Feb. 20: The Cubs have formally announced the signing. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Codi Heuer was placed on the 60-day injured list. Heuer is recovering from Tommy John surgery
Feb. 15: Fulmer and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $4MM contract tweets Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic.
Feb. 10: The Cubs and free-agent righty Michael Fulmer are in agreement on a contract, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal is pending a physical. Fulmer is represented by BBI Sports Group.
In Fulmer, the Cubs are landing one of the few remaining quality relievers on the market. The 2016 American League Rookie of the Year broke into the Majors as a starter and thrived in that role before injuries — namely Tommy John surgery and a separate ulnar nerve transposition procedure — derailed his career. He returned to full strength in 2021 however, and after a few shaky starts early in the season, found a home in the Detroit bullpen.
From that point through the 2022 trade deadline, Fulmer was a rock-solid setup man and closer for a sub-.500 Tigers team. Detroit flipped him to the Twins prior to the 2022 trade deadline, receiving minor league pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long in return. Fulmer continued his smooth transition to the bullpen with a nice showing in Minnesota down the stretch, and he now touts a 2.90 ERA, 23.8% strikeout rate, 8.5% walk rate, 39.2% grounder rate and 0.64 HR/9 mark in 111 2/3 innings since moving to a relief role on a full-time basis.
Fulmer had some command issues in the first half of the 2022 season, but those were largely ironed out following his trade to Minnesota, with whom he walked just 7.5% of the batters he faced. There are at least a handful of red flags on his 2022 season beyond the brief uptick in walks, however.
For instance, the 95.6 mph Fulmer averaged on his heater in 2021 dipped to 94.3 mph in 2022, while his 24.6% strikeout rate fell to 22.1% (and just 20.6% after the trade). The right-hander also went from one of the game’s best at managing hard contact (87th percentile average exit velocity, 76th percentile hard-hit rate) to just slightly above-average in 2022 (55th percentile exit velocity, 61st percentile hard-hit rate). Additionally, his strong 34.6% opponents’ chase rate on pitches off the plate fell to 31.2% in 2022 — a career-low mark in a full 162-game season.
The extent to which factors like that combined to slow Fulmer’s market can’t be fully known, but it’s still a bit of a surprise that it took until the week before spring training for him to reach a deal. While financial terms of his contract haven’t yet come to light, the Cubs tend to wait out the market and scoop up veteran relievers at relatively bargain rates. Chicago hasn’t inked a reliever to a multi-year deal or even topped a $5MM guarantee for a reliever since signing Craig Kimbrel four years ago.
If that trend indeed continues, it could well prove to be a bargain for them. Fulmer isn’t a dominant, overpowering bullpen anchor, but he’s been a quality setup man with slightly above-average ability to miss bats, solid command and a knack for avoiding hard contact over the past two seasons. If his 2023 results fall in line anywhere between his 2021 and 2022 output, it’ll be a nice upgrade to a Cubs bullpen that is lacking in certainty.
Prior to the agreement with Fulmer, righties Brad Boxberger and Rowan Wick were the only relievers in the Chicago bullpen with even three years of Major League service time. The Cubs don’t have a set closer, so Fulmer figures to join Boxberger, Brandon Hughes and perhaps former top prospect Adbert Alzolay — who was excellent in a small sample of bullpen work last year — in competing for work in the ninth inning.
At least it’s not Carson Fulmer. Still need a southpaw in the pen.
Hopefully Matt Moore if they like intelligent spending
Matt Moore signed last week with the Angels.
I don’t think a lefty reliever is a must, it would surely help, but they already have several left arms competing for a BP spot to go with Hughes.
Relievers are so volatile that overpaying for a lefty reliever is not the way to go, even Chafin can come in a post a 5 ERA.
@Capi—-you are 100% correct…and I am NOT comparing teams nor staffs, but the Astros won the World Series with NO lefties on their roster in the bullpen for the first two playoff series. They added Will Smith to the World Series roster but he did not appear in the series at all.
They figured out that you are best off with the best pitchers not something to match a preconceived notion that you need specialists to get certain types out.
I think that is more and more true. Managers separate their lefties, and will pitch-hit for their lefties, where needed. The only lefties that make sense is when you have a L-R-L batters coming up in the middle of the order, hopefully with 2 outs.
