2015 Winter Meetings (Day Three)

Submitted by CTSteve on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 6:53am

Maddon finally gets his Zobrist, Castro is a Yankee, and Dusty Baker reminds everyone why he should never be allowed near a microphone.

In other news, the Cards traded Jay for the soon-to-be All-star Gyrko, and AZ meets Altanta's asking price for Miller.

Supposedly, the Cubs are not done, so let's get at it!

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Winter Meetings

Comments

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 7:33am  
Like I said in the previous thread. Javy is staying. Maddon loves the guy because he can probably play all nine positions. Yes, he can probably pitch, too. In fact, Javy is a bit like Zobrist with a lower OBP and a lot more power. Now, I hope I'm wrong about Heyward and they go make their big splash on him. I hate modern free agency, but if you're gonna do it, do it on a guy his age who probably hasn't reached his ceiling yet.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 7:46am  
I'm glad they got something for Starlin, especially someone who could actually have some very high upside still. I think the Cubs approach to starters points to a possible multi-pitcher approach to the fourth and fifth starters where you have basically 3 guys pitching in one game and plan it that way. The Cubs are really stocking up on swing man types. I liked Starlin a lot, but I lost trust in him. Even during his great run at the end of the year, I just couldn't get excited to see that he was in the on deck circle. That sinking feeling just never went away. I hope he has 10 great years with the Yankees. It may turn out that we'll look back someday and think, Warren what? Who was that guy? But the trade had to be made I think. And that was a nice reward for that end of season effort on his part. The Yankees. Hate them if you want, but what ballplayer can't love the idea of being in a Yankee uniform? Good luck Starlin, you won me over again with your no whining, balls out play at the end of the year, my trust issues not withstanding!

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 8:24am  
I saw a graphic on my twitter last night regarding Zobrist: "36.7 WAR from 2006-2014, 14th best in MLB" (@MLBStatoftheDay), so that's something. My only problem with all of this is that Castro was traded for a guy I've never heard of. That just seems wrong to me- but then again I haven't stayed up-to-date on the Yankees so I guess I just have to trust that the Cubs know what they are doing.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:13am  
Castro for Zobrist, Warren and a PTNL. Love these moves. While their line up gets older in the short run, they gain defensive and lineup flexibility. Given the depth of young middle infielders in the majors and minors, swapping a [25/26] year old for a 34 year old in return for additional pitching depth seems like an efficient use of resources. As the it is more or less salary neutral, it allows them to acquire a center fielder or additional pitching.

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:07am  
These are good udeas up in here.

Submitted by Tito  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:10am  
I had no real problem with Castro, but it feels like he was about the least-beloved Cubs "star" of recent vintage. I was hoping he'd go instead of Baez. The more I read about Warren, the more I like him. A good friend of mine who's a Yankees fan said he was sorry to see him go.

Submitted by Brick  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:21am  
I understand Zobrist's nickname is "Zorilla." Is that set in stone, or can we give it another round of brainstorming? (I also will exercise a veto on "Benzo.")

Submitted by QuietMan  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:30am  
Zoby? Or is that too Quade-esque?

Submitted by Tito  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:33am  
It's funny, I remember when Quade would say those and the Cubs media would roast him, on Twitter especially. And then I'd read/listen to other managers and a lot of them do the same thing.

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:09am  
Zobroastrianism The Mark of Zobro The Big Zobrowsky

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 1:49pm  
Zobroastrianism +1 Although not a nickname I don't think, it would be what happens when someone achieves something. "Alcantara has stayed in the minors because he was unable to live up to the Zobroastrianism philosophy that Maddon expected." "Castro wouldn't subscribe to the Zobroastrianism faith, so he was traded." "Baez may be a Zobroastrianism convert, but probably more in the field than at the plate."

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:23am  
The Zolocaust?

Submitted by QuietMan  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 3:21pm  
Maddon calling him Zo at the presser...

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 5:06pm  
So late in the afternoon, or early in the evening, he'll be The Twilight Zo?

