The Cubs enter the 2014-15 offseason with the highest expectations since Theo Epstein took over as club president in October 2011. Starting pitching should be the team’s main focus this winter.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Starlin Castro, SS: $44MM through 2019
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B: $37MM through 2019
- Edwin Jackson, SP: $22MM through 2016
- Jorge Soler, RF: $20MM through 2020 (may opt for arbitration once eligible)
- Ryan Sweeney, OF: $2MM through 2015
Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projections via Matt Swartz)
- John Baker, C (5.141): $1.1MM projected salary
- Wesley Wright, RP (5.105): $2MM
- James McDonald, SP (5.074): $1MM
- Chris Coghlan, LF (4.148): $1.4MM
- Luis Valbuena, 3B (4.148): $3.1MM
- Justin Ruggiano, RF (4.019): $2.5MM
- Travis Wood, SP (4.004): $5.5MM
- Pedro Strop, RP (3.156): $2.4MM
- Jake Arrieta, SP (3.145): $4.1MM
- Felix Doubront, SP (3.120): $1.3MM
- Welington Castillo, C (3.009): $2.1MM
- Non-tender candidates: Baker, McDonald, Wood
Contract Options
- Kyuji Fujikawa, RP: $5.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
- Tsuyoshi Wada, SP: $5MM club option (no buyout)
- Jacob Turner, SP: $1MM club option (no buyout)
Free Agents
For a last-place team that finished 16 games under .500, the 2014 Cubs had several positive developments. 25-year-old Anthony Rizzo emerged as one of the best first basemen in baseball. 24-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro bounced back to his 2011-12 form. 22-year-old right fielder Jorge Soler battled hamstring injuries but still tore through Double and Triple-A and saw his success carry over for a month in the Majors. On the pitching side, Jake Arrieta emerged as a potential ace with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts and Hector Rondon had a successful run as the team’s closer. A lot of building blocks fell into place under new manager Rick Renteria.
In March, I questioned the Cubs’ choices of position players Rizzo and Kris Bryant over power arms Andrew Cashner and Jon Gray. The Rizzo and Bryant choices, plus this summer’s acquisition of Addison Russell and drafting of Kyle Schwarber, suggest president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer have implemented a strategy favoring the stability of position players to begin their rebuild. The plan has come up smelling like roses so far, as the team’s collection of young hitters is the envy of baseball.
Rizzo has first base locked down for the Cubs potentially through 2021, on what’s become one of the game’s most team-friendly contracts. Though Luis Valbuena did an admirable job at the hot corner in 2014, third base belongs to Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Kris Bryant. If the Cubs wait a few weeks into April to select Bryant’s contract, they’ll control him through 2021 as well.
The Cubs’ middle infield logjam represents a good kind of problem. Castro, signed potentially through 2020, was one of the game’s ten best shortstops in 2014 despite missing most of the season’s final month. Powerful 21-year-old Javier Baez made his big league debut in August, playing second base and then switching to shortstop when Castro went down. Baez struggled at his new level, as many prospects do, but has the second base job entering 2015. Then there’s Addison Russell, the key piece in the deal that sent Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland. The 20-year-old Russell raked at Double-A and is knocking on the door to the Majors himself.
Valbuena, 28, had his first full season as a regular, posting a solid .249/.341/.435 line while playing third base and a bit at second. If we pencil in Rizzo, Castro, and Bryant at their respective positions for 2015, only second base is available for three players ranging from good (Valbuena) to potential All-Star (Russell and Baez).
Trading Castro, Russell, or Baez this offseason could be jumping the gun, since Baez has yet to succeed at the big league level and Russell has yet to reach Triple-A. A safe plan would be to begin 2015 with a Castro-Baez middle infield, and if Baez hits and Russell is knocking down the door come July, the team can more seriously consider trades at that point or even move someone to the outfield. Trading Valbuena this winter could make sense, though he’d be a good backup plan at second base. The Cubs need a backup plan for Baez, who struck out in 41.5% of his plate appearances as a rookie. Among players with 200 or more plate appearances, that’s easily the worst strikeout rate in baseball history.
Valbuena was one of the ten best offensive third basemen in the game this year and is under control through 2016; a team like the Red Sox could have interest. He could also be marketed as a second baseman, especially since the free agent market is weak at that position.
