Hot Stove League Thread

Waiting to see what my Indians are going to do at 1B.  Seems odd they don't want to go two years for Napoli.  Some names coming up that weren't supposed to be on their radar (in their budget)... Encarnacion, Bauptista, Trumbo... Then some names a bit more typical.. Carter, Lind, Saunders.  Rumor has it they were looking at Beltran and Matt Holliday before they were signed as well.  I think it's all a play to come up with a team-favorable deal with Nap.

I'd be very surprised if anything else newsworthy comes up with them this hot stove.

Astros guy...very happy so far with the line-up...

Springer

Bregman

Altuve

Correa

Beltran

*******

McCann

Guriel

Gattis

But need that starting pitcher and a strong bullpen lefty.  Lots of rumors flying on Quintana from the white sox...but big asking price of Musgrove/Martes/Tucker.

Weird...******* is the asterisks, can't get it to update.

Now I'm freaked, won't accept *******

r-e-d-d-i-c-k

Braves fan here...Love the youth movement with the Dickey and Colon signings. 

Cubs Fan:

Was not surprised to see Chapman go--don't know what the Cubs Offer was. Don't know if Yanks were bidding against themselves (ala A-Rod and Texas). Don't know how many teams would give a pitcher that throws that hard 5 years. Read in the paper today that Fowler got $82.5 million for 5 years..WOW (he definitely made right decision to take the Cubs at 1 year last year). With that kind of money, Theo will have to put some cash away for Bryant. Soler got traded for Wade Davis. So they lost 2 OF. Maybe Bryant will play OF, Baez at third. The Cubs are thinner, but still should be good.

Ripken Fan posted:

Cubs Fan:

Was not surprised to see Chapman go--don't know what the Cubs Offer was. Don't know if Yanks were bidding against themselves (ala A-Rod and Texas). Don't know how many teams would give a pitcher that throws that hard 5 years. Read in the paper today that Fowler got $82.5 million for 5 years..WOW (he definitely made right decision to take the Cubs at 1 year last year). With that kind of money, Theo will have to put some cash away for Bryant. Soler got traded for Wade Davis. So they lost 2 OF. Maybe Bryant will play OF, Baez at third. The Cubs are thinner, but still should be good.

Heard Schwarber will lead off.  If your team is really, really good (like the Cubs), you can get away with questionable managers decisions.

You guys sure you don't want a re-do on the 1-1 Appel 1-2 Bryant picks a couple three years back?

Santa Rosa, California are Cubs fans. The Minor League Coordinator - Tim Cossins; the 1st Base Coach - Brandon Hyde are from the local HS and SRJC.

My son recently signed Baez to a SSK bat and glove contract.

Bob

From a Reds Fan, YAWN, wake me in April.

BishopLeftiesDad posted:

From a Reds Fan, YAWN, wake me in April.

Of what year?

   Sorry!

Hey I will still watch. Maybe this year will be 50-50.

Good one by the way.

Go44dad posted:

r-e-d-d-i-c-k

Roflmao!

FWIW, Cubs achieved their goal and highly unlikely that they will repeat that success, so why keep that expense on your payroll.  

I think the Cubs made the right moves.  Chapman is a huge risk at that many years for that much money.  He can go because they have Rondon, Strop, now Davis and future closer in Edwards.  Davis is probably the stop gap for one year to let Edwards get more seasoning at the MLB level.  All of those guys will compete in spring training to be the closer and Maddon will go with the hottest one.  The Davis trade is right now benefitting the Cubs.  Gave up a 4th outfielder for a top end closer but over time if Soler can live up to his potential then it becomes and even trade or favoring the Royals.

Fowler has earned his payday but it doesn't make sense to keep him with Cubs depth.  Once John Jay was signed the writing was on the wall that Fowler was gone.  I see this as another stop gap situations where they are going to let Almora have more seasoning this year because he will be the CF and lead off guy at some point.  Jay gives you a cheap professional who can hold down the fort until Almora is ready.

If they keep Fowler then they would be wasting Almora and turn him into trade bait for stretch run.  By doing that you make your lineup older and lose your depth.  Letting Fowler walk and committing to Almora gives you a bigger window for potential success.  Plus Fowler is in his early 30's and will start to see a nosedive in production in about 2 - 3 years probably.  I think the Cardinals seriously overpaid for him but the Cubs made a qualifying offer so they get a Cardinal draft pick.  Theo just being the smartest guy in baseball again.  

As defending World Series Champs the Cubs have some questions going into the 2017 season but they are still in great shape.  

Who will leadoff? 

Will Heyward have a good offensive year?

Where will Zobrist, Baez and Heyward play?

There are so many lineup combinations with this group.  I'm not saying they will win the Series again but I wouldn't be surprised.

It is dangerous to assume good health - but if you do then the next couple of years could provide classic matchup in NL of Great pitching vs. Power Lineup if Cubs cross paths with the Mets again.

Mets health was awful last year and if they can keep their team on the field they don't have as good a lineup as Cubs but they have better pitching.

I think Cubs should have been all in on Sale and that pitching is the place that is the soft spot.  They have the tools to make moves to fix it later - but if they had him they would have been prohibitive favorites over the next few years.  I know that the White Sox might not have sent him to the Northside for anything under the sun but the Cubs will need another big arm if they end up facing the Mets in the postseason and everyone is available.

The word is David Ortiz has been working out at Fenway in case he gets the fever I'm March.