World champion Chicago Cubs thread. (Chicago is titletown)

[DMBCardinal]

So many awards. We even got the best fan catch of the year. We are good.

[JimmyGBuckets]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

So in 2016 with Montero and Ross back you'll see Schwarber be a left fielder and occasional 3rd catcher.

I've heard and read rumors of Montero being possible trade bait in a package deal for an arm. Personally I don't think that would happen, but it is interesting to consider because even if you acquire another catcher, I think that means they have a lot of faith in Schwarber to be the catcher of the future.

It would clear a lot of things up if he could make the transition to the big league pace of catching this off-season. That would allow us to integrate some different OF looks with Bryant out there, possibly give us more flexibility to bring up Almora. It would most importantly allow us to hypothetically get all of Bryant, Soler, Schwarber, Russell, Baez, Castro, and Rizzo in the same lineup on a consistent basis. Possibly add Almora to CF if he is ready and you're looking at one of the scariest, youngest lineups in baseball.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by JimmyGBuckets

I've heard and read rumors of Montero being possible trade bait in a package deal for an arm. Personally I don't think that would happen, but it is interesting to consider because even if you acquire another catcher, I think that means they have a lot of faith in Schwarber to be the catcher of the future.

Montero and Ross are unlikely to be on the 2017 Cubs.

That being said Montero is the starter until he's off the team. He's making a lot of money. They aren't benching him because he works really well with the pitching staff. Ross will continue to be Lester's catcher, and all around glue guy in the clubhouse.

Schwarber is not the catcher of the future. That would be Willson Contreras who could be up late this year or at some point next. Schwarber will work his ass off this off-season to improve his catching, but unless something drastic happens then Contreras is the guy. If Schwarber improves enough perhaps he can be the full-time backup.

[JimmyGBuckets]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

Montero and Ross are unlikely to be on the 2017 Cubs.

That being said Montero is the starter until he's off the team. He's making a lot of money. They aren't benching him because he works really well with the pitching staff. Ross will continue to be Lester's catcher, and all around glue guy in the clubhouse.

Schwarber is not the catcher of the future. That would be Willson Contreras who could be up late this year or at some point next. Schwarber will work his ass off this off-season to improve his catching, but unless something drastic happens then Contreras is the guy. If Schwarber improves enough perhaps he can be the full-time backup.

Ahhh, I agree that I don't think Schwarber will be the starter of the future, but I think it's quite an optimistic stretch to call Contreras the catcher of the future. Castro was the shortstop of the future. I remember hearing Alcantar was supposed to be the 2nd baseman of the future.

We'll see though. Not saying you're wrong, but I just can't bring myself to that conclusion yet.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by JimmyGBuckets

Ahhh, I agree that I don't think Schwarber will be the starter of the future, but I think it's quite an optimistic stretch to call Contreras the catcher of the future. Castro was the shortstop of the future. I remember hearing Alcantar was supposed to be the 2nd baseman of the future.

We'll see though. Not saying you're wrong, but I just can't bring myself to that conclusion yet.

Quite an optimistic stretch?

In a loaded Cubs farm system he's the #2 prospect in the Cubs 2016 Baseball America rankings: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...-10-prospects/

He's one of the best catching prospects in the entire game. I'm assuming he'll be a Top 100 prospect in baseball. I think you'd be hard pressed to find any sort of baseball analyst who wouldn't be penciling in Contreras as the Cubs long term future at catcher.

There are no guarantees that he'll pan out. Any of these guys could wind up being busts. All I said was that from the Cubs point of view that's who they're planning on being the long term answer at catcher, not Schwarber.

[DMBZeppelin]

With Price off the board I'd like to be in on Greinke, but if the money doesn't get crazy I'm just hoping to get Samardzija and trade for a Tyson Ross-esque pitcher.

[TimHonks]

Shelby Miller and Shark/Gallardo or someone similar is what I see happening.

[FromTheMorning]

Totally fine with not getting Price. That is quite the haul for him.

[weller3377]

Really thought we would get him, but not upset we didn't

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by TimHonks

Shelby Miller and Shark/Gallardo or someone similar is what I see happening.

I want Samardzija because he's a known quantity for us.

We know he works really well with Bosio, he knows a lot of people in the clubhouse and fits in well, and there's a large sample size of him pitching in Wrigley. His price will go up as more guys get signed pre-winter meetings. If it doesn't get too crazy I'll be happy he's back.

[FromTheMorning]

How does Shark pitch well with Bosio but then shit with Cooper? He couldn't have changed his mechanics much, that would be pretty dumb.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by FromTheMorning

How does Shark pitch well with Bosio but then shit with Cooper? He couldn't have changed his mechanics much, that would be pretty dumb.

Here's a tidbit from a Bleacher Nation article on Samardzija

What’s not to like? His confidence? The fact that he had struggles at times (like almost any pitcher)? The fact that he had a really down 2015?

