The Cubs are “actively exploring a trade for” a star closer, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter link). Most of the speculation surrounding the Cubs this winter has been focused on their search for pitching or outfield help, as Chicago’s bullpen was strong last year and current closer Hector Rondon has posted two seasons of excellent relief work.
Rondon did run into some difficulties in May of last season, though those struggles essentially consisted of two rough weeks that include two of his four blown saves. Otherwise, Rondon was mostly spotless, as evidenced by a tiny 0.88 ERA and 51 strikeouts (against just 10 walks) over his last 51 regular season innings. Pushing Rondon to a setup role would, theoretically, make the Cubs’ relief corps even stronger and closer to the Royals model of a shutdown bullpen that shortens games.
Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Mark Melancon, Ken Giles, Jonathan Papelbon, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger are some of the closers who have been floated as trade candidates in what has been a crowded relief market this offseason, with Craig Kimbrel and Francisco Rodriguez already changing teams. Chapman and Melancon could be difficult fits for the Cubs, however, depending on how the Reds and Pirates feel about dealing within the NL Central.
Soler,Torres,Dan V. for McGee,Jennings and SP? Cubs get a CF,Closer and maybe Cobb or Moore.
Greg Holland cost nobody off your Roster.
HAHA..Matt are you trying to be funny?
Torres and Soler aren’t likely to be dealt in a package unless a potential ace is involved …
Not sure I would make that deal either however Cobb is an ace
i don’t think Torres and Soler would go to Tampa for any starter unless Archer were involved
Yea if that SP is Chris Archer
They had archer they traded him and 4 others for Garza. They should had called him up when they had him.
Yeah, cuz he was totally ready for MLB then.
What’s the difference. The cubs were terrible there was no reason no to see what kind of stuff he had. Shark was brought up way to early. Castro was brought up to save jim Hendrys job he was called up way too early. You never will see what players can do unless they are called up. Cubs for years were known to call up players and all they did was play once a week with a once a month start. They did this won’t brian lahair he was way better then the aging Derek Lee but he refused to sit out. Both him and Ramirez refused to be traded to a winning team. Ramirez was one of the laziest players ever tbats why he refused to be traded. Which is why he took his contract to free agency.
So they traded him. So what?
Greg Holland also doesn’t pitch in an MLB game until 2017.
Soler isn’t going anywhere
If that starting pitcher is Chris Archer, then you have yourself a deal.
Papelbon to Chicago is so strange it might work. You would have to deal with the money, and I don’t think Washington can actually just give him away, but it’s interesting in some sort of a package
Cubs have long been believed to be going for two starters, one through free agency (lackey) and another via trade. Under this plan, Hammel is expendable and his $9 million salary might work out in a potential Papelbon deal… Not sure I like that for either team, though.
I was thinking Papelbon also because of the Theo and Jed connection from Boston. I wouldn’t want to give much at all for him because when he became a clubhouse cancer again they could just cut ties and move on from him he is as much of a POS as Milton Bradley was.
The Cubs front office is all about team chemistry and guys with class. Papelbon will go no where near this team.
winning cures chemistry problems….especially with papelbon
I absolutely hate the Cubs but I agree that Papelbon to Chicago actually makes a lot of sense. Comfortable with Lester and Epstein and would be the lock down presence they need.
Lester, lackey and Papelbon just has too much 2011 Red Sox feel to it for my liking
Hm, just Lackey by himself is enough to make me twitch nervously.
The thing is they already have a lockdown presence in the 9th inning in Rondon. He quietly has become one of the best closers in the game over the last 2 seasons. The numbers don’t lie. Of all the closers out there not only does he have a sparkling ERA, FIP, and WHIP the last 2 years, but he also walks probably the fewest batters per 9 or close to the fewest while striking out 9/9IP as well. In fact, in this small sample size of 2 years as closer his numbers are pretty similar to Mariano Rivera’s….. yet he gets Rodney Dangerfielded all the time….. no respect, no respect at all.
