For the same reason every other player is signing the contracts they are signing.

It is considered market value.

The best sport in America is making money these days.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I think they could have done better. Overpaying for good to great players is one thing but overpaying for old players that will be slightly above average at best doesn't make a lot of sense to me. He makes more than Abreu.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Is he going to be at 1B or DH?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Both

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

If he's in the lineup, he should be at 1st. Much better defender than Abreu.

This guy is older than Adam Dunn? Rick Hahn can go piss up a rope.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

At his age he will break down if he's forced to play first on a regular basis.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I'm not a real big fan of LaRoche but the Adam Dunn stuff has to stop unless he reports to camp weighing 300 pounds and has the slowest bat in baseball.

It was so important I not only had to say it twice......

I had to say it three times.

If the cubs signed Larouche the parade would have been in planning stages and statues erected.

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Elections have consequences.

If the cubs signed Larouche the parade would have been in planning stages and statues erected.

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Elections have consequences.

If the Cubs had signed Laroche, Good Dolphin would of already started three threads on what a shitty signing it was.

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It's a shitty signing no matter who did it.



Ok, I'll amend that a bit.. it's an unexciting move for a team that thinks it's on the cusp of contention (which, they seemingly do). I wouldn't give him that much... but it's only 2 years. I guess they are punting LF again

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Anthony Rizzo will never have the career that LaRoche has already had. Now, I'm not saying LaRoche will be better next season in his mid-thirties, but he certainly might be.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

This is what they should be doing. Get a player you want that fills a need and if you "overpay" for it then go ahead especially when you are only locked in for two years.

It's amazing how pretty much every deal seems to be called "overpaying" now.

I guess some people would prefer if the Sox started the year with a payroll ranked in the bottom 5 teams in baseball and can win the "value free agency championship".

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

another OK guy. we just need 8-9 more.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

He just won the gold glove a few years ago at first...

...so he'll probably DH most of the time.

I don't really understand what people want? You expect to sign 26 year old Mike Trout for the minimum or what?


LaRoche is a plus fielding left handed power bat that will hit 30 home runs


12 million is not crazy. Look at other 1B/DH salaries. This deal makes LaRoche the 10th highest paid first baseman (and pretty muchbevery guy making less is on their rookie deal)


I think people still want steroid era numbers and prices.

Unless you're just counting on longevity being an issue there is no reason to think that
Rizzo is really good and better than LaRoche was at this age

What's your reasoning?

No there wouldn't. You're comically and consistently way off in your assessment of Cub fans

There are Cub fans who are overly optimistic but no one would be going crazy over this or most of the stuff you talk about

Its like you took a stereotype and put it on steroids

Good deal, makes sense for the team, raises the payroll

Cheers!

I will say this much about the unenthusiastic signings of Duke and LaRoche, at least they aren't risky. It's a 3 and a 2 year deal respectively. Much more along the lines of Jeff Keppinger than Adam Dunn or John Danks. Also the expectations are not ultra level production, if LaRoche has a 2015 just like Dunn's 2014 that's enough for me. If Duke just gets some people out I'm happy.

The problem I have so far is if this team is going for it (as these signings would suggest) they need another big piece. A #3 SP, another big bat to strengthen the middle of the order and play LF... just another well above average guy to plug right in.

That's a total White Sox move. But you know, Abreu is your star and there is a stigma to a guy DHing at such a young age. I can see why they wouldn't want to do that to him.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

My reasoning is they're very similar players and LaRoche has already done it.

BRick may be more successful than Dr. Ken was at his age, but I'm not betting on him having a better career.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Depends on what Panther and Nas think of me.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That is total B.S.!!!

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

You are the absolute worst person I have interacted with.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Kenny Williams is back calling the shots aiming to catch lightning in a bottle ("We are going for it") but assuming these guys produce (LaRoche and Duke) they can always move them if need be if the team blows and attendance wanes again.

That's still a shit load of money for a LOOGEY. Duke must still be pinching himself given he was almost out of the game before reinventing himself with the new delivery...

As opposed to Theo Epstein who is wasting another season of your life by losing on purpose "one last time".

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don