Third baseman Anthony Rendon came off the open market Wednesday when he accepted the Angels’ seven-year, $245MM guarantee. They were among a few clubs that were willing to commit that long to Rendon, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who tweets that four teams made seven-year offers to the former National. The Rangers didn’t quite go that far, however, with TR Sullivan of MLB.com reporting that they offered Rendon six years plus a club option. Josh Donaldson’s now by far the top third baseman left in free agency, but it doesn’t appear the 3B-needy Rangers are going all-out for him, either.
Now the latest on a couple outfielders…
- Add Corey Dickerson to the list of free-agent corner outfielders on the Marlins’ radar, per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Dickerson plus the previously reported Yasiel Puig and Kole Calhoun are “very much in play” for the offensively challenged Marlins, and they could sign someone by Christmas, Frisaro adds. No one from that trio had a better 2019 at the plate than the 30-year-old Dickerson, who slashed .304/.341/.565 (127 wRC+) with 12 home runs during a 78-game, 279-plate appearance campaign divided between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Thanks to Dickerson’s fairly long track record of above-average offense, MLBTR predicts he’ll earn a two-year, $15MM contract on the market.
- The Cardinals could emerge as legitimate suitors for free-agent center fielder Shogo Akiyama, as Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports that they’ve “scouted him extensively.” The 31-year-old Akiyama, who is coming off a successful run in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, would give the Cardinals a lefty-hitting option in the outfield. That’s the type of player president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has said he’d like to add.
- The Cubs, St. Louis’ archrival, have also shown interest in Akiyama. They met with him this week at the Winter Meetings, though he “hasn’t emerged as the team’s top target for that leadoff/center-field position,” Patrick Mooney of The Athletic writes (subscription link). Chicago’s in the market for CF help after a horrid year from Albert Almora, but it’s unclear where they’ll turn for that.
Not sure what’s going on in Chicago, but between Tom Ricketts, Theo Epstein, and Jed Hoyer….it appears they’re about to really screw those thing up. Waste all that talent and and turn what should’ve been a good, healthy “window” into a 3 year window. Although I do not want to admit it….it probably started a long time ago.
When they wasted all of the following prospects value:
Eloy Jimenez
Jorge Soler
Dylan Cease
Kyle Schwarber
Addison Russell
Mike Montgomery
LaMaheiu
Etc…
As much as I want to say Gleyber Torres for not keeping him, and trading away Russell it Almora or both. That move won us a championship. So he’s not on there.
They won a World Series and have been decent since . So stop
Fans always get spoiled after a World Series win…..
What a dumb comment.
I agree with ChiSoxCity (for the first time ever)…. it is a dumb comment because after all – the Chi Sox fans didn’t – they knew it was a one time thing.
Even dumber comment.
Just like the Red Sox, the Cubs should still be happy to win something.
Imagine how pissed off Cubs fans will be for the next 90 years until they win another one – hahaha (insert kissing emoji)
They traded Jeff Samardzija for Russell… 4 years ago They cut ties with Russell because of his baggage.
Except, the prospects Theo traded away (Soler, Jimenez, Torres, Cease, La Maheiu) are Allstars, or soon will be. The guys he kept (Almora, Russell, Happ, Schwarber) are not.
Baez Rizzo Bryant aren’t all-stars?
Read my comment again.
Russell was an all star
Why? You’re point makes no sense.
Russell was/is never going to be a star player. He had a decent season the year he made the A/S team. He’s been a replacement level player since then.
The Cubs.kept the guys who were major league ready that were helping them get in the postseason. And before you say “big help that was”, teams that have won multiple World Series in the Wild Card era have had losing seasons in between. The only exception was the Yankees in the late 90s.
How soon fans forget that when the Russel trade happen all cubs fans were praising him for making a trade for a top prospect. Now that Russel failed to live up to his billing its his fault. All the players that the cubs kept the same fans said they shouldn’t be traded because they are future stars. So instead of second guessing every GM move just understand the fan makes big mistakes too.