Soler should have the right field job locked down heading into 2015, but last year’s 86 games marked a career high. We won’t know if Soler’s hamstrings can hold up for 130+ games in the Majors until he does it. Over in left field, former 2009 Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan had a resurgent year and should have the job heading into next season. The 2014 Cubs used a host of center fielders, the most interesting of whom is 22-year-old Arismendy Alcantara. A very good prospect in his own right, Alcantara took his first reps at the position this year after previously working as an infielder. As with Baez, Alcantara should get first crack at the 2015 job despite rookie growing pains.
The Cubs’ outfield has enough uncertainty that keeping veterans Sweeney and Ruggiano around makes sense. The team would be justified entering Spring Training with their current outfield pieces, though I’d consider an offseason run at Colby Rasmus on a one-year deal. Rasmus would bring power and upside with no long-term risk, and Alcantara could get further acquainted with center field at Triple-A or be an oft-used super-utility player in the Majors. Another outfielder who could fit is Yasmany Tomas, if the Cubs see star potential in the Cuban free agent, consider him worth a potential $100MM contract, and don’t mind creating something of a long-term surplus in the outfield.
Behind the plate, 27-year-old Welington Castillo played acceptably but saw his batting average and walk rate decline from 2013. The Cubs don’t have to make a long-term decision on Castillo, who is entering arbitration for the first time. The team does have a potential star catcher in the pipeline in 2014 first-rounder Kyle Schwarber, but he needs to prove he can stick at the position. In the spirit of adding position player talent now and worrying about a potential surplus later, the Cubs could make a run at the best free agent catcher, Russell Martin. Signing Martin would signal the Cubs intend to take a leap forward into contention in 2015, though he could require upwards of $50MM as well as the forfeiture of the Cubs’ second-round draft pick.
Epstein whiffed on the biggest expenditure thus far in his Cubs tenure, Edwin Jackson. Jackson now has two years and $22MM left on his contract. According to a late August report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs and Braves engaged in talks in July to swap Jackson and B.J. Upton. That could be revisited, but it’s not the best match since Upton has more than twice as much money remaining on his contract. Other disappointing contracts with between $16-30MM remaining include Cameron Maybin, Chris Johnson, Aaron Hill, Allen Craig, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, and Carlos Beltran. While those players have been letdowns, their teams may not be as close to the breaking point as the Cubs seem to be with Jackson.
Regardless of Jackson, the Cubs will need to explore adding starting pitching from all angles. The 2014-15 free agent class is rife with options for all parts of a rotation. The Big Three are Max Scherzer, Jon Lester, and James Shields. Lester is the most obvious fit for the Cubs, as a player who joined the Red Sox around the same time Epstein did and was a big part of the executive’s success there. That he isn’t eligible for a qualifying offer is helpful, but Lester’s price tag will probably exceed $150MM. If they prefer the trade market, the Cubs could try to swing a deal for the Phillies’ Cole Hamels, who is owed $96MM through 2018.
One big name starter alone probably wouldn’t be enough to push the Cubs into contention. Arrieta looked like an ace this year, but his 176 2/3 pro innings marked a career-high, and he missed the season’s first month recovering from a shoulder injury. Kyle Hendricks posted a sparkling 2.46 ERA in 80 1/3 innings as a rookie, but his scouting report and lack of strikeouts suggest a back of the rotation starter. Though his ERA bounced around in his three years with the Cubs, Travis Wood profiles at the back end of a rotation as well and could be non-tendered or traded. The other immediate options are projects who once showed potential: Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront, and Dan Straily. If the Cubs want to keep Turner they’ll pick up his $1MM club option, as renewing him would cost at least 80% of his 2014 salary, which comes to more than $1.5MM.
The Cubs would do well to add one or two mid-tier starting pitchers even if they sign one of the Big Three. Wada could be in that mix after a successful 13-start run, though the Cubs would probably want him for less than his $5MM club option. The Cubs will likely set their sights higher and go for Kenta Maeda, Brandon McCarthy, Francisco Liriano, or Justin Masterson. Masterson comes with the Epstein connection plus other helpful factors such as the lack of a qualifying offer and a likely short-term deal. Epstein has succeeded in the free agent starting pitcher bargain bin over the years, finding Hammel, Wada, Scott Feldman, and Paul Maholm on the cheap.
