Cubs GM Jed Hoyer joined Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquetter of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM today, and among the topics they discussed were a possible extension for Jake Arrieta and the health of Wade Davis following last season’s pair of trips to the disabled list (audio link via Soundcloud). Hoyer kept it general when speaking of Arrieta for the most part. “Obviously when it comes to free agency, there’s a lot of factors involved, a lot of things pulling both sides in different directions,” said Hoyer, after voicing a preference to keep the details of talks close to the vest. “You have to weigh a lot of factors, but at the end, obviously, this guy’s been terrific for us. He was a huge part of us winning the World Series, a huge part of us even getting to the playoffs in 2015, and certainly that’s not something we take for granted.”
Regarding Davis, Hoyer suggested that the heavy workloads Davis racked up when appearing in back-to-back World Series in 2014-15 — Davis threw 25 postseason innings in addition to 139 1/3 regular-season frames across those two years — is something of which the Cubs are cognizant. The Cubs plan to be judicious with the workload of Davis and the relievers who shouldered large workloads for Chicago in last year’s deep World Series run this spring, per Hoyer.
A few more items pertaining to the division…
- It’s already been documented that the Reds aren’t planning on going with a traditional one-inning closer this season, and Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the team is going to lean heavily on right-handers Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen in the late innings. Both pitchers could end up exceeding 100 innings, writes Buchanan, as the plan is to utilize each in a high-leverage, multi-inning role. Both Iglesias and Lorenzen have recent experience as starters and are embracing a role that’s been uncommon in recent years but was far more normal a generation or two ago in Major League Baseball. Other teams around the league will be keeping a watchful eye on how the experiment plays out, as well. Milwaukee GM David Stearns spoke to Buchanan about the blurring line between starter and reliever, while Oakland GM David Forst stated that Cincinnati does indeed have “good candidates” for that type of multi-inning role. “I’m as curious as anyone to see how it plays out,” Forst said to Buchanan.
- David Freese originally came to the Pirates on a mid-March, one-year deal last offseason, but he figured out quickly that he hoped to remain with the Pirates beyond the 2016 campaign, writes Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Freese tells Biertempfel that he told his agent last summer to initiate the extension talks that led to his two-year, $11MM deal with the Buccos. “It all started with talking to me understanding this is the place I want to be,” says Freese. The corner infielder adds that the market has begun to change for players like himself, who are closer to average than to stars: “Older guys are not going to find that kind of deals that were there a few years ago.” Freese’s teammates are thrilled to have him back, as both Gerrit Cole and Josh Harrison laud his quick emergence as a quiet leader in the clubhouse. Cole referred to Freese as “one of the better teammates, if not the best, that I’ve played with.”
Would Iglesias and lorenzen be able to close out playoff series for a contender or were they not dominate enough last year?
I think they can- but would Cincy be ready to depart with them? They don’t want to be the next Pirates where they bring someone up and then immediately move them for prospects.
No I don’t think they should be traded for at least a couple years. I was just throwing shade at another thread
Whew. I thought the “dominate” instead of “dominant” plague was spreading.
To Metseventually, When did the Pirates do that? I don’t know why you say the next Pirates. Have you confused them for another team?
The last guy I can remember them doing that with Moises Alou back in 1990 or ’91.
And even then, they never really even brought Alou up, he was traded for lefty Zane Smith while still a minor leaguer. Plus Zane Smith did a lot of good for those Pirates teams, it wasn’t that bad of trade.
Who knows but they could still be a big weapon for a playoff bullpen if either can pitch a few innings.
Lorenzen was a dominant college closer as well, so nothing would keep him from being prepared mentally for that role in CIN.
I know fans in St. Louis and the Cardinal players think Freese is a good teammate after going deep in game 6 of the 2011 World Series and forcing game 7. But I know on the field and off the field are two different things, and sounds like he is worthy of Cole’s praise
Hes a good teammate because he did well in the playoffs? Hmm
He’s a good teammate because his peers say so!! Everybody has their own faults. Don’t you have faults Baseball10? That wouldn’t make you a bad teammate.
Be careful when throwing relievers over 100.. Even up to 150 innings 9200 for mike marshall once). It’s ruined careers getting greedy like that. Bill Campbell and mike marshall come to mind right away of superb closer careers thrown away by being forced to go over 150IP.
Bill Campbell once gave me a ball when I was a kid at a Minor League game. Good guy.
