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Cubs Offseason Chat With Tim Dierkes
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Tim Dierkes
12:42
Hello!  I'm Tim Dierkes, owner of MLB Trade Rumors and the guy who wrote this Cubs offseason outlook post: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/offseason-outlook-chicago-cubs-...
12:43
If you like time-consuming original work/analysis, and would like to support its creation, consider a Front Office subscription!  https://mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=cubs-chat-10-17-23
With that, let's party
Jbird7171
12:43
I think everyone expects the Cubs to make upgrades in the off-season. Do you see them adding an upper rotation pitcher with the arms they already have? Does it depend on Stroman? Or do they just augment with young arms? What would you do?
Tim Dierkes
12:44
Pretty much covered this in post, but it's fair to not have read it since I just published it.  I think they add a SP regardless, but yes, freeing up 21 mil makes them more likely to play on big names.
Sof
12:44
Who do you believe is the best options for first base and third base next season?
Tim Dierkes
12:45
The thing that makes this hard to answer is that I don't know what Jed's payroll limit is.  I assume like most GMs he has X amount of money to spend and needs to do his best within that.  The Cubs basically double their payroll space if Stroman opts out, assuming something near the CBT.
The path of trading for Alonso and installing Morel as the regular 3B seems pretty good to me though.
Jed
12:46
Of all the "Intelligent spending" I could do this offseason, what would be the most intelligentest?
Tim Dierkes
12:46
Haha.  I see Yamamoto as a way to be aggressive but still not get a bunch of decline years as you typically do with free agency.  Easy parallel with them being aggressive on Seiya.
alan53
12:47
Do you think the Cubs would have made the playoffs if Ross had trusted Little, a fresh arm with closer stuff, instead of giving the ball in the ninth to a gassed Leiter in what turned out to be at least 3 key losses? It seems to me that Ross failed Managing 101 in those instances.
Tim Dierkes
12:47
Umm, kind of unknowable.  Ross was leaning on his best three bullpen arms and they all kind of ran out of gas.  Jose Cuas being your only deadline RP addition, that's on Jed.
Jed Hoyer
12:47
After reading your Blue Jays outlook, it seems as if Vlad Jr. might be obtainable. Would something like Christopher Morel, Hayden Wesneski, and Matt Mervis do the trick there? Maybe the Blue Jays have some bullpen help we could take off their hands as well?
Tim Dierkes
12:50
The trade seems somewhat fair for two years of Vlad, but maybe I have my Cubs/Morel glasses on.  I like Morel and he was pretty clearly better than Vlad in 2023.  I think you'd take Vlad's bat for '24 given the height achieved in 2021, but it's a gamble of a sort.
Biblical Losses
12:50
7 years 177 million (the "Dansby deal") for Cody Bellinger. Who says no?
Tim Dierkes
12:50
Belli says no
Unclemike
12:50
I don't think the Ciubs need to sign Bellinger to be good next year. Would I like him back? I'm not sure. I think Mervis and a trade for an above average bat at 3B is the way to go. Mervis really didn't get much of a chance. Signing another OF just blocks PCA, Canario, and Caissie. What do you think?
Tim Dierkes
12:51
I generally agree that unless the OF is Juan Soto or someone worth punting to DH for, the Cubs don't need an OF.  And as I wrote in the post, if Belli is a 1B, he's less interesting on a huge deal.
I don't really see much in the way of 3B trade targets, which is why I mentioned Matt Chapman.
Bp
12:51
Why do the Cubs seem uninterested in a plan at 3rd base? No real starter, no real prospect, just constant band aids where there should be serious offensive production
Tim Dierkes
12:53
On that topic - I don't know!  I don't really get the Madrigal fascination, he's miscast there.  Wisdom is a role player.  That's why I'm like jeez, could the Cubs just pay Adrian Beltre or Scott Rolen or someone to do a Morel-3B boot camp this winter?  He's a 24-year-old DH??
Jbird7171
12:53
The cubs have been linked to pursuing quality talent in trades (Soto, alfonso). Is there any who you would be hesitant to include in trades going back?
Tim Dierkes
12:53
Given the rarity of 80-grade CF defense, six years of control, and possibly a good enough bat, I'd be hesitant to trade PCA for a one-year rental.
12:54
Most other Cubs I think you could consider including in a trade.
lock1y
12:54
tbh Cody has to resign here right? Wrigleyville would riot if he left
Tim Dierkes
12:54
My guess is that the Cubs aren't going to back up the truck and get it done.
Will the Cubs re-sign Cody Bellinger?
Yes (18.5% | 43 votes)
 
No (81.5% | 189 votes)
 
Total Votes: 232
Austin
12:55
I’m not a Cubs fan but I have been way too confident that ohtani will be with the cubs (or the giants). Considering the teams that can afford him at any point, the teams that can afford him right now, and positional needs, how am I wrong about ohtani being on the north side in 2024?
Tim Dierkes
12:55
What can other teams offer that the Cubs cannot?  Bigger payroll, perennial contention, west coast location
12:56
What can the Cubs offer that would win him over to a geographic area that's likely not his preference?  Umm...I don't honestly know.  Wrigley Field pretty much.
Chase
12:56
Have you heard about the potential of getting a Bellinger deal done early?
Tim Dierkes
12:56
No, and it's not Scott Boras' m.o.
Nate
12:56
Do you see Ohtani still being a realistic target for the Cubs, or does him not pitching next season significantly decrease the odds they sign him?
Tim Dierkes
12:57
I find the Cubs unlikely to sign Ohtani.  I have to think him not pitching next year decreases their interest at least a bit, because they could use a SP and would have to add one in addition to Ohtani.
Mj
12:57
Is Aaron Nola a realistic target for the cubs how much would a contract be
Tim Dierkes
12:58
I think he's fairly reasonable.  We were at 5/120 when we last discussed, but there's some motivation to push that higher.
Jose Ramirez
12:58
Am I actually potentially available, or is that just silly sportswriter speculation?
Tim Dierkes
12:58
I must have missed that report, I have no reason to believe he's available
CW
12:58
Would Gray, Hoskins, Belli or Alonso, and 2 relievers be a realistic offseason
Tim Dierkes
12:59
Honestly no, because you're talking about adding about $70MM in AAV for those guys.  They'd have to fly right past the CBT and prob have Stro opt out.
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