The Cubs’ bullpen has talent. Rondon is the incumbent closer, while Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez, and Pedro Strop also pitched well. The Cubs could cut Wesley Wright loose and pursue a better option from the left side, with Andrew Miller profiling as the top southpaw reliever on the free agent market. Right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa is likely to have his option bought out after missing most of his two-year term with the Cubs due to Tommy John surgery. The 2014 Cubs led the NL in relief innings, and the ten pitchers who tossed 14 or fewer innings apiece accounted for a 6.91 ERA. The nine hurlers who had 21 or more relief innings tallied a cumulative 3.04 mark. Better starting pitching could have a significant trickle-down effect on the bullpen in 2015.
Alfonso Soriano is finally off the books for the Cubs, who owe $25.5MM to five players under contract for 2015. They could spend another $17MM or so on arbitration eligible players, bringing total commitments to around $43MM. What is an appropriate payroll for the 2015 Cubs? It seems they could reasonably sit around the middle of the pack with a $110MM payroll, and they could also roll over unspent money from 2014. A $70MM war chest would be more than enough money to add the players necessary to compete next season.
In the longer-term, the Cubs should raise their payroll to be top five in baseball, befitting of their status as a major market team. Though their short-term television rights are an open question, the Cubs’ potential TV deal for all their games following the 2019 season will be what Epstein called a “paradigm shifter” for club revenue, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Improvements to Wrigley Field, which are now underway, will “move the needle,” according to Epstein. The Cubs have begun their renovation project despite a pending lawsuit between rooftop owners and the city of Chicago regarding the team’s plans to erect signs that will affect the rooftop view.
Regular season winning percentages in the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer Cubs era have increased from .377 to .407 to .451. Though he could sign an extension, Epstein only has two years left on his contract. Aggressive acquisition of starting pitching this offseason should mark the end of his three-year rebuilding plan.
Lester is a better fit for the Cubs than most people will admit. The Cubs have money to spend, Lester wont require the forfeiture of a draft pick and the Cubs have glut of MLB ready position players in need of a strong pitching staff.
A second round pick isn’t valued super high, so I don’t think giving that pick up should be the deciding factor when they spend over $100 million. I think any of the big three should be in play.
Lester isn’t going to cost any draft picks
My point is that losing a second round pick is a very small factor when spending over $100 million. You shouldn’t sign Lester over Shields or Scherzer simply because of a second round pick.
Lester’s going to be significantly cheaper than Scherzer and is younger than Shields. For a team emphasizing its farm depth, a first round pick is valued highly.
We are discussing the Cub’s situation. They would only lose a second rounder.
Lester is NOT eligible for the QO. So the point is mute..why discuss this at all…facepalm!!!
Because we are comparing Lester vs Shields and Scherzer.
Why discuss anything ever? What’s the point?
I think you keep that thought in the back of your mind that if you have two pitchers for the same price and one of them won’t cost the pick then obviously you go for the cheaper option. Having said that, I like Lester more on this team than Shields and a little bit more than Scherzer.
Great point.
Lester will also cost less in his late thirties when he’s pitching like a guy in his late thirties so that probably also helps
front load the contract. if it is for 6 years pay Lester 40 million in 15 so as he ages the wrong way and the young Cubs start to head for arbitration/free agency, his money is going down, freeing up space on the payroll. I don’t know what lester will get for total value some say 150-but if you pay him a 5 mill signing bonus that would go on the 14 payroll, 40 in 15 and 30 in 16 that leaves 4 years and 85 million left-so almost half the contract woule be paid in the first two years. Agents don’t care how the money is paid out-it’s all about AAV
Well, agents would actually prefer front-loaded contracts, because an extra $2mil or so in 2015 is worth more than that same $2mil in 2021 due to inflation ($2 million in 2009 dollars is roughly $2.2 million today).
Teams generally prefer ti backload for the opposite reason (and they anticipate having an ever-greater payroll as the years go by). So if the Cubs can afford to front-load it’d sure be helpful, but highly unusual.
they front loaded Edwin jackson’s deal. In year one he made 19 mill…11 the last three years
I agree. This past season, it was really only the second-tier free agents who were hurt by the draft pick compensation. The top-tier guys did not have any trouble getting contracts. But, the fact that Lester does not have that pick attached to him,does make Lester a more attractive signing. The Cubs will have to battle the Yankees, Red Sox, and others for him.
I’m at the point where I’ll be very surprised if Lester isn’t a Cub by the time pitchers and catchers report
Agreed, it’s too good of a story for them to pass up. Epstein is the Obi-Wan Kenobi who brings Lester aka Luke Skywalker to bring balance to the force after he was scorned by Darth Lucchino and Emperor Henry.
