This was probably my favorite day as a cub fan. I had no idea what would happen next but just seeing the cubs win the pennant was overwhelming.
*****Official Cubs 2019 thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
There will be no shortage of qualified applicants, assuming Theo doesn't have a detailed list on hand already.
I like to fantasize about adding Machado or Harper, but this article from BN suggests the Cubs are really up against the salary cap. Now, the Cubs may choose to go over it this upcoming year. They've worked hard to stay under it. But, I don't know if they'd be willing to lose the draft picks. The financial penalties I'm sure aren't an impediment to them.
This also assumes that Ben Zobrist doesn't retire, or Jason Heyward doesn't opt out of his contract…
https://www.bleachernation.com/2018...-heading-into-free-agency-quite-high-already/
This also assumes that Ben Zobrist doesn't retire, or Jason Heyward doesn't opt out of his contract…
https://www.bleachernation.com/2018...-heading-into-free-agency-quite-high-already/
Agreed. They're not going to be players for Machado. They have Seager coming back at SS and already have Turner at 3B. I could definitely see them making a run at Harper, though.
Trivia question: What player got the base hit that drove in Pete Rose in the 2nd clip?There's a difference between a dirty player and a childish/selfish player. But that's a different discussion.
Let me ask you this - does Golden State care if Draymond Green is a dirty player? Or, do they care if he helps him win? If a player is determined to help a team win, they tend to look the other way on 'dirty play'.
See Pete Rose. By the way, the first clip is in the playoffs. He also ran over a catcher to win an All-Star game in the 2nd clip.
Thoughtful piece by Al Yellon in BCB about trading Jose Quintana. With his contract he's one of the more tradable Cubs, and they really do need to free up money in my opinion. Nobody is taking Chatwood without the Cubs eating a lot of money, or getting a similar contract in return.
While watching the WS I pulled up BCB, and Al Yellon has a decent piece about trading Chatwood to the Bluejays for Russell Martin. The money is doable, in the sense that it gets rid of the Chatwood money by the end of 2019. Maybe the Cubs would have to throw in some extra money, or a marginal prospect. He also proposed trading Chatwood for Sonny Gray.
Just grist for the mill, but what are your thoughts? Maybe a change of scenery deal helps both players, and if not, at least Martin is still above average defensively, and he could help mentor Willson Contreras.
Just grist for the mill, but what are your thoughts? Maybe a change of scenery deal helps both players, and if not, at least Martin is still above average defensively, and he could help mentor Willson Contreras.
Meh. I'm not opposed, but Chatwood's money probably isn't all that limiting. If there's any chance to harness his "stuff", I'd probably roll the dice.
Al Yellon of BCB makes Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation look extremely knowledgeable.
And none of us can say whether Chatwood's contract is limiting. The Ricketts may not want to go into the more punitive tax level $246 M, and that $12M could limit them from doing something. This is why their inept pitching infrastructure is so troubling. You want to have a cost-controlled young player manning your #5 spot.
I really don’t think money is going to limit the Cubs in pursuing someone they want. The window won’t stay open forever and they know that.
So when you get Machado and he stands there styl'in after hitting a ball off the wall with 2 outs and is held to a single, just remember you wanted him.......
I think the Cubs should pass on both Harper and Machado. Unpopular thoughts I know
Don't have a Cubs site, but Al was wanting to trade Quintana for some relievers with velocity earlier this week. The Quintana trade will likely go down in history as a bad deal for the Cubs, but Quintana is still very valuable for two more years, and hopefully he can rediscover his White Sox self.
Cubs Insider is a really good site. They are actually willing to criticize the front office, which Bleacher Nation would never do. Brett Taylor on Twitter this week said Contreras should be a Gold Glove candidate if not for that darn framing thing. A visit to Baseball Prospectus will show that Contreras is the worst defensive catcher in MLB.
I completely agree. I hope we drive the price up for both but I don't want us to be saddled with another massive dollar contract.
I hate the Cub$ enough already. I don't need a legitimate reason to hate them........
As long as I can keep watching the games for free in Iowa I am okay with this. Otherwise, not a fan of a new Cubs network.
2019 payrolls according to sport tracker.