I suppose I’ll consider crediting the last one, given that his ERA/FIP/xFIP were an ugly 4.96/4.23/4.31. But it seems like the White Sox tried to change him quite a bit, dramatically increasing his slider and cutter usage at the expense of his fastball (especially his two-seamer), despite the fact that, coming into the year, the cutter had been consistently one of his least effective pitches (and his two-seamer had been one of his most effective). His groundball rate, which had started to approach well above-average territory in 2014, plummeted. As did his strikeout rate. Even his splitter was hit much harder than it had been in the past (perhaps because it wasn’t being set up as well/as often by the fastball?). I won’t pretend to know the precise issues last year, but I know enough to know that you could look at a guy who had so many things changed with a new team, and you could question whether a poor fit derailed him a bit.

Also he was tipping pitches. After his last bad start of the year he watched video of himself and figured it out. He normally doesn't watch video or use analytics. His last few starts of the year winded up being solid.

With the Cubs if a pitcher is tipping pitchers I'm sure they'd discover that without Samardzija needing to watch video. Bottom line being a bad defensive team combined with all those other factors equaled a bad year. With the Cubs you're just asking him to be a #3 or #4 starter, and unlike Hammel/Hendricks he can go 6-7 innings consistently.

[pathetic]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

With Price off the board I'd like to be in on Greinke, but if the money doesn't get crazy I'm just hoping to get Samardzija and trade for a Tyson Ross-esque pitcher.

I'll bet greinke makes more than price

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by pathetic

I'll bet greinke makes more than price

Ok? I agree.

[DMBZeppelin]

Levine thinks Cubs will sign someone this week:

Gist of his story:

The consensus is that Jeff Samardzija, under the guidance of Cubs pitching coach and mentor Chris Bosio, could return to his old form. What would be expected would be a 200 inning 200 strikeout number three starter. Others who will be high on the Cubs’ free agent list are Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir and John Lackey.

Samardzija will not be afraid to move on if the Cubs don’t ante up. After the pitcher met with Epstein a few weeks ago, both sides have an understanding of their mutual interest in each other. With Price signing in Boston, Samardzija is back on the front burner for the Cubs.

Look for the Cubs to sign a quality starter, most likely before Sunday when the winter meetings begin to complicate signings and trades. Samardzija appears to be a top consideration.

[pathetic]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

Ok? I agree.

Oh, you just said you hope they're in on greinke If the money isn't crazy. If the Cubs aren't in on price at 7/216, why would they be in on greinke if he's going to cost more?

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by pathetic

Oh, you just said you hope they're in on greinke If the money isn't crazy. If the Cubs aren't in on price at 7/216, why would they be in on greinke if he's going to cost more?

Poor wording on my part. I'd like to be in on Greinke.

If the money isn't crazy I want Samardzija. I fully understand Greinke will be Price money. If they don't get a top guy my second choice is Samardzija and a trade for a Ross type.

[DMBZeppelin]

jaysonst: Forget the theory that Jeff Samardzija will be the bargain of the offseason. Teams talking with him say he's claiming to have $100M on table


Entering into an area that makes me uncomfortable. Hopefully this is just posturing by his agent.

[FromTheMorning]

Heyward maybe back in the mix?

[TimHonks]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

jaysonst: Forget the theory that Jeff Samardzija will be the bargain of the offseason. Teams talking with him say he's claiming to have $100M on table


Entering into an area that makes me uncomfortable. Hopefully this is just posturing by his agent.

Has to be posturing. If Shark had a 100M offer he would be an absolute fool to not sign it.

[gocubsgo3822]

My dream offseason:

Heyward
Carrasco/Ross/Miller/teahren
Kazmir
Storen

I have no idea what the Cubs budget is though. But Heyward is a great player.

[DMBZeppelin]

MLBBruceLevine: $18 million is the going AAV for Jeff Samardzija . How many years ? Source confirms one team has offered $90 million .

[DMBZeppelin]

I have a feeling this will happen:

BNightengale: The #Stlcards, after finishing runnerup in David Price sweepstakes, now expressing interest in Jeff Samardzija

Meanwhile...

TBrownYahoo: The Cubs are pretty hot on Lackey at the moment. Talking two- and three-year possibilities.

[TimHonks]

I don't want Lackey, hope that doesn't happen.

[TimHonks]

Baez to play CF in winter ball.

[pathetic]

why wouldn't you want lackey for 2yrs?

[DMBZeppelin]

I'm assuming no Samardzija now.

Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: Lackey in agreement with #Cubs, two years, $32M-$34M, pending physical.

[pathetic]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

I'm assuming no Samardzija now.

Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: Lackey in agreement with #Cubs, two years, $32M-$34M, pending physical.

good deal for the cubs

[TimHonks]

Originally Posted by pathetic

why wouldn't you want lackey for 2yrs?

I just don't really like him. Hopefully its a Joakim Noah situation where I like him when he's on my team, just not a huge fan.

I like his experience and a two year deal is nice, just hope that he is being signed as a #4 and not a #3.

[DMBZeppelin]

I'll be ok with this if there's another big signing. Not big on giving up a 1st round pick for a 37 year old pitcher.