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#Post#: 437678--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: Playtwo Date: August 18, 2021, 3:02 pm
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It not hard to see why management would assume the team won't
compete in 2022. But why make moves that make it impossible to
compete in 2023? The likelihood is that they won't compete in
2023, but why concede that now?
#Post#: 437679--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: Reb Date: August 18, 2021, 3:06 pm
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It’s not solely about attendance.
If Royals can give a lucrative contract to Salvador Perez, then
the Cubs can re-sign Contreras regardless of the outlook for
2022-23—not necessarily for Perez money but post-2021 market
value. It’s just a solid baseball decision and Cubs are still in
the baseball industry.
#Post#: 437683--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: craig Date: August 18, 2021, 4:08 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=585.msg437678#msg437678
date=1629316969]
It not hard to see why management would assume the team won't
compete in 2022. But why make moves that make it impossible to
compete in 2023? The likelihood is that they won't compete in
2023, but why concede that now?
[/quote]
Yes. You build a good team once player at a time. If you are
set with a good catcher for a while, that's one fewer spot you
need to solve. IMO, you want to have enough spots filled so
that outside FA's can figure that by adding them in, if they
play well the team has a chance to be good. Build it one player
at a time, and Contreras can certainly be one of those.
Still, bad-value contracts have consequences, and limit future
options.
reb, you're certainly right, that players aren't consistent and
that Contreras had a much better year in 2019 than in 2018
before or 2020 or 2021 after. So, if you want to give him a
contract at a price that assumes he'd frame like 2020-21 and hit
like 2019, that's fine, and may prove wise.
And you may be proven very wise to have done so. But there's
certainly a real possibility that over his next contract, that
he'll maybe hit more like the 2017-2018 versions of Heyward
(.715, .731 OPS), than like Willson's 2019 season. It's just
the risk you take.
I'm not very concerned about risking what might turn out to be
an inflated contract. Who else is going to take the Cubs money,
until they build up enough of a skeleton that a good pricey FA
thinks he can join it and enable it to contend? So offering a
bad contract, or what proves to become a bad contract, might be
totally acceptable.
#Post#: 437687--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: CUBluejays Date: August 18, 2021, 5:04 pm
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Hendricks will be 33 in 2023 and 34 in 2024.
His underlying numbers have fallen the last 2 years. When the
next great Cubs team comes together is he really somebody we are
going to want to have in the rotation?
Willson will be 31 and 32 in those years. His offense has
already declined from the peak.
Plus you get rid of those two and then you can get a high draft
pick in 2023. There are already a bunch of interesting college
guys that are going to be in that draft because of 2020's draft.
#Post#: 437692--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: CurtOne Date: August 18, 2021, 5:36 pm
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33 and 34! Hell, just euthanize him.
#Post#: 437693--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: ben Date: August 18, 2021, 5:40 pm
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Who knows about future performance, but I'd love to see us
re-sign Hendricks (assuming his performance doesn't crater soon)
because:
* some guys who can really pitch - without relying on 95+ - have
an opportunity to stick around a bit longer. I may be WAY off,
but my guess is he will continue to make adjustments and remain
a solid starter into his mid-30s.
* He could really help others of our pitchers as a role model in
his prep and how he thinks about pitching.
* He's established himself as a big-game pitcher and those guys
are very few and far between.
* His ERA may not be real great this season (thanks in part to a
slow start and a couple of BAD games), but he's 14-5 with our
crappy team! W/L record is just one data point among many, but
it tends to favor guys who can really compete. Hendricks is one
of those pitchers.
* He was very reasonable in negotiations last time, which may
suggest he will be again, and having at least some team
stability would have to be of assistance to some other players
and, certainly, the fan base. Plus, he's a solid guy who will
very likely always represent the team well.
We've been damned lucky to have had Hendricks these past few
years and I certainly hope he can stick around and do his rather
inimitable thing for us for a few more years.
#Post#: 437699--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: method Date: August 18, 2021, 7:04 pm
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Sign him to a good deal, then trade him, thats when his value
will be the highest. see Quintana.
#Post#: 437702--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: CUBluejays Date: August 18, 2021, 7:41 pm
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[quote author=CurtOne link=topic=585.msg437692#msg437692
date=1629326172]
33 and 34! Hell, just euthanize him.
[/quote]
Seems extreme.
#Post#: 437713--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: Cletus Date: August 18, 2021, 10:45 pm
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Sammy Sosa is not in the new Cubs Hall of Fame. This grudge that
Ricketts has against him is very odd.
#Post#: 437728--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '22
By: chgojhawk Date: August 19, 2021, 7:46 am
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I would move both Hendricks and Contreras for whatever we can
get for them.
Theo was looking to move Hendricks during (and right after) the
WS season. There was concern that his 88 mph fastball was down
in the 85-86 range and was getting knocked around. If Hendricks
loses anything off his fastball he is about done.
There have been a couple handfuls of pitchers who have worked
effectively in the MLB over the last 15 years while throwing in
the upper 80s. I can’t think of one that threw in the mid 80s
(or lower). Knuckleball pitchers don’t count (unless Hendricks
has one in his bag of tricks).
I love Willson but there is a shelf life on all players,
especially catchers. We can collect some assets for him now. We
won’t have that luxury when we run him out there over the next
few non competitive seasons and with a big contract.
We aren’t competing for a few years so no point to spend on
aging players. Might as well collect assets.
Guessing we will keep Hendricks through his current contract and
Contreras will be traded at the deadline next year.
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