Warm stove: shark or arrieta for the cubs? Mets / Dodgers Battle for Bauer? Hader asking price? Arenado Dreaming? More

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Oh man. Did you pay attention? Because the last couple of days have been pretty tough for Cubs news, rumors, and transactions, and I don’t think it’s over. Things are actually happening.

In no particular order, Tom Ricketts would have increased the 2021 budget for player payroll, the Cubs have signed Joc Pederson and former top prospect Kohl Stewart for high-profile deals, Jake Arrieta throws for the teams and there could be mutual interest in a reunion in Chicago, Jeff Samardzija throws for the Cubs, and direct Cubs rumors persist with Chris Archer, Mike Foltynewicz, Carlos Rodon and Kolten Wong.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals have re-signed Adam Wainwright and may be close to negotiating for Nolan Arenado.

Things!

There’s a shark in Chicago and other puns

Analyzing words is always a dangerous game when it comes to rumors, but when I read Patrick Mooney’s latest efforts on the Cubs’ efforts on Jeff Samardzija, it’s hard not to feel that there is something out there – maybe something a little more than fair. old exhausting all options:

Mooney: The Cubs are among a group of teams expected to attend Jeff Samardzija’s practice on Friday as they continue to assess their options on the pitching side. If she’s in good health – and the price is right – Samardzija could be the type of beginner veteran who soaks up innings and brings a competitive personality to the Wrigley Field clubhouse. While the Cubs haven’t reduced their focus on Samardzija – and his free agent process is still developing – there is an obvious history and local connection to the ex-Cub / former Notre Dame star.

If I had to guess, this isn’t going to be a thing or / or a thing when it comes to guys like Samardzija and Jake Arrieta (and whoever they’ve shown interest in at that level – there’s tons of them) . Put simply, the Cubs are going to need someone to eat innings this season – even if the rest of the pitchers are doing just fine. Going from a 60-game season to a 162-game season is going to take its toll. Does that mean the Cubs will add ALL types of nostalgia from older veterans? No. I’m sure they want guys with benefits for a longer mid-term stay with the team if that happens (Carlos Rodon? Mike Foltynewicz? Chris Archer?), Hence the signing of Kohl Stewart.

I’m just saying that the Cubs are very clearly and openly looking to add multiple starters:

Arrieta Pitching, Mets Interested – Also, other moves to do

Speaking of Arrieta, the Mets are attending his session today and appear to have a legitimate interest in him now that Steven Matz has been left out of the rotation and the books. Obviously, Trevor Bauer is still an option (a more likely option, I’d bet) and Jackie Bradley Jr. is still a target now that they’ve missed out on George Springer, but Andy Martino makes it pretty clear, the Mets have moved. Matz’s salary for adding another player:

Bauer, the Mets and the Dodgers

To that end, it looks like Trevor Bauer at the Mets is something that is going to happen. According to Jon Heyman and Andy Martino, the Mets currently have an offer to Bauer in the 3-4 year range with opt-outs included, but for something less than the average annual value of $ 36 million that Bauer is looking for (because of course). Bauer would like a deal longer than that – Heyman mentions the Cole / Strasburg range, which, again… LOL – but that’s the status of things right now.

Of course, Mets aren’t the only option:

The Dodgers have been big on these short-term and high AAV offers for the past few years, so I could see them make sense given what Bauer is looking for. But I just don’t see how Bauer thinks he’s going to get an AAV record on anything other than a very short-term deal.

Josh Hader Business Offers

Do you know what has been surprising this offseason? The absence of business rumors for guys like Craig Kimbrel and Josh Hader. There was, notice, but not a ton. Today that could change, at least as far as the closer Brewers are concerned.

Robert Murray writes that “The Milwaukee Brewers continue to listen to inquiries about reliever Josh Hader” even though they don’t feel like to have to exchange it. And, indeed, the asking price, according to Murray’s sources, is absurdly high:

The asking price for Hader, according to sources familiar with the situation, is a combination of major league players and prospects.

“We will not be in the process,” said an American League leader.

“Don’t waste your time,” said another executive.

Michael’s reflections

• Earlier this offseason I told Cubs fans to look ahead and forget about the past… and the Cubs walked into a time machine and pretended it was 2015:

• Can we stop Joc Pederson’s disinformation campaign before it starts?

• I remember being so nervous that he was going to steal the NL ROY 2015 award from Kris Bryant in 2015. Do you remember how crazy his first half was? He hit 20 home runs before the All-Star break with a 137 wRC +:

• It’s so incredibly unrealistic that I probably shouldn’t even write it down, but there has been little reason to be optimistic this offseason that I just want to make some dreamy vibes. Leave me alone. So there you have it: * IF * third baseman Matt Carpenter – and his $ 18.5 million salary in 2021 – was due to return to the Rockies as part of a deal with Nolan Arenado, and * IF * payroll Cubs relaxed a bit, and * IF * those earlier reports between the Cubs and the Rockies about a trade with Arenado last year (and into this offseason) were still true, then you maybe can see how Kris Bryant and his $ 19.5 million salary, but a more projectable performance in 2021 could be a comp for Carpenter in a similar trade with the Cubs. There’s probably still no way the Cubs are willing to absorb the net on whatever is left of Arenado’s six-year, $ 199 million contract, but just imagine Arenado’s glove in third, the glove of Javy Baez in short and Anthony Rizzo’s glove at the start. Now imagine the Cubs also signing Kolten Wong… that’s four Glove Glove favorites in the infield. Now wake up, because come on… (Good fun, right?).

• The Cardinals say they want to bring Wong back…

•… but does Wong want to go back to Saint-Louis?

• Here’s a mistaken thought based on the rumor below: If the Braves have also checked out Arenado, you have to wonder if they would be more seriously interested in trading for Kris Bryant. And if the Cubs are suddenly less concerned about losing every penny in Bryant’s trade, you have to wonder if a team like the Braves might suddenly be in a better position to strike a deal than the Cubs would consider (that is, – say the Cubs eat a salary for a salary). best return).

Tips

• Oh hey! Matt Moore! I remember him. After throwing 85.0 innings of 2.65 ERA balls in Japan, Moore returns to the big leagues with a guaranteed $ 3 million contract with the Phillies. It’s pretty crazy. Good for him. The Phillies are probably not finished yet, my friends.

• Old friend alert:

• I’m not sure we can say that this definitely rules out the Willson Contreras Nats rumors (the Nats might just include Yan Gomes in a deal the other way around, and Avila would be the backup), but we don’t like especially those rumors anyway.



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