I thought Lester was going to sign for a hometown discount in Boston?
Not once have I ever said that I believe that would be the case. My thoughts on the chances of that of that are well documented on this site.
Rev, sorry, I meant that reply to go under whokilled.
Did they make you a comment mod or something? That got taken down fast.
What did? And no, that is not a job I desire. I don’t need to spend anymore time on this website than I already do.
I’m not sure I’ve seen any of the Sox fans on this site ever assert that this was likely to happen. People on this site really enjoy attributing all sorts of unreasonable attitudes to Sox fans that we don’t actually have!
no. he turned down the redsox low ball offer already
I also read somewhere that Lester has put his house in Boston up for sale. So, the Red Sox thing might be dead. Methinks they’d have to make a pretty sweet offer for him to go back there.
at this point i would be shocked if he’s not a cub next year.
OK, this is one directed at Rev, and the other Red Sox fans. What’s wrong with Epstein? Doesn’t he get some credit for helping build the team that ended the Curse?
Nothing is wrong with him. His relationship with Lucchino soured in the later years of his Boston tenure as ownership frequently went over his head on player signings.
The Boy Wonder deserves some credit, though the team was largely in place by the time he got there and Larry helped him get Schilling. I’d credit him more with 07 than 04, but there’s plenty of credit to go around.
Thank you for the Star Wars reference.
Most people admit that Lester is a great fit for the Cubs, hence why they are regarded as being one of the front runners for him.
I really like the idea of the Cubs’ first move of the offseason to be signing Russell Martin. A good solid catcher like Martin would make the Cubs more attractive to pitchers.
Martin’s contract, the way the demand seems to be going, is going to look ugly pretty quick, his wRC+ is 32 points above his career average and he’s on the wrong side of 30 for a catcher.
Also, let’s not forget that Castillo put up a 2.2 WAR season and has a career wRC+ of 99 (only 7 points lower than Martin’s career mark).
Not saying Martin isn’t better, but I think the resources could be used elsewhere (pitching, OF, bench, etc.)
Yes. You are right about his age, but the whole point would be that the Cubs are so young that they need some experience out there somewhere. Catcher would be a good place to have that. And, it seems to me that they enough *resources* to get a catcher and fill their other needs. If they don’t get a veteran catcher, then they need to get a veteran outfielder, like maybe Torii Hunter. Frankly, I believe Martin will stay with the Pirates, so it prolly doesn’t matter anyway. But it would be nice to have some experience out there alongside all that youth.
Yeah, the Cubs have the resources, but Theo won’t spend money just to spend money. He wants value from his players. I don’t think he wants to spend over $50MM to add marginal value to a position that isn’t a huge problem.
I don’t think that will happen. Given that martin is going to be expensive this year, and they clearly have a greater need for talent on the mound then off right now.
Castillo is good enough for now. Cubs might be better off going with Castillo for one more year and then signing Wieters next off-season. Martin just seems like a risky signing.
I think it’s fair to include Alcantara in the discussion for second base, as well. His defense there was better than expected. If Baez continues to struggle in Spring Training, and gets sent down for a month or so, Alcantara could handle the position.
Just like to offer some praise to Tim and the other writers who have put together the five “Outlooks.” Great details, thoughtful presentation.
Pipe dream. But still.
1-Scherzer
2-Lester
3-Arrieta
4-Hendricks
5-Wada
WutKindaRotationIsThat?!
Like scherzer way more than Lester. Lester had that fried chicken year and has really only had one big time elite year. Scherzer has had two, and the past four years has consistently shown improvement. If they can only sign one, they should go for scherzer, who’s only going to cost 1-3 mil more per year. Lester is either a cub or a red Sox. He’s not taking a hometown discount for anyone but the Sox, and who besides the cubs has open payroll(serious question because I know of none, and I’ve been pondering for a while)? Yankees certainly don’t with arod back on the books and needing to retain Robertson so people should stop mentioning the Yankees. They have zero payroll to sign anyone for more than 10m aav.
Cubs went 8-19 when Jackson started. Even a somewhat avg starter would be an almost six game improvement. Future is terrifyingly bright.
Or if you guys sign Scherzer, You can pretty much flip the W-L around. You guys are pretty much a .500 team then. Theo is obvious not going to stop at Scherzer though.
If you flip Jackson at 8-19 to 19-8 with Scherzer, the team goes from 73-89 to 84-78 which would have been the best record to not make the playoffs this year. Alcantara and Baez can’t get any worse and will likely improve. This team is knocking at 90 wins, then.
