“The activity of our offseason isn’t indicative of how much we’ve been on the phone and have been working,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer told ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers as part of a Q&A session. It has been a quiet winter in Wrigleyville, as the Cubs have been limited to minor league signings and a couple of low-cost MLB contracts as the club is seemingly operating with a very limited amount of available payroll. The Cubs have yet to make any major acquisitions or trade away any big in-house contracts to free up more luxury tax space, though while Hoyer admitted “this is obviously likely to be one of our less active offseasons,” more transactions could be on the horizon. “We’ve been incredibly active making calls and exploring options,” the GM said, adding that he expects “the trade market will continue to be an active place well into February.”
Here are some more notes to kick off both Groundhog Day and Super Bowl Sunday….
- Before re-signing with the Red Sox, Mitch Moreland received offers from at least two other clubs, the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham writes. “The biggest thing for me was I’ve enjoyed my time in Boston. It feels like home for us and there’s a good group of guys. I’m comfortable there,” said Moreland, who has played the last three seasons with the Sox. “It’s a good family atmosphere, too, and that means a lot to me.” Moreland was eager enough to return to Fenway Park that he re-signed despite the fact that the Sox don’t yet have a manager in place in the wake of Alex Cora’s firing.
- Blue Jays bullpen coach Matt Buschmann has been named as director of pitching development, the team announced. Buschmann will work in both roles for the 2020 season. A veteran of 11 pro seasons (including a brief stint of 4 1/3 innings with the Diamondbacks in 2016), Buschmann retired after the 2017 campaign to take on an assistant director post with the Giants before joining the Jays for the 2019 season.
- The Phillies’ lack of starting pitching upgrades have left David Murphy of the Philadelphia Inquirer pessimistic about the club’s chances of competing in 2020. Though the Phils landed one of the winter’s biggest free agent arms in Zack Wheeler, Murphy feels much more rotation help was necessary given how Jake Arrieta, Vince Velasquez, and Zach Eflin posted middling numbers last year, and even Aaron Nola’s solid year was a step back from an outstanding 2018 season. The shortage of pitching especially stands out in the NL East, where the Nationals, Braves, and Mets are all deep in rotation options.
I’m happy for Moreland. He’s a terrific player when healthy n plays hard all the time.
He also solidifies the infield. Everyone talks about the up the middle and hit corner defense but I’d are a great first baseman is as important. Each role is unique but the runs that can be saved, the outs that actually impact the number of batters a pitcher faces and the number of pitches thrown is at least equally as important and Moreland when healthy is as good as anyone. Hopefully he can share his knowledge with the youngsters the team has.
he’s exactly the kind of guy you want on a team, just a guy that gives everything he has when he’s out there, I have huge respect for, one of my favorites
I find it a shame that blue jays legend Tony Fernandez is in critical condition with kidney ailment and this is the first blue jays story in more than a couple of weeks.
That is so sad, I hope he recovers quick n in good health.
Rumors about people’s health is generally considered offside.
I had no idea. As always, prayers go out.
why?, what is the equivalent of a magic spell gonna do?
Lol I know, right? The ego on these people.
Apparently been waiting for a kidney for quite some time. He used to make some unbelievable plays at shortstop in Toronto.
Wheeler is going to be the biggest bust of this free agent class.
Ryu might have a say in that.
When those two’s contracts are up an elderly pitcher named Gerrit Cole will be sitting on $150m in future earnings for his age 35-38 seasons.
Even if he does it’d be worth it if they win a championship or two. His contract will be a bust or not depending on what he does before age 35, not after
I don’t think Cole will adjust well to ny
I agree , he will get lit up in those small parks. He should of went home to L..A
LA Dodgers yes, LA Angels no. He stated that he wants to play for a contender.
He won’t. The Phils pitching is so terrible that even a bad year from Wheeler would be a huge improvement.
I agree.
Wheeler will only be a bust due to expectations on him. He should have taken less money and been the #3/4 pitcher on a different team. Instead he lines up against every other teams #2. In NL alone he’s bottom half of #2 starters.