Or occasionally as an opener where the first three batters are L-R-L.
A good lefty reliever is still of high value to target a team’s top left handed hitters who are vulnerable to platoon disadvantage. For instance you knock 200 pts off Rafael Devers’ OPS with a lefty, he isn’t getting pitched hit for. Of course it the depends on if there is a lefty masher behind him, but often it may be worth it anyways if the left handed hitter is the best hitter on the team.
Besides many left handed relievers don’t have a huge platoon disadvantage. Matt Moore was better against righties last season for instance and about even over his career.
Well, mike, it helped that six of the Astros’ relievers had reverse splits in 2022. McCullers, Montero, Neris, Stanek and Abreu were all more effective against hitters batting left-handed. Pressly’s splits were pretty even, but he also was slightly better against hitters batting left-handed.
It’s kind of remarkable for that many of a team’s main relievers to have reverse splits, but I imagine the front office had good reason to expect that they wouldn’t suffer from the lack of southpaws in the bullpen.
Now all the Cubs need is the Astros lineup.
Aloha Capi, absolutely agree with you. Nice to have but no need to overspend on a LHD arm. I’d love to see some of the young players in the farm have a chance now, leading into the 2024 season. Mahalo!
Last year was an outlier for Fulmer vs. left-handed batters. In prior seasons, he was more effective against them than against right-handed batters. Last year, lefties killed him.
The remaining lefties must still be looking for too much money. That’s the only sensible reason why they have not signed yet. Both Moore & Chafin are quality relievers who are worthy of a multi-year deal. They must be looking for $8M+ per year.
The Strahn (sp?) signing messed up the LHRP market. I read that Chaffin and Moore (maybe others) are wanting 8-10 mill per year. Be interesting to see who buckles first- players or GMs?
Chafin opted out of a $7MM deal with Detroit. He should be looking for more. He also wants to be close to his family and wants to be in the midwest, so if he doesn’t get what he wants, in the area he wants, IMO he may not sign.
The three teams he would probably prefer to go to can’t afford or do not want him. Reds, Guardians, Pirates. Cubs and White Sox aren’t spending 7m or more a season for a reliever either. There are loads of flights out of LGA to the Midwest. Uncle Steve to the rescue.
Didn’t he sign with Arizona?
Unlike fans, players get to choose.
Player don’t have to put up with the baloney.
Don’t expect Fulmer, Chaffin, or Moore or.any of them……why would they? It’s humiliating. “Yeah, I played for the Tigers. We lost 107 games”…..is not something you can brag about to your grandchildren….
I still hope they surprise the heck out of.everyone including me
What happened to your profile picture, Dorothy?
Brandon Hughes will be the “main” lefty out of the pen and the Cubs do have Ryan Borucki, Roenis Elias, Bailey Horn, Anthony Kay, Brendon Little, Braylin Marquez, and Eric Stout as minor league invites to spring training.
I do like Chafin or Hand for the Cubs but they may just go with what they’ve got
You mean like all the other Cubs success stories with Lefties they sign like Brault, Newsome, Boyd ad infinitum. Every year they sign 10 guys and none make any difference.
Lefty relievers usually don’t make a difference unless their name is Josh Hader or someone like that.
The 3 batter rule has made it to where you don’t need a LOOGY anymore.
I don’t recall one Cubs team that you can say failed because they needed 1 more lefty arm.
You failed to mention Scott Efross, who netted them Hayden Wesneski.
Except Effross is RH.
Dr. Mike… Like Steele, Hughes, Chafin and Smyly.
Would love Chaffin back but he is going to cost a minimum of $8 million AAV and rightfully so which leaves less than desire room to work with at the deadline if the Cubs are in the playoff hunt.
Cubs aren’t worried about the Luxury Tax. Even if they go over they will be able to reset it next year as most of their deals are short term. They could care less. Even if they go over a few million it’s not a hefty penalty amount. I think Ricketts can cover it.
Wrong…Zero reason to blow passed it this year . They have the 1 year deals for flexibility from ’24 on. Next year they should be free to go over the tax threshold.
Huh? Cubs are a big market team with a billionaire owner. Ricketts has basically said Hoyer can do whatever he wants. So you’re comment is not even remotely true. They’re basically operating around the tax number. But they could easily fly by the tax number EVERY year if they want to.