Last 2 seasons for Rondon
2.03 ERA, 59 for 67 in save opps. 2.48 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 2BB/9IP, and 8.9K/9IP.
Chapman (considered best closer going today) last 2 years
1.80 ERA, 69 for 74 in save opps, 1.47 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9IP, and 16.6K/9IP
Pretty similar other than the FIP. Yeah, Chapman strikes out more guys than rondon…. almost double….. but he also walks twice as many guys in the process as well. Their WHIPs are identical though. Rondon has an 88% success rate in save opps. to Chapman’s 93% success rate. Kimbrel has a 91% success rate over the last 2 years….. so Rondon is in the neighborhood with the best in successfully closing out a game.
Kimbrel’s ERA, WHIP, and FIP are pretty similar to Rondon’s over the last 2 years as well. He also strikes out more guys but not as much as Chapman, but he too walks more guys than Rondon but not as much as Chapman.
Between Rondon, Chapman, and Kimbrel over the last 2 years here is their ERA+ over the last 2 years. I leave it to you which belongs to which pitcher….. you might be surprised.
190, 175, 214
I’ll tell you right now, 214 belongs to Chapman.
Papelbon would be poison in the great atmosphere that the Cubs have right now. They could have done a trade for him last year and declined to do so. Papelbon is an egocentric idiot, past his best years and would not improve the quality of the team or its bullpen. Poison.
I’ve read several articles that say that Papelbon is untradeable. Not because Washington doesn’t want to trade him, quite the contrary actually, but because other teams view him as a liability…… because he put bratty Harper in his place in the dugout on live TV. I say he is very worth the taking and i don’t think it costs more than Jason hammel to get him. Nats get rid of Papelbon which they really want to do so they can aggressively go after Chapman and get rid of the guy who picked on pretty boy Harper and in the process shave $2M off payroll since P-bon makes $11M in 2016 to Hammel’s $9M. Hammel also provides them 5th starter competition after Scherzer, Stras, Gonzo, and Roark in the rotation. Cubs get another stellar reliever in their already stellar bullpen…….. which is why I don’t see the point in any of this. Rondon is one of the best closers in the game. I don’t get why the front office and Joe Maddon have a hard time seeing that. Rondon had 2 bad outings in May…. that’s it. Because of those games though he pulled him from the full time closer gig for like a MONTH. Take those 2 bad outings off the books and Rondon pitched in 70 games last year for 68 innings with a 1.05 ERA. How much better can a closer get. He had an ERA of roughly 1.67 all year. Was 30 for 34 in save opportunities and that was being removed from the gig for a month of the season. He easily could have had 40+ saves in 2015 had Maddon just showed a bit more faith in him. Over the last 2 years as closer…. granted it is super early in Rondon’s career, but his numbers are very Mariano Rivera like. He has like a 2.05 ERA, a 2.40ish FIP, a 1.05 WHIP, and is 59 for 67 in save chances. 4 blown saves each the last 2 years….. Mariano averaged about 4 blown saves a year. He, also like Rivera, has about a 9K/9 rate and a 2BB/9 rate which is a stellar walk rate for not only a closer but also a reliever in general. And they want to replace this guy with a “top closer”…… they already have one for ****s sake.
I wonder what the Padres could’ve gotten from the Cubs for Kimbrel. I assume it would have had to include one of Baez or Castro. Red Sox did give up a lot though.
I think Giles. McGee. and Storen and paplebon together are the only real options.
i think the cubs could make a real run at aroldis. If that fails Melancon would be amongst those you mentioned also.
This entire story makes zero sense. Rondon was as good as one could be as a closer last season and had one bad two week stretch in May. This makes zero sense.
There are a lot of funny cubs fans on here
The above comparison of rondon to Mariano Rivera was priceless…
Sure would be nice if Mozeliak would make a move.
I think he’s done a great job so far.
And that is what? Let lackey go to rival Cubs!?? Our best pitcher last year!
tim is clearly a cub fan.
Kimbrel for Soler and Gleyber Torres. Seems ridiculous? Agreed. About as ridiculous as giving up Margot and Guerra PLUS two other decent prospects for him!!! GRRRRR Dombrowski. the Cubs are going to make you look even dumber.
