered
Kluber was a freak injury and Carrasco is recovered. Plus even if they weren’t fully recovered, they can have Chatwood start and either Kluber or Carrasco be a long relief
Kluber’s velocity and stuff is declining and he’s been injured. I wouldn’t give up much at all for him. I don’t really want him.
Kluber is NOT back. And Carrasco is another injury waiting to happen. Snap out of it.
Cue Sublime on the jukebox.
Why? I like it but why?
Lol no
Blue Jays?
For whom? Biggio and ???
Ed Sprague???
I’m thinking more like Kelly Gruber and Pat Borders
Danny Ainge
What about Birdy?
hope it’s not the angels. not that he is useless but ohtany came to the team partly because it didn’t have japanese players.
i think it was about setting a precedent. i dont think he’d object them adding another Japanese player now.
Could see the Padres here too, Preller and a Tingler have ties to Darvish from their international scouting days. Myers + Prospects.
Why would the Cubs take Myers???
The Padres would have to pay 50% of the salary (at least) unless it was a couple very solid prospects. (not named Gore)
If Cubs are out of contention at the break they would most likely deal Yu for some prospects. Hell, the way money is flying around this offseason maybe somebody will start asking about Heyward which would be a blessing for the Cubs.
Yea cause ppl have been signing RF that hit 240 with no power for 25mill a year
Whoosh…
meh.
Hayward is definitely overpaid. However, Fangraphs puts his salary value for the past couple of years at $16.4 and $15.5 mill. If the Cubs could unload him for some decent prospects while only having to pick up $10-12 mill per year of his salary, they should do it.
Seemingly teams don’t value outfielders and first basemen like they used to. Maybe that’s just this offseason or maybe it’s a trend. Most teams need pitching, many downright desperate for it – then catching and infielders.
Given the rumors surrounding every player on the Cubs, it’s hard to know what to believe.
I’d rather they move Quintana and let Rea, Alzolay, and Mills compete for the #5 spot. That would free up 10.5 million. Then trade Chatwood by eating at least half of his 13 million and throw in a prospect as well. That could free up around 17 million in cap space without touching the “superstars”. You won’t net huge returns prospect wise, but you’ll clear some space whilst keeping Bryant and Contreras.
After that, if someone really blows you away with a trade for one of the core guys, then go for it, I suppose. I just think any idea that they “have to trade from their core” is silly. I get looking to keep the window of contention open, but what if they trade Contreras or Bryant and the prospects flop?
It’s a tough spot to be in, I suppose.
Agreed, and I think it is not that the cubs WANT to trade their core, but other big teams have needs that the cubs can fill with their core, and thats all these rumors come down to, speculation.
Yeah, I was surprised when Quinatana got his option, but then thought well they must be doing it for a trade down the road. I still think that Quintana and Bryant should be a package deal as the first big move the Cubs make this offseason. It would bring back prospects AND free up 30 million to add the top starter left on the board as well as some bullpen depth like Will Harris.
You committed to Quintana’s option when you traded for him including your best pitching prospect.
10 million dollar innings eater with upside. They had to pick up that contract.
Nothing wrong with picking up Quintana’s option–I would have been terribly surprised if they didn’t. He clearly hasn’t been as good as he once was, but no doubt a team would take a chance on him for 10.5 million. He wouldn’t bring back anywhere near the prospects that the Cubs gave up for him, but he would help shed payroll and still bring back some A level pitchers.
Q’s option was automatic. Even if it was 18 million. You just can’t replace pitching like that, even if it’s not great financial value.
Could see the Cubs moving Quintana. Maybe to an up and coming team like the White Sox. Wonder what they could get back. Maybe a young cost controlled power hitter and a top pitching prospect.
Um….didn’t Quintana COME from the White Sox…???????
Maybe they could get Jimenez back…???
LMAO
thatsthejoke.gif
If they trade Bryant or Darvish they are punting on 2020 and 2021 in terms of really competing. If they trade one and are sellers at the deadline they’ll be sellers on Q, Lester and perhaps even Kimbrel. And it isn’t as if the FA pitching market looks stout the next couple of years right now. Gotta believe they are keeping Darvish for that reason alone.
