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!

Tags: 
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"

Recent comments

Subscribe to Recent comments
The first 600 characters of the last 16 comments, click "View" to see rest of comment.
  • jdrnym 5 hours 25 min ago (view)

    AZPHIL, has there been official word as to whether the 26-man roster has been extended down to the minor league levels that previously had 25-man rosters? Can't really think of a reason why that shouldn't be the case...

     
  • Arizona Phil 10 hours 20 min ago (view)

    Another possibility for a "26th man" in 2020 would be a young pitcher selected in the Rule 5 Draft who has big league upside but who is clearly not yet "big league ready," or a pitcher who is out of minor league options who might not be quite MLB ready.

     
  • Cubster 12 hours 26 min ago (view)

    Just sign Rick Reuschel and lets move on

     
  • crunch 13 hours 8 min ago (view)

    "Buster Olney of ESPN reports that Scott Kazmir will throw for MLB teams this week.

    The 36-year-old Kazmir hasn't thrown in the majors since the 2016 season, but he recently told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he that he hit 90.9 mph with his fastball during a bullpen session."

    someone put another bottle of left-in-the-car warm water under the cubs hot stove and let's get this one done!  woo!

    sigh.

     
  • crunch 1 day 4 hours ago (view)

    bryce harper ruined that bat dragging thing for everyone after his ejection years ago at the junior college world series.

    also, hurrah for baseball making it's return.

     
  • JustSayin' 1 day 4 hours ago (view)

    College ball started Saturday.  Umpire egos in D1 baseball are not that much smaller than in the pros, so of course there was a controversy.  In the late innings of a game in the weekend's biggest series (Michigan vs.

     
  • crunch 3 days 2 hours ago (view)

    the news is mostly based on a Baseball America article from the 11th (behind a paywall)...so the gist of it is rather legit rumor-wise, though it's still too far in the future to call it a 100% done deal.

    btw, the cubs have been strongly linked to pursuing christian hernandez for quite a while.  the BA writer that wrote the article about the cubs links has been following c.hernandez since he was a 14yo talent and is quite familiar with him.  that signing probably is in the bag.

     
  • Wrigley Rat 3 days 4 hours ago (view)

    I don't know much about this website, but they are speculating that the Cubs may sign two of the top International Free Agents available during this signing period: https://www.cubshq.com/print/news.do?id=16441&isNe... Does anyone know if this sounds legit?

     
  • Arizona Phil 4 days 8 hours ago (view)

    Minnie Minoso was playing in the Mexican League (as a DH) at age 47 and Julio Franco was playing in the Mexican League (as a DH) at age 49, so Mexican League teams clearly do not have a problem with signing older players. 

    And of course the ageless Satchel Paige was still working as a SP in AAA (with the Miami Marlins) into his early 50's (and prior to that he pitched in MLB as late as age 46).  

     
  • crunch 4 days 9 hours ago (view)

    b.colon has signed to a mexican league team.  woo old dudes.  he turns 47 in may...believed by some to be older.

     
  • Cubster 4 days 17 hours ago (view)

    Replacing someone like David DeJesus?

     
  • crunch 5 days 10 hours ago (view)

    mark grace returns to chicago as an analyst/on-air-talent for Marquee.

    he won't be part of the main game calling crew, but will be doing support content during games.

     
  • Eric S 5 days 14 hours ago (view)

    Increasing levels of smoke concerning a possible Arenado/KB trade

    https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2020/02/13/cubs-reportedly-are-absolutely-motivated-to-try-to-acquire-nolan-arenado/

    Get Arenado to agree to push back his opt out a few years or so down the road and this could work out nicely for the Cubs

     
  • Arizona Phil 6 days 4 hours ago (view)

    Jason Kipnis (like Brandon Morrow) was a post-2019 Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signed a 2020 minor league contract, so he gets a $100K retention bonus and an automatic June 1st player opt-out if he is not released by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day or added to an MLB 40-man roster or MLB 60-day IL by 12 PM (Eastern) on MLB Opening Day. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 6 days 5 hours ago (view)

    The Cubs have signed post-2019 second-contract minor league FA catcher Jordan Procyshen to a 2020 minor league contract and he has been assigned to AA Tennessee.  

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 6 days 7 hours ago (view)

    Q could be subbed in for any of those too

     
more
Click "More" for the last 50 comments in full.