“Most of the speculation surrounding the Cubs this winter has been focused on their search for pitching or outfield help, as Chicago’s bullpen was strong last year”
does bullpen work not count as “pitching”
Pretty sure they specifically said “multiple starters”
… They being the Cubs front office
I’d love it if the Cubs took Perkins away from the Twins… But that’s not gonna happen. They could make a run at Chapman during the Winter Meetings.
Baez for Miller.
pfffff
Miller and Gardner for Edwards, Castro, strop, almora???
That would center around what the Cubs FO really thinks about Almora.Defensively he is MLB ready,waiting on that bat to catch up tho.
So much thump in the lineup, tho. Not sure they need anything more than a .300 OBP from Almora.
Yankees could match up real well with the Cubs for a trade.
Miller and Gardner for Baez makes sense.
Yanks want young starters, not more middle infielders. And Miller is only getting traded for one hell of a package.
You’d be lucky to get Gardner for Baez b
this is the 2nd dumbest thing I have read all day.
You’re joking, right?
Like stated above it depends on how the Cubs FO feels about almora. Personally I’m not as high on him as most. Still seems fair on both sides. Basically Castro for Gardner and two prospects for Miller is the price of a good closer. Strop just as a sweetener to maybe get cash from Yankees to cover gardeners cost.
Grilli, Vizzy, Folty, Cabrerra… Pick two and Miller and get a trade done b4 the dodgers beat you to the punch
Melancon for Schwarber lol I wish
No NL team should want Schwarber, he’s a DH.
Kris Bryant for Gardner and Miller.
Jesus Christ…
Just throw in Arieta,Schwarber and Addison and make it a clean sweep lol
6 years of below market All-star players for 6 years of Bryant?
…I thought you said they’d be getting Miller and Gardner though.
24 yr old, vs aging OF and solid closer at market rate, they aren’t below market rate. so 100 mil surplus value for breakeven, yeah no thanks.
Yeah cuz Bryant isn’t a below market all-star player or anything…
And why not Rizzo for teixeira too. Aging declining first baseman for one of the top players in the league.
Arieta will be terrible next year, Schwarber doesn’t have a position, and Addison, well he might have some value. Bryant is way overrated though. That guys proposed deal sucks, but the cubs roster is not as good as people make it out to be.
And people say Red Sox fans trade proposals are ridiculous…
may god have mercy on your soul
that is the dumbest thing I have seen all day.
That is the funniest thing I’ve ready all day. Thanks!
This would never ever ever happen.
Man people, this guy’s a troll. He does this all the time. He’s not serious about that
I don’t believe this report at all. From Rondon, a rule 5 pick, Strop a throw-in in a trade, Rodney, Cahill, Richard, Brothers, it is apparent that Chicago’s strategy for relief pitching is to acquire them cheaply due to the volatile nature of the relief pitcher.
Based on separate reports Rodney looks to return to his role as a closer and Cahill would like to return to a starting role, which simply aren’t going to happen with the Cubs. They can certainly do better than Rondon as he isn’t a top of the line closer (by no means is he bad though,) so maybe their plan is to acquire such a closer and then fill in around him with cheap arms.
Outside of Chapman, no, they really can’t do better than Rondon. He is very close to top of the line.
No he really isn’t. Miller, oday, Jansen, chapman, Davis, Robertson, rosenthal, Perkins, betancesMcGee, Kimbel, melancon, familia are all better. Rondon is more at the aj Ramos/ty clippard level
that was when they werent planning on competing.
Strop was not a throw in, Cahill and Richard are former starters. And when the Cubs acquired Richard from the Pirates in July for cash, he was used as a starter after Wada became injured.
Except that there is value in playoff baseball for the elite relief guys. Chapman for example. When you have a solid base it can may make sense to invest more money in your bull pen.
I really wanted the Cubs to acquire Kimbrell but the Red Sox went too far. I’d part with a couple top prospects for a year of Chapman, however.
If this is true, hopefully they use prospects instead of the likes of Castro, Baez, and/or Soler.
Seems obvious that a front line closer like Papelbon would not want to be a set up man. Storen would be a good fit.
Papelbon for hammels.
Papelbon makes $11 million in his final year and hammels makes $10 million in final year.
Done
I’d rather have Soren
Then its going to to cost you more than Hammel.
Is papelbon going to fit in with a very young roster? I dont think he fits the chemistry makeup of the team.