Bring Darvish back to Texas, and he can be our #2 or #3, behind Minor and Lynn. I think missing on the big guys gave the rangers a lot more flexibility, and ultimately it will make us better. Go get castellanos, Darvish, Dom smith or josh bell, sign chirinos, and go get matt duffy for third.
You can have Dom Smith for Leclerc
Cubs are broke but the Cubs print money
so do all MLB teams and yet all are afraid to go over the cap. Cubs are closer to the cap than most.
K.
God this is old now
L.
Didn’t see the Yankees use that excuse when signing Cole
The Cubs are not broker, they don’t want to be over the luxury tax again. According to local sports talk, they still have to cut payroll. Something else that was mentioned in the last week, I believe it was David Kaplan. He was talking to Ricketts and asked how much the Cubs went over budget in upgrades to Wrigley Field and the surrounding area. Ricketts told him they went over by 100%. So apparently they ended up investing something around $1.2b. Although, the Cubs claim this has not had an impact on the payroll.
Start with real estate people inexperienced in construction expecting to make billions rebuilding an area in a major American city; have them change their plans a few dozen times once the project starts; do it in a strong heavily unionized liberal state with contradictory building ordinances with – putting it delicately – palms waiting to be greased; and of course there are going to be massive cost overruns. 100% may well prove to be radically low before this is over.
A good chance the Ricketts family has major financial problems. There are going to be lawsuits and finger-pointing being done by many which will make for great media stories in Chicagoland…..if they haven’t started already.
This biting off more then one can chew may well do to the Rickets family and subsequently to the Cubs, what Bernie Madoff did to the Wilpon family and subsequently the Mets. This will not be over in a year or so.
You do realize that the Ricketts family business just sold for $26 BILLION. That’s billion with a “B”. This family has lots of problems, but money ain’t one of them, genius.
Tell you what FredBlassie genius, esq.;
The sales price of something is not the take home price. You ever sell a business or property?
Furthermore, you need to list for us the number of people the Ricketts family supports, and the lifestyle they expect to live in.
If you think that the cost overruns on that (billion dollar plus) project have nothing to do with the Cubs financial situation – exacerbated by Theo Epstein’s reckless, irresponsible spending – then you live in a dream world.
There’s an old business saying – “We’re losing X amount of dollars on each sale, but we’re making it up in volume” (a guy from Chicago taught me that one). In a round about way, this is the logic of those ;like you that think others have no problems. (I also like – “How can I be overdrawn? I still have checks left!)
When even local sports talk shows – consisting of sports “experts” that can’t balance their own checkbooks – are talking about the Cubs financial issues, rest assured that this is not something minor. Maybe the Ricketts will survive it. But a black check for the Cubs is not coming any time soon.
Yup. Anything unionized involves the mafia…and the ghost payrolling, creation of unnecessary jobs, deliberate lengthening of job to inflate prices, and price inflation of goods that comes along with it. In a city like Chicago, be happy that you only got robbed for 100%. It could’ve been much worse.
“Maybe leave me enough to buy a new car with. Then what happens? You pay tax on the car. Repairs and maintenance. Godd*mn kids pesterin’ you to take ’em for a ride…
Then at the end of the year, if you figured the tax wrong, they make you pay out of your own pocket. Uncle Sam puts his hand in your shirt and squeezes your t*t till it’s purple. Always get the short end. That’s a fact.”
Poor Ricketts family. Sell the business for 26 billion and they’re gonna be pinching pennies.
Cubs have to save money so they can throw it all at Baez.
Teams Have Inquired About Yu Darvish
Well he is expensive an overrated!
Wow Miles you could work at a wine store
Maybe and I actually thought about it, but I like my free weekends.
You should use them to study up on baseball. You’re clueless.
Signed in just to thumbs up this Sideways reference.
“And”
Ugh typos
Cubs should give him away. Take that money and give it to Bryant.
They should give him away Richard? You think they perhaps should just waive him? If they did Darvish would be scooped up full contract and all in about ten seconds.
Your not to knowledgeable about baseball
He said nothing about waiving him. He said “give away” meaning another team takes on his full contract. Its not a bad idea. Get a coupke low level prospects in return and hope for the best.
This must be an early April Fools joke !