Article is right that Phillies didn’t do enough to improve their rotation. Queer to think Nola didn’t just have a career year in 18. He doesn’t even come to mind when u think of an ace. They do have room to add to payroll though if they choose to add pitching
Why would he take less money? That is top priority for at least 90% of the players. And the way the schedules go, he won’t always be lined up against the opposing #2. All the early-season games that get postponed will shake that up.
Nola certainly qualifies as an ace, so I’m not sure what you’re thinking. But certainly, I’d rather have seen them not get Gregarious and get a second starting pitcher and a centerfielder with those 14K, and have Bohm play 3rd.
Qualifies as 4th best ace in his division
@Sam0091
“I’d rather have seen them not get Gregarious and get a second starting pitcher”
Why would Gregorius’s one-year, $13MM contract have interfered with getting more pitching? He’s a blip in their payroll.
Nola may be the 2nd best starter on his team
I think Wheeler will win 20.
Haven’t you heard? Wins mean nothing.
I’m a 58 year old man with pancreatic cancer and I was just given a Marijuana mint by my son and I’ve never tried it before but I actually feel real good for the first time in 7 months, sorry baseball talk something about dumpster divin Theo. And I really need to see my Sox win a championship soon. Please
Very happy you’re feeling better, keep up with the weed. About your WSox, they are gonbb n a becc V a good team this yr. I miss Theo in Boston. He is just doing what he can to keep mo n ey down . I hope Darvish has straightened out his head after the Astros just pounded him unmercifully. And we all know now why that was, they just bout ruined a ball player, that is the sad side to the sign stealing by Astros.
Thanks man, today’s been good finally. I obviously have seen the Sox win a title but I want my youngest to see what I felt in 05. We watched the 2016 World Series with my wife who is a Cub fan and I was excited for her and he was too but it’s my dream to watch the Sox win a championship with my son. The first one I was not able to watch with him for stupid reasons. I love this game and I always cry when I see fans of the winning team get emotional. I just wish I can see one more before I go ya know
Speaking as an elder White Sox and Cubs fan here’s hoping your dream comes true for you and your family. Best of luck and God bless!
You are entitled to as much joy as you can handle with your illness. Stay strong and good luck this coming season.
I’ll say a prayer your dreams come true.
Man 78 this tears me up….I am also 58 and our family has been affected by pancreatic cancer. Your blurb about your son is gut wrenching. It’s wasn’t until college graduation day that my son told us the ONLY reason he picked the college he went to “was because the Cubs were close and I didn’t want dad to be alone when we won the World Series”. My wife and daughter “care” but they have NO idea what it means. I’ve cried myself to sleep four times in my life and that was the only time it was for a good reason.
Knowing now that he was driving distance and we were able to go to the playoff and World Series games and he was in the house for the others is something that can never be taken away. And I never knew why he didn’t go further away—-until graduation day.
Best of luck with your journey—-hoping and praying for you and your family.
As another cubs fan along with the others, I hope you find solace in your team’s success.
Sorry to hear about your cancer. Pancreatic cancer has hit my immediate family.
Good luck to you and keep up your fight
Prayers out to you and your family. Win your championship.. pummel it
Look up Snake Diet fasting protocols to cure cancer.
I’m 65 and a Cub fan. The man who took my brother and me to Wrigley doubleheaders as boys, who’d load us up on hot dogs, peanuts and ice cream in the brutal upper deck sun and then laugh when we’d get sick in cornfields on our way back south, passed the year before they finally won. I watched game 7 alone cause I couldn’t imagine watching that game with anyone but him. It was a bittersweet moment for me. I really hope you and your son have that moment in the sun together and that full and complete healing comes your way!
Cubs fan here. I truly hope your dream comes true. You got to see one championship and another would be sweet for you and your family. Stay strong, your team is building that winner for you. It will be sooner than later. God bless
Thanks guys for your support. Yesterday was one of my worst days in a while and I was lucky enough to have my kids and my wife with me. We watched the Hawks beat the Coyotes. Lately family and sports is really all I got. It seems like when you really need friends they all abandon you. But I got my family and for that I’m lucky.
