There was a point in the offseason when Padres’ GM A.J. Preller almost acquired Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, and Joe Musgrove on the same day, he said on Jon Heyman and Tony Gwynn Jr.’s Big Time Baseball podcast. Ultimately, it took a span of roughly three weeks to get all three arms dressed in brown, white, and gold. The deals took some finagling, as at one point, at least one of the players who ultimately went to Tampa Bay was slated for both the Snell and Darvish deals. Once the Snell deal went through, Preller and the Cubs had to renegotiate and swap in new names. Preller did not say which of the Rays’ new prospects was also coveted by the Cubs. But he did touch on their pursuit of one-time free agent and current Los Angeles Dodger Trevor Bauer. Preller and the Padres felt Bauer was going to take his time making a decision, and they didn’t want to be left holding the bag, so to speak, if he chose to go elsewhere. The Padres executed their trade plans instead, completing the most dramatic winters in recent memory. Despite the myriad additions, the Padres will have room for an in-season addition, should they feel the need, noted Preller. More on the Cubs…
- After months – years, even – of trade speculation around their star core, the Cubs see varying levels of uncertainty around the respective futures of Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, or Kris Bryant, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. Bryant seems destined for free agency. Rizzo is confident that he’ll remain a Cub beyond 2021, and the Cubs’ affection for Rizzo has never wavered. He’s the likeliest of the trio to receive an extension. Baez wants an extension, but given the potential options in free agency next winter, the Cubs would be wise to wait unless the Wasserman client succumbs to team friendly terms. Our speculation need not end on April 1st, however. Unlike some other players seeking extensions – namely and most apropos, Francisco Lindor – Baez has no problem continuing extension talks into the season, notes Wittenmyer. It’s worth noting that Wasserman also represents Kyle Hendricks, with whom the Cubs worked out an extension late in March, 2019.
- Newfound command of his slider has helped Shelby Miller make a compelling case to make the Cubs’ roster, per Meghan Montemurro and Lamond Pope of the Chicago Tribune. Said Miller, “Opposing hitters have to respect a whole other pitch that they haven’t seen. I’ve just got to keep throwing it, and hopefully it gets better. And I’m just going to go out there and get outs. That’s all I can say really.” Miller is a long shot to make the rotation out of camp with Hendricks, Zach Davies, Jake Arrieta, Trevor Williams, Alec Mills, and Adbert Alzolay ahead of Miller in the pecking order. He’s in the mix for a bullpen spot, however. A lot may depend on whether Alzolay is granted another option season. If not, he’ll be on the roster in one form or another. Miller is a non-roster invitee who would need to be added to the 40-man roster to make the team. The Cubs have one open 40-man roster spot.
Holding the bag spelled backwards equals New York Mets
You should seek nay.
Ah yes, the age old Cub conundrum-sign the popular player or the better player.
In this case, which is which?
Yes.
The Padres and Mets are not going to regret getting nut job Bauer. He does that stupid one eye thing and ends up hitting a batter. Thinks he’s a top 3 pitcher which he is no where close. He always has beef on twitter with someone or is attacking someone. I hope he has a 4.00 ERA or completely bust during the postseason.
I wish I could hear Preller talk to other GMs to see how he approaches these deals lol. I feel like he has a list of players he is willing to trade with a value set but lets other GMs mix and match under a specific value.
It’s probably reasonable to assume he does a list type negotiation
Would explain his ability to string deals together. To Boost an offer, Something like “you can add another name from column A”, or “take one out of A, add 2 from B and you got a deal”
Bauer in New York would have worked as well as oil and water. The Mets are lucky he is not there.
100%. Bauer had terrible attitude who is all about himself. NY fans would’ve ate him up and he wouldn’t be able to deal with it. Glad we didn’t get him.
The fans and throw in the media as well. The Post, Daily News, and Newsday would have a field day
Are you suggesting the NY media is harder on people than the Cleveland media?
If he had the same player in all three trades, I would argue no, he wasn’t close to acquiring all three on the same day at all.
One player was included in “two” of the deals and those two deals still got done on the same day.
It was the Musgrove deal that was a week later
Hey Farva, what’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy stuff on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?
You mean Shenanigans?
OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!
I don’t blame them for not wanting to stay in the Bauer soap opera. I also think he’s going to have a terrible year.
Why do you think that? Just because you don’t like him?
I think the offenses he faced last year in the central were garbage and he’s going to regress back to closer to his career norms now that he has to play everyone. We’re talking about 11 starts last year, 2 against PIT, 2 against DET, 3 against MIL, 1 against KCR, 2 against CHC and 1 against CWS. Aside from the one game he threw against the White Sox, he was working against teams that were in the bottom third of the league offensively. SD, SF, and Coors field are going to be a challenge for him.
By that same token, I would also admit that Darvish is probably also due for regression based on moving from the central as well, although Darvish had a tougher draw facing CWS 2x, STL 2x and MIN. Plus Darvish’s career norms are better than Bauer’s so I think he’s in better position anyways, but I would bet both of these guys start slipping a bit off last years mark,
Rizzo wants to stay and the team wants to keep him. As a 1B hitting free agency after his age 31 season we have seen the market traditionally be unkind to players like this, even though Rizzo is a plus defender at the position. Ultimately i could see him getting a four or five year deal to stay
must be a slow day in piratesville no cost effective players picked up
If Miller found his game again, get him in there–pardon me for not being too impressed w Williams or Mills. Each might make a five, but if you can push them to the bullpen you do it.
Couldn’t agree more. I don’t have anything against a solid soft tosser like Hendricks, but a rotation heavy bunch of em is too much IMO. Mills, ain’t the answer. I’m pulling for Miller.
Go Clippers! Kawhi to invest in the Padres ? Haha. Boston beat LA in the WS. Celtics rivals with Lakers. Not sure how this is going to go over with Angelinos. Curious to hear their take and LeBron angling to join the Celts at some point? Interesting
What you say? Go Conquistadors!
LeBron will never be a true Laker. What’s next? He’ll crash the Beatles.
Watched a snippet of a Cubs game the other day; Millers’ stuff looked good!
The issue with him is maintaining it. Can he at least make it to the AS break? If he does he will be a hot commodity or part of a playoff push. Win Win for him and the Cubs. If he does not do well? It was just a minor league contract anyway.
Think Bauer will not prove to be worth the 40 mil this season. An opposing manager will ask the umps to check him at the proper time. If there is enforcement it will be interesting to see if he’s still “elite”