2017-2018 Cubs/MLB Offseason: HOT FUCKING STOVE

[Chuck to Chuck]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

[CBStew]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

"Tyler" is almost as bad a first name as "Chipper".

[D. Doluntap]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

"Tyler" is almost as bad a first name as "Chipper".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXn8WKpYaA

[Canadouche]

After having informed the Cardinals that he didn't want to play in the midwest, Stanton has listed the Cubs as one of several teams to whom he'd accept a trade.

Seems like the Cubs are the belle of the ball these days.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

"Tyler" is almost as bad a first name as "Chipper".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXn8WKpYaA

One of my favorite Carlin clips, mainly because most every Todd I've come across is a dick-weed of the first order.

[Richard Chuggar]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

"Tyler" is almost as bad a first name as "Chipper".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXn8WKpYaA

One of my favorite Carlin clips, mainly because most every Todd I've come across is a dick-weed of the first order.

Hi

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Tyler Chatwood. A Cub.

Slam.

Guy doesn't get his own thread?

"Tyler" is almost as bad a first name as "Chipper".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXn8WKpYaA

One of my favorite Carlin clips, mainly because most every Todd I've come across is a dick-weed of the first order.

Hi

Exhibit A.

[Oleg]

There's a lot of people complaining this is too much money for Chatwood given his bad K/BB ratio, which is weird, because 12.7 mil a year for 3 years is 1) well below the qualifying offer anyway 2)an amount the Cubs can eat if this deal goes sour, in fact it's an AAV they have eaten before, considering they paid both Edwin Jackson and Miguel Montero about that much to not play for them for parts of the last three years.

Although I agree that this is a great deal, I'm having a hard time understanding why you (and Fork) keep comparing this to a QO.  The Cubs are on the hook for 38MM.  I'm sure they would have gladly given him a 1/18MM instead.

[Shooter]

Give me Ohtani or give me death

Win win

RIP, Saul.

Ohtani's gonna be an Angel (the LA kind).

[D. Doluntap]

I bet they just showed Ohtani that "Homer at the Bat" Simpsons episode. Playing Pedro Strop in LF has nothing on that, sadly.

[Saul Goodman]

Give me Ohtani or give me death

Win win

RIP, Saul.

Ohtani's gonna be an Angel (the LA kind).

RIP, me. Definitely did not see the Angels coming. I would've bet Padres before Angels even.

[Tonker]

Give me Ohtani or give me death

Win win

RIP, Saul.

Ohtani's gonna be an Angel (the LA kind).

RIP, me. Definitely did not see the Angels coming. I would've bet Padres before Angels even.

Some dude in the Guardian comments had this to say:

Yes, I agree, it doesn't make a lot of sense, however, according to a piece by Mike Oz at Yahoo Sports, Angels GM Billy Eppler had cultivated a personal relationship with Ohtani, having chased himi since he was an assistant GM with the Yankees and Ohtani was a high schooler.

Here's a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal:

Agent (not from CAA) on Ohtani signing: "Eppler made this happen. 100% all him. He has been on Ohtani since he was in HS and I will bet he absolutely crushed the presentation. This is a credit to him." Eppler visited Japan while with NYY and after becoming LAA GM in Oct. 2015.
3:31 PM - Dec 8, 2017

Some of Oz's other pro-Angels points include the fact that since the Angels have lacked pitching in recent years, he could make an immediate impact, that he might be able to get the team to a Wild Card spot -- something they've failed to do recently, that he'll be near enough to Hollywood without being in the thick of L.A., and that he might be able to DH in place of Albert Pujols.

Those are all reasonable points, I suppose. Still, since the money was neither here nor there, really, I'm a little suspicious of a professional athlete who essentially appears to be going for comfort rather than competitiveness. It doesn't bode well.

[Saul Goodman]

Give me Ohtani or give me death

Win win

RIP, Saul.

Ohtani's gonna be an Angel (the LA kind).

RIP, me. Definitely did not see the Angels coming. I would've bet Padres before Angels even.

Some dude in the Guardian comments had this to say:

Yes, I agree, it doesn't make a lot of sense, however, according to a piece by Mike Oz at Yahoo Sports, Angels GM Billy Eppler had cultivated a personal relationship with Ohtani, having chased himi since he was an assistant GM with the Yankees and Ohtani was a high schooler.

Here's a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal:

Agent (not from CAA) on Ohtani signing: "Eppler made this happen. 100% all him. He has been on Ohtani since he was in HS and I will bet he absolutely crushed the presentation. This is a credit to him." Eppler visited Japan while with NYY and after becoming LAA GM in Oct. 2015.
3:31 PM - Dec 8, 2017

Some of Oz's other pro-Angels points include the fact that since the Angels have lacked pitching in recent years, he could make an immediate impact, that he might be able to get the team to a Wild Card spot -- something they've failed to do recently, that he'll be near enough to Hollywood without being in the thick of L.A., and that he might be able to DH in place of Albert Pujols.

Those are all reasonable points, I suppose. Still, since the money was neither here nor there, really, I'm a little suspicious of a professional athlete who essentially appears to be going for comfort rather than competitiveness. It doesn't bode well.

"2018 Angels: Ohtani and Trout and pray the fire's not out"

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs are reportedly close to signing Brandon Morrow. I also positive.

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs are reportedly close to signing Brandon Morrow. I also positive.

No word on Cobb yet, so they might have to fight for him this week. If they signed him...

1. Lester
2. Hendricks
3. Quintana
4. Cobb
5. Chatwood

CL: Morrow
SU: Strop
SU: Edwards Jr.
MR: Montgomery
MR: Grimm
MR: Maples
MR: Wilson
MR: Zastryzny/Alvarez?

That's a 13-man staff right there. If Cobb signs elsewhere, Montgomery becomes the 5.

There's not much else to do, really. A backup catcher and maybe a speedy outfielder. A better bullpen arm could also be added (Addison Reed?) if they wanted to keep Maples down longer. But they might not trade any of the young position players after all.