Wrong again…
I’m actually more interested to see who gets DFA’d than I am about any of your silly comments.
I agree they could if they wanted to. But until Tommy boy shows me that he wants to, I’m assuming he does not, and Hoyer is risk-adverse anyway.
Ricketts said that the cubs will go over the luxury tax from time to time when it makes sense. It doesn’t make sense to do it this season because, unfortunately despite the improvements, the Cubs are still not a playoff contender.
But he put a “…” at the end, so he must be right…
Easy to say when you’re talking about someone else’s money.
Except it’s “couldn’t care less”, not “could care less”
The only way the cubs over the luxury tax is if they are playing exceptionally well at the deadline.
I’ll try and explain it so that even the most obstinate person will have to agree, But probably won’t. The Cubs went out and spent a ton of short term money this year to speed up the process. They finally started building the farm system the right way- By drafting and trading for a ton of young pitching talent. Now when that talent starts showing up, The payroll will plummet as those guys will be making peanuts until they’re 30. Then the idea is flip them and bring along the next batch( See Tampa Bay ) for the way to do it. The Cubs drafted hitters and would spend big for P’s and trade 3 hitters for 1 P, Or as we call it, A bad business model. You can trade 1 good P for 3 hitters but you can’t do it the other way. The Cubs found that out and are now on the right track. The payroll shouldn’t be a problem for quite awhile, So I hope even the dim can see it now.
Guess they don’t want to.
Dr Mike, you don’t have to keep explaining why you’re wrong. We all know why you’re wrong.
All owners are billionaires
All majority owners . . .
There’s just no need to go over the threshold this year, in fact, it makes more sense to stay under and only go over if they look like playoffs contenders by the trade deadline.
So sure, they can go over, they can afford it, but that wouldn’t be the best idea.
This is correct… The penalties associated with going over the threshold aren’t just $$ though. The teams 1st round draft pick gets pushed back . You lose compensation draft picks for signing and losing qualifying offer free agents. Teams also lose their international pool money used for the international player draft.
I also don’t believe an owner needs to lose money just to make Dr Mike happy. But it is satisfying that Tom Ricketts owns Dr. Mike’s happiness, or lack of it.
Uncle mike. Sorry to interject, but you’re wrong. All owners are billionaires, but ricketts is not cohen. Not by a million, bajillion miles
What in the world are you babbling about mike?
I’ll try and explain it to the dullards one more time and I’ve even supplied a link. The penalty for going over the tax number by 20-40 million is 20%. So 20 million over would be 253 million would be? Class? 4 million dollars. Wow! Ricketts would surely file for bankruptcy! To have a drat pick moved back 10 spots would take 273 million which in case you’re too dim to figure it out would be a whole lot of relievers.. Which isn’t going to happen by signing a few. Not to mention that they’ll almost automatically going to dip below next year because they lose Heyward 22 million, Hendricks 14 million and Happ 11 million unless they’re dumb enough to extend him with 3 top prospects being OF’s. So class that’s how much? that’s right 47 million gone automatically next year. I’m going out to the tree to see if it gets it or which one of you gets it first. That there really is no penalty for going past the tax this year, or next frankly.
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/competitive-balance-…
I’m trying to explain simple math to the chronically dim. And I have a whole new respect for teachers who work with the handicapped. It’s very trying work indeed. So far my best student is a tree in my front yard.
Not to mention according to Spotrac the Cubs 2023 Tax figure before Fulmer is at 210 million which means they are 23 million below 233. You can get 3 or 4 relievers before even getting to 233. So even if they gave Chafin 10 million it would still be perfectly fine and they’re 43 million below the first penalty line of 253. Hoyer is doing just fine.
You really think a lot of yourself dont you…
Everybody kept asking me to prove the obvious. So I did. It’s not my fault that even after I did you still don’t get it. It’s all really quite simple.
100% agree! Jed has learned from his first go-round with Theo designing the rebuild. That was all heavy hitters/power and they spent billions on P.
Now let’s reverse the build and go with pitching/defense, then find bats on the trade or FA market. Very true that good pitching will net you more value than good bats will.
If they want to yes, however Tom Ricketts became too focused on buying up all the real estate in the neighborhood so no he won’t go over the tax level
Providing the drafted players produce .