Submitted by John Beasley  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:23am  
I love that we could lose Jake, Jon, John, Jason, and Kyle for the season and still have a legit chance to not be a bottom-5 rotation. That's pretty amazing. Go TheoCorp.

Submitted by Newport  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 9:42am  
Pretty sure they would be a bottom 1 rotation if they lose their entire rotation.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:00am  
Warren, Wood, Richard, Cahill, Edwards is probably not the worst rotation in baseball and has a realistic chance to be average.

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:10am  
Both halves of this hypothetical are silly. I approve.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:08am  
"Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 #Cubs finished 2d for Shelby Miller. Were willing to include Soler. But Atl liked #Diamondbacks deal too much to pass up"

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:25am  
That deal was absurd. No way the Cubs should try to compete with that.

Submitted by jacos  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:44am  
"But Atl liked #Diamondbacks deal too much to pass up" No shit!??! HHAHAHA! Dave Stewart and LaRussa are idiots.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:49am  
As CRUNCH always says, "The Diamondbacks are only an arm injury away from..."

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:57am  
it's leg injury, not arm injury...and it's about guys who's game depends on their legs to get hits, stretching doubles, or getting stats-inflating triples that highly relies on leg health. there's more than a few guys out there who are a leg injury away from having their doubles/triples turn into singles/doubles and becoming outs they didn't beat to the bag attempting singles. that said, i think greenkey/miller/corbin/hellickson/anderson/ray can hold the fort down until a.bradley shows up mlb-ready.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 1:52pm  
I thought they brought LaRussa in to fix Stewart's idiocy.

Submitted by twcoffee  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 4:48pm  
Actually, Towers was GM when LaRussa was brought in. He is the one who hired Stewart.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:16am  
“We can continue to listen to anything that comes our way,” Epstein said. “We still have a little bit of a potential surplus with our position-player group and we haven’t moved any of our emerging players yet in any deals. But we don’t have to act out of need or desperation. We can be pretty selective.” http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/what%E2%80%99s...

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:27am  
pretty much...and they have 3+ months before they have to seriously think about what they're doing with their on-hand talent going into spring training. they only "need" a CF'r and it seems baez might be an option there rather than tossing prospects wildly to fill the need. aside from having youth, baez is an extremely hard worker who would most likely give it his best trying to adapt to CF. they can wait for their deal, if one's available.

Submitted by jacos  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 12:16pm  
I think it's going to be Span on a 1 year flier.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 12:33pm  
Jaco - your movie is out; SEE IT! http://jacopastorius.com/film/

Submitted by jacos  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 12:58pm  
haha, thanks!

Submitted by billybucks  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 6:04pm  
Now that they have their OBP guy, Baez in CF might be more feasible, assuming he can handle the position.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 5:58pm  
"Pirates acquired LHP Jon Niese from the Mets for 2B Neil Walker." mets land on a n.walker trade after losing out on zobrist

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 12/09/2015 - 7:19pm  
"Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat Hoyer also doesn't anticipate #Cubs doing anything more in Nashville. Still do need CF. Still exploring free agents/trades"

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The first 600 characters of the last 16 comments, click "View" to see rest of comment.
  • jdrnym 4 hours 32 min ago (view)

    Brad Brach signs with the Mets for $850K but the Cubs are paying $500K, per Ken Rosenthal. Wasn't his 2020 club only supposed to be on the hook for league minimum?

     
  • crunch 5 hours 8 min ago (view)

    when he got to the mets he suddenly learned how to throw with control (small sample size etc).  last year was not a fun bullpen year...

     
  • crunch 7 hours 25 min ago (view)

    Yeah, I've made myself familiar with a lot of the changes, but AZP's posts have both added more information and cleared up stuff I didn't fully grasp.  I appreciate the hell out of it.  Thanks Phil, thanks TCR.

     
  • bradsbeard 9 hours 7 min ago (view)

    Looks like Savant has his breaking pitch classified as a curve while Fangraphs calls it a slider. Suppose by ST he could have made everything over in the pitching lab, so who knows!