Ken Giles for Starlin Castro, CJ Edwards and cash?
Seems like that could fit for both clubs.
said the guy wearing the leather helmet.
What? Would you not be happy with this deal from a Cubs standpoint?
cubs take this deal before the Phillies do I’m sure. As a Cubs fan I’d be happy with it. All the homers somehow believe they can get talent for scraps or that all their prospects are future HOFers. If the Cubs trade for a top closer be prepared to lose some good prospects.
I think giles or miller would fit the cubs best, but giles is cheaper and the phillies are rebuilding.
What would the Phillies want with Starlin Castro? Their top prospect is a shortstop, and Starlin, quite simply, is not that good. He’s decent, but not an all-star, regardless of how many times Cubs fans want to say it.
they can put Castro at second
He can play 2B. Who do the Phillies have there?
Cesar Hernandez…?
If the Cubs threw in enough money to make him cheap, he has value.
Hernandez and Utley combined for 0.4 WAR last year, and they have no notable 2B prospects.
“If the Cubs threw in enough money to make him cheap, he has value.”
Not to the Phillies. Giles has more value to them than Castro would. Not a good match.
If the Phillies can get an everyday 2B and a potential SP or good reliever for Giles, then its a win.
He would add depth and can play a utility role. Not only shortstop.
But again, the main point I was making, is Castro is simply not that good. He’s not a huge upgrade for them, not someone who’s going to change their course, so why bother? Giles has more value to them than that, and they have no need to trade him.
Yeah i agree. I think houston or pittsburgh are more viable fits for giles services.
Finally a reasonable trade proposal.
As a Cub fan I’d do that but I think the Phillies will want a lot more, especially since they have Crawford to play at short.
I think a Soler and Edwards package might intrigue the Phills and I’d seriously consider that if I were the Cubs.
HAH! And cash? Do you think we need money? We eat salaries like it’s our job, we’re not the penny pinching mets.
I wonder if the Cubs have soured enough on Baez to trade him for Andrew Miller. As a Yankees fan,I would love to get a young guy with his upside. I understand if that’s too much to trade for a closer though.
I think that is a little too much for a closer, I think if the cubs are going to trade baez, it would be for a starter or an outfielder.
Yeah, probably.
I heard there was a rumor of the angels trading Heaney for Gardner, I wouldn’t do that trade if I was the angels.
Don’t think of it as trading Heaney for Gardner. Think of it as trading Howie Kendrick for Gardner. I’d make that trade easily.
Cubs aren’t sour on any of their players, really. They’ve got to feel reeeaaaal comfortable with the return they get in a potential trade in order to pull the trigger. If Baez or Soler is traded it will likely be for a starting pitcher of similar age and MLB experience, with nearly equal upside. Not an expensive 30 year old setup man. Fact they’ve already got a statement making circulations that this winter and spring Baez will be playing CF to try it out makes me feel like if they even make a trade it will likely be Castro or Soler….. maybe. If Baez shows a hint of positive vibes out in CF this winter they’ll likely just sign a backup option for the OF and then sign another SP….. my guess is a one year deal to Latos or Fister…. or Cliff Lee…. or two of them or even all 3 and see who pitches the best in spring training and trade away the other two early in the 2016 season. Bottom line is, the Cubs don’t NEED to make a trade this offseason. It’s just always been a possibility…. but that is the case every offseason. People, myself included, have gotten carried away, starting to talk like it is a foregone conclusion that the Cubs WILL make a trade. Rotation as of today is Arrieta, Lester, Lackey, Hendricks, and Hammel….. that’s a good rotation. Their bullpen is stacked. All but 1 starting position gig is set, but with the announcement about Baez even makes CF possibly filled. All they DESPERATELY need is maybe a starting CFer/lead-off hitter. I won’t be shocked if they re-sign Fowler to a 3-4 year deal. Likely a 3 year deal if he’s still on the market if he is still available late in the offseason. We’re only about 10 weeks from pitchers and catchers meeting up for spring training. If Fowler is still available in 5 weeks I bet they can ink him to a 3 year deal. MLBTR has him signing a 4 year $60M deal in their predictions. If he’s available mid-late January I bet the Cubs can get him for 3 years and $45-48M.
