Cubs 2017 Let's Win Two!

[Chuck to Chuck]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

[ChuckD]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

With Schwarber needing an OF spot and the ascension of Baez pushing Zesus to OF, they basically have to let him walk.

Dex is due to earn a buttload of money. I hope he gets even more than that.

[SKO]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

With Schwarber needing an OF spot and the ascension of Baez pushing Zesus to OF, they basically have to let him walk.

Dex is due to earn a buttload of money. I hope he gets even more than that.

I am on team Dexter Go Get Your Dumptruck Full Of Money, You're a Cub Forever Anyway. I just can't bear the thought that he makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals to sign. So as long as literally anyone else offers him that dumptruck, we're good here.

[Chuck to Chuck]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

With Schwarber needing an OF spot and the ascension of Baez pushing Zesus to OF, they basically have to let him walk.

Dex is due to earn a buttload of money. I hope he gets even more than that.

I am on team Dexter Go Get Your Dumptruck Full Of Money, You're a Cub Forever Anyway. I just can't bear the thought that he makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals to sign. So as long as literally anyone else offers him that dumptruck, we're good here.

Radio commentary today is that Theo et al still want Schwarber catching, at least part time. Platoon catcher / LF.  I'd still love to see him at catcher because that level of offense at that position is free money.

And who do they set for closer and 5th starter?  5th starter next year is 4th starter for October as I can't see Lackey starting any playoff games next year.

[SKO]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

With Schwarber needing an OF spot and the ascension of Baez pushing Zesus to OF, they basically have to let him walk.

Dex is due to earn a buttload of money. I hope he gets even more than that.

I am on team Dexter Go Get Your Dumptruck Full Of Money, You're a Cub Forever Anyway. I just can't bear the thought that he makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals to sign. So as long as literally anyone else offers him that dumptruck, we're good here.

Radio commentary today is that Theo et al still want Schwarber catching, at least part time. Platoon catcher / LF.  I'd still love to see him at catcher because that level of offense at that position is free money.

And who do they set for closer and 5th starter?  5th starter next year is 4th starter for October as I can't see Lackey starting any playoff games next year.

I think there's a good chance Mike Montgomery could be a starter for them and be pretty damn good at it.

[R-V]

It's started.  Fowler declared today he's exploring free agency.

Get him back or turn it over to Almora?

With Schwarber needing an OF spot and the ascension of Baez pushing Zesus to OF, they basically have to let him walk.

Dex is due to earn a buttload of money. I hope he gets even more than that.

I am on team Dexter Go Get Your Dumptruck Full Of Money, You're a Cub Forever Anyway. I just can't bear the thought that he makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals to sign. So as long as literally anyone else offers him that dumptruck, we're good here.

Radio commentary today is that Theo et al still want Schwarber catching, at least part time. Platoon catcher / LF.  I'd still love to see him at catcher because that level of offense at that position is free money.

And who do they set for closer and 5th starter?  5th starter next year is 4th starter for October as I can't see Lackey starting any playoff games next year.

Jansen & Montgomery.

Playoff rotation: Lester-Hendricks-Jake-Monty
Playoff bullpen: Jansen-Rondon-Strop-Edwards

I'm typing this now so I can refer back to it in 11 months and laugh at how wrong I am.

[R-V]

DPD. I'm really not ready to think about 2017 yet. I might need until February or so to process all this.

[Chuck to Chuck]

DPD. I'm really not ready to think about 2017 yet. I might need until February or so to process all this.

Yeah, I kinda agree, but I saw the Fowler news as the buses were exiting LSD onto Michigan. 2017 started before we were done celebrating 2016.

[PenFoe]

I thought TJ already started this thread weeks ago.

[Canadouche]

I think that if they can get something reasonable for him, Soler is gone. Heyward moves to CF; Zobrist in right with occasional movement based on where Schwarber starts.

Montgomery should be their Plan B #5 starter. I think the Cubs are going to look to move for a somewhat established mid-to-late 20's pitcher with at lest a few years left before free agency, perhaps a #3 or #4 guy on a middling team eager to grab some Cubs prospects. That would also soften the blow of losing Arrieta after 2017. I would not be sad to see Hammel packaged for some solid middle relief.

Maybe the added offense will make it a moot point, but the outfield defense is probably going to be nowhere as good next year as it was this year.