I’ve heard that staying away is a common response for friends (and even some family members) of cancer patients. It’s not an excuse but I’ve heard it’s common. People don’t know how to respond to cancer. They don’t know what to say or how to act and that causes them to freeze up and shy away. Again it’s no excuse but it happens. A lot. I know it sounds weird but I would urge you to try not to take it personally simply because it is a widespread phenomena. You are not being singled out. And try not to let it affect the appreciation you have for the friendships you’ve enjoyed, as hard as that may be under the current circumstances. Focus on fond memories. And best wishes on the rest of your journey.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
I too, have my medical card. It helps me in so many ways. If you ever see crazy trade proposals from my username to the Rockies, you know I just “took my mint”
Lol
I too, have my medical card. It helps me in so many ways. If you ever see crazy trade proposals from my username to the Rockies, you know I just “took my mint”
I spent the last year battling Rectal Cancer. I found marijuana is be extremely helpful in dealing with the side effects of Radiation and Chemotherapy. Hopefully, you are still in Illinois, where you can access it without barriers or fear of braking the law. This Cubs fan wishes you the best.
Jed Hoyer sounds like that person at work who is clearly overcompensating for not doing a good job by telling everyone what a good job he’s been doing.
BS makes the world go round.
Didn’t Theo Epstein promise to take a “hard look” at this teams core players and that “tough changes” will need to take place? He has quite literally done the opposite and made no changes to a team that underproduced last season. This is how a good team slips into mediocrity. When all the noise is coming from the south side, a changing of the guard is upon us.
Actually the noise (and any changing of the guard) IF coming from anywhere, is from Cincinnati. As baseball people I’m pretty sure the folks in Cleveland and Minnesota care about any noise from the south side an infinite amount more than Theo.
Tell that to the people in chicago! They care WAY the heck more if the white sox are better than their cubbies than if the reds are challenging them. WAY MORE!
Couple of people here who incorrectly believe that player growth is linear…..
Yes theo said that… and all Cubs fans have right now, are the same exact problems we had when the season ended. Two gaping holes in the starting rotation, no solution at the back of the bullpen, weaker bench… (whether you liked or hated Russell) he was a solid peice to have in the mix. Played above average 2and SS, average hitter.. I’m a lifelong fan, but they’ve done absolutely nothing to get better
The plan was to put the same team on the field and see what happens. That’s not what sounds good so they created this fake plot to keep the Cubs name active in winter baseball writing.
What moves are cubs missing out on ? I’m sure they have passed on several terrible trade offers.
They signed no one of significance so all of them! My point is don’t say you’re gonna dramatically change the makeup of this team and then not make a single move to do what you said. Pretty obvious he didn’t mean what he said or simply changed his mind!
The noise from the south side won’t change the fact that no matter what the Cubs will always be the premier baseball team in Chicago.
I agree with that but the white will sellout baseball games if and only if a winning product is on the field. Cubs sell out no matter what.
There either isn’t a demand for Cubs players or there is a disconnect between the market and what Theo thinks they are worth. I suspect the former.
I think a lot of AL teams would love having schwarber hitting DH for them should he be made available. Kris Bryant is a huge trade chip that could bring back many young rotation pieces. The cubs players are still quality options so I would definitely disagree that there isn’t a demand for them. Now are they being over-valued by the cubs FO in trade talks, that’s more likely!
Maybe I’m too optimistic, but I think the team is great now….. or can be. If they get off to a good start, everyone stays healthy, and they play up to their potential, they will be in a position to add pieces at the deadline.
If not, there is time to trade away pieces to get better as the season goes on.
If I thought complaining about things would get the FO to make moves, I would be doing it 1000 times a day
Yes, you’re too optimistic!! I too am I lifelong Cubs fan!! Loved them since I watched games with my grandfather, as a child. I tought my wife and children about the Cubs. We make yearly trips, from out of town, to Wrigley. But I’m also a realist!! This team has major pitching and depth issues, and has not improved!!
They still have the best lineup in the division. The Reds are the only team in the division that looks to have improved. Cardinals, Brewers, and Cubs all lost significant contributors w/o adding obvious replacements. The Pirates are in something like their 30th year of rebuilding…
Fangraphs projections still like the Cubs to win the division by a slim margin… only time will tell. Everyone is in 1st in February.