Don’t you even think about it Billy Beane.
I think the cubs might pursue a trade for mark melancon, maybe for an young bat like alcantara or szczur.
For the life of me, I don’t know why a closer would be a priority for the Cubs this offseason. Hector Rondon profiles as a top closer with his stuff and demeanor and he has already established himself as one of the better ones in MLB.
That being said, if the Cubs are so “hot to trot” for one as the article suggests, why not call the White Sox? GM Rick Hahn has already indicated he would be willing to listen on any offer for any of his players, that nobody was untouchable. The White Sox and Cubs already match up well with the south siders having some desirable depth in their starting rotation that might be available to a Cub team looking for more quality. Chris Sale or Jose Quintana would certainly fit the bill for the Cubs.
Theo an Jed might as well expand their parameters and inquire on David Robertson as a potential new veteran closer.
Why stop there? The Cubs single biggest need following their signing of FA John Lackey is a CF and a lead-off man. How about Adam Eaton? He could do both!
The Cubs and White Sox don’t trade very often, but it’s not like they refuse to do so. Hanukkah begins on Sunday, December 6th at sundown, on the eve of the winter meeting in Nashville. Theo Epstein and Rick Hahn could celebrate together by exchanging gifts, perhaps creating the biggest blockbuster ever between the two clubs with so many potential pieces involved that each club would covet from the other.
As a rare die-hard fan of both franchises in Chicago since the early 1960’s, I would welcome such a possibility with the hopes that both teams could improve and reach the postseason on a regular basis going forward, something I have not experienced much in my 60 years of watching baseball.
Which white sox closer do you suggest is a fit?
I think the white sox can contend this year if they get off to a good start
Agreed. I think they need one more good rotation arm though a kennedy or chen type.
they could trade baez for robertson or somebody else, they have a hole at ss.
Did I not mention David Robertson?
What ML ready prospects do the Cubs have to trade? No one wants Castro for that $ and years. Baez is high risk. Who else?
Arismendy alcantara is one. A few arms with limited big league experience like cj edwards or neil ramirez. Szczur.
Ken Giles, Nick Williams for Starlin Castro, Corey Black, Albert Almora
Phillies aren’t trading Nick Williams
No team in baseball possesses more MLB ready positional prospects than the Cubs. Few teams in MLB need as as much help with their batting order and afield as the White Sox. Both teams have been viewed as excellent matches this offseason by the media in Chicago and that has also been acknowledged by each of the front offices.
Who to trade and what prospects? Depends on how big a deal the teams might pursue.
The Cubs needs would clearly indicate an interest in Chris Sale or Jose Quintana as rotation possibilities, David Robertson as a closer and Adam Eaton as a lead-off hitting CF.
The White Sox need more offense and power in their feeble batting order and specifically can use upgrades at 3B or corner OF to satisfy it. They would certainly have an interest in players such as Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez who could man those positions. The White Sox also need a short term solution at SS until their #1 prospect Tim Anderson is deemed ready for prime time, which is probably 2017 as well as potential help at 2B pending the development of Carlos Sanchez and Micah Johnson. These targets are all MLB ready. The White Sox might also have an interest in some of the top Cub prospects who are not quite ready for their MLB debuts, like CF Albert Almora (a return in a potential Eaton trade) and LF Billy McKinney, among others.
The White Sox have organizational depth in pitching that could potentially cover the loss of Sale, Quintana and Robertson now or down the road. That might include Carlos Rodon, Carson Fulmer and Frankie Montas, as well as others. They also have Trayce Thompson who can cover CF short term and other prospects who might take over in the future, like Jacob May and Adam Engel.
Bottom line: I’m not necessarily advocating trades between the two clubs, just that the potential is there to make them happen, some combination of which could benefit both clubs significantly.
You make valid points. I think eaton and robertson for soler works.
Quintana and Robertson for Schwarber
Adam eaton is hot garbage
Maybe compared to Mike Trout, Mr. Angel fan.
Fact is, Adam Eaton’s WAR numbers the past two seasons might say otherwise. His 9.9 metric exceeds that of slugging teammate Jose Abreu, who sports a 9.3 WAR over the same time period. Both numbers suggest All-Star capability and ought to improve given their short MLB careers thus far.
