2015 Cubs Offseason: Building a Winner Around David Ross

[Canadouche]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

[Eli]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

[Oleg]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

What if he replaces David Ross as Lester's grabass bro?

[Quality Start Machine]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

I also enjoy the notion of Jepstink pulling off the power move of taking him from the Cardinals. His Steamer WAR of 4.3 represents a potential ~8 game swing in the standings.

[InternetApex]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

I also enjoy the notion of Jepstink pulling off the power move of taking him from the Cardinals. His Steamer WAR of 4.3 represents a potential ~8 game swing in the standings.

Assuming they replace him with Damon Buford, I'll go ahead and bank those 8 games right now.

*opens giant ledger across entire desk and dips quill in black inkwell*

[Brownie]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

What if he replaces David Ross as Lester's grabass bro?

A location more convenient to Wrigley will be in order.

[Tony]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

What if he replaces David Ross as Lester's grabass bro?

Can't Lester play grabass with the bench coach?

[Saul Goodman]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

What if he replaces David Ross as Lester's grabass bro?

So would Lackey be the personal catcher then? And we thought Schwarber was bad...

[Saul Goodman]

DPD. The Orange One says the Brewers have stolen former Vanderbilt pitching guru turned Cubs pitching coordinator Derek Johnson away to be their pitching coach at the big-league level. There goes our David Price advantage. FUCK. /s

[Eli]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

I also enjoy the notion of Jepstink pulling off the power move of taking him from the Cardinals. His Steamer WAR of 4.3 represents a potential ~8 game swing in the standings.

Assuming they replace him with Damon Buford, I'll go ahead and bank those 8 games right now.

*opens giant ledger across entire desk and dips quill in black inkwell*

I also forgot about Damon Buford playing for the Cubs this year.

[Chuck to Chuck]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I definitely would like Heyward in CF next year vs. overpaying for a guy like Price. Trade whatever prospects you can to get a solid #2/3 starter, sign a mid-tier innings eater to be your #4, and baby you got a second consecutive 90+ win season stew goin'

There's no reason for it to be versus.

Both.

Chuck that's just not going to happen no matter how much you're setting things up so that you can continue to be mad at the Ricketts when they don't spend 400 mildo in one offseason.

Allowing for renewals and arbitration raises, payroll is at about $120mm for 2016 right now.  That includes $13mm dropping off at the end of the year for Edwin Jackson.  Two $20mm players boosts payroll to $147mm (net of Edwin), only $3mm more than 2010 payroll.

I'm not expecting them to spend $400mm, but they certainly can.  If Theo wants Price and Heyward, they can certainly afford it.

[Eli]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I definitely would like Heyward in CF next year vs. overpaying for a guy like Price. Trade whatever prospects you can to get a solid #2/3 starter, sign a mid-tier innings eater to be your #4, and baby you got a second consecutive 90+ win season stew goin'

There's no reason for it to be versus.

Both.

Chuck that's just not going to happen no matter how much you're setting things up so that you can continue to be mad at the Ricketts when they don't spend 400 mildo in one offseason.

Allowing for renewals and arbitration raises, payroll is at about $120mm for 2016 right now.  That includes $13mm dropping off at the end of the year for Edwin Jackson.  Two $20mm players boosts payroll to $147mm (net of Edwin), only $3mm more than 2010 payroll.

I'm not expecting them to spend $400mm, but they certainly can.  If Theo wants Price and Heyward, they can certainly afford it.

Maybe semantics, but Price and Heyward will each cost more than $20mm/year. And they're going to add more than just two players this offseason.

[Saul Goodman]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I definitely would like Heyward in CF next year vs. overpaying for a guy like Price. Trade whatever prospects you can to get a solid #2/3 starter, sign a mid-tier innings eater to be your #4, and baby you got a second consecutive 90+ win season stew goin'

There's no reason for it to be versus.

Both.

Chuck that's just not going to happen no matter how much you're setting things up so that you can continue to be mad at the Ricketts when they don't spend 400 mildo in one offseason.

Allowing for renewals and arbitration raises, payroll is at about $120mm for 2016 right now.  That includes $13mm dropping off at the end of the year for Edwin Jackson.  Two $20mm players boosts payroll to $147mm (net of Edwin), only $3mm more than 2010 payroll.

I'm not expecting them to spend $400mm, but they certainly can.  If Theo wants Price and Heyward, they can certainly afford it.

Maybe semantics, but Price and Heyward will each cost more than $20mm/year. And they're going to add more than just two players this offseason.

Hopefully more than they lose, otherwise their Phil Rogers +/- Rating will be negative and I will want Theo fired. 

[Quality Start Machine]

I was perusing Jason Heyward's Baseball Reference page and his #4 comp through age 25 season was interesting.

Heyward
.353 OBP
.431 SLG
31.1 WAR

Mystery Comp
.358 OBP
.479 SLG
33.2 WAR

I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to spend some cash on Barry Bonds* minus some pop in his bat.

* He's not actually the next Barry Bonds

I think entirely based on his physique*, he reminds me a lot of a left-handed Andre Dawson. I wouldn't mind watching him play in CF next year.

*physique is a really weird word

VEB is in a collective panic over the Cubs signing Heyward away, so maybe there's something to it.

I still want Price though.

Why not both?

Also, what are everybody's thoughts on Lackey? (Not as an alternative to Price, but as an additional acquistion)

I think he's a shithead and this year's team was pretty free of shitheads, which was enjoyable. Say no to shitheads.

What if he replaces David Ross as Lester's grabass bro?

A location more convenient to Wrigley will be in order.

They've got a food truck now. Easy peasy.

[Eli]

Not surprising, but there we go:

8. David Ross, C, Cubs — Ross said he will honor the final year of his contract and return next season. "It was a great ride," Ross said. "It's more sad we didn't play well and [the Mets] played great. A lot of positives as I look back, but thought we had a legit chance at the World Series. I really wanted to get [Jon] Lester and [Jake] Arrieta another start."