Or Brad Fullmer
The Cubs are going to win more games next year than the White Sox. It pains me to say it, but it’s true.
I wished they would of gotten him from the Mets before the Tigers got him and ruined him. But interesting signing nonetheless.
The Tigers ruined his knee, his ulnar nerve, and then his UCL? Please tell what they did to cause all three of those.
You mean like all the other P’s they’ve ruined including the recent batch? They’ve never found a P they couldn’t run into the ground.
The Mets have their own history with pitchers and injury. It was all anyone could talk about just a few short years ago.
Dr. Mike, what did they do? The batch of pitchers that had severe injuries last year were under different managers and pitching coaches than Fulmer when he had his multiple injuries, but I’m sure as an expert you were aware of that. Is there something in the Michigan air, or did the current crop of management take a bad habit from the previous one? Tell us since you’re so sure.
When Fullmer first complained of forearm tightness which is the first sign of UCL problems they just kept throwing him out there until he was destroyed and then rushed him back. He went from being one of the best young P’s in the game to damaged goods. When all your P’s start needing TJ surgery you can’t tell me their methods don’t stink. It’s the same with the White Sox trainers and Dr’s. They are notoriously horrible.
Not that I’m disagreeing, Unclemike, but do you have any stories or sources to corroborate this?
It’s also worth noting that Syndergaard, Wheeler, and deGrom (rough contemporaries of Fulmer in the Mets system) all ended up getting TJ surgery.
It’s all common knowledge. He was on my fantasy team and a favorite of mine and I wished the Cubs would of traded for him. I also have a friend who lives in Detroit and was also pretty miffed at the time. All you have to do is look at all the times they tossed him on the DL and then tossed him back out there without letting him heal properly. Al,l you have to do is look at all the prospects they have that are injured. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out.
So no source and you’re ignoring that the Mets (and most teams, really) have their own history of pitchers getting major injuries? The Tigers are not exactly unique here.
Justin Verlander. Max Scherzer. Just a couple names for you that blow your theory out of the water.
@rct:
Why are you saying that Unclemike1526 has no source? He explicitly wrote that “Fullmer” had been on his “fantasy team”. You simply cannot get any more insight!
Gruß,
BSHH
You don’t know squat, Mike. It was over 16 months from the time he had TJ to the time they brought him back. Pretty standard. The only elbow issues he had were TJ and an ulnar nerve that was transplanted. The Tigers didn’t keep putting him on the DL for arm issues; it was other stuff (meniscus, spine, oblique, and one time for shoulder). Stop making stuff up and blaming it on an uninformed “friend.”
They were smart enough to leave.
Uncle Mike is a goof. Ignore him.
Thanks for the tip, Coop. I just put him on “mute.”
Frankly, there is a chance that Uncle Mike’s “friend in Detroit” might have been an upgrade over deposed Tiger trainer Doug Teter.
Rct – he’s not a doctor, but he did just got 5G and access to all that internet stuff.
Morris, Petry, Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello… Yeah, I don’t think so.
No, it just means your dumb points are not worth reading. Waste of time.
I’ve never been so tempted to use the mute function on this site.
“What I’m saying is true. I know that bc he was on my fantasy team”
Notice that after his 2nd TJ surgery they didn’t even let him go 1 year without tossing him back out there. Another myth busted.
For the first half of the 2017 season, Fulmer went 9–6 with a 3.19 ERA and 13 quality starts, earning him his first American League All-Star selection.[26] On August 3, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.[27] An MRI revealed no ligament damage.[28] Fulmer was reactivated from the DL on August 14.[29] On September 11, it was announced that Fulmer would undergo elbow surgery for ulnar nerve transposition, ending his season.[30] He finished 2017 with a 10–12 record, 3.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 164+2⁄3 innings.
2018
After pitching to a 3–9 record, with a 4.50 ERA prior to the 2018 All-Star break, Fulmer was placed on the 10-day disabled list July 20 with a left oblique strain.[31] In his final start of the season on September 15, against the Cleveland Indians, he left the game without recording an out, after allowing two home runs on five pitches. On September 20, Fullmer underwent surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. He finished the 2018 season with a 3–12 record, with a 4.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 132+1⁄3 innings. His ERA, WHIP and hits allowed per nine innings (8.7) were all career highs.[32]
2019
On February 15, 2019, the Tigers signed Fulmer to a one-year, $2.8 million contract following a salary arbitration hearing.[33][34] On March 19, the Tigers announced that they had recommended season-ending Tommy John surgery for Fulmer after he experienced elbow pain during a bullpen session.[35] On March 20, Fulmer revealed that he would undergo the Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2019 season.
2020
On January 6, 2020, the Tigers signed Fulmer to a one-year, $2.8 million contract to avoid arbitration.[36] Fulmer was medically cleared to be a full participant in the Tigers’ delayed (July) spring training for the 2020 season.[37] Fulmer was named to the Tigers opening day roster on July 23. He served in an “opener” role, pitching approximately three innings per start until he built up to more pitches.[38] With the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Fulmer appeared in 10 games, compiling a 0–2 record with 8.78 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 27+2⁄3 innings pitched.[39]
Pitcher ruined. Hope this helps the dim bulbs.
thankfully we can simply mute him!!
Kevin Durant burners abound
He only won rookie of the year with Detroit and then successfully transitioned to the bullpen when his arm couldnt hold up as a starter anymore. Good signing for the Cubs. Not sure what you are talking about!
Good for Michael Fulmer. He is a good man and hopefully can be a serviceable pitcher for the Cubs.
Another Detroit tiger we could use
That Scott guy is killing the franchise with crappy players
Scott Harris? What example do you gave to support that? Dudes been there a few months and is assessing what they have before doing anything. Trading Soto for some useful players was well received by most of us Tigers fans. If he does nothing next year I’ll be mad but not this year
You better start being mad cause our team is gonna stink again.God knows when this rebuild will ever be over.No Al Avila to use as scapegoat anymore.
As soon as he got control, he cut the bench, as you say, before he knew what he had. He also argued over $1MM with Candelario, who had been the best player on the team the two previous years, and then non tendered him, getting nothing back. He then traded the closer, Soto, a left-handed flame thrower, one of the rarest commodities in the game, and got back a part time OF, a LH IF, and a short on experience C. Wow, he replaced Reyes/Willi Castro and Harold, and it only cost their closer. He would have been better off had he done nothing but tender contracts to what he had. This was nothing more than cutting payroll, while trying to not leave it as Avila’s team.
I think you’ll be happy with Harris in long run. Don’t forget he used to be with the Cubs when they had Candelerio so he already had an opinion of him. Don’t know anything about the rest of that, But I know he’s pretty smart and a good judge of talent.
Soto will end up back with the Tigers on a minor league deal in 2024 after the Phillies cut bait. Vierling, Maton and Sands will all hit at least 15 HRs this year and get significant playing time. The guys they replaced couldn’t hit 15 homer’s as a group and were NOT useful. I’m betting Skubal comes back strong in the second half, Boyd has a great year and resigns for 2024 and at least one of the minor leaguers picked up has a breakout year (I.e. Wingentner or Uceta become the next Soto). I like what he has done and I think they will be a playoff team as soon as next year
What upside did Willi, Harold, or Reyes offer? If you keep trotting the same team or there and expecting different results they’ll be bottom dwellers forever. Soto is a one pitch pitcher who has been solid,but is no star. There’s things to like about the guys they got back. At worst they fill bench roles. At best one or more of them can carve out everyday roles. What good is a closer on a bad team anyways? They had a pretty great BP last year and they still lost almost 100 games.
Playoffs,Your definetly smoking something.
That’s the worst part about it……at least Al was fun. Al was an easy target and you knew he was a good natured guy.
It’s a little tougher, slamming some guy who has been better educated and probably made more money than me since before he was born.
But we are results oriented fan base. We will get right to the heart of it!
If he is that smart, if he is that good, then he doesn’t need a year to figure it out. No one does.
As long as a couple guys bounce back this year AND they sign others to fill the open holes next year, they have the pitching so why not?
Don’t I know it!
I’ll be the one to bring up the fact that Sawyer Gipson-Long (the prospect that Detroit received) was absolutely lights out for AA Erie last season.
A 4.54 ERA with 1.8HR/9IP and a 1.3 WHIP is hardly lights out in my book. Sawyer’s only solid stat was walking less than 3 batters per 9 innings while at Erie. Once he was traded to Min, his ERA ballooned to over 7.00 for their AA club. Plus he is old for AA as well (25 years old). He really doesn’t look like a MLB pitcher at this point in his career. Maybe he can make a jump in 2023?