Read his reply to you again. Baez Rizzzo and Bryant … those do not count? What about Contreras? He does not count either ChiSoxCity? Why do they not count?
ChiSox: Do.you ever get tired of looking like an igniramus?
Russell WAR and SS UZR:
15: 3.5, 4.7
16: 4.1, 10.3
17: 2.4, 4.8
18: 2.0, 2.0
19: 0.1, -1.3
He was about a replacement level layer last year, no doubt, but not “ever since 2016.”
That said, he is as much of a scumbag for his behavior as you are consistently silly in your Cubs posts.
Maybe you should trying thinking before you hit Submit, “Will this comment reinforce the universally held opinion that I am a troll who has failed so badly in real life that this comment t looks.like just another desperate nd pathetic cry for any kind of attention?” It could.be a game changer for you.
ChiSox: Do.you ever get tired of looking like an ignoramus?
Russell WAR and SS UZR:
15: 3.5, 4.7
16: 4.1, 10.3
17: 2.4, 4.8
18: 2.0, 2.0
19: 0.1, -1.3
He was about a replacement level layer last year, no doubt, but not “ever since 2016.”
That said, he is as much of a scumbag for his behavior as you are consistently silly in your Cubs posts.
Maybe you should trying thinking before you hit Submit, “Will this comment reinforce the universally held opinion that I am a troll who has failed so badly in real life that this comment t looks.like just another desperate nd pathetic cry for any kind of attention?” It could.be a game changer for you.
So Russell had a “decent season” in 2016 … only decent huh?
He was the starting shortstop in the All Star game too. He had what around 25 homers and almost 100 ribbies and was terrific in the post season that cultivated in the world championship that you as a White Sox fan could not accept and still cannot get over? You are a joke and a troll.
Russell was never a top prospect.
I mentioned specific names of players that should have been ditched when they had relative value. I don’t know anybody who’d take Heyward and Schwarber over Jimenez and Soler, or Russell over Torres… except a cubs fan.
Maybe YOU should try to be more objective, and less of a dotting fanboy over everyone in a cubbie uniform. You can suck it for the personal chit, too.
Yeah, one good season. I acknowledged that. He was never considered a star/high ceiling prospect with Oakland. He’s a great defensive replacement off the bench, but his lack of discipline at the plate makes Russell a liability. Only a cubs fan would argue otherwise. You guys are still living in 2016.
He absolutely was a top prospect with Oakland.
In 2015, Baseball Prospectus had Russell as the #2 prospect in the sport. Fangraphs had him #4.
He was absolutely considered a top prospect.
Yes he was a top prospect for Oakland.and I am pretty sure he was a top 10 prospect in all of baseball back in 2014. You say some of the dumbest things.
Nope.
“Russell was never a top prospect.”
mlbtopprospects.com/2014/12/addison-russell-bio/
ChiSox, you are reliable. Reliably and hilariously wrong.
Haha. I love how cease is going to be an all star after his stellar -.2 war season. Soler put up as many homeruns last as he did in his entire tenure as a cub. Kyle schwarber was better than Eloy las year and might be for the foreseeable future. Please get off your white Sox soap box
I love how fans think they can judge a rookie by his war stat. Some us actually watch baseball, and see the electric stuff he has. He’s throwing pitches he just learned the year prior to getting hurt—give it time. Giolito went from worst ERA in the sport in ‘18 to a Cy Young candidate.
Haha. So Sox young players are superstars that need to develop but the cubs should give up on Happ, schwarber etc after 15 minutes. All your comments are absurd and contradictory. I hate to break it to you but Madrigal, kopech, roberts, cease, Eloy, and whoever else aren’t all going to be super stars. Some will flop, some will be major league contributors and some might become elite. The fact the white Sox can’t sign a free against probably means they will all be wasted.
He’s MlBTR’s village idiot.
