November 26, 2018: Checking the Stove

posted in: Cubs | 1

In the middle of the first snowfall this winter, I’m thinking baseball.  Well, it’s really all about the Bears right now, but the current book I’m reading is The Cubs Way by Tom Verducci.  Being on the train to and from work nowadays allows me the time to read, which is a lot better than the alternative of yelling at stupid drivers during rush hour traffic.  It’s a great book; I’m almost done.  Really good stuff in their about Maddon and Theo; reliving the World Series games a chapter at a time is fun too.  About to head into Game 6… Then some breaking news pops; Josh Donaldson signs with the Braves.  Guess they also signed Brian McCann.  As I saw a quick projected Braves lineup for 2019, I see they have a RF vacancy; I wonder if they were interested in getting another ex-Brave back in the fold…

There is another RF that is of course the talk of “the hot stove”, and that is Bryce Harper.  Do we really want him?  That’s going to be a whole lot of money… like way more money than we’re already dishing out for our current RF.  At the time of the Heyward deal, I thought we overpaid.  He was a nice player, great defender, but to give him all that money was too much.  Yes, I understand you have to overpay your guy to get him sometimes, and yes, I will never forget the rain delay speech in Game 7, but will Jason Heyward help us grab another World Series title?  Will paying Bryce Harper the richest contract in the history of baseball going to bring us another World Series title?  That’s the real question… if X player doesn’t equal another World Series title, then X player isn’t worth it.  I get it… there are no guarantees.

I for one, think Bryce is a bit overrated.  Maybe that’s just me.  But to give that much money to a guy, I want to be wowed across the board.  For example, I wouldn’t have one regret about paying Mike Trout a billion dollars to play for the Cubs.  For me, it’s a pass on Bryce.  However, if the Cubs do sign him, I will of course be fully supportive…

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I’m going to go with the under the radar free agent signing to help get this Cubs team their 2nd World Series title.  AJ Pollock is a guy that jumps out.  I’d like him hