NSB Community Forum

JudasIscariotTheBird wrote:

The Cubs, in particular, have been hit hard and forced to make internal layoffs as a result. But worse, they have “no sense of what 2021 is going to look like.” Specifically, are there going to be fans in the stands? It’s a really hard question to answer, but a very crucial one that led to some tough comments.

In general, Hoyer said that … If there are limited fans or no fans in the stands next year, certainly from a financial standpoint, 2021 is going to be another dark season for not only the Cubs, but all teams.

Bertz wrote:The Cubs Bullpen has been really good here in September:

44.1 IP, 34 H, 46 K, 17 BB, 2 HR, 45.7 GB%, 1.91 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 3.28 xFIP

In fact, it's been good for going on a month now. Kimbrel's first scoreless appearance was on 8/14. If you look at the numbers for 8/14 to the present:

105 IP, 82 H, 133 K, 49 BB, 12 HR, 42.8 GB%, 3.51 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.60 xFIP

Some of that has been garbage time, they're 14th in WPA despite vs 6th in WAR, but I feel like the unit is really falling into place. They need a THE GUY type before I really trust it as a unit, but overall I think it's turned into a solid group.

Cubswin11 wrote:

Bertz wrote:The Cubs Bullpen has been really good here in September:

44.1 IP, 34 H, 46 K, 17 BB, 2 HR, 45.7 GB%, 1.91 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 3.28 xFIP

In fact, it's been good for going on a month now. Kimbrel's first scoreless appearance was on 8/14. If you look at the numbers for 8/14 to the present:

105 IP, 82 H, 133 K, 49 BB, 12 HR, 42.8 GB%, 3.51 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.60 xFIP

Some of that has been garbage time, they're 14th in WPA despite vs 6th in WAR, but I feel like the unit is really falling into place. They need a THE GUY type before I really trust it as a unit, but overall I think it's turned into a solid group.

Yeah they’ve turned in to a good group here. And if anything they have a really nice core that might not need a ton of resources spent on it next year outside of a vet Jeffress type deal. Kimbrel/Wick/Tepera/Underwood/some combo of the 3 lefties (Ryan/Osich/Wieck), Adam, and then internal guys like Adbert/Miller/Callaway/Megill/Rodriguez/Steele/Mills. They shouldn’t need to really spend money on the pen.

“One outing he’ll throw and the fastball is electric and maybe the breaking ball isn’t quite there,” Hottovy said. “The next outing, the fastball is spraying around and the breaking ball will be there that day. I think we’d all like to see maybe one or two more outings where everything is clicking and he’s in the strike zone and attacking with everything. He’s got that in him. The outing I went and saw on Wednesday definitely shows he’s heading in the direction and definitely someone who is not out of the question to come help us if we feel like that’s the best move for the team.”

sneakypower wrote:this may be a little obvious, but to me it's still a funny game of player a/b

player-ab.PNG

Spoiler: show

A: jhey
B: harper

Irrelevant Dude wrote:I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

jersey cubs fan wrote:

Irrelevant Dude wrote:I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3464&p=417974#p417974

Irrelevant Dude wrote:I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

Bertz wrote:

Irrelevant Dude wrote:I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

Between a ton of non tenders in addition to normal churn, this winter will have a lot of upside arms available. Depending on your thoughts on Mills we have either two or three open rotation spots. Love what Lester has done for this franchise, but I have no interest in having him back unless he miraculously finds 2-3 MPH under his pillow like Kershaw did this winter. He's neither safe nor an upside play.

I think way to go is probably something like:

- Trade for a pretty good #3 (Jon Gray?)
- Sign a vet who had a bad 2020 to a pillow contract (Kluber, Quintana, Minor, Ray, etc.)
- Battle Royale between Mills, Alzolay, et al

Although who the hell know how much money is going to be available to the FO. Is even something as modest as the above going to be an option?

Cubswin11 wrote:

Bertz wrote:

Irrelevant Dude wrote:I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

Between a ton of non tenders in addition to normal churn, this winter will have a lot of upside arms available. Depending on your thoughts on Mills we have either two or three open rotation spots. Love what Lester has done for this franchise, but I have no interest in having him back unless he miraculously finds 2-3 MPH under his pillow like Kershaw did this winter. He's neither safe nor an upside play.

I think way to go is probably something like:

- Trade for a pretty good #3 (Jon Gray?)
- Sign a vet who had a bad 2020 to a pillow contract (Kluber, Quintana, Minor, Ray, etc.)
- Battle Royale between Mills, Alzolay, et al

Although who the hell know how much money is going to be available to the FO. Is even something as modest as the above going to be an option?

Yeah, unfortunately, I don’t see it making a lot of sense to bring Lester back. I think they’re definitely staying under the LT. Which would give them about ~$25 mil to spend and stay under iirc. I think they almost certainly do the vet signing you mentioned (Q, Ray, Minor, etc). I think using resources to trade for a SP is unlikely and if we trade for a SP it will come via the return in a KB, Willy, etc trade. Q, Desclafani, Ray and Garrett Richards are some of the main/realistic FA options for me. Wouldn’t mind signing 2 of those and then having Mills/Adbert battle for the 5th spot with Abbott, Thompson, Brailyn, etc potentiality being mid-late season rotation options.

Bertz wrote:

Cubswin11 wrote:

Bertz wrote:
Between a ton of non tenders in addition to normal churn, this winter will have a lot of upside arms available. Depending on your thoughts on Mills we have either two or three open rotation spots. Love what Lester has done for this franchise, but I have no interest in having him back unless he miraculously finds 2-3 MPH under his pillow like Kershaw did this winter. He's neither safe nor an upside play.

I think way to go is probably something like:

- Trade for a pretty good #3 (Jon Gray?)
- Sign a vet who had a bad 2020 to a pillow contract (Kluber, Quintana, Minor, Ray, etc.)
- Battle Royale between Mills, Alzolay, et al

Although who the hell know how much money is going to be available to the FO. Is even something as modest as the above going to be an option?

Yeah, unfortunately, I don’t see it making a lot of sense to bring Lester back. I think they’re definitely staying under the LT. Which would give them about ~$25 mil to spend and stay under iirc. I think they almost certainly do the vet signing you mentioned (Q, Ray, Minor, etc). I think using resources to trade for a SP is unlikely and if we trade for a SP it will come via the return in a KB, Willy, etc trade. Q, Desclafani, Ray and Garrett Richards are some of the main/realistic FA options for me. Wouldn’t mind signing 2 of those and then having Mills/Adbert battle for the 5th spot with Abbott, Thompson, Brailyn, etc potentiality being mid-late season rotation options.

I think the non tender deadline is going to be enough of a bloodbath that even a guy like Gray will be borderline. Agreed they're definitely not trading any of the upper crust of prospects.

Cubswin11 wrote:Q is starting tomorrow, hopefully he looks good like he did before the lat injury in the shorter 30-50 pitch bursts. He could be a useful multi inning weapon in the playoffs as an opener/bullpen option.

TomtheBombadil wrote:https://twitter.com/ChicagoSports/status/1308262283114696706?s=20