Ah, my fans love me.
Theo was not with the Cubs when DJ was with the Cubs
It’s more indicative of the historically bad trades the cubs have made. They tend to make really poor personnel decisions going back at least 50 years.
Yes he was, he traded him to the Rockies for Ian Stewart.
Jake Arrieta says Hi, as does Hendricks…… Quintana has been servicable, as Cease and Jiminez are basically above average with potential at this point. Pretty much what Q was at the time of the trade. And he keep the Cubs contending for 2 out of 3 years.
I’m the cubs expected a 4.68 ERA when they traded their best prospects for him. cubs fans are terrible.
*I’m sure
Way to cherry pick one stat from one year. The simple fact of the matter is he’s contributed 429 innings of solid pitching for the cubs and counting
And at the time of the trade cease wasnt some can’t miss prospect either. He was an upside flyer pick with Eloy the prize. He flew up the boards in 2018. Sometimes that happens
Cubs fan are great at least they sellout at home the only time the white Sox sellout is when they play the cubs and its still 80/20 cubs fans
OK. But to climb the damn mountain he also traded for: Arrieta, Hendricks, Rizzo, Strop, Grimm, Russell, Edwards, Fowler, Montero, etc. And, to be clear, without any one of those trades you can’t say they win the Series for certain. Every single one of those players played a significant role in the 2016 season.
Cease is an all star?
If you want a team to be competitive you lose prospects, it’s a fact. The Cubs losing Torres is a small price for a WS win.
So why not offer Aroldis Chapman $100MM to keep him longterm?
The cubs not only lost Torres in that deal. They lost Chapman as well. Their window closed when he went back to NY.
They didn’t lose anything. They paid for the partial season of chapman with Torres. That’s it.
One World Series win is all it took for rubes to lose their minds hating every move the Cubs make. Pre-2016 it was so easy for them to use the 100 year joke but after that their material vanished and they’ve been desperate to feel better about themselves since then. In other words…just what every a Cubs fan wished for for decades. Keep it coming rubes.
Oh my god ChiSoxCity you are so pathetic. Keep crying.
Cubs traded for Chapman does not mean they have to pay him $100 million and keep him.
Keeping him has nothing to do with the trade you troll. Torres was traded to get a championship in 2016. They got it. They never intended in keeping Chapman and they did not.
They did not lose him. He was a FA they bid on. Only small minded trolls like you do not understand the concept.
It was a fantastic gutsy trade by Theo. The kind that gets people into the hall of fame.
If not now … when … Theo said and bam he pulled off the championship!
Oh how painful that was for you to watch ChiSoxCity .., oh you hated that trade .., you hated every Chapman save on the way … you jumped for joy when Chapman blew the save in game 7 only to have your heart broken .. crushed … when the Cubs came back and won it.
You sat in stoned silence while the Cubs celebrated .. the tears streaming from your face. You balled like a baby and you still have not gotten over the Cubs winning it all despite your pathetic hate for Theo for bringing the Cubs the one thing you as a Sox fan could not accept. The world series championship.
The cubs traded Torres because they needed a dominant closer. I’m merely suggesting that he should have retained to extend their WS run. Theo obviously underestimated his Chapman’s value to the club, considering the mess the cubs’ bullpen has been.
25 million a year for him has not won the Yankees anything has it?
The Yankees have the best bullpen in baseball. Starting pitching has been subpar for various reasons (stadium, health, no Ace(s)). Cole should help them on the road.
Yeah, bc they only made it to the NLCS the very next season. Do you actually try to write dumb things?
Maddon overused the crap out of him. If he doesnt pitch game 6 in a 1 sided basically a blow out. He doesnt blow the same in game 7. He blew the save but got the greatest win Cubs history
Even thought it’s hard to complain after winning the WS do you ever think Theo has sleepless nights wondering if he would of traded Schwarber for Andrew Miller rather than Glyber for Chapman. Unfortunately Theo overvalued his prospects and missed on 70% of free agents.
