I think it’s less that the formal taxi squad is established and more that I think teams started sometimes taking a couple guys with them on longer trips if they anticipate needing a guy. I just remember hearing Zach talk about traveling with the Tigers waiting to be “called up” last year at some point on The Compound podcast.
Fair points on Steele. I don’t really think he’ll get extended this season, but threw out a “now” number just to walk it through. My number was also probably close to highest possible line for Steele. Justin doesn’t have much leverage here, other than to let things play out and bet on himself, so there’s almost certainly a number lower than that that he’d accept. Next year is his ARB1 season, so we’ll see how he does in 2023 and then there will be some projections after the season. If he pitches like a real #1/#2 this season, he’ll get good money in arb. Hendricks isn’t a perfect comp because, as you point out, Steele doesn‘t have multiple high-level full seasons behind him, but Hendricks jumped to $4.1M in his arb1 year 5 years ago. With really good season, I could see Steele getting to $5-6M given baseball inflation, but that’s probably it unless he’s literally in the Cy Young race.Next extension target - no doubt; but not yet.
I love how JS has emerged from Tommy John surgery and being lost among pitching prospects (with D Underwood, J Stinnett, O de la Cruz, T Hatch, R Zastrynzy, etc.) to a guy that could be our #1 real soon. A contract like that would work out great for the Cubs if JS kept getting better and better. But like you said, they've got some time to see if he looks the part, and there are several areas of caution:
1) JS still hasn't completed a full MLB season. His 119 IP last season was by far the most of his career (and most since his previous career high of 98 in '17 at Myrtle Beach), and it's still not clear why he had to be shut down before Labor Day. If he can go 150+ IP this season (and still look good in the postseason), I'm sure the Cubs front office will be thinking about this seriously.
2) The Cubs are already among the top teams in MLB with future $ committed. MLB.com showed that after the Happ deal, the Cubs are already 5th in MLB in payroll commitment for 2026, with the top 4 already being expected present-day contenders (Yankees, Padres, Braves, Mets). Obviously, only time will tell if this is a good or bad thing,
3) I believe the last player the Cubs "locked up" this early in the contract process was D Bote....
I'm thinking that, if things go as planned for the Cubs, they'll be looking to extend JS like they did NH, after his ARB1 year. If he has a super solid '23 season, he might make $2.5-3M in '24. He'd have to win the Cy Young for the Cubs to be looking at ARB2-4 being potentially more expensive than the contract you described.
So, I think that if the Cubs want him long term, they'll get him, and for a fair price.
The activated Hughes, and optioned Velasquez today, although I doubt he's on a plane to Des Moines tonight. They've probably got NV and Estrada rooming together to save a few $$
That was a phenomenal play. No ill will towards Heyward, but the play he made earlier looked outstanding because he’s lost a few steps, and he looked to be going all out to get to that ball.
Boxberger. I don't have a good feeling about this. Luckily the home plate ump has had a bad strike zone all game.
Yeah, I wondered why Ross didn't put Hosmer in after the Cubs went up 3-1. He's the better fielder.
Not counting winning 2 outta 3 in Oct 2016, I guess…
I’ll own it. Most of the 2nd half last year, I was on the cut Leiter bandwagon. Even though he was performing, I just didn’t see the future. I didn’t believe the reverse splits and had him cut 2-3 times this offseason to make 40-man space for others.
Love the outcome, but JHey got rung up on 2 easily inside and strike 3 to end the game was clearly low.
What? That’s crazy. Do you still see this team as 4-5 years from the playoffs? If so, I’m not sure what you’re seeing.
Mid roster at best. Sure they can get into playoffs with the Hockey playoff system currently. But they can trade Stroman at his peak value right now. Add some studs. Then perhaps do what San Diego does keep flipping until u get a WS potential roster.
After what happened the past couple years, the Cubs need to be careful about selling off this year if the team is playing well. I wouldn’t be trading a bunch of prospects for deadline rentals or anything, but having a team with a chance and trading away one of the top 2 starters can be a dangerous game.
He's going to opt out after this year anyway. Unless they plan to give him an 100 million extension. Best get some real value. Since front end SP is scarce.
If the Cubs are dead in the water at that point, maybe, sure. But if they’re not, if they’re still hanging around in the division and within realistic shot of the wild card with a lighter 2nd half schedule coming up, punting on the season by trading your #1 or #2 starter would be a terrible look.
He signed a 3 year deal with an opt out before age 30. He's 30+ now, $100 million probably isn't in his future. He will get the kind of deal he got from the Cubs. God bless him, he's a good pitcher, but if he opts out the world doesn't end for the Cubs. Let's give it awhile and see how some of the young pitchers do in the system.
