*****Official Cubs 2019 thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
Kimbrel is a really risky signing. Boom or Bust. Signing high leverage relievers without a spring training to workout the kinks hasn't been good moves recently. Plus I still think the guy is looking for multi years.
I'm sure he's looking for multiple years, but I also think that he and Kuechel will sign soon on deals for this year only and then run at free agency again, as I think most of the market for them will be focused on this year only.
I'm on record here as agreeing that Kimbrell is a risky signing. He won't be ready to pitch for at least a couple weeks and he'll be an injury risk all season. That said, he has the highest upside of any reliever currently available as a FA, so if the Cubs sign him, it's not something I'm going to grouse about. It'll just be something to keep in perspective.
I'm not counting on anything from Morrow this year, but if the Cubs get Kimbrel and still deal for 1-2 arms, they'll be ok. Kimbrel and guys traded for should help reduce Strop's workload to hopefully keep him healthier. Edwards is getting better. If the Cubs get anything from Morrow, that's gravy.
Relievers have so much variation year to year. I'd rather be out spending prospect capital on one that is throwing well right now than giving Kimbrel 10 million or more. I still think the team that ultimately signs him gives him more than one yr.
The thing is that the cubs farm system is in the bottom half of the league. They really cant trade the couple quality arms they have and Schwarber/Happ/Russell/Almora have literal trade value. Other contenders are going to able to outbid them with prospect capital ( like the Cubs did with chapman).
I’m not high on the system, but a lot of clubs would take Alzolay, Amaya, Hoerner, Roederer, and a few other guys. They do have some promising, but unrefined arms, too.
I dont disagree, but the Braves, Twins, Dodgers all have top 10 systems. A package to top one of their packages would completely deplete the cubs system.
I like Alzohay and a couple guys they have in Double A (Miller and Abbott??), but they really need to start developing some pitching. They have $102 million locked into starting pitching this year (Lester, Hammels, Darvish,Quintana, Hendricks, Chatwood).
They won’t unload the system for one guy. After that it is about what pieces the other team needs. My hope is AA is part of the rotation next season.
I assume they are counting this year. Just guessing. Hopefully there is some buyout language, but Theo seems determined to bid against himself at times.
This current window doesn’t have many years left. Do what is necessary!
is it more risky than not signing him? We don't have anyone to trade and the odds of cishek and strop making it to OCT w/o him are pretty slim imo.
i like it!
tonight clearly shows this BP is not a WS caliber bp. hell look at when we played the turds. tie game and we're pitching ryan and brach while they are bringing out miller and hicks lol.
go big or why go?!
A true Cubs fan would say that he’s gonna pull something in his abbreviated ST because he is out of shape and why didn’t Theo trade for Green?
Kimbrel will be rounding into mid-season form right at the stretch and into October. Eternal optimist.
I don't have a problem with the signing. What I was against earlier was the idea that simply signing Kimbrel fixes the pen. He does come with risk.
Why are cubs fans worrying about price, at all? Don’t think they will continue to spend?
That was my original point. If they dont unload the system they cant outbid top 10 systems
The Ricketts family is reluctant to bump the luxury tax. This signing appears to be the result of Zobrist savings.
My read between the lines is that they're willing to go past the first tax threshold, but probably not the 2nd ($20-40M over) and definitely not the 3rd. They pretty much fit Kimbrel into the gap left by Zobrist, but if I'm reading correctly, that could still leave them up to $15-20M to play with at the deadline. I could be misreading the situation, but it wouldn't surprise me if Theo has a little buffer for the right moves. They'll likely be restricted more by their ability to put a package of prospects if they're competing hard with other teams for certain players.