Schwarber was injured at the time. I’m sure that trade wouldn’t have worked
IIRC, that rumor was 1 on 1 in 2015, the year Schwarber was a minor league player who showed potential by hitting well against Cleveland as a DH
Thought Theo had learned from his mistakes in Boston and was primed to develop the Cubs into a self sustaining permanent powerhouse.
*signs Heyward, Darvish, Chatwood, Kimbrel, etc. to ridiculous contracts*
Guess not.
Please explain how Darvish, Chatwood and Kimbrel are ridiculous contracts. I will agree on Heyward, but he took a discount to be a Cub as St. Louis offered more $$…..
Darvish looks like a bargain right now with how this offseason has gone for top tier pitchers. Kimbrel did not do well last year, but Kenley Jansen did not either. Which one of them has the worse contract? Chatwood is a swing starter taht did well last year and bad the year before. We have him for 1 more year. Stop acting like the Cubs are in dept forever with their players. That is hardly the problem.
You can’t bash on kimbrel. He had 10 and 4 appearances in the minors and he has a bad contract. Darish isnt that bad. Chatwood had a great year in relief and mot too bad in spot starts
@Bryzzo
I think Theo sleeps like a baby knowing that trade won the world series for the first time in 108 years AND knowing that if he traded Schwarber instead the Cubs would most likely not have won.
Schwarber was the Cubs best hitter in the World Series. He also ignited the world series winning tenth inning rally with his leadoff base hit right through the shift.
Torres was a steep price to pay, no doubt about that, but Torres would not have been on the 2016 playoff or world series roster so he would not have been able to contribute to the championship. Torres contributed by bringing back Chapman and allowing the Cubs to keep Schwarber and have Schwarber help the Cubs win it all which they did!
Sooo, why not keep Chapman longer than two months? You went thru all that trouble to get him, and he’s 30% of the reason you got to the WS and won it…
Has he won anything with that contract with NY?
He was never in the budget for future years. The Cubs actually incurred the luxury tax in 2016. They reset their situation when they dipped below the threshold for 2017.
The Yankees offered more money and years. It’s pretty easy to understand. The same reason machado, wheeler and whoever else aren’t on the white Sox right now
Oh come on…
The cubs could gave easily made trades to stay under the cap and keep Chapman if that was their concern. Just admit it… Theo overestimated his club. His dollar store mentality towards the bullpen cost the cubs at least one more World Series appearance. It’s been their biggest weakness aside from Chapman. Every contending team needs a dominant closer, and the cubs don’t have anything resembling that since Chapman went back to NY. Just concede that Theo made a mistake and move on.
Washington had no dominant closer this past season and Houston had no.dominant closer in 2017 and Red Sox fans would argue Kimbrel was not a dominant closer in 2018. There’s more than one way to win the World Series.
Wade Davis was excellent in 2017 and Morrow and Strop were excellent in 2018. Strop and Kimbrel did not work out well in 2019 but it was their feast or famine offense that cost them more. The Cubs bullpen will be much improved with a lot of no names and a Kimbrel bounceback in 2020
They offered him contract he chose a different team it happens. The cubs pivoted to Wade Davis and then morrow and now kimbrel. Quit acting like Theo hasn’t tried to fill the closer role with a dominant pitcher. None of the guys were dollar store relievers. Hindsight is 20/20
Washington and Houston had a dominant pitching staff. The cubs don’t have that luxury. Even average relievers flourish when they’re not getting burned out after a two or three inning appearance from the starter all the time.
The greatest and smartest tag up ever. Buck hated on him but Smoltz acknowledged that at most 30% of Runners dont tag up
I can’t imagine he does given the role Schwarber ultimately played in that World Series. I mean think about it. It may have been a bizarre confluence, but Schwarber was enormous in that World Series, including getting the lead off hit in the inning that ultimately won them the title.
