North Side Baseball - Home Page

I know the discussions started in the 2012 Offseason Thread, but may as well save it from becoming a bi-polar mess.

_________________
Chicago Club has gone back on us. Please Send Expenses. Am Broke

I'm waiting until I get the official word from Bob Nightengale.

He'll get torched in Texas

let him

_________________
The poster formerly known as "Aramis Fan."

Want want want want want.

I'm having a fantasy that the real Theo Epstein just crashes in all of a sudden and makes some suave observation about how he's late but it's cool. We get Jackson, Bourn and do some awesome Rizzo-style trade and have an 84-win team going into the season.

_________________
Team Theo.

Where's that crying Batman gif? Someone slap a Cubs' "C" on his mask and lets make that a thing.

_________________

_________________
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game."
- Jacques Barzun

Read on Twitter that the Padres dropped out because "the price was getting too steep". That doesn't sound too good to me. I don't expect Theo to ever overpay or do something to spite/make up for another move that failed, but I wouldn't pay too much for Jackson.

_________________
http://www.mr-irrelevantpgh-chi.blogspot.com/

Well, to be blunt, you probably have to more often than you'd like to when your team stinks.

_________________

Seems like the general consensus hasn't necessarily been money, but years. Josh Byrnes apparently won't go over 3 years for anyone, and Jackson wants 4-5 years.

_________________
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game."
- Jacques Barzun

If I remember correctly the "too steep" meant that the Padres wouldn't go 4 years. I personally have no problem with Edwin on a 4 year deal. Maybe 4/52 or 4/56.

I know it was reported a few days ago the Padres wouldn't go more than 3 years. Maybe the Cubs/Rangers are offering 4, or even 5. Could be a years and not aav thing.

I don't care about the price. If we don't spend it on Jackson, we're just going to let it sit there and accrue interest or something for another year.

Assuming options are picked up, here's the list of worthwhile starting pitcher free agents pre-2014:

Matt Garza
Phil Hughes
Josh Johnson
Adam Wainwright

After that, you're down into the Harens and Maholms of the world. Just assume that Hughes and Johnson will be extended in the next 10 months and that Wainwright and Garza will go to whichever team has a new cable deal.

_________________
Team Theo.

What worries me about the Rangers is that they just missed out on Hamilton, leaving them with a boat load of money that they can use toward Jackson and Bourn if they like. My guess is that if the Rangers really want him, he's theirs. Damn those GMs that think that winning now is better than winning in 2015.

_________________
Chicago Club has gone back on us. Please Send Expenses. Am Broke

Whats the breaking point on E-Jax? I'd actually be OK at 4/60, I think. 5/75 and I'm out though most likely. Honestly though, I think if given the choice, I'd prefer him to Annibal on a longterm deal.

4/56 is the highest I'd be comfortable with; I'd begrudgingly go 4/60. 5/70 is absolute max and to be honest I'd feel real uncomfortable with that.

The biggest thing he has on his side outside of being a pretty good pitcher is how really healthy he's been. That makes me a bit more willing to go longer if needed. And, like Kyle said, if we don't spend it here, we're running out of places to put that kind of cash to effective use.

_________________
I like beer.

Bourn
Castro
Rizzo
Soriano
Schierholtz/Sappelt
Castillo
Stewart
Barney

Samardzija, Garza, Jackson, Feldman, Baker/Wood/Vizcaino

Marmol, Fuji, Russell, Camp, Dolis, Bowden?, Rondon?, Wood?


Hmm...

_________________
Team Theo.

Your fantasy is an 84 win team?

From where we are right now and what's available right now, yes.

_________________
Team Theo.

Aren't you a Sappelt apologist? Or did you flip flop on that too?

_________________
I like beer.

Relatively speaking, sure. I think if you are in need of a cheap outfielder who can provide you with not completely horrid production, he's a fine choice.

But it's not flip-flopping to change your mind after an entire year of new data.

_________________
Team Theo.

If thats the 5-8 in our lineup, I think it'd give league average offensive production. Castillo being above average and Stewart being below. Barney and the platoon should be average anyway. But that 5-8 at least isn't vomit worthy, in my mind.

DeJesus?

4 or 5 years seems unnecessary for an ok pitcher

_________________