1 Chicago Cubs 33 $179,035,714 - - - - $179,035,714
2 San Francisco Giants 22 $142,377,777 - - - - $142,377,777
3 Boston Red Sox 30 $119,350,000 - $18,455,000 - - $137,805,000
4 Los Angeles Dodgers 35 $119,696,430 - $8,616,666 $5,000,000 - $133,313,096
5 Seattle Mariners 32 $131,057,142 - - - - $131,057,142
6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 27 $116,249,999 - $500,000 - - $116,749,999
7 St. Louis Cardinals 30 $101,616,666 - - - - $101,616,666
8 Texas Rangers 30 $80,541,666 - $18,000,000 - - $98,541,666
9 Houston Astros 24 $97,900,000 - $500,000 - - $98,400,000
10 Colorado Rockies 27 $96,983,333 - - - - $96,983,333
11 Milwaukee Brewers 34 $93,675,000 - $675,000 - - $94,350,000
12 Cleveland Indians 29 $93,941,669 - - - - $93,941,669
13 New York Mets 27 $92,500,000 - - - - $92,500,000
14 New York Yankees 26 $86,342,857 - - - - $86,342,857
15 Kansas City Royals 24 $82,616,667 - $1,500,000 - - $84,116,667
LEAGUE AVERAGE
$82,912,673
16 Washington Nationals 23 $78,805,562 - - - - $78,805,562
17 Arizona Diamondbacks 31 $77,900,000 - - - - $77,900,000
18 Detroit Tigers 23 $55,000,000 - $14,000,000 - - $69,000,000
19 Philadelphia Phillies 31 $68,933,333 - - - - $68,933,333
20 Cincinnati Reds 33 $68,562,499 - - - - $68,562,499
21 Pittsburgh Pirates 29 $65,266,670 - - - - $65,266,670
22 Toronto Blue Jays 28 $59,678,571 - $2,000,000 - - $61,678,571
23 Atlanta Braves 32 $59,226,043 - - - - $59,226,043
24 Baltimore Orioles 24 $51,118,782 - - - - $51,118,782
25 San Diego Padres 27 $33,650,000 - $16,200,000 - - $49,850,000
26 Miami Marlins 22 $46,857,142 - - - - $46,857,142
27 Minnesota Twins 30 $46,500,000 - - - - $46,500,000
28 Chicago White Sox 25 $29,300,000 - $1,000,000 - - $30,300,000
29 Oakland Athletics 27 $17,083,333 - $1,000,000 - - $18,083,333
30 Tampa Bay Rays 25 $8,166,666 - - - - $8,166,666
1 Chicago Cubs 33 $179,035,714 - - - - $179,035,714
2 San Francisco Giants 22 $142,377,777 - - - - $142,377,777
3 Boston Red Sox 30 $119,350,000 - $18,455,000 - - $137,805,000
4 Los Angeles Dodgers 35 $119,696,430 - $8,616,666 $5,000,000 - $133,313,096
5 Seattle Mariners 32 $131,057,142 - - - - $131,057,142
6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 27 $116,249,999 - $500,000 - - $116,749,999
7 St. Louis Cardinals 30 $101,616,666 - - - - $101,616,666
8 Texas Rangers 30 $80,541,666 - $18,000,000 - - $98,541,666
9 Houston Astros 24 $97,900,000 - $500,000 - - $98,400,000
10 Colorado Rockies 27 $96,983,333 - - - - $96,983,333
11 Milwaukee Brewers 34 $93,675,000 - $675,000 - - $94,350,000
12 Cleveland Indians 29 $93,941,669 - - - - $93,941,669
13 New York Mets 27 $92,500,000 - - - - $92,500,000
14 New York Yankees 26 $86,342,857 - - - - $86,342,857
15 Kansas City Royals 24 $82,616,667 - $1,500,000 - - $84,116,667
LEAGUE AVERAGE
$82,912,673
16 Washington Nationals 23 $78,805,562 - - - - $78,805,562
17 Arizona Diamondbacks 31 $77,900,000 - - - - $77,900,000
18 Detroit Tigers 23 $55,000,000 - $14,000,000 - - $69,000,000
19 Philadelphia Phillies 31 $68,933,333 - - - - $68,933,333
20 Cincinnati Reds 33 $68,562,499 - - - - $68,562,499
21 Pittsburgh Pirates 29 $65,266,670 - - - - $65,266,670
22 Toronto Blue Jays 28 $59,678,571 - $2,000,000 - - $61,678,571
23 Atlanta Braves 32 $59,226,043 - - - - $59,226,043
24 Baltimore Orioles 24 $51,118,782 - - - - $51,118,782
25 San Diego Padres 27 $33,650,000 - $16,200,000 - - $49,850,000
26 Miami Marlins 22 $46,857,142 - - - - $46,857,142
27 Minnesota Twins 30 $46,500,000 - - - - $46,500,000
28 Chicago White Sox 25 $29,300,000 - $1,000,000 - - $30,300,000
29 Oakland Athletics 27 $17,083,333 - $1,000,000 - - $18,083,333
30 Tampa Bay Rays 25 $8,166,666 - - - - $8,166,666
I read both BCB and Bleacher Nation. IMO, they could not be more different. Good to get differing perspectives though. If there is another more definitive Cubs site out there please link it.
