06-26-2020, 03:08 PM
Not a lot of news yet in a Q&A from Mooney and Sharma, but a few notable items. In particular, they really seem to think that a major payroll cut may be coming after the season.
Q: What are the Luxury Tax implications to a shortened season? I haven’t seen a lot of information on it and I know getting under the tax is/was a priority for the Cubs
S: it's essentially pro-rated. So same issues that were there if it were a normal season remain
M: Don't have all the details yet. But the bigger issue is the franchise bracing for a reckoning after this season and looking at the entire business model.
Q: How is the taxi squad going to function in the shortened season?
S: So, my understanding is the taxi squad are the (max) three players who will be traveling with the club to road games. The other group, which is training elsewhere during the season (likely South Bend) will consist of basically depth players and prospects. It works like it would during the regular season. If you're on the 40-man and have options, you can be moved back and forth freely (with normal 10 days before being recalled barring injury), if not on the 40-man and they are added to active roster, someone must be removed from 40-man. There are a lot of other little details involved as well.
M: In terms of the satellite roster in South Bend, the Cubs will be using it for depth as well as development/exposure for some of the organization's top prospects (who don't really factor into the big-league plans this year).
Q: When's the deadline for players to play/not play this season like the NBA?
M: The Cubs' 60-man player pool should be announced on Sunday.
S: well, 60-man rosters need to be determined by Sunday and I think it's not so simple to remove people from that list. However, I do believe a player can be removed if placed on the COVID injury list. So perhaps that's a way to work around it if someone decides they don't want to play after Sunday. But we can get more details on that as well.
Q: Crane is optimistic about a marquee/Comcast deal. Do you share his optimism for a deal by July 24?
M: Yes, there have been rumblings about Marquee and Comcast being close to a deal.
S: Of all the things going on right now, that's probably one that I'd say is fair to be optimistic about. If we get through 'spring training' without a hitch, I'd think that should get done around Opening Day.
Q: Does the MLB/MLBPA have to approve limited capacity at ballparks or is it solely up to ownership / local governments?
M: City Hall ultimately has to sign off on it, but those conversations have involved different stakeholders, like the team and the league.
Q: Do you think extension talks will pick back up or do you think with revenue questions they'll be completely tabled for now?
S: I think anything that involved finances now or in the future is up in the air and is in a very different place than it was four months ago
M: This is just a gut feeling, but there is so much uncertainty in front of the Cubs that it is hard to picture a contract extension becoming a priority right now.
Q: Do you think we will see Brailyn Marquez or Brennen Davis activated for actual games?
S: No chance on Davis. Small chance on Marquez if he progresses and they're contending late. But everything has to go right, and even then, I wouldn't call it a for sure thing.
Q: Without giving specific names, have any players stated that they would rather not play this year because of the COVID-19 risks?
S: Any Cubs? Not yet, not that I've heard at least. It is on our list of questions that we need answered.
Q: What are the chances Brandon Morrow pitches for the cubs this year (or ever again)?
M: Morrow is not expected to be part of the team's 2020 plans.
Q: What are the Luxury Tax implications to a shortened season? I haven’t seen a lot of information on it and I know getting under the tax is/was a priority for the Cubs
S: it's essentially pro-rated. So same issues that were there if it were a normal season remain
M: Don't have all the details yet. But the bigger issue is the franchise bracing for a reckoning after this season and looking at the entire business model.
Q: How is the taxi squad going to function in the shortened season?
S: So, my understanding is the taxi squad are the (max) three players who will be traveling with the club to road games. The other group, which is training elsewhere during the season (likely South Bend) will consist of basically depth players and prospects. It works like it would during the regular season. If you're on the 40-man and have options, you can be moved back and forth freely (with normal 10 days before being recalled barring injury), if not on the 40-man and they are added to active roster, someone must be removed from 40-man. There are a lot of other little details involved as well.
M: In terms of the satellite roster in South Bend, the Cubs will be using it for depth as well as development/exposure for some of the organization's top prospects (who don't really factor into the big-league plans this year).
Q: When's the deadline for players to play/not play this season like the NBA?
M: The Cubs' 60-man player pool should be announced on Sunday.
S: well, 60-man rosters need to be determined by Sunday and I think it's not so simple to remove people from that list. However, I do believe a player can be removed if placed on the COVID injury list. So perhaps that's a way to work around it if someone decides they don't want to play after Sunday. But we can get more details on that as well.
Q: Crane is optimistic about a marquee/Comcast deal. Do you share his optimism for a deal by July 24?
M: Yes, there have been rumblings about Marquee and Comcast being close to a deal.
S: Of all the things going on right now, that's probably one that I'd say is fair to be optimistic about. If we get through 'spring training' without a hitch, I'd think that should get done around Opening Day.
Q: Does the MLB/MLBPA have to approve limited capacity at ballparks or is it solely up to ownership / local governments?
M: City Hall ultimately has to sign off on it, but those conversations have involved different stakeholders, like the team and the league.
Q: Do you think extension talks will pick back up or do you think with revenue questions they'll be completely tabled for now?
S: I think anything that involved finances now or in the future is up in the air and is in a very different place than it was four months ago
M: This is just a gut feeling, but there is so much uncertainty in front of the Cubs that it is hard to picture a contract extension becoming a priority right now.
Q: Do you think we will see Brailyn Marquez or Brennen Davis activated for actual games?
S: No chance on Davis. Small chance on Marquez if he progresses and they're contending late. But everything has to go right, and even then, I wouldn't call it a for sure thing.
Q: Without giving specific names, have any players stated that they would rather not play this year because of the COVID-19 risks?
S: Any Cubs? Not yet, not that I've heard at least. It is on our list of questions that we need answered.
Q: What are the chances Brandon Morrow pitches for the cubs this year (or ever again)?
M: Morrow is not expected to be part of the team's 2020 plans.
This is not some silly theory that's unsupported and deserves being mocked by photos of Xena. ![[Image: ITgoyeg.png]](http://i.imgur.com/ITgoyeg.png)
![[Image: c0n2bpX.png]](https://i.imgur.com/c0n2bpX.png)