If they are out of it 2 months in the will be sellers at the deadline. You make it sound like they would be trading to improve for this season and there’s no way they would do that unless they are leading or close to leading the division. I think they have a tough season ahead of them!
Mookie should listen to Moreland instead of being Mr. Moremoney.
Not a great comparison. Skillset is vastly different. There’s no reason why Mookie shouldn’t be paid like the superstar that he is.
Not my point.
Moreland did not extend with the Red Sox and then took the most money in free agency. What should Betts learn from him exactly?
You have no point, that’s the point.
I don’t believe Mookie wants to stay in Boston. My guess is he has requested to be traded to a West Coast team, considering the two teams involved in the most active trade rumors.
I can’t see how he doesn’t get traded within the next 7 days.
I think most Phillies fans recognize our shortfall in SP. Even more so when compared to the studs the Nats, Mets and Braves employ. Thus, I think Klentak should take a shot on Taiwan Walker. Let him build himself up in extended spring training, and if all goes well, maybe he could help the team in June or thereabouts.
Still believe Klentak is in way over his head as a GM. Should the Phillies post another season where all we do is kiss .500, Klentak should get fired.
Should trade for Lester or Quintana. Know they’re not world-beaters now but would really help with decent years. Might hurt tax situation this year but only under contract 1-1 1/2 years.
“Should trade for Lester or Quintana”
The Cubs never should have traded for Quintana. I hated that trade from the Cubs end.
Yeah, it was a bad trade at the time and looks even worse now.
Quintana had pitched 200+ innings a year for four straight years with a ERA between 3.20 and 3.51. He was highly regarded. It was a good trade when done. It only looked (and was) bad in retrospect, when his innings and ERA tanked. Only in hindsight can fans realistically criticize that trade. And I’m not sure they can even do that as the contract has only been for 7 to 10.5MM. Not bad for his spot in the rotation. He may not have done as well as expected but he has still been serviceable and is not overpaid.
id like either but im skeptical of what CHC is doing. with Hamels gone Q in specific is a lot less expendable. im also not quite sure that they’re taking the step back that somr have expected. those KB rumors havent exploded as most expected after all.
“I think Klentak should take a shot on Taiwan Walker.”
Phillies don’t like Asian players.
i dont buy that. this team has fielded its fair share of asian players. i dont know if there has been anyone besides Hyun-Soo Kim in the past decade, but theyve added some nice Amateur Free Agents from asia in the last few years.
Wow, that definitely flew over your head @DarkSide..lol
Phillies have to hope Arrieta comes back strong. There’s a descent chance if he recovers. He’s not a Cy Young candidate anymore but he can give them quality innings. Nola, Wheeler and Arrieta could be a good start to the rotation.
Also if Eflin could take the next step like he started to last year after going back to his old self , he started out well in 2019 , his first 14 starts he was lights out. I think Klentak is hoping that Bryan Price can unlock something in Pivetta & Vinny V.
i still would have liked another arm, (and there are still guys like Walker and Vargas that they can get) but there are positives. Arrieta and Eflin should pitch better if healthy and VV was actually bearable as a 5 later last year. Price too and a full year of working with JT under their belts should also help markedly.
Klentak should be fired! The Phillies are going into this season with NO left-handed starter in their rotation! He didn’t make any upgrades to the bullpen. He signed Didi, but where the hell is Kingery going to play? He seems to want to make him a multi-positional player that can be plugged in the lineup anywhere. I would like to see him go back to his natural position at second base and watch his production at the plate skyrocket! Girardi will make a difference of about five games for the Phils as manager, but that won’t be enough to win the division
It’s better to have an all RHP rotation than to put in a lesser LHP just for the sake of having a lefty in the rotation.
Kingery is going to play 3rd.
The Phils jumped the gun signing Harper with no established core of position players. They don’t have the talent to contend as a result. As a WSox fan, I can tell you spending money on 2nd and 3rd tier players alone gets you nowhere.
