mlb trade rumors had that up a while ago tonight.

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Would love to have both those guys. But dont even want to think about all that would take

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

If they sign Cobb then they have 5 starters. I would still like to have another young starter like Archer but I'm not trading multiple big league players for him.

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There is something up their sleeve that we are not seeing. They are going to go get a CF. I have a feeling they are going to go get Yelich.

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Yelich would be good. They still need a leadoff hitter. I don't think Yelich lead off this year did he?

I hear the Cards are foul on Fowler. I dont know if that means they'd release him or trade him. If they released him, would the Cubs get a shot of getting him back on the team?

Someone will get Yelich given the fish want everyone gone with salary. Not sure how his glove stacks up however. He can definitely hit. Who knows what they're thinking. Gotta address the bullpen first and foremost. I read where they are clamping down hard on Cobb maybe pressing for him to take less cash knowing he wants to play here.

I don't see Colome and Archer, but maybe Colome. This was a Phil Rogers report and he never breaks any news. He's lucky to have a job.

Stanton takes the Yankees off of the list for Harper. So Harper actually might end being a Cub after next season.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Ya thats the best part. Harper is going to happen.

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If they do get Harper, with Heyward's no trade clause, that means he moves to CF and Almora becomes expendable. It also means their starting 8 is in place for 3-5 years leaving their challenge to be pitching, especially garnering/developing elite shut down pitching for the playoffs which is much easier said then done.

Harper would play LF. Schwarber will be traded to get Archer.

I'd rather have Machado and move Bryant to the outfield.

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Harper, Happ, Yelich as the starting OF with Heyward as the defensive replacement and 4th OF. I can dig that.

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Machado is going to the Yanks. They have planned for it. They will not be outbid.

These are my moves.

Sign Cobb
Sign Cozart
Sign Reed

Trade Baez to Miami for Yelich and a prospect
Trade Schwarber to Tampa for Archer


After the parade sign Harper.

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Harper will still be a Yankee. They are going to do a LF/RF/1B/DH rotation and platoon based on spray charts and other shifts. Why do you think they launched Girardi and replaced him with some rube who will do what the computer tells him?

Maybe the point being missed with Bryant and Harper being friends is they both go out west in free agency to play together.

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Kris isn't an UFA til 2022

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You are not getting Archer for Schwarber and I don't want to add much to Schwarber. Why would you want to weaken your infield defense for Yelich? An infield defense of Bryant, Russell, Baez, Rizzo is elite. Plus, if Russell goes down you don't miss a beat at SS. Overall, Russell, Baez, Contreras, Almora, and Heyward makes an outstanding defensive team. Schwarber, Happ, and Zobrist play left and sub. Done and done.

The Cubs have no positional holes. You need a 4th starter and bullpen help. And the Cubs don't necessarily have to overpay for a closer now. Sign a couple bullpen arms and see where Edwards and Wilson are next season. You can always trade for a closer. Granted, I am not opposed to signing Davis either.

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Agree with keeping Baez for his defense and Schwarber straight up will not get you Archer. Disagree however on not getting a closer this off season. If they have to trade for a closer in-season they will have to pay up. If they can't get a premier guy such as Davis for 3 years instead of 4, then trade Happ for a closer. Reed may be a guy they can get as a temporary closer but he is still going to cost at least 2/16 if not 3/24. I say guarantee Davis 3 years at market rate (13-15) then incentivize year 4 based on production in year 3 or years 1-3 so if he is still good, he comes back. If he is toast after year 3, buy him out for 1M or so.

Cobb is the key. Is this guy just a 4 or is he a solid 3? Because if you sign Cobb that pretty much takes them out of the starter market and then they are banking hard on Lester, Q and Hendricks to be elite come October. Keeping the defense elite strengthens the pitching so to me, you have to keep Baez/Russell for sure. Maybe they sell high on Almora for a closer (Colome) or a starter (a salary dump guy) if they know they can get Harper (forcing Heyward to CF). Happ also can be added to that package which for a team rebuilding is 2 1st round pieces both with big upside so that give Theo lots of leverage for 1 big move or 2 if they split them up.

Lots of moving pieces for sure. It will be an interesting week...

Cubs close to a deal with morrow

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

Alright!!

TomLoxas liked
Jon Heyman‏Verified account @JonHeyman
29m29 minutes ago

Cubs are closing in on deal for brandon morrow

Jon Heyman‏Verified account @JonHeyman
2m2 minutes ago

Morrow will have deal with cubs. Expected to be for 10 or 11M a year.


Bleacher Nation‏ @BleacherNation
3m3 minutes ago

Bleacher Nation Retweeted Jeff Passan

YO, if that's at $10/$11M annually, plus a reasonable club option? Love that signing for the Cubs.

Bleacher Nation added,
Jeff Passan
Verified account @JeffPassan
Source: The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with free agent RP Brandon Morrow on a two-year deal with an option. @MLBBruceLevine first said they were close. Deal is pending a physical.

2 years with an option. That’s a good deal.

So I am assuming they are signing him to be the closer?

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

Per Gordo, he might be their closer:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cub ... on-morrow/


Gordon Wittenmyer

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Cubs wasted no time getting down to business at the Winter Meetings after losing out on Japanese star free agent Shohei Ohtani.

Looking for starting pitching and relief, the Cubs landed their top bullpen target Sunday, agreeing to a two-year deal with Brandon Morrow, according to multiple reports.

He’s expected to replace Wade Davis as the closer.

The Cubs have looked at Morrow for more than a year as their possible future closer as he worked back from shoulder surgery with the Padres – before the right-hander’s price soared when he had a breakout season for the Dodgers as a setup man after signing a minor-league deal in January.

Morrow pitches in the World Series against the Astros.

The former fifth overall draft pick by Seattle had a 2.06 ERA in 45 games with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings (1.9 walks per nine).

He held the Cubs to just one hit and a walk in four appearances during the National League Championship Series, then became the second player in history to pitch all seven games of a World Series.

The Cubs signed starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal last week and continue to look for another starter, with free agent Alex Cobb a primary target.

He had a great year and playoffs until the manager over used him. Hope he brings the same nasty stuff to the Cubs.

Red Sox interested in Schwarber

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-buzz-trade ... -260657722

Theo will hold on until it's too late.

#1 What the hell to the Red Sox have to send back for him?
#2 He hit 30 hr is what was an awful season for him and he spent a month in AAA.

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How many HRs they think he’s gonna sneak around the pole as opposed to right field warning track fly outs in Fenway?

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