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CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Cubs have left Southern California without adding anything to their paddocks, embarking on a frantic transaction or signing with Bryce Harper.
Of course, none of these elements should be on the list of teams this season.
As Theo Epstein explained on Wednesday, the GM meetings are meant to "create foundations, get information and try to see which teams might be the most interesting to discuss based on of their staff and what they seek to accomplish. "
The CEO of Epstein and Cubs, Jed Hoyer, said that they spent their time at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa discussing with other clubs their potential trade disputes , to discuss with agents of this type in the open market and to brainstorm ideas.
Here are 8 take-away GM meetings:
1. Cubs do not seem to be spending a lot
A little over a week ago, it was thought that the Cubs would be major players in the free agent market this winter, but a lot has changed in the last eight days. Last Friday, the Cubs traded Drew Smyly in a bid to lose his salary before choosing Cole Hamels' $ 20 million option.
Epstein then explained the financial situation of the Cubs on the first day of GM meetings, indicating that it was unlikely that the Cubs would end up facing Harper, Manny Machado or the other big free agents.
It's just and understandable. No team has committed more dollars in training for 2019 than the Cubs at the moment and they now have Hamels, Yu Darvish, Jon Lester and Jason Heyward all earning over $ 20 million each this year.
No matter what the Cubs do from here, they are on the right track to have the highest payroll in franchise history and exceed the luxury tax threshold.
It is hard to see them outbid some teams with a crazy amount of free money like the Philadelphia Phillies or the New York Yankees.
The only glimmer of hope – a perspective from Harper's agent himself, Scott Boras:
"You do not want other teams to know that you are interested in a generation player.
It makes sense. Why show your hand at this point in the off season and push up the market?
2. This is Bryce's show right now
Harper was much more of a subject than Machado during the week, largely thanks to Boras' one-hour media session that spoke of the young dynamic gamer ("Harper's Bazaar has certainly begun ") and the report that Harper refused a $ 300 million 10-year contract with the Nationals during the last week of the regular season.
It is still early, of course, but it seems that Harper is leading the market more than Machado, which would have lost its value in October because of its lack of dynamism (and comments).
Machado will spend his time in the sun … it's just not this weekend at SoCal.
3. Get ready for a return from Addison Russell
Of course, nothing is fixed in stone, but if Russell continues to follow his therapy, his rehabilitation and his reform, he could very well be back with his wolf cubs. Theo and the organization feel responsible for being part of the solution and Russell's camp is not yet gearing up for an alternative.
When the MLB imposed a disciplinary penalty on Russell (40-game suspension) for domestic violence, it seemed almost certain that the Cubs would leave the young field player.
It no longer seems like a certainty and, in fact, the opposite seems to be true: Russell may well try his luck with the reform of his current club.
4. Coaching riddle
What is happening with the coaching staff?
We know the Cubs will not extend Joe Maddon this winter, but beyond … crickets.
We will eventually discover it, but it has become the curious case of the coaching staff of the Cubs in this off season.
5. Trades arrive
Hoyer said the Cubs are "open to business" and he and Epstein have repeatedly admitted that they were probably more inclined to make transactions than free agent signings this winter.
It is obvious that the Cubs are looking to redo their roster if possible, but since their best assets are also position players, how can a strike batter trade take shape?
"There are a lot of different ways to do it," said Epstein. "You can trade the service time, you can trade back and forth for more years of control, you can trade for a well established type, you can trade for someone you think ready There is not only one way to do it – you can trade two comparable players with different shapes if you think it's good for you. "
The Cubs teased a busy offseason last year with potential exchanges and nothing took shape. In the end, things may be going the same way this season and be very quiet in the low season, but remember that the Cubs are at a very different stage from last year. The urgency is much stronger now after a season that has ended after a single playoff game and when it is clear that the closing window of the championship is beginning to emerge.
Hence the legitimate case of the alternative:
6. Maybe there will be no significant change, after all
Hoyer said the Cubs felt that the solutions to their 2018 problems were internal: to restore the health and performance of the guys to their usual level.
Beginning in 2019, you can almost consider the signatures of standalone agents Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow, given their weak start last year (including 0 rounds combined in the second half).
Maybe you could look Kris Bryant the same eye with the shoulder injury that has hindered the former MVP from mid-May. A healthy Bryant last year would have completely changed the complexion of this range.
Boras said that he had never seen a player have the same impact as JD Martinez on the Red Sox in 2018 after his signing last winter, especially on the way he had fashioned the rest of the training. A bat of this quality can really make the difference between high production and lower pressure on the rest of the range.
If Willson Contreras can regain its shape from 2016-2017 (or even in the first half of 2018), moreover, potential advances such as those of Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr. and the range of Cubs may well have a far more productive 2019 even though Epstein's reception is holding up well this winter.
7. Watch out for the Phillies … and the Cardinals
They are willing to spend money and Harper has already been closely linked to the City of Brotherly Love.
With all the money that the Phightin 'Phils have to spend and since they were candidates for a good part of 2018 before fading in the end, this could pose a problem to the Cubs if it's there that Harper ends up finding himself.
But a much bigger concern – and frankly, more frightening from the Cubs' point of view – is the possibility for the Cardinals to bring Harper or Machado or Josh Donaldson or Patrick Corbin or one of the best free agents.
The Cardinals nearly negotiated Giancarlo Stanton's senseless deal last year and eventually had to settle for Marcell Ozuna. They ended up missing the playoffs for the third season in a row and they feel really eager to catch up with the division's Cubs and Brewers.
It could be an intense season in St. Louis.
8. The rotation is probably defined
With the return of Hamels, the Cubs have now committed nearly $ 100 million in their 2019 rotation, including Tyler Chatwood and Mike Montgomery – two guys who, for the moment, seem to be on the outside in the process of watch the starting team of the Opening Day.
This did not stop the Cubs from making rumors about the available launchers, but make no mistake. They will probably add more depth to be able to withstand injuries that may occur during the rotation, but that's about it.
"The areas we want to tackle are our group of positions and the office," said Epstein. "We are looking for a small starting depth here and there where we can, but for now, I think our rotation is a strength."
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