Inquired does not mean he will be dealt. I can’t see this one happening. I would think you would have to trade a position player also to acquire some pitching. If you are trading for Darvish you aren’t giving up MLB ready starters. Maybe you acquire position players for Darvish and pitching from Bryant or Contreras. The Cub rumors are making the offseason interesting. Also, the dollar amounts and years on some of these free agent deals price owner stupidity has returned.
This rumor does not surprise me……last half of 2019 season, Darvish was one of the top five pitchers in the MLB……
and with recent contracts……Darvish contract looks cheap for a Pitcher who is getting back to his excellent form……..
if Darvish is on the move, he might want an extension with his new team.
To those teams inquiring… the Giants have Shark who had a clearly better year than Darvish and is only signed for one more year. Give us a prospect or two and he’s a better fit for a contending team.. Cueto is back from surgery and is also going to be available.
Call Farhan Zaidi at (415) 972-2000. Tell them Porkins sent you.
Samardzija was not better than Darvish last year. Get real.
Well, you got me. However, he is a heck of a lot less expensive and you kinda know what you’re going to get.
Do you want a BMW that has been in the shop a lot and has a 3-year lease or a Mazda that you know will start when you turn the ignition and a 1-year lease?
In what universe was Samardzjia a better pitcher than Darvish last year? Yu had better WAR, ERA, K/9, while having only a marginally higher BB/9 (but looked WAY better in the second half of the season) and pitching only 3 fewer innings. They have an identical career BBIP, Yu is younger than Samardzjia by about a year, and only makes $3 mill more annually with three additional years of control in an environment where pitcher salaries seem to be going up sharply.
12 no trade team list…….
Marlins
Rays
Mets
Yankees
Twins
Mariners
Tigers
Orioles
Brewers
Rockies
White Sox
Pirates
Padres aren’t on that no-trade list. Preller & Tingler have familiarity with Darvish from their Texas days. Darvish can anchor this young rotation working under Rothschild.
Myers 3-67.5M – Darvish 4-81M
Cubs would get a off the hook of 14.5M, Padres would have to add a few prospects to offset negative value. Morejon, Margavicius and France/Torrens.
Andy Green and co. will have input from his familiarity with the San Diego organization as well. Hoyer still has guys he drafted while in SD -Hedges, Gettys.
If the cubs trade Darvish for Will Myers i might jump off my roof.
The prospects plus salary relief will be enough to make Myers a more than useful piece with the Cubs.
Morejon would be a young electric lefty CHC adds to their pen, Torrens/Hedges is Carantini’s platoon partner. Margavicius is a 5th starter swing-type. Myers can play RF if Bryant is dealt. Spell Rizzo against tough lefties.
He was a negative WAR player last year, horrendous. Where would he play? He has a larger AAV than Darvish. They would actually be taking on money until 2023. Plus he’s the cubs best pitcher. If the cubs trade Darvish they may as well blow it all up and taking on Myers contract would be the worst way to start a rebuild ever
Cubs refused to talk about an extension for Rizzo this winter
(many people seen scratching their head)
Are his days in Chicago numbered? Are they done with him after 2020 or 21?
Myers was a MUCH better hitter when he played 1B…….then the Padres signed Hosmer (more scratching of heads)
They could trade Yu and Heyward to SD for Myers, Hedges, Morejon, & Margavicious.
Then trade Rizzo and Bryant for a boatload of top prospects and an MLB ready player or two…????
It’s crazy……..or is it?
The fact that the cubs would even contemplate a rebuild over a few million dollars over the luxury tax blows my mind. This is literally the same team that made 4 playoffs in a row and won a World Series. Reds are the only team in the league that appear to have gotten remotely better. The cubs had issues last year but it mostly stemmed from not closing out games. If you aren’t going to spend money, whatever, but at least roll this team out their and see where you are at in July. Same trades can be made then.
If they are doing a full rebuild, I don’t think that it is just luxury tax. First, I am not at all sure that the Cubs could return to dominance unless they spend a boatload of additional money. Frankly, if I am the Ricketts (who I actually despise), I don’t look at Theo’s track record in the FA market with any confidence. Second, they have enough assets to sell off for players that would be ready to compete in two years – and for a ton less money than the maturing players like Bryant, Schwarber, Baez, and Rizzo would cost to resign. Over a five to seven year horizon, they might be looking at relatively similar total revenue between the two scenarios (foregoing 2020-21 ticket sales by rebuilding, while seeing greater 2022-25 ticket sales with a rising rather than declining team), but with much, much less salary cost for the rebuild path.