You’re right. I was thinking of Reese Olson, who came over for Daniel Norris.
Nice flyer to take. Even if the Cubs are pretty mid this year, they’re going to have a bunch of trade chips at the deadline to bring in more assets.
I’ve been thinking based on last year that they would be pretty bad again this year, but it’s a whole new lineup and with everyone they’ve brought in they’re probably around a .500 team now.
Like you said, there’s a possibility that they’ll have a bunch of trade chips. I just wonder with expanded playoffs if hovering around .500 at the end of July will be too close to a playoff spot to sell. Might get caught in the middle, kind of like what happened with Boston last year.
The Cubs won 74 games last season:
1st base improved 3 WAR
Second base improved 5 WAR
CF improved 3 WAR
SS improved 3 WAR
DH improved .5 WAR
Without digging too deep into pitching the improvements that they made should lead to 2 WAR
That’s a 16.5 WAR improvement minus Contreras which puts them right around an 86 win team.
I had them at 86 wins before looking around at WAR given the progressive and regressive nature of players, considering the better line up and improved middle defense.
The Cubs did improve a lot but I don’t see enough high end talent to push for a playoff spot, at least not in the rotation. Steele would have to emerge as an Ace and Suzuki would have to emerge as a middle of the order hitter for that to be even semi realistic.
When you calculated the Cubs for 86 wins this year, did you calculate in what every other team in the National League Central has done this offseason? Did you calculate in the fact that every team will play every team this year? Shouldn’t those things factor into your calculation?
I didn’t “calculate” the Cubs for 86 wins. I said I had them at 86 wins. I based that on their rotation being above average, their offense being above average and their defense being well above average.
Baseball isn’t the NFL, it doesn’t really matter what division teams play in or that they will play a more balanced schedule because everything balances out in terms of wins and loses in the end.
Interesting points, but they also lost WAR at Catcher. As another commenter said, other teams have also improved. I think you are certainly on the right track that they are pointing upward, but 86 wins likely only happens if just about everything goes right. I peg them closer to .500, but I appreciate the homework you did. I enjoyed your post.
Fans who think they can predict anything are idiots.
I factored in catcher, the Cubs were only 1.3 WAR at catcher due to Contreras playing so much time at dh and the Cubs back-ups not being very good. Gomes and Barnhart should equate for 1.3 WAR.
Given the addition of Swanson, Hoerners defense at second and my belief Suzuki will find more balance in his offense, I’m pretty confident the Cubs, minus a massive trade off, will be right around 86 wins
Well, I guess they don’t need to play the games then. Let’s just calculate the WAR for each team and hand out the trophies. There’s no way that WARs can change from year to year. Players can’t thrive improve or fecline. Players can’t thrive on a new team or under different coaching
Do you see how ridiculous your statement is!!??
Don’t hurt yourself patting yourself on the back.
Yeah, and now that they have all theses stats they think they are geniuses and know everything.
If only WAR equated to actual wins
I love you internet tough guys who make rude, sarcastic remarks to people online when you’d never have the guts to say anything remotely close to it in person.
I’m sure you balls hang low in front of your keyboard too bad you can’t carry the gusto in public.
You forgot to use “may have improved” many times, Drasco.
Drascoo called me that too. Apparently if you don’t completely agree with him or succumb to his stats you’re an internet bully. Not gonna lose any sleep over it. Lots of hurt feelings here. I’d stay off Twitter if I were him. Might need therapy. I don’t need Tim, Matt or Steve to fight my battles. I can do it myself, Have been since I was 5.
I don’t need a Mute or Flag button to fight my battles either. I’ve never muted or flagged anybody. Oh crap I just lied. Anytime I see one of those internet Hucksters telling everyone how they can make money by clicking on their internet site, I Flag those every time. But I haven’t seen any for awhile so they must have figured out how to get rid of them already. Kudos MLBTR!
I predict the Astros will be over .500 in 2023. Guess I’m an idiot too.
That’s not a prediction.It’s stating the obvious.
Drasco…you’re talking to yourself again.
@GCB; injuries, that dreaded DL, so inevitable in this game. For playoff talent level teams; staying relatively healthy and when not, having suitable back up help that their manager knows how to manage, hangs in there by season’s end.