And tell me again, what FA first tier player would ever want to sign with them? Oh yeah, I forgot, Mookie is gonna sign with them next winter. I heard Mookie just can’t wait for that ‘big, but just not big enough’, offer from Reinsdorf.
You missed my point entirely. The Phillies didn’t help their cause by spending money before developing a core of young, controllable talent. Now they’re stuck with an expensive and aging roster that’s not good enough to make the playoffs. The Phillies organization and fanbase aren’t patient enough to build from within, and it’s biting them in the butt with an aging, overpaid roster.
If Philly needs a LH starter, they are more than welcome to David Price if they want to pay for him!
Price for Bryce. Just sounded good saying it aloud.
i think if this were 2021 this would be a plausible situation, but they arent taking on his money now. i really believe that if Price were making about 1/3 less he would be a good value, but the Phils already have enough payroll for this year. when Arrieta is gone Price could be plausible.
I think the Phillies will be fine. They might have gone a little differently than the Cubs and Astros did. Cubs (Heyward/Zobrist) and Astros (Verlander/ Reddick) took on their big star when they had a very good team already. The Phils built their team on veteran stars from other teams.
What I think the Phillies should do is try and get Price and JBJ from the Red Sox. Both are win now players and fill needs. JBJ could be the CF/4th outfielder. Price would slide into the number 3 spot in the rotation. JBJ is only a one year deal. Price is 3. Phils would go over the tax limit this year, but be back down next.
It probably wouldn’t cost much… Roman Quinn, Nick Williams and maybe a marginal pitching prospect?
Na wouldn’t cost much former MVP and Cy Young award winner. Sounds like Padre fan lol
No, it won’t cost very much because the Red Sox want to get rid of Price’s contract.
padreforlife doesn’t know much about baseball… must be a Padres fan.
JBJ didn’t win a MVP. He’s an overpaid CF that had a bad year. Price is a solid starter, but not worth $32 mil a year. But cool story Bra.
I think it’s funny that the situation could work out so that other teams might hold out on the Cubs who are getting desperate to part with Bryant! He may have been a one year wonder that turned into a bit above average player. Who would want to empty the farm for one of those.
I would say Bryant is well above average. He’s still a star. Maybe even a superstar if you compare with Betts. 131 OPS+ in ’19. 136 for his career. Betts was 135 in 2019 and is 134 career.
I don’t think he compares with Betts. Bryant has no fire in his gut! He’s too soft to be a superstar!
I agree that Betts is MUCH better but the OPS+ numbers are eye-opening and have to give some pause to over-estimating Betts.
You’re cheery picking a stat to compare the two players in only one phase of the game. The reason Mookie is so valuable is because he does everything extremely well, not just with his bat. Bryant, while a very good hitter in his own right, he is trending down defensively at 3B, and he doesn’t offer nearly the same value as Mookie does on the basepaths…
Would Daniel Norris be on par for a Mickey Moniak trade?
Norris is garbage. i dont imagine he would have even outpitched VV or Arrieta in CBP last year.
