Luxury tax isn’t a cap, even though a handful of teams treat it like one. Dodgers clearly DGAF about the tax at this point.
*******Official Cubs 2025 Thread*******
- Thread starter hawkifann
- Start date
I believe they are trying to break even. It's just the how that is a mess. It costs a lot of money to play the real estate game. It costs a lot of money to run a terrible tv network. What fans are mad about isn't the break even business numbers at the end of the year. They are mad that payroll is the first way of addressing budget shortfalls in any other area of the business. Ricketts sees real estate and tv as revenue and value producers. Salaries offer no return other than some fan enjoyment. Baseball appears to be the very least important part of owning a baseball team to the owners. It does not appear to be the case in New York or L.A., but those are large markets. How could little old Chicago keep up with those giant cities.
Well, this signing isn't going to thrill some of you, utility man Jon Berti. He's a functional bench guy, nothing special, and a bit on the old side. Does this mean the organization is sold on Shaw at 3B?
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs...ortedly-signing-veteran-utilityman-jon-berti/
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs...ortedly-signing-veteran-utilityman-jon-berti/
Even as they’re saying all the things about not handing him a position, I think they’re 100% sold on Shaw. My first tell was letting Smith go in the Tucker trade.
Not wrong. It’s entirely possible that the Cubs baseball operation is breaking even, but if it is, it’s only doing so because they’ve set it up that way. They’re carving a lot of revenue streams into other holding companies.
True. Not exciting, but necessary. They absolutely needed someone on the roster with some 3B experience, and this guy has >1000 Major League innings logged there. Plus, he has a bunch of experience at 2B and SS, as well as a fair amount in all of the OF spots.
Not sure what Zumach means by "Helps support Busch at 1B." Berti has exactly 0 innings played at 1B in his professional career. That's the only thing that makes this signing a bit odd. I have no idea what the Cubs' plans are for a 1B backup. There is essentially zero other Major League experience at 1B on the roster, and the only one with the slightest minor league experience at 1B is Amaya with 304 innings. I can't believe the Cubs would count on Canario as the only bench guy as a backup option at 1B.
Berti is playing 1B in the clip
. He played 1B in the playoffs for the Yankees last year. He started ahead of Rizzo vs Guardians (and new Cub pitcher Boyd - a lefty). Not exactly a huge body of work.
He did play some 1B in the playoffs last year. Not sure what the full plan for the bench will be. At this point, I expect Workman, Berti and Canario to be on it and for Brujan to not make the cut. Would love a Mark Canha pickup at this point.
Berti is playing 1B in the clip
I stand corrected. 25 innings of ALDS/ALCS experience at 1B, all in 2024. I suppose that's better than I thought. Let's just hope that Busch stays healthy all season.
Wouldn't be against this acquisition, but I hope the Cubs don't sell the rest of the farm. He's a 36-year-old former closer who is only under contract through the 2025 season.
He’s not that good anymore. All of his metrics and velocity are trending down. Unless it’s for a bag of balls. Not sure why.
Hopefully the Astros are paying some of his salary like we did for Bellinger
He’s owed $14 million. The Cubs will send very little to the Astros in this deal depending on how much money they eat.
From what I’ve seen the hold up is his NTC rights, and would the Cubs offer up another year to him? That is worth checking into.
Not selling him as a 1B answer, necessarily, but I also don’t think the bench is done.
I’d rather they didn’t. If the Cubs take on the money (which they certainly have room for), the return in the trade is going to be really small.
Side note, Bruce Levine is reporting the Cubs are talking to David Robertson. He's got useful stuff left, so I'd be okay with bringing him back for a year.
Another side note, Japanese left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara's closing period ends today. The Cubs have been linked to the 27 year old starter. He isn't elite, but he'd probably translate into an effective bottom of the rotation guy.
Bottom of the rotation, swing and I think I read yesterday that they may be able to sign him in a way that allows him to spend time in Iowa. He’s 27, so there’s time for him to work with the Zombro and crew to improve his stuff. I’m not invested in him, but he could be interesting.
It better be. Guy relies on K’s. Trend rate last 3 years. 12, 10, 9. The good contract is only for one year. The bad this maybe that one year it goes pop.
I have a can shed bag ready to go, gladly donate it to the cause......
Cubs have had some good results rejuvenating some relievers in recent years. Anything is possible, but as long as he’s healthy, I think there’s at least as good a chance that the Cubs can bump him back in the good direction than that he falls off.
Supposedly a second team has entered the fray. The Astros need cash to sign Bregman, that is my guess, so they are trying to drive some competition. I cannot see much of a prospect going to Houston if the trade partner takes on the bulk of his salary.
He should waive his NTC. If he closes effectively in 2025 he might be able to leverage a 2 year deal next offseason.
Best as I can tell, there was a point today where the Cubs and Tigers each had a tentative deal for Pressly and either Pressly dropped the Tigers from the list or that deal fell through. There are a couple things in play for Pressly if he accepts a trade:
- If he accepts a trade, he then loses his 10/5 rights and no-trade protection. There may be a scenario where he asks the Cubs to add a no-trade to his contract. If I’m Jed, I’m doing it because I’m getting him to try to win and if things go bad enough early enough to force a sell-off, Jed is probably out of a job.
- Pressly is from Texas and has pitched for the Astros for 8 years. He lives in Houston all year with his young family (I think his oldest kid is 4). Moving is a big deal.
- There are very few times in a professional athletes life when they’re in full control of where they play. This is one of those rare moments for Pressly, so it’s likely going to require assurances from the Cubs that they’re going to have him close to start the year plus he was reportedly asking for some kind of accommodations for his family.
If they are eating the bulk of the $14 million, and making some other concessions, the Astros will get to pick a guy somewhere near the 20 range of prospects. They will probably take a flier on an arm.
The Astros have no leverage. If we are eating $7-$10 million it better be for a bag of balls and some icy hot.
Yeah, I'm thinking maybe someone like Kohl Franklin - former rather high prospect, but injury-prone; probably not part of Cubs' future, but may still have a chance to break into the Majors if healthy with the right organization.
I doubt they'd give up a current Top 30 prospect, unless it's someone who is 2025 R5D eligible and has little chance of being added to the 40-man in Nov.
