2025 Cubs

[1060Ivy]

Still holding out my last hope that Jed will find a deal for Cease. After season is underway, I’ll hold out hope that Jed will pull out a deadline deal for him. Yup, that demonstrates the extent I expect Jed to make that deal

[Butcher]

Getting Cease would be cool -- and would make for a fun storyline. But I'd be shocked if Jed was able to land him.

[1060Ivy]

Can we begin setting the over / under on the number of consecutive years the Cubs bullpen will lack left handed options? Believe we are headed for either 3 or 4th year and it’s not like this issue can be foreseen.

Hey, but could it match the tractor sized hole in Cubs roster for third baseman? Since the 1960’s, the Cubs had Santo, Aramis, Bryant and … No worries, Matt Shaw has situation at hand. Reminds me of the Kevin Orie or Christopher Morel solutions.

At least the Cubs stayed under the luxury cap and made the playoffs last season without signing Matt Chapman. Ooops

Sorry for adding any gloominess to your winter day

[Butcher]

PECOTA seems to like this team. 90 wins and taking the NL Central.

Still gotta play the games, though...

[rok]

Jed seems to be collecting a lot of old dudes in the pen.

[jeffy]

Jed seems to be collecting a lot of old dudes in the pen.

No doubt.

I'm picturing Eddie Harris from Major League lecturing the youngsters.

[Butcher]

Jed has identified the new market inefficiency: senior citizens.

[1060Ivy]

Jed seems to be collecting a lot of old dudes in the pen.

No doubt.

I'm picturing Eddie Harris from Major League lecturing the youngsters.

Stop being silly.  Eddie is outside of Jed’s budget constraints

[1060Ivy]

Bregman signs with Red Sox for 3 years, $120 MM with 2 opt outs according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. Rumor mill says that the Cubs offered 4 years, $120 million per Bob Nitengale.

Matt Shaw third base and your place at the table still awaits.

[Butcher]

I’m sure the Cubs will still use that money to improve the team in other ways, right?

[rok]

Not to be a penny pincher, but 2025-27 Bregman is not worth $40M/per. Still a solid player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s been in decline since 2021 and he’s on the wrong side of 30. This is nuts. Glad the Cubs didn’t land him at that cost plus a draft pick.

[1060Ivy]

Don’t know if I would be more concerned with draft picks than the cash for Bergman - as cash is significantly deferred

Won’t be shocked if Bregman outperforms his deferred contract and tries the free agent market again next season without the baggage of a qualifying offer being attached or maybe he underperforms and Boston moves him e.g. Bellinger and Cubs

[Butcher]

Not to be a penny pincher, but 2025-27 Bregman is not worth $40M/per. Still a solid player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s been in decline since 2021 and he’s on the wrong side of 30. This is nuts. Glad the Cubs didn’t land him at that cost plus a draft pick.

I agree that he probably won't produce enough WAR to "earn" $40M a season, but it's a short-year contract so it wouldn't hurt so much if he declines rapidly. But whatever, it's a done deal. I think it would've been good to land him to provide Shaw some runway at 3B, but I guess another approach is to just throw him into the fire and see how he performs.

Flaherty is the guy I was really hoping Jed would land, but it doesn't seem like he was even interested in pursuing him. The starting rotation does have some depth, but we really don't have a true TOR starter. Flaherty has the ceiling to be a #2 starter, IMO.

[1060Ivy]

Guessing a trade for Cease was never really in the works?

[Butcher]

Guessing a trade for Cease was never really in the works?

Maybe at the trade deadline?