Thank you MLBTR for deleting a comment I spent 5 minutes writing which was in no way rude to ANYONE. Just a matter of fact and a joke obviously!
Officially gone from this website. Someone who doesn’t like my comment can apparently flag it and it’s gone immediately? No review of it by anyone? I said nothing wrong. Nothing even slightly insensitive. Merely a joke anyway. What has the internet come to. Bye.
To be clear I didn’t flag you, I just called out out the comment for what it was. Dumb. And they got rid of mine too but I’ll get over it. Apparently you can’t.
What was the comment? Something the author disagreed with?
He basically called the Cubs a racist organization, and then posted that he didn’t say anything insensitive.
That doesn’t seem like the kind of stuff that would get censored. Hmm… maybe the world is changing for the better!
LOL what?
When you delete someone’s comment, it wipes out all the replies to it. (In other words — no one deleted your comment, it just went away when I axed the comment you were mocking.)
Yeah I’m cool Steve. I get it. If it was supposed to be funny it missed by a mile. LOL
Steve, I thought you said you were bald in the chat when asked about which one has the best hair – You sneaky catfisher! Full head of hair and all….
Nah that’s Mark! I’ve still got mine … for now anyway, ha. Beard’s getting some silver flecks though.
My bad! So you’re the default winner! Nothing wrong with a bit of salt n pepper brother.
I was on another site and quoted something from Alice in Wonderland…..banned
Lol….
Someone interpreted it as offensive to people who are…well..let me just say it was all in thier minds…because they wanted to be offended.
It was a quote from Alice in Wonderland for crying out loud……nothing sexual or offensive about it.
It never occurred to.me to be anything sexual at all. Really weird. Freaked me out so much that the admin people thought that way…. I thought wow…who are these people and what is going on inside of their minds?….no rebuttal and I won’t miss them, they won’t miss me.
If.they are so darned ignorant about LITERATURE..they have NO BUSINESS trying to be writers.
Lewis Carrol is one of the all time greats!
I know most people don’t like me and I do say some pretty ostentatious stuff and get near idiocy….but….it’s only one man’s opinion and I don’t take myself so seriously. It’s is entertaining to read the comments here as much as the articles.
So my apologies to anyone and everyone.
Especially for future comments if Baez doesn’t get back into the groove. He needs to pick a Temp song for his walk up. That will absolutely change his attitude (or Scott’s).
What could be a nice piece in the back end of the bull pin. Join my league if you are interested. fantasy.espn.com/baseball/league/join?leagueId=205…
Cubbies have gotten a whole lot better
@Rishi, lick your wounds, it’s happened to me where sometimes I deserved it & sometimes I didn’t. It’s an entertaining site. Sometimes one word can set it off to censor land.
Come home Shane, come home…
Three of the five ceremonial statues outside Wrigley are black players, including the man commonly referred to as …wait for it…
Mr. Cub.
Ernie!
Twins just… weren’t interested?
I’ve been interested in Fulmer’s market for a while wondering what’s taken so long for him to sign. Thought he’d be a candidate to resign with Twins.
My question too.
Another reliever off the board as the kid GM continues to sit on his hands rather than help his young starters.
Nice signing for CHC. I had wanted him on the Mets. I can see CHC sign Chafin next.
Say what you want about Hoyer. he’s gotta pretty good track record of putting bullpens together. And on a budget too. I think they’re at the point now where they’ll start keeping some of these guys instead of flipping them.
Dr Mike, Weren’t you just complaining about the relief pitchers the Cubs were signing to minor league contracts… I know you’re depressed but which is it, they’re terrible or they’re really good?
I just went outside to my front yard and explained it to the tree out there. The tree got it. So which are you? Obstinate or Dim? And It’s Dr Unclemike to you. I’m not a Dr. Only when explaining known facts to the challenged.
Just a heads up Doc…the tree wasn’t actually listening to you. It tuned out as soon as it saw you coming. For the same reason as both your friends don’t invite you out.
Why do you bother coming out here,You think your smarter than anyone else so why waste time on here just acting like the ass you are,Anyone can be knowledgable but i prefer people with class.
That jackass has no friends.
If the Cubs need to blow this up at the trade deadline…there going to be able to get a lot of other teams #20-#30 prospects.
