Hope he's good out of the bullpen.

ya not sure why they did not look for a reliever. phegly sent down.

Coomer on the cubs pre game is saying that cubs will keep giving kimbrel high leverage chances. geez.

Martinez fills a huge need for the Cubs. Reliever would be good too, but the Cubs can't hit lefties and their various DH's haven't hid better than the pitcher would've. This is good.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Also a sign that neither Bryant nor Sousa won't be back at 100% soon. They are going to need Kipnis to play the field more if Bote/Nico are going to split 3B. Almora is useless with the bat right now so they are short. I'd like to see if Detroit or KC has any interest in giving Almora a 30 game tryout in CF in exchange for a veteran reliever.

DFAing Phegley implies that Caratini won't be DH any more when Contreras starts at catcher. Caratini has been struggling at the plate, so they should just have him focus on catching Darvish and occasionally giving Rizzo a day off at 1B.

Is Martinez still arb-eligible or is he in a longer term deal?

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

Arb eligible but he might be a non tender candidate.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

No guaranteed money for next year then. If rosters stay at 28 (which I really like) there is a role for him, if they go back to 26 he is probably a non-tender as there will be a ton of guys in that 13th/14th hitter boat.

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

Good move.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Completely agree.

It is not like they can only make one move. Bullpen is clearly a need, but this is as well.

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

Kimbrel has good stuff, that's the irritating part. If he could only throw it for strikes.

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