     
  • Arizona Phil 9 hours 24 min ago (view)

    Again, none of these rules (including the one that requires a pitcher to face a minimum of three batters or else record the final out of the inning) have been officially approved.  

    I think one possible caveat that might be added to the three-batter minimum rule would be that the pitcher can be replaced prior to facing three batters or recording the final out of the inning if the other team puts up a pinch-hitter. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 9 hours 28 min ago (view)

    Ptchers would also be treated differently under the new rules as far as the Injured list and Optional Assignment to the minors is concerned, with pitchers having to spend at least 15 days (up from 10 days) on the Injured List before being eligible to be reinstated and at least 15 days (up from 10 days) on Optional Assignment before being eligible to be recalled (inless the pitcher is being recalled to replace a pitcher on the 26-man roster who has been placed on an MLB inactive list).  

     
  • Arizona Phil 9 hours 28 min ago (view)

    SONICWIND: As the rule is proposed, prior to the start of each MLB regular season a club must designate all players on its Opening Day 26-man roster as either a "pitcher" or a "position player." A maximum of 13 can be designated as pitchers (14 pitchers max when rosters expand from 26 to 28 beginning on 9/1). 

    For players who come up during the season, the club must designate the player as either a pitcher or a position player when the player is placed on the MLB active list roster. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 9 hours 41 min ago (view)

    BRADSBEARD: Fangraphs shows the CT as his primary pitch in 2018 with the SL & FB (and an occasional CH) as his secondary pitches, with no CV at all. I guess I'll find out for sure in Spring Training. 

     
  • Sonicwind75 10 hours 57 min ago (view)

    AZ Phil, thank you as always for the detailed information.  How is the "cannot be a pitcher" part of the rule to be enforced?  With a few two way players and the increasing amount of mop up innings being handled by position players it seems like there could be a gray area there.  What is preventing a team from stashing an athletic relief pitcher as a "5th outfielder" that could be a pinch runner and play a passable OF when needed but could also provide them with extra relief pitcher.  Anytime I hear of a new rule I always think of how Bill Billichek would circumvent it t

     
  • bradsbeard 10 hours 58 min ago (view)

    AZ Phil, looking around Baseball Savant, it looks like Winkler now primarily throws a low 90s cutter, a 4-seamer that he throws a little harder (but is less effective), a curve and a sinker. The slider and change haven't been a major part of his repertoir the last two years. The cutter has been really effective the last two years but it looks like he lost command/effectiveness of his 4-seemer and curve last year For whatever reason  

     
  • bradsbeard 14 hours 17 min ago (view)

    They just signed this guy:

    https://twitter.com/mlbastian/status/1202973097223237632

     
  • Hagsag 15 hours 34 min ago (view)

    There seems to be a lot of player movement so far. Too bad the Cubs aren't involved.

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 7 hours ago (view)

    Beginning in 2019, a club must wait a minimum of seven days before it can place a player who was claimed off Outtright Assignment Waivers during the off-season back onto waivers, so because he was claimed off waivers on Wednesday 11/27, yesterday (Wednesday 12/4) was the first day the Cubs could place LHRP C. D. Pelham back onto Outright Assignment Waivers, and so tomorrow (Friday 12/6) is the first day the Cubs can send Pelham outright to the minors (if he was placed back onto waivers yesterday).

     
  • Arizona Phil 2 days 4 hours ago (view)

    A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), so don't be surpised if these draft picks are traded during the off-season.

    Keep in mind that the slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade.

     
  • Arizona Phil 2 days 4 hours ago (view)

    The active list roster limit changes scheduled to go in effect in 2020 have not yet been officially approved. Same goes for the three-batter minimum (or else record the third out in the inning) for relief pitchers. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 2 days 4 hours ago (view)

    And then the active list roster limit will expand from 26 to 28 on September 1st (max 14 pitchers in September). 

     
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