So the Cubs are viewed as "heavy favorites" to sign him per many media reports and the Cubs are his first choice.

Do we commit 200M to him for 6/7 years given he is 30 and has been sub par in the playoffs??

It would put them in a much better position to win the Central thus minimizing the risk of losing a wild card play in game, but does that justify 30M per year??

I'm leaning towards paying him and trading or non-tendering Wood and trading Hammel to clear payroll space...

Fuck it, let's have a top 3 that is formidable.

There's no way this blows up.

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-- source

Well they are returning playoff ticket money by the end of the month.

Season ticket money is due in the middle of the month.

Well played.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I wholeheartedly agree with any plan that allows Theo to spend wildly in free agency

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

waiting for all free agents and trade deals to be completed before my HIGH pressure statement comes out, but this is about going for it.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

they won't top out with him. If he's not going to give them a discount of some sort, I don't see him with the Cubs.

Oh, and I don't like him.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

why are the cubs not spending money!!!!???

why are the cubs spending money!!!!???

Another viable option which I'm sure they are considering is getting a guy like Zimmerman who they like (for probably 15M per as opposed to 30M for Price) and then trading someone like Baez and a package for a cost controlled solid #3 starter thus giving them a solid top 4.

That gives them more payroll flexibility both short and long term.

now THERE'S a plan.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Zimmerman for $15m a year is just as delusional as trading Javier Baez (a bust) for a cost controlled #3.

The kicker will be the All Star break next year. No matter how well Jammel! Does they will not rely upon his second half numbers and I suspect it will be a big move of one of the youngsters. Maybe even Torres, especially if he improves at the rate they hope.

Also, wouldnt be bad to see someone from the system take a step forward,

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

One thing is certain. No matter what the Cubs do with Price you will spin it as a mistake.

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

you don't know what the "package" is.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Zimmerman will get $20M/yr probably. Plus, will cost a draft pick. Price will not get $30M/yr. Probably more like what Lester got last season.

Right now Baez "and a package" are not going to get you a cost controlled #3 starter.

Cubs should be looking at their rotation right now like this:

1. Arrietta
2. Lester
3. FA
4. FA
5. Hammel/Hendricks

The Cubs certainly need another dominant arm in the rotation if they plan on competing in the playoffs. That is regardless of how those pitchers have been in the playoffs in the past.

Cubs have to get one of the top guys (Greinke, Price, Zimmerman, or Cueto). 3 of those guys don't have draft pick compensation attached. None of them have particularly shined in the postseason.

I think the Cubs pay for one of those guys... probably Lester money. Then they wait until the market brings down the price for the remaining guys. Only a few teams are in a position to shell out big time bucks for starting pitching, but there are many pitching FA's this year. That means its a buyer's market. Cubs should be able to exploit that.

I said Lester was the perfect signing for them last year.

I wouldn't say the same thing about Price but he is an excellent pitcher. However, they will most likely be on the books for close to $80 million per year for 3 pitchers 30 or over if they sign him. As someone else has written, that changes the window for winning from forever to 3 years.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Torres certainly is one of their major trade chips. I think they move Hammel this off season. Him and Maddon did not seem to hit it off.

Why would a guy like Price, who is better than Lester in just about every way at every point in his career, sign for Lester money a year later when all of the big market teams are looking for a top pitcher?

If you said Scherzer money, I would agree with you

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Zimmerman may in fact push 18-20M but I don't see Greinke coming here and Cueto is way to big a risk. As to a "package" they have plenty of trade chips: Baez, Torres, McKinley, Jimenez, Candelario plus guys like Hammels/Castro/Wood too. If they like a cost controlled starter out there, they can make a deal happen...

I don't want Price, he's been manningesque in the post season. They cheaped out last year on Lester over Scherzer and it fucked us.. Buck up and get Greinke.

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It doesn't

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I don't think Greinke leaves the West Coast plus does his stuff play in 3-4 years??

Price to Cubs is already a done deal.

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

???

that's what my guy says

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

my guy says Dodgers.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

my guy can beat up your guy

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

Greinke might be a pipe dream.. He may want a 6-7 year deal .

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Got a QO today (didn't know they could offer one after he opted out, but apparently they can). I would expect that to mean no one will sign him but the Dodgers if they have to pay him $29M and lose a draft pick.

Jeff Samardzija will be the top (or should I say highest-paid) pitcher signed by the Cubs this offseason. Book it.

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