Per Forbes, The New York Yankees made 246 M dollars from ticket sales and 435 MM dollars in additional non ticket related revenue in 2014. What makes you think they don’t have money to spend?
I don’t think it’s the capital that is a problem. It is the whole luxury tax thing. The Yankees need to make up their mind if they are going to just pay that thing every year or if they are willing to do what it takes to get under it. Right now, they are trying to both, which is impossible.
Exactly. 50 cents for every dollar over? C’mon man. You’re not the magic led Dodgers, who happen to actually be making the playoffs. You’re the Yankees. They’re probably going to pin hopes on tanaka to make up for lack of a move. They aren’t signing anybody big.
They’re easily above the luxury tax as is with arb raises incoming. Still have no fill in for post Jeter and can’t go with some scrub without having Yankee fans crying out in horror, Robertson needs to be resigned. They’ll be at 205+ easily. Likely need to sign an arm, but that’s more likely to be McCarthy than a big 3. That’s a 20+ commitment for any of them. 225+ payroll for the now budget conscious yanks? I realize their the yankees, but these aren’t the spend crazy ones from the past. A rod was off the books last year which helped a lot. Yes back.
Robertson doesnt need to be resigned.
Any way you slice it the Yankees made over 600 MM dollars last year, and this was in year when they didn’t make the playoffs. The Yankees aren’t operating with the same kind of budget constraints as most teams. The Yankees are the most valuable sports team on earth. Not only can the Yankees match the dodgers spending, they could exceed it if they really wanted to.
money is still a finite resource, though, and the overall age of the yankees should be a huge concern for them. Bringing in another 25-million a year pitcher isn’t likely to get them any closer to a WS ring this year, and because of their luxury tax issues that’s effectively a 37.5 million a year pitcher.
at some point in the near future the Yankees are going to have to bite the bullet, cut costs, get back under the luxury tax and retool that team entirely. every new long term deal they give out now, though, just makes that so much harder.
Manchester United are more valuable. I think Hal and the siblings would sell offered them a 3-3.5 billion USD check.
The floor on a united deal starts at 3.5 B USD, but easily would go over 4. Current Market cap is irrelevant.
Real Madrid, United, Barca, Bayern all have bigger top line revenues than the Yankees do.
Nope. You can actually look up the worth of any franchise. The New York Yankees are worth 2.5 billion while Manchester United are worth 2.2 billion……. The Yankees are worth more.
Your points about the luxury tax are valid, but since (from what I understand) the Yankees are already at the maximum percentage penalty (50%) for being over for so many consecutive years, unless they decide to dip back below it for a year to reset it, then it really doesn’t matter. As another poster said, they’re still making lots of money and still have a lot to spend. They’ve been over the LT every year and don’t appear to be cutting back at all.
I don’t know why you think that ‘these aren’t the spend crazy’ Yankees when they spent like crazy last offseason and their payrolls and luxury taxes have increased in each of the last three years.
Money is not a problem. They could easily spend like the Dodgers but having over 35 year old under performing players also creates roster problems. You can’t move A-Rod, Beltran or Tex if they get hurt. You can only hope their performances improve.
In the case of Sabathia he is making $24 million a year even though his performance has slipped but in Spring Training they will want to see he if he has anything left. He is block younger players.
What young players?
I’m not sure that the cubs necessarily prefer position players because they are more stable in rebuilding. I would argue they preferred them because hitting is more scarce in the MLB now and worth more. Pitching isn’t nearly as hard to find as it used to be. The market has shifted from pitching being scarce to hitting being hard to find. It’s a sound strategy because if they need to go out and get pitching the trade value of their elite bats is more than that of a pitcher. Free agency is also another great option for them to fill their pitching needs.
I’d be a fan of a Lester deal if he gives the Cubs a bit of a discount. I see any 30 year old as a high risk if you are offering a max contract. I feel like giving big contracts to 30+ year olds is what got the Cubs into a mess back in the Hendry era.
The difference is that the Cubs will have a prime, cost efficient core for over a half decade. Free agents are going to be hugely valuable on the field early on in their contracts. It’s why they get paid like they do. Now that the Cubs have that young, cost efficient core, they’ll be able to reap the benefits of the early years of free agent contracts without having their future ruined by a lack of flexibility because of aging guys with bloated deals.
big contracts to 30-year olds is a necessary evil this day in age. the only players younger than that to hit the FA market are foreign imports like Tanaka, who still command big money without being any less risky. The Cubs don’t have a player that projects as that caliber in the system, so they’re going to have to pay through the nose to get one no matter what they do… makes more sense, though, to just buy it outright rather than trade for it.