I disagree with the Mitch hiring. So far Chaim had taken on almost 15M with the biggest $ coming from below avg players like Mitch Perez and Peralta. None are sig better than the young prospects they now block. If I was trading Betts to cut 27 million I certainly would bet in Dalbec hitting 230-240 with 18-22 HR. I would bet on CJ Chatham hitting much better than 240 with 6HR… In fact I would ho 285 40 2B 11HR for CJ at 2B. I would also bet heavily on Houck to out preform Perez. Especially since Perez is now facing a RH heavy powerhouse NYY, A very good TBR and a young scary TBJ along with a scrappy little Baltimore team that shoukd add to its youth getting better by August. that is 76 of the starts Boston makes. Perez was lit up vs the kids on CWS a slumbering Cleveland team that lost alot of luster, and a pitiful Detroit and KC Teams. Perez was crucified by RH hitters. Houck adds a 2nd RH SP on a team too LH heavy. The 4 RP I would think Mata Durbin McGrath Reyes Hart or Aybar can provide the depth needed past Workman Matt JT Darwin Bazardo Walden HH…. I Let Mata and Durbin take these spots over Braiser Hector or Brewer. I stretch Brewer out. I add a his 96 mph 2 seamer to his cutter CB combo along w his 97/98mph FB for show only belt high in. Brewer can effectively pitch 3-6IP if allotted his full arsenal. So now Chaim has added 15 million to trade Betts 27 million. Seems foolish when the MLB Min 563K equals 2,815,000 for Dalbec CJ Houck Mata Durbin vs 14,252,000 Mitch Perez Peralta Osich Brice Hillenbrand Alvarez Kickham. Instead of spending this money on the an elite arm to solidify the BP they will watch RP who have been hammered over and over like Hector Brasier and the above. I even believe Walden was a complete fluke. IMO he is a guy best suited to eat innings during blowouts not pitch in high leverage situations. Chaim wasted almost 12 million that could gave gone towards an elite arm ir a risk project like Jefferies not replacing last years crap of Smith Weber Gector with more crap. Our kids at least have one advantage. They have upside. None of the additions have any upside left. Save this money. Trading Betrs essentially nets only 14 million in savings. Time to rethink these approaches. Mitch has been consistently good for the 1st 6 weeks then a complete liability. Perez was knocked around in a very good Minny team that advances with better pitching. Brice was cut by the Miami Marlins. Need I say more. Peralta cut tet has the line as the opening day Starting 2B. I dont understand any if this. We are not asking for Chaim to get Altive Scherzer or Rizzo we are only asking if you must trade 2 very good players in Betts and Price dont take in garbage money. That means no deal w SDP if Will Meyers is a part of the deal. Half bets 1 5M in savings w above additions. Ruiz us questionable. Only a combo Gray Grosolin Downs with Andujar is acceptable. Ruiz would be the starting catcher over Smith. Smith is blocking Ruiz. Ruiz threw out 21% of runners and didnt handle more advanced pitching well. If Vaz is on the market then Campusano Cal Patino to start for including Myers. No Patino no trade.
I disagree with the Mitch hiring. So far Chaim had taken on almost 15M with the biggest $ coming from below avg players like Mitch Perez and Peralta. None are sig better than the young prospects they now block. If I was trading Betts to cut 27 million I certainly would bet in Dalbec hitting 230-240 with 18-22 HR. I would bet on CJ Chatham hitting much better than 240 with 6HR… In fact I would ho 285 40 2B 11HR for CJ at 2B. I would also bet heavily on Houck to out preform Perez. Especially since Perez is now facing a RH heavy powerhouse NYY, A very good TBR and a young scary TBJ along with a scrappy little Baltimore team that shoukd add to its youth getting better by August. that is 76 of the starts Boston makes. Perez was lit up vs the kids on CWS a slumbering Cleveland team that lost alot of luster, and a pitiful Detroit and KC Teams. Perez was crucified by RH hitters. Houck adds a 2nd RH SP on a team too LH heavy. The 4 RP I would think Mata Durbin McGrath Reyes Hart or Aybar can provide the depth needed past Workman Matt JT Darwin Bazardo Walden HH…. I Let Mata and Durbin take these spots over Braiser Hector or Brewer. I stretch Brewer out. I add a his 96 mph 2 seamer to his cutter CB combo along w his 97/98mph FB for show only belt high in. Brewer can effectively pitch 3-6IP if allotted his full arsenal. So now Chaim has added 15 million to trade Betts 27 million. Seems foolish when the MLB Min 563K equals 2,815,000 for Dalbec CJ Houck Mata Durbin vs 14,252,000 Mitch Perez Peralta Osich Brice Hillenbrand Alvarez Kickham. Instead of spending this money on the an elite arm to solidify the BP they will watch RP who have been hammered over and over like Hector Brasier and the above. I even believe Walden was a complete fluke. IMO he is a guy best suited to eat innings during blowouts not pitch in high leverage situations. Chaim wasted almost 12 million that could gave gone towards an elite arm ir a risk project like Jefferies not replacing last years crap of Smith Weber Gector with more crap. Our kids at least have one advantage. They have upside. None of the additions have any upside left. Save this money. Trading Betrs essentially nets only 14 million in savings. Time to rethink these approaches. Mitch has been consistently good for the 1st 6 weeks then a complete liability. Perez was knocked around in a very good Minny team that advances with better pitching. Brice was cut by the Miami Marlins. Need I say more. Peralta cut tet has the line as the opening day Starting 2B. I dont understand any if this. We are not asking for Chaim to get Altive Scherzer or Rizzo we are only asking if you must trade 2 very good players in Betts and Price dont take in garbage money. That means no deal w SDP if Will Meyers is a part of the deal. Half bets 1 5M in savings w above additions. Ruiz us questionable. Only a combo Gray Grosolin Downs with Andujar is acceptable. Ruiz would be the starting catcher over Smith. Smith is blocking Ruiz. Ruiz threw out 21% of runners and didnt handle more advanced pitching well. If Vaz is on the market then Campusano Cal Patino to start for including Myers. No Patino no trade.