DJ was almost a decade ago, Russell’s legal problems were out of their control, and Soler wasnt getting anything done in CHC. not sure what your point is either, but the only objectionable thing i see refrenced here is the Quintana trade, which we all already know was bad.
Agree with Darkside
Adding Cease to the Q acquisition is the only piece of a trade I have a problem with that Theo and Jed have made in their tenure. Especially since they have had trouble developing young arms.
Soler and Jimenez were redundant and would have been no help in 2017 and 2018. At least Q was respectable. They probably would not have helped in 2019, too. Soler is a DH.and Jimenez just started figuring it out in August.
Perhaps, but without Cease they don’t get Q. Without Q 2017 Cubs likely don’t make the NLCS. The Dodgers were just better. It is what it is. Oriole fans must have been like WTF in 2015 watch Arietta throw as he did, but again hindsight. Cease hasn’t done much yet to be overly distraught about losing him. Let’s not pretend like the Cubs had a second coming of Kershaw, Scherzer, Verlander, etc in Cease. I would like him to do well fro the chisox, but as of now he hasn’t shown much at all for theo to crawl into a hole over.
Jury is out in the Q deal.
lol
I do think the jury is still out on that deal. I don’t expect them to deliberate much longer. But it is.
Forget the Q trade. The biggest issue of Theo’s tenure has been the failure to produce literally any pitching help from within the system. I’m not talking about a TOR guy. I’m talking about any reasonable amount of innings at all. No middle relief, very little short relief and almost zero starts. That has had a meaningful impact on their need to both trade and spend. In the beginning that was very much by design. But no longer. It finally seems to be turning a corner, but it is still not going to be meaningful next season.
Mike Montgomery was originally from the Royals system.
The Quintana deal is the only one the Cub fans should question. Hindsight is 20/20, but adding Eloy into the lineup and the logical progression of Cease would have had a long term impact on 2020.
I’m sure Dodgers fans would agree, trade those prospects for a title now.
Nobody saw the slug soler being what he is or they would have got a haul and Yankees and Dodgers would have fought for him . Lehmeui only got a 2 year contract from Yankees so if he was so prized he would have got 4-5 years . Only one team wins World Series. Astros couldn’t win it with Cole added 2018 and Grienke 2019. Dodgers couldn’t with darvish then machado . Best record and didn’t even make nlcs this year . You think Nats will cake walk and win it again this year ? Where are Red Sox after winning 2018? Baseball is so unpredictable and baseball GODs give and take . Theo always said he would build a team that would make multiple playoffs and what happens in playoffs happens . With that said they didn’t make last year and on paper this year it doesn’t look good but free agency isn’t over yet.
Clearly the cubs did see Soler’s potential, given his swift rise thru their farm system. They gave up on him due to the injuries and perceived lack of instinct in the OF. When he was healthy, Soler crushed opposing pitching. They passed on him in favor of Schwarber. Well, Soler proceeded to lead the league in HRs last year. 48 HRs don’t lie.
*Lead the AL
Actually they are about the same in career WAR with Schwarber being better than Soler.
Last year Soler was the better player, but it was not by much. Last year was the only year Soler has done anything from the DH spot. Kyle plays the field.
No one could have foreseen Yelich going from 18HR and 4.2 WAR to an MVP season. No one. Likewise, I don’t think anyone could have foreseen Soler’s performance last season. Also, please remember the ball was juiced. He may not have reached 40 without it. Also keep in mind that hindsight is 20/20, yours included. I guarantee you did not foresee Soler’s 2019. Please maintain some intellectual honesty and watch yourself, babybears.
Get out of here with that career war crap. Soler hasn’t played in LF everyday the past three years like Schwarber. Soler is a better hitter than Schwarber, and it’s not even close. Compare their stats.
Kyle has clearly been better than Jorge over the last three years. It will be interesting to see how 2020 goes down.