Not unpopular with me. I get tired of hearing about the Cub's "Window". With the resources the Cubs have there should be no window. The Cubs should be no different than the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, or Dodgers. They should be able to put together contending teams AND keep the farm stocked enough to keep fresh blood moving up into the big club. The window should never close.
The quickest way to sink a big resource franchise is to saddle them with a bad contract that makes it impossible to make any moves. Cubs have already gotten burned by the Heyward contract. The Darvish contract will never give the ROI needed to justify it given his first year. Maybe he can turn it around but this year was a total loss. Sink money into Harper or Machado and miss on that contract and that could be the nail in the coffin. Keep in mind, KB and Baez are going to get PAID pretty soon.
I was more on board with signing Machado than Harper before the playoffs started. I don't care about the "cheap" plays by Machado, it's the lack of effort that has turned me off. Make an effort to sign Harper but don't ruin the franchise over him. The Cubs can afford to pay the luxury tax, it's the loss of picks and international signing money that is the huge price to pay. Don't ruin the future.
When discussing the Cubs, I've always taken "window" to mean the period of time with the current core. The "window" for Rizzo, Bryant, Lester, Baez, Russell, Contreras etc, is about two more years. That's not necessarily to imply that they'll go back to winning 60 games and try again, but rather guys like Lester and Zo will have moved on and the Cubs will have to make choices with the younger guys and pick the 1-2 they want to build around and then work some deals to move others and probably have someone leave for free agency.
I think that in addition to FA signings, the next 2-3 offseasons are going to include more trades than we've seen lately. There are guys who have value and guys like Heyward pick up more value as the clock ticks and the contract becomes something more moveable.
Any clue what Heyward's contract includes with regards to trades? I know he has one opt out he won't be exercising this year. I think he has two more, which might be a small variable that makes moving the contract more difficult.
According to Spotrac, he had a full no-trade for 2016-2018, now it's partial, but I'm not sure what the limits are. He has the opt-out this year and another in 2019 if he gets 550 PA.
Contract Notes:
- Can opt out after the 2018 season
- If applicable Heyward can opt in after 2019 with 550 PA in that season.
- Signing Bonus: $20 million (fully deferred at $5M each April 1st from 2024-2027, protected)
- If an opt-out is exercised, the signing bonus is paid immediately
- Present day contract valued at $179,885,463 due to deferred bonus
- Full no trade clause 2016-18
- Partial no trade clause 2019-20
Last edited:
Rizzo, Bryant, and Baez are the three foundation
blocks for the Cubs. They are young, talented and
have produced on the baseball field.
As position players this trio sets the pace for the
Cubs to compete for a NL pennant. Their outfield
does not have three guys who can produce on a
daily basis. The starting pitching is still in a state
of flux. Lester will be 34 years old next season.
Bottom Line: Theo is still looking for the right pieces
to complete the puzzle known as the 2019 Cubs.
blocks for the Cubs. They are young, talented and
have produced on the baseball field.
As position players this trio sets the pace for the
Cubs to compete for a NL pennant. Their outfield
does not have three guys who can produce on a
daily basis. The starting pitching is still in a state
of flux. Lester will be 34 years old next season.
Bottom Line: Theo is still looking for the right pieces
to complete the puzzle known as the 2019 Cubs.
They actually refer to each other as "cousins" but I don't think they are actually related. Just really close growing up
