Is Theo done with the off season signings? I can't believe there are so many big names still without a contract. Owners really screwing over the players this year.

Who do you think is getting screwed over?

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There's really no place for anybody on their 25 man.



Eric Hosmer got 8 years/$144M. Darvish got 6 years.

Nobody's getting screwed over. But GMs are realizing that paying FA money to 1.5-2 WAR players in the decline phase of their careers is risky.

Guys who were starters who are already bench guys are making their coin. Chase Utley just re-signed with the Dodgers at 39 years old. Howie Kendrick has been bouncing around as a RH pinch hit bat who can play LF/2B/1B, but he re-signed a few weeks ago with the Nationals, who picked him up mid-season from Philly.

The guys who are getting less are the guys who have been starters and aren't willing to accept the transition to being not much better than a AAA player. Jonathan Lucroy comes to mind. He should be a Met, he'd be an upgrade over Kevin Plawecki. But Plawecki made $511k last year, and Lucroy isn't going to bother playing for $1M.

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

He gets credit for listening to a much better pitching coach.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Alex Cobb still a target? Seems like all these guys you can get for much less than what we thought 3 mo ago.

I think Jake is going to the Phillies. If he's just out for the money, they will offer him the most money.

They have no need for a pitcher. They need a get on, get over, get in guy. I still am hoping they trade big hoss for Bradley Jr.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Is Bradley that guy? I just want someone that is close to as good as Dex was for us leading off.

I guess Almora is a no? Seems like the brass doesn't think he can do it day to day. So many guys thru the years that never get a chance since the bigwigs determine they can't do this or that without even giving them a shot.

And what happened to Dillon Maples? He's another one the brass doesnt think is a MLB level player?

Maples is thought to be part of the bullpen this year.

I think Almora will get a shot to show what he can do

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

If Big Hoss leads off opening day I will lose my fucking mind. I like all the other moves other than keeping grimm even though he got destroyed in arbitration.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

They can still cut Grimm by opening day and just owe him termination pay. Gotta think he has to pitch damn well this spring or he is bye bye along with his 2.2M salary and roster spot.

This.

Joe doesn't want to admit he was wrong on that so he probably will be leading off.

Bruce Levine was on M&H one day last week and suggested that Heyward might get a chance to lead off.

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Heyward leading off is dumb, wouldn't surprise me to see Maddon waste 200 at bats there before he's moved down. All this Heyward off season talk is horseshit..the guy isn't good, won't be good with Chili Davis or any other excuses I keep hearing..bat the bum 8th and live with the contract.

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I think it's more Joe was pissed Theo didnt get him a legitimate lead off hitter and put Babe up there to get back at him. Joe's been around the game too long to not know Babe is not a lead off hitter. It was more of a petty F U to Theo.

It'll be mix and match again for lead off. Zobrist when he plays probably will see the most ABs. Heyward may get a chance but Congress will get their shit together before that works out although it would be nice if he became a LH Chili Davis...

This is the only sane opinion on Heyward at this point.

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www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2018/02/19/ ... ting-2017/

Boston wasn't happy with Chilli Davis

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batting coach has to be the most maligned field position in all of baseball. You can teach sound principals and they still might not work...or players might now follow it with no ramifications for them...or a thousand other things.

The first slump of the year, fans start calling for the hitting coach's head. It is an easy, quick fix signifying nothing to a sophisticated observer. You almost never hear of a hitting coach who has been with a team for a decade.

Mallee was the toast of Dan Bernstein at this time last year.

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

rudy jaramillo!

Grimm gone!!!!!

http://www.bleachernation.com/2018/03/1 ... lications/

Every year, we note this with respect to guys who were borderline non-tenders, and sometimes it comes to pass: arbitration-level contracts are not fully guaranteed, so all that is risked by tendering those borderline guys is (1) a 40-man spot for the winter, and (2) 30 or 45 days termination pay.

One of those guys back in December was reliever Justin Grimm, who seemed to really lose his command last year, and came into this season with an uncertain hold, at best, on the final spot in the Cubs’ bullpen. After losing his arbitration case to the Cubs, we noted that – if he didn’t perform well in Spring Training – the Cubs could release him with only termination pay.

And, per multiple reports, that’s just what the Cubs have done. Justin Grimm has been released.

The implications of Grimm being out are several:

The Cubs save a little under $2 million in 2018 salary, which can now be used for in-season moves or – strictly speaking – a shocking late-Spring signing. At present, the Cubs have about $12 million in flexibility under the luxury tax cap, so now that bumps up to closer to $14 million. But when accounting for roster churn during the season (i.e., call-ups who go from minor league salaries to pro-rated Major League minimum) and bonuses accumulated, that’s probably more like $10 or $11 million. Plenty for in-season additions, debatably still not enough to go out and sign, for example, Greg Holland to a steal of a one-year deal.

The 8th reliever spot continues to be up for grabs. Among the guys realistically in the mix: Eddie Butler (he’s out of options), Dillon Maples (has options), Randy Rosario (has options), Shae Simmons (has options), Anthony Bass (in on minor league deal), Alberto Baldonado (in on minor league deal), Michael Roth (in on minor league deal), and Kyle Wren (in on minor league deal).

My guess is the Cubs will use this as an opportunity to hang onto Butler for a little bit longer, since he’s likely to be claimed by a rebuilding club if he were subjected to waivers. Butler could be used in a swing role similar to Mike Montgomery, allowing a little protection for Montgomery from having to be shuttled around too much, and also giving Butler an opportunity to show what he could do in shorter bursts. With him, though, the command issues are the thing. He’s got the velocity and the stuff.

If Pedro Strop, who hasn’t yet pitched in Spring Training, starts the year on the DL, there are actually two available spots.

Grimm will undoubtedly latch on with another club and try to win a big league job, though it may take some time in the minor leagues to get there. Best of luck to him – when he was on, the guy had some of the nastiest stuff in the organization.

The entire team is hitting the ball now. They are hot, even Heyward. Season needs to start tomorrow instead of a week from tomorrow. Even for Arizona, the Cubs offensive numbers are outrageous.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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You should probably put this in the "signed for less" thread.

The foundation of his thesis is that a guy who grabbed at a life preserver contract is evidence of something. The Phillies must be awesome recruiters as well because Arrietta signed with them. Now remember, they went into the off season with Cobb and Arrietta as their primary targets for pitching and couldn't land them, which lead to waiting for collusion to grind Darvish into desperation. Ohtani also did not choose them, despite there super awesome presentation.

Again, I ask the question, why does it seem so important to the organization to be thought of this way by writers?

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

BleacherNation.com is an independent blog with no official relationship to the Cubs, whatsoever. Go home Dolphin. Bad opening day for you.

They have writers, correct?

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

Maybe a trade piece for a suspect/prospect? Let's hope they don't need him.


Patrick Mooney
‏Verified account @PJ_Mooney
14m14 minutes ago

Chris Coghlan has signed a minor-league deal with the #Cubs and started working out at their Arizona complex, as @bleedcubbieblue spotted. Coghlan, a veteran outfielder from the 2016 World Series team, will be in extended spring training.
14 replies 44 retweets 104 likes

He was playing in their simulated game earlier in the week.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Fancy that, it looks like Wilson wasn't at his lowest in November.

He might not even be there after today either...