Solers stat line
Injured
Injured
Injured
Injured
Injured
162 game .250 48 bombs
What’s your point. He’s a dh and has zero chance of playing in the nl.
The Astros used the same blueprint as the Cubs. It paid off a year later. They’ve benefitted from playing in a crap division a bit, but they followed a similar plan. Half their farm system now resides in Detroit and Arizona.
When they signed him it was a 9 year deal for 30mil something like that.
What about Bryant? He’s still with us.
Cheap move the Cardinals would make but you’d assume he’d want a multi year deal. If he does then why not sign Dickerson. He’s proven at this level.
I’d prefer dickerson as well if cards aren’t looking at internal options. Plus fowler gone after ’21 so hope couple of their OFs can step up.
Mozeliak likes him for his salary and being a LH is a bonus.
I still don’t understand the logic behind getting a LH batter just to have a LH batter. If a righty can hit both, then why not go with a righty? Especially if he’s better than the lefty!
I like C Dickerson – I would strive for more out of a trade but I would be happy with him.
They really need to find a suitor for Fowler – send A good prospect with Fowler and get him out of here for the younger guys
Really curious who the other teams that made 7 year offers to Rendon if it wasn’t the Rangers or Dodgers.
I’ll guess Nationals and White Sox
Watch the Rangers end up with Todd Frazier at third base.
Frazier is not awful. Streaky, low avg, defense ok. Good attitude. Would be great at $3m/year.
Frazier is awful.
Disagree. Great clubhouse guy. Streaky hitter and decent defender. You could do a lot worse.
Texas 3rd basemen of the future is in high A right now. He is still 1 and a half to 2 years away. Sign a decent 3rd basemen to a 3 year deal and move on to upgrading 1st base and second base.
I don’t know much about the Rangers farm system or their major league pieces outside of Minor. Wonder how well they’d match up for an Andujar trade?
In theory, the Rangers and Yankees could trade relievers—the Yankees getting LeClerc and exchange another piece or two for Andujar.
Andujar isn’t an answer at 3rd base for the Rangers. His defense is terrible. More of a DH type
He’s been working hard on it with a coach and word is encouraging. We’ll see. No big rush.
Who might their top Leadoff/Center Field target be?
Rayland Oh?
What baffles me about these teams that are trying to replenish their farm systems that they’ve self sabotaged (Pirates), is that they won’t spend a dime on even mid-priced, potential mid year trade chips. I.E., Dickerson, Puig, Calhoun. Those guys are all starters and all have potential to have big years. A guy like Dickerson, barring injury, will get you something at the trade deadline from a contender who’s dealing with injuries, looking for depth, or an upgrade.
It shouldn’t be hard to trade Marte NOW. He’s a starter on every team, a five tool player that has an excellent arm, excellent speed, hits above average and has power.
I just genuinely think no one wants to do business with Pittsburgh give them anything. People would rather go to or trade with Miami or Detroit. At least they’ve shown they’re willing to take some chances, spend some money if they believe in someone, and not completely destroy their franchises.
Trade Frazier, Bell, Marte, Kela.
Get prospects.
Sign Dickerson, Matt Adams, and other proven players on short term deals that have upside rental potential at the break while Craig develops another year at AAA and let Tucker, Kramer, Newman handle the MLB MI.
White Sox trade for Mazara. Padres for Pham.
Both could’ve been in on Marte and had what the Bucs needed. Instead he’ll go to the Mets if their lucky, who don’t have what the Bucs need.
Cycle continues.
Horrible organization.
Too much crap to read.
Skipped and downvoted.
Next!
Get a life, troll.
Bet you read comic books and not war and peace . But yet you take time to down vote ? It was a good post .
Or maybe Pittsburgh knows they screwed up the last big trade and are now asking way too much in return?