Possible trade candidates:
Hendricks
Stroman
Boxberger
Happ
Bellinger
Mancini
Hosmer
Wisdom
Yet, if those players are all having good seasons, the Cubs won’t be trading them away. If the Cubs aren’t in it, chances are those players will have little demand at the deadline. Its a catch 22 for an improving team.
Wisdom has very little value. Mancini is on a 2 tear contract. He can opt out if he get 450 PA. I don’t see why they would trade him at all. Hosmer has less value than Wisdom. If he doesn’t produce, the cubs will fire him. And he’ll sign another league minimum deal with another team. Stroman has an opt out. And even though it’s not up to him. He’s said several times that the cubs is where he wants to he. Unfortunately, everytime someone has said that. Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez and a few others. They were all traded. Contreras was low balled. And I truly believe he went to St. Louis out of spite.
Bellinger is another 2 year contract which is a mutual option. If he does well. And I think he will he’ll walk anyway. He’s there until pca is ready. Which could be late August or September. I think he’ll definitely on the the cubs 26man roster for 2024.
Happ should be extended. Don’t know why Hoyer doesn’t like giving out extensions. If the guys coming up in the next 3-6 years are legit. And jed is still the PoBO, it doesn’t look good for those guys to ever be extended.
Why would they “blow it up” they signed a slew of players thar improved tbe team. They are close to ending their rebuild. The have one step out the door.
I still think they will sign a cheaper lefty like Will Smith but I agree they may not need it.
That’s funny that Drascoo listed his hero Happ as a trade candidate. He muted me when I said his GG was a joke and they should trade him. Huh. As for the rest of his list. What are you going o get for Hosmer, Wisdom and an operated on Hendricks? Hot dog buns? A Fresca? Stroman, Maybe if he won’t pick up his option for 2024. Happ will finish this season here but won’t get a QO next year for fear he’d take it and they really don’t need the draft choice. Mancini is signed for 2 years reasonably and I believe his is a player option. I think Bellinger is probably only here for this year but if he takes off maybe not. So that’s not a trade list that will bring back a whole lot. Happ and Stroman would be the only ones to bring something back and if they’re still in it at the deadline won’t be going anywhere.
Nice to see an actual major league signing. Been a while if you don’t count extensions.
This team has a lot of sneaky potential if everything clicks for them.
I’m almost never a fan of these late off season signings but I like this one. Cubs got a decent one here. Hope it works out for both parties.
The article said that Fulmer was “one of the few remaining quality relievers on the market.” That might be true for RHP relievers, but right now in mid-February, there are still a lot really good LHP relievers available. Thus the market offers several bullpen options.
Anyway, Fulmer is a good pitcher. After his ROY season, his career has not continued as many have hoped (including me), but I am sure he will help the Cubs considerably.
Gruß,
BSHH
I’m still hoping they bring back the Sheriff Andrrew Chafin
But they will not sign the Deputy.
They NEED him but he would still be a great addition to the ever growing stacked bullpen.
Tigers aren’t interested in putting a good team on the field if they did Fulmer and Chafin would be both on team,
Good Luck, Mr. Fulmer !
I know the Cubs will never do it but give Luke Little a long look as a reliever. They only pitch him 4 innings anyway. These pitchers are babies and spend years in the minors developing. This is true even if they are drafted out of college. They also are too bulked up. Does anyone remember sleeper prospect Jack Patterson? Patterson broke out in 2019 and hasn’t pitched since. Too many injuries because of weights. That is my opinion. Cam Sanders could also be a reliever. Remember the days when 20 year olds were in the show. I think Dwight Gooden was 19.
Yeah I could see a division title.
This many comments over a decent reliever signing? Imagine the comments when Wacha/Profar/Chafin/Hand/Moore/Britton or any other decent player sign! So much happened at once that we are just desperate for anything at this point.
I think some of the early arguments were over the history back in his heyday as a SP and a good part was just people throwing insults…which was mildly entertaining. I’ll certainly come back for the Chafin and Moore arguments being that they are both ex-Tigers 😉 Its the most fun I’ll get all year since they are NOT making the playoffs this year.
Stole Gary’s rookie of the year.
Blockbuster
If they can find, build or buy a time machine to 2018, the Cubs will have a heck of a roster.