[Quality Start Machine]

Fuck it, Soler, Almora, Candelario and Happ for Mike Trout.*

*yes, I know it's not enough. But if last week taught us anything, it's that no dream is too big.

[SKO]

Anybody interested at all in Verlander?

3 years left at 28 million per, Tigers supposedly considering selling. At that cost the prospects sent in return may be less important than the willingness to take on salary. The FA market is weak.

He was ass in 2014 but since coming back from injury in 2015 he's been very solid. Was outstanding this year (5.2 fWAR, 3.08 ERA, 3.48 FIP). His option for 2020 only vests if he's top 5 in Cy voting in 2019. So you either get hopefully 2 good years out of him in 2017-2018 and say goodbye after anything less than an elite 2019, or he's elite for three years and you see what happens in year four.

I have no idea if I'd do it or not. That's still a shit ton of cash for an arm with a lot of miles on it. But it's worth asking

[Quality Start Machine]

Anybody interested at all in Verlander?

3 years left at 28 million per, Tigers supposedly considering selling. At that cost the prospects sent in return may be less important than the willingness to take on salary. The FA market is weak.

He was ass in 2014 but since coming back from injury in 2015 he's been very solid. Was outstanding this year (5.2 fWAR, 3.08 ERA, 3.48 FIP). His option for 2020 only vests if he's top 5 in Cy voting in 2019. So you either get hopefully 2 good years out of him in 2017-2018 and say goodbye after anything less than an elite 2019, or he's elite for three years and you see what happens in year four.

I have no idea if I'd do it or not. That's still a shit ton of cash for an arm with a lot of miles on it. But it's worth asking

Money's not the issue, especially with Edwin Jackson's 15 mildo/per being gone.

There are far worse ways to fill your 4 hole in the rotation, with Lackey as 5 and Monty ready to go into the mix when there's an injury.

Plus, Kate Upton at Cub games.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Anybody interested at all in Verlander?

3 years left at 28 million per, Tigers supposedly considering selling. At that cost the prospects sent in return may be less important than the willingness to take on salary. The FA market is weak.

He was ass in 2014 but since coming back from injury in 2015 he's been very solid. Was outstanding this year (5.2 fWAR, 3.08 ERA, 3.48 FIP). His option for 2020 only vests if he's top 5 in Cy voting in 2019. So you either get hopefully 2 good years out of him in 2017-2018 and say goodbye after anything less than an elite 2019, or he's elite for three years and you see what happens in year four.

I have no idea if I'd do it or not. That's still a shit ton of cash for an arm with a lot of miles on it. But it's worth asking

Money's not the issue, especially with Edwin Jackson's 15 mildo/per being gone.

There are far worse ways to fill your 4 hole in the rotation, with Lackey as 5 and Monty ready to go into the mix when there's an injury.

Plus, Kate Upton at Cub games.

Jose Quintana.

[Saul Goodman]

Anybody interested at all in Verlander?

3 years left at 28 million per, Tigers supposedly considering selling. At that cost the prospects sent in return may be less important than the willingness to take on salary. The FA market is weak.

He was ass in 2014 but since coming back from injury in 2015 he's been very solid. Was outstanding this year (5.2 fWAR, 3.08 ERA, 3.48 FIP). His option for 2020 only vests if he's top 5 in Cy voting in 2019. So you either get hopefully 2 good years out of him in 2017-2018 and say goodbye after anything less than an elite 2019, or he's elite for three years and you see what happens in year four.

I have no idea if I'd do it or not. That's still a shit ton of cash for an arm with a lot of miles on it. But it's worth asking

Money's not the issue, especially with Edwin Jackson's 15 mildo/per being gone.

There are far worse ways to fill your 4 hole in the rotation, with Lackey as 5 and Monty ready to go into the mix when there's an injury.

Plus, Kate Upton at Cub games.

Intrepid Reader: Marlins Man

Big mistake, man.

Leavy told a story about how Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander's girlfriend, model Kate Upton, denied a girl in a wheelchair a picture during a Yankees game.

"Since she was a guest of the Yankees, the ushers carried her down two steps so she can have Kate Upton sign her ball for her birthday. Upton, who denied fans' requests all game, said 'I don't sign.'" Leavy said he had some choice words for Upton but later got NBA star Kevin Love, who was in attendance, to take photos with the girl.

"I wish I could have taken a beer and poured it on her head," Leavy said. "After Verlander got shelled one inning, Upton got up and left. Everyone — in our section and six sections around — gave a standing ovation because that b— left."