Pirates have no need to trade Marte right now. They don’t figure to compete in 2020 no matter what return they could get for Marte this off-season. The new GM is going to be busy enough figuring out the very-much-injured-but-recovering-thank-you-very-much pitching staff
I feel that’s exactly why now is the time to trade Marte. Because they don’t expect to compete. And not trading him risks injury and his value goes down the less he is controlled.
I just want to say these photoshop pictures of the players in their new uniforms are pretty amazing. Great work fellas!
I was thinking the same thing! Blows my mind!
I agree, thank you MLBTR! I send these pics of Yasmani and Mazara out to my friends and family members.
Kinda like Topps airbrushing baseball cards back in the day.
Corey Dickerson is really good. I am shocked Contenders aren’t looking at him. The Phillies should bring him back, but it’s already pretty crowded in that outfield. It’s a shame because he was the best hitter on the team when healthy.
I’d love to have him in Atlanta. Move Acuna to CF, platoon Markakis and Duvall in RF, Dickerson in LF, and Inciarte can be their 26th man.
Great fit. He’d rake in that lineup.
I too was a big fan. He would be a he11 of an insurance policy.
Jon Daniels is pathetic. Say you are seriously eyeing the top free agents and making it well known that Rendon was by far and away your number 1 target just to back out on the years? Four teams, FOUR, were willing to go 7, to me that means you came in 5th to the free agent you were “most aggressively” pursuing. Then you back out on Donaldson on, you guessed it, the years. It’s fine if you don’t get these guys but if you are saying you are going after the best dudes, then go after the best dudes. Otherwise just say Todd Frazier or Jed Lowrie are your guys instead of misleading your entire fan base
If we were closer to contention then yes but we are still 3 years from being a contender. This next crop of minor leaguers coming to Arlington and starting to establish themselves is a couple of years out and one player isn’t gonna make the difference yet. The batch of Odor, Mazara, Gallo, and Guzman hasn’t turned into the core that would be needed to make the run in the next couple of years feasible. The next wave should start trickling in this year and maybe 2021 becoming competitive with the next several years having a shot again.
Has Soler won a World Series with the Royals ?
Has JIminez won a W.S. for the Sox ?
Has Torres won a WS for the Yankees ?
I told a Cubs beat reporter years ago that Almora was not good……and she went berserk…..she thought he was the next Willie Mays.
Cubs Happ needs a shot to pay. CF……..not some Japanese import with ankle issues !
Pretty much no one player delivers a WS all by themselves. It’s a silly thought process you got there. The Chapman trade with the Yanks was a great deal, for both teams.
John Mozeliak is just doing his normal Mozeliak thing before Spring Training and prior to the July Trading deadline!!!! Blowing smoke!! He is going to do exactly as he’s done in the past. Either dumpster dive or sign an Aging former All-Star past there prime and tell season ticket holders——we think The Who team is going to have a bounce back season!!! Especially Matt Carpenter!!! Hit the Nail on the Head—-Didn’t I.
Cubs need to clear some payroll space so they can actually invest in some high upside contracts. Akiyama could be a steal if he can put up a decent OBP in the MLB and a part of the lineup they have been missing for years.
Other teams are being creative. Find a way to dump some of Heywards contract, trade Bryant for the highest bidder and sign some players who can out perform their contracts like Akiyama might be able to. Cubs need to start taking some risks if they want to actually benefit from the prime years Baez and co. have left.
Cubs have a better chance than the Cardinals of landing Akiyama. (Cards already have a good (?) CF in Bader.). Given that, where will Akiyama land?
Cardinals have more payroll space, so as it stands now, they have a better chance than the Cubs of landing him.
How is the outfield even a need for the cardinals. Fowler, Bader, O’Neil, Martinez, Thomas, arozerena. They probably need a big bat but can’t imagine shogo is the answer
They need left handed batters. He would be a good option to platoon with Bader in center if Joc Pederson is too expensive. This wouldn’t preclude them for going after a big bat, it would free up even more trade pieces to go get someone.
They already have outfield talent as is. There is no way the Cardinals have a better chance.