That’s because WAR overrates center fielders and underrates first basemen just because of their position. I’d bet if you polled all 30 GMs, at least 28 of them would take Abreu over Eaton.
Correction: Adam Eaton’s career WAR is 9.9, his WAR over the past 2 seasons is 9.1, still about the same as Jose Abreu’s.
Actually, Bryant is the best CF the Cubs have on the roster right now. I’m not a fan of Baez and think he could be wrapped in a package to get a MLB ready CF and another starting P, young with a live arm.
Soler for Giles, Cubs get younger of options with team control for years and Phils get a corner outfielder they desperately need
Phillies would probably take it, don’t think the Cubs would.
FYI; the corner outfield is probably the least needed spot for the Phillies.
They have Bourjos for 2016, Altherr, Williams, Quinn, Randolph and Herrera all as long-term outfielders if they develop properly.
Do not over pay for papelbom he’s a hothead and overrated.
Ken Giles, Nick Williams for Starlin Castro, Corey Black, Albert Almora
i don’t think Phillies even think about trading Williams right now. Just doesn’t make sense. If they like Black, they could take him in the Rule 5 draft.
Would love to se the Cubs acquire Chapman. A lights out reliever to bolster the pen would help offset missing out on the top starters available this season.
Would hate to see Chapman traded within the division. If the Reds did that, they had better take a king’s ransom from Chicago
Have to give him and Rizzo lockers on opposite sides of that new locker room! 😉
Paps is on his way out on a rail in DC. He would fit the Cubs nicely for a year. And I imagine that he would come very, very cheap, although not $-wise.
I smell an Epstein-Papelbon reunion.
While it is fun to hash up trade rumors . I don’t believe anything this article has to say and Pap to the Cubs is just not gonna happen, he is a cancer and won’t be signed until after Spring training, if then.
Papelbon isn’t a free agent; no “signing” to be done
It makes no sense for the cubs to trade for any of these closers who are at market rate. If they wanted that, they could just sign o’day. If they are going after a closer, it is someone that is younger or on a below market contract.
Anyone ever thought about this: The Cardinals have lots of shoulder injuries: Wainwright, Carpenter, Martinez, Lynn. I am sure I’m missing some. And yes, many times someone steps up, but I am predicting a down year for the Cardinals. Unless they sign Cueto (probably not going to happen) or Leake, it’s going to be rough potentially.
That’s what everyone said last year…
My thought to solidify the rotation and not have to trade players or spend more money this year is to stretch out Carl Edwards Jr. He was a stud before his injury. Players bounce back and if he shows what he showed before, he could slot as a four and bump Hammel or Hendricks out. Stretch him out in Winter League ball.
If I’m Theo and Co. I’m gonna make damn sure I sign Greg Holland (2 years, laden with incentives) and then acquire a guy like Melancon or even Giles. Allow the latter to close, and if Holland can find his magic again, give him a shot at the job.
To be honest the Cubs should trade Arrieta at this point. His value will never be higher, he’s only 2 years out from free agency and he’s not likely to take an extension.
I agree. 2015 was a fluke, and in no world should he have won the Cy Young.
I don’t understand the desire for a closer or any bullpen help for that matter. Rondon, Strop, Ramirez, Grimm, Wood, and Edwards are solid already and quite possibly one of the best bullpens in the game innings SIX through 9 with Grimm, Ramirez, Strop, and Rondon. Ramirez in 2014 was lights out. Strop and Ramirez could easily be labeled setup man 1a and setup man 1b. Wood showed he is a pretty stellar reliever seeing his K rate skyrocket in the pen and pitching to a 2.95 ERA in like 45 or so appearances.