Hendry’s problem wasn’t so much that he gave them out… it’s that he put all his eggs in that proverbial basket.
Heyward and Justin Upton should hit it at 26 and 28 respectively. Harper at 26 if the Nats don’t play ball with Boras. Machado and Fernandez potentially in their 27ish age range. Stanton at 26-27.
I know there is the trend of locking guys up early for long periods of time but there are a few gems that’ll roll the dice and want to hit FA asap.
i dunno about ‘should’… are scheduled to, maybe, but i’ll guess at least half of them extend, probably more. Stanton’s also a bit of a special case because the only reason he hasn’t extended yet is because the organization’s so thoroughly dysfunctional. They’re also almost all position players, which the Cubs don’t look like they’ll be needing any time soon.
Who’s the best Free Agent pitcher on the market under 30? I’m not entirely sure, but off the top of my head i’m thinking Kenta Maeda (the only one under 30 i can think of)… who profiles as a no. 3 at best and will still cost 100+ million most likely, plus the posting fee.
the market is what the market is, really. They’re gonna have to pay somebody big money, and waiting for a statistical anomaly isn’t good business.
I wouldn’t mind the Braves circling back to the BJ for Jackson talks. At this point, the Braves need to do whatever necessary to get rid of BJ.
the problem there, though, from a Cubs standpoint is that Upton’s owed more money for more years to stink it up every day instead of every 5th day… so it probably doesn’t make sense for the Braves because they’d have to throw in a pretty good prospect or a significant chunk of money to make it happen
Easy fix. Assuming Russell hits at the big league level. Easy route 1- trade Castro for pitching. Easy route(the best route in my opinion) move Castro to the outfield. And outfield of Castro- Alcantra- and soler is nice. And all three are athletic enough to play all three outfield positions. This only really works assuming the Cubs keep everyone, keep Bryant at 3rd, and schwarber behind the plate.
the scouting reports from college liked Bryant’s defense better in the OF than 3b, and that was at CF and RF. Putting him in LF gives you an OF of Soler/Alcantara/Bryant… which in addition to the obvious hitting potential could be a pretty darn good defensive one as well. That puts Baez at 3b and Castro at 2b, which is a much better IF as well since Bryant’s average at best at 3rd.
That’s actually the easiest solution… potentially has you set for the next 5 years with little need to tinker.
Yeah moving Bryant to left is the easiest (and best, IMO) option. But I think the Cubs would just move Castro to 3rd and keep Baez at 2nd. They have already moved Baez to a new position once, it doesn’t make sense to make him learn a new position again when he will finally be getting used to 2nd.
Almora will be there at some time as well. Maybe not next year but could join that platoon in 2016.
Nice summary. I think Hendricks has more upside than he’s given credit. If you look at his strikeout numbers, you might not be blown away, but watch him pitch and see where he’s getting those strikeouts. He is able to pick apart hitters for Ks in the right situation. He pitches to contact (with a 51% GB% and 1.08 WHIP in 13 GS), gets a lot of double play ground balls and keeps the ball in the yard (4HR in 80.1 IP). I really liked what I saw out of him this summer, but hopefully he’s forced into a BOR guy because there are 2-3 elite pitchers ahead of him.
Put up or shut up time for theo and Cubs. Sign one or two of the big three. Finally be a big market team again and lets win a World Series.
Considering MLBTR covers all 30 teams, this is an impressively well-informed article. There are a few national writers that could take note…
I hope they go after James Shields. He’s showing a ton of leadership and fire this postseason. Would love the Cubs to get a high energy type of guy who is also a leader.
The following is not a slight on Lester at all, it’s an affirmation on how great Max Scherzer has been the last few years. The Cubs should target Max Scherzer with the most veracity this offseason. Sure he will be costly but he would flat out dominate for the Chi Cubs for every year of his deal. You can build a serious staff around Scherzer and for the amount of money it would cost to upgrade from Lester, I think it would be worth it.
I hope they really attempt to get Hamels as well. Kid has already been through a WS and still has great command. Max with Hamels would make a very formidable one-two punch.
Does anyone know exactly what’s the eariest day in April the Cubs can call up Bryant and still get the extra year of control on him?