Heyward isn’t going anywhere, Cubs are stuck with him.
Is this no trade list legit or are you just guessing? Many players don’t let it be known publicly what 12 teams it is. I find it hard to believe that the Yankees, Mariners, Brewers and Twins would all be on that list. Maybe one or two of them for one reason or another, but the Yanks, Brew Crew and Twins have good futures and the Mariners embrace players from the Far East unlike any other franchise.
Alec Bohm
Cole Irvin
Adonis Medina
Odubel Herrera
For
Kris Bryant
Yu Darvish
Cubs shed 130mil in future salary, take on Odubel just to help the Phils avoid the 2nd luxury tax line, get their 3B of the future and 2 good pitching prospects
The Cubs will not likely be taking any players with domestic assault accusations in their past. They also can’t afford Herrara’s salary.
Lol
Chapman
Russel
Yea I realize Herrera is pretty much immovable. I’m sure Klentak and co. have tried like hell
That’s what a package just for Bryant will look like except Howard instead of Medina. Phillies would have to give up their top 6 or 7 prospects for both. They really only have 3 decent prospects.
Darvish have a great 2020 season…….he will be traded in July.
He doesn’t want the pressure of NY and the rest of the teams no one chooses unless it’s an overpay.
Stay away from this frail psyche.
Cubs should take a bag of nuts if offered for him…they aren’t a World Series team and yu won’t change that..if they truly believe Bryant won’t resign with them,then getting out of the tax penalty will help Bryant’s value in a trade.every team in the league knows they need to shed payroll and moving Bryant removes 18 mill..but if they move yu before and are out of tax penalty they don’t have to move him to save themselves,merely moving him comes down getting max value for him
If possible Angel’s take him and Lester or Quintana and the Cubs net a few prospects. It would be a blessing and the Cubs should just tank next season.
Angels should look into this. Darvish was lights out after the All Star break. Probably all mental to start last year after the previous year and playoff disaster. But when he said before the break he wanted to be the horse, he delivered
Angels should get on this. His contract was front loaded so he actually gets paid less each year. His second half is closer to the norm for Darvish. That rough patch was just a carry over.
Billionaires just hate to pay taxes, even if they’re just luxury taxes…..
I think most people in general hate to pay taxes because taxation is theft.
*eyeroll*
Cubs should make two big trades:
Trade Kris Bryant to the Dodgers for Alex Verdugo and Dustin May.
Trade Willson Contreras to the Rays for Brendan McKay and Xavier Edwards.
Darvish, May, Hendricks, McKay for foreseeable future in rotation + two cost-controlled bats.
No they didn’t.
Is it known what teams are on his no trade list?
Darvish and KB to ATL. Sounds like the kind of deal AA would go for. The Braves have plenty of assets to restock the Cubs’ minors and include Riley or Inciarte or one of the low-cost pitchers on the 26-man not named Soroka or Fried.
The Cubs are not moving Darvish! Darvish is on the Cubs to attract the Japanese market once the Cubs’ tv network starts up in February. Darvish is one of Japan’s biggest stars so people over there will purchase the Cubs’ tv station to watch the games he would pitch in for the Cubs. The Cubs want to play with the big boys like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Angeles, Yankees and Phillies with having their own network so they need that international market.
Can the Japanese order Marquee? It’s not even locked down with Comcast in Chicago yet. Or is it just a package put together by MLB where all the teams share any profits like MLB.TV?
BVT – they are looking very seriously at signing another Japanese player, so that might not be that big a deal.
Bryant/Darvish
Lux/May/+
Hate to say it Cub fans, but Cubbies no better than 3rd best in NL Central.. Theo has lost his touch, and if he trades Bryant, even your offense won’t be what it once was.
Need to jettison Schwarber and find a solid RF to replace Castellano if he isn’t re-signed (Very doubtful). Trading Contreras should get them a decent SP or OF. Better hope Javier Baez and Rizzo stay healthy all year or even the Reds will pass you in the standings.
When you look at the possible return by trading the lot of Bryant, Contreras, Darvish, Heyward, Lester and Quintana would it be enough to compete in 2020?
No one is taking on that contract. Darvish is sticking around town.
Braves have “checked in”
Yu,Broken Glass