As they currently stand Hammel and Hendricks are in the rotation, but if they get another bona fide starting pitcher my guess is Hammel slips into the bullpen meaning Edwards goes back to triple A unless they carry 8 relievers….. or becomes trade bait. Hammel as the 7th reliever makes a stellar bullpen…… However, if they were to sign or trade for another starter trading Hammel and his $9M 2016 salary for Papelbon and his $11M salary makes sense for both teams. Washington doesn’t like or want Papelbon because he put their cocky pretty boy in his place (which I loved), and from the way reports make it sound will take almost anything for him in order to aggressively go after Chapman. Cubs get a solid reliever, Nats shave $2 mil off payroll and get a 5th starter candidate in hammel behind Scherzer, Strasburg, Gonzalez, and Roark. Cubs Bullpen would then be Rondon, Papelbon, Strop, Ramirez, Grimm, Wood, and Edwards. With Richard and Brothers as potential replacements if Edwards turns out to be a bust. In his VERY VERY limited showing in 2015 Edwards looked shaky. With Rondon, Papelbon, Strop, Ramirez, and Grimm the last 3 innings are pretty much doomsday for opposing teams which is awesome to have and to think about……. but is it really a necessity? They’re already stellar as is. Seems like a wanted move for the sake of making a move. DEFINITELY not a need. I don’t get why they want to replace Rondon who is quietly one of the best closers in the game. Had Maddon not been so quick to lose faith over that BREIF stretch when he struggled he would’ve had over 40 saves and a sub-2 ERA. That’s elite status. in his 72 appearances last year he had 4 games allowing 2 or more runs….. he only had 8 games when he allowed any runs. So in the month of May in which he “struggled” it was more like just 2 bad games he had in which he allowed 3 and 2 ERs. take those 2 bad games off his 2015 season and he pitched in 70 other games for 68 innings to the tune of a 1.05 ERA…… again, elite. I don’t want to compare him to Mariano Rivera so early in his career, but his 9K/9IP and very low (for a reliever) 2BB/9IP the last 2 years as closer is very Mariano Rivera-like. his 2.03 ERA, 2.48 FIP, and 1.03 WHIP is also very Mariano Rivera-like the last 2 seasons…….. So why do the want to replace that again?
The Papelbon for Hammel deal makes the most sense. But if they were to get Papelbon he’d almost likely demand and whine to be the closer and they’d likely comply despite Rondon being much more deserving of that role. Rondon is as good if not better than all the guys listed as potential targets. I don’t get why you replace him. It sounds like I’m pleading for Rondon out of fairness, which is partially how I feel, but more importantly it just makes no sense.
It would be like if the Cubs signed both Zimmermann and Price this offseason making their rotation Price, Arrieta, Lester, Zimmermann, and Hendricks…… then them saying that they want to target one more top starting pitcher…… why?
2.03 ERA, 59 for 67 in save opps. 2.48 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 2BB/9IP, and 8.9K/9IP
That’s the STELLAR stat line Rondon has produced in the last 2 years as a closer. The save total and opportunities would be about 10 higher a piece had maddon not been so quick in 2015 to pull him out of the full time closer’s gig for like a month last year. Rondon’s ERA+ for the last 2 years is 190….. compare that to Kimbrel’s 175. In fact, other than the number of saves and opportunities differences between Kimbrel and Rondon they have pretty similar stats the last 2 years. While Kimbrel strikes out more guys than Rondon, he also walks way more as well. I don’t get why they have no respect and little faith in Rondon to say they are looking to trade for a top closer…. THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE. Adjusted ERA or ERA+ For Kimbrel, Rondon, and Chapman is as follows: 175, 190, and 214.
Not a fan of this at all. I feel like Rondon is already on the verge of being a top level closer, and none of the rest still on the board (aside from Chapman, who isn’t realistically attainable anyway) strike me as a definitively better 9th inning option. I’d be fine with getting Giles or McGee to be setup men, but no one left (again, besides Chapman, which ain’t happening) has any business automatically bumping Rondon.
Also, the idea of Papelbon to the Cubs (or literally anywhere else with an established closer, for that matter) needs to be killed with fire immediately, if not sooner. We’ve already seen that Hindenburg-esque disaster play out once, and it should’ve put the fear of a vengeful god into every top ranking player personnel decision-maker in the league. I know some men just want to watch the world burn, but those men don’t have any business being GMs.
Please don’t trade Giles. Please don’t trade Giles. Please don’t trade Giles.
Like to see Storen in a cubs uniform. Not sure what it would take but a Almora and CJ Edwards might do it.