I disagree with the Mitch hiring. So far Chaim had taken on almost 15M with the biggest $ coming from below avg players like Mitch Perez and Peralta. None are sig better than the young prospects they now block. If I was trading Betts to cut 27 million I certainly would bet in Dalbec hitting 230-240 with 18-22 HR. I would bet on CJ Chatham hitting much better than 240 with 6HR… In fact I would ho 285 40 2B 11HR for CJ at 2B. I would also bet heavily on Houck to out preform Perez. Especially since Perez is now facing a RH heavy powerhouse NYY, A very good TBR and a young scary TBJ along with a scrappy little Baltimore team that shoukd add to its youth getting better by August. that is 76 of the starts Boston makes. Perez was lit up vs the kids on CWS a slumbering Cleveland team that lost alot of luster, and a pitiful Detroit and KC Teams. Perez was crucified by RH hitters. Houck adds a 2nd RH SP on a team too LH heavy. The 4 RP I would think Mata Durbin McGrath Reyes Hart or Aybar can provide the depth needed past Workman Matt JT Darwin Bazardo Walden HH…. I Let Mata and Durbin take these spots over Braiser Hector or Brewer. I stretch Brewer out. I add a his 96 mph 2 seamer to his cutter CB combo along w his 97/98mph FB for show only belt high in. Brewer can effectively pitch 3-6IP if allotted his full arsenal. So now Chaim has added 15 million to trade Betts 27 million. Seems foolish when the MLB Min 563K equals 2,815,000 for Dalbec CJ Houck Mata Durbin vs 14,252,000 Mitch Perez Peralta Osich Brice Hillenbrand Alvarez Kickham. Instead of spending this money on the an elite arm to solidify the BP they will watch RP who have been hammered over and over like Hector Brasier and the above. I even believe Walden was a complete fluke. IMO he is a guy best suited to eat innings during blowouts not pitch in high leverage situations. Chaim wasted almost 12 million that could gave gone towards an elite arm ir a risk project like Jefferies not replacing last years crap of Smith Weber Gector with more crap. Our kids at least have one advantage. They have upside. None of the additions have any upside left. Save this money. Trading Betrs essentially nets only 14 million in savings. Time to rethink these approaches. Mitch has been consistently good for the 1st 6 weeks then a complete liability. Perez was knocked around in a very good Minny team that advances with better pitching. Brice was cut by the Miami Marlins. Need I say more. Peralta cut tet has the line as the opening day Starting 2B. I dont understand any if this. We are not asking for Chaim to get Altive Scherzer or Rizzo we are only asking if you must trade 2 very good players in Betts and Price dont take in garbage money. That means no deal w SDP if Will Meyers is a part of the deal. Half bets 1 5M in savings w above additions. Ruiz us questionable. Only a combo Gray Grosolin Downs with Andujar is acceptable. Ruiz would be the starting catcher over Smith. Smith is blocking Ruiz. Ruiz threw out 21% of runners and didnt handle more advanced pitching well. If Vaz is on the market then Campusano Cal Patino to start for including Myers. No Patino no trade.
Seeing that post one time (surprising I tried but I couldn’t read it past the first 10 lines) was too much but three times was painful.
Ya nobody’s that smart.
I agree, if you can’t make a point in one paragraph, you have no point
To his credit, he did put it all in one paragraph..lol
Phil’s rotation is garbage