Those memories of younger days and players we will always treasure huh? Some of my fondest are being with pete ladd and Richie gedman, along with a kid named Danny Wepner who blew his arm out later on the year Winter haven Sox won the division in ’77.. We had a blast that year.. It nearly broke my heart when Boston traded Ladd for Bob Watson the next season…
Hey John, I was at Ole Miss when Pete Ladd was there. Great guy!
Not sure you can say their careers were thrown away by their heavy workloads and their innings not being monitored carefully enough. Innings are being so closely scrutinized these days and pitchers are being babied and they are still blowing out their elbows, perhaps now more than ever.
Yeah, but look at how hard everyone throws now. Now a days, 95 is a low. Kids are being taught power over control, which leads to more injuries.
The pitchers the reds are talking about we’re coming g up threw the system as starters.
Aahhh, the Soupman. When healthy, his fast ball danced like few others. I recall sitting behind the screen at Yankee Stadium and white honestly it takes those behind the plate seats to appreciate how good he was before injuries ruined his career. Too bad MLB ruined the game by pricing the true fan out of those amazing seats. big screen TVs are great but they don’t replace the at the game experience.
Im a big fan of Inglesias. Lorenzen on the other hand i expect to take a least a small step back after a good year last season
That Cinci experiment will be interesting.
So many people seem to know how relief pitcher arms will work above 80 or 90 innings..
Commence the experiments.
“Both pitchers could end up exceeding 100 innings, writes Buchanan…”
Does he mean “both” pitchers, or “each” pitcher? Makes a big difference !
It’s just a writers speculation. Price also said that he planes on using Storen and Cingrani in the same manor. If he used 1 of these 4 pitchers every game for 2 innings per game they would have 40.5 appearances on average with 81 innings pitched. Obviously that’s not going to happen when a starter goes 8 or the Reds are blowing out a team or being blown out. These guys are more than likely not going to see more than 60 innings.
Missed the point.
It was not a direct reply to your point, but to the larger conversation about their use. You point was not that complex! Clearly he was suggesting each could pitch over a 100 innings, not a 100 combined.
If I were the players on the Cubs I would be smart when it comes to getting paid, if I were them I would be willing to take a little less if it meant being able to keep the core of the team together. The nice thing about the Cubs is that I feel like the majority of their players seem like players that would be willing to do something like that. And I think they will. I see a core of Rizzo Bryant Russell Schwarber and Contreres and Almora and Hendricks and Edwards Jr sticking around for a while but players like Beaz and Rondon might go out asking for bigger deals but it is easier to replace a few pieces of the core rather than all of it.
Whereas, Baez and Rondon might be the ones willing to take 65 cents on the dollar to be in a good situation.
The Cubs are about three years away from some ridiculously tough choices.
Can you say “and” a couple more times please?
I wonder if the Cubs will let Jake walk. As a fake GM myself, I would rarely give contracts over 5 years to a pitcher, and would rarely ever give one who is over 30 unless his name was Nolan Ryan.. Jake will be 31 when he’s a free agent and is going to ask for the moon.
They also have a lot of young players to start paying in a couple years and have a pretty hefty payroll already. Too bad they threw $20+ million a year on Heyward.
Well that is the Theo mindset generally, he would name exceptions for a pitcher who doesn’t rely on velocity and had a strong track record, like Lester, I think he may make an exception for arrieta as well because he only just started throwing for high innings pitched recently. There may be a widespread belief that he can pitch deep into his 30’s for that reason. Arrieta also is a health and fitness freak, and there have not been many documented issues with him injury wise. So if there was a guy to invest in it would be him. It all depends on what he is actually asking for, and we do not have that information. But if he was willing to be reasonable I would say he is a cub for the next 5 to six years. What arrieta is doing with Pilates, and the intense flexibility training is groundbreaking, and every team will be doing what he does to keep his body on track in my opinion. Idk but I’m not concerned about other contacts, the front office shouldn’t really be either, that said they shouldn’t go on a massive spending spree either, but a lot can happen between now and when the controlled contracts run out on these younger guys, they should be mainly worried bout the next two years. I know the cubs are going to get massive paydays through upcoming TV deals, and that’s just the beginning for them really. Heyward, despite last season still could potentially opt out, if he even has average seasons with his bat he would essentially out perform the contract, and would stand to make more on a new contract then what’s remaining on his current contract. I sense a lot of what happens with arrieta is going to be answered this season with how he plays, and maybe even more importantly if a free pitchers in the minors make giant steps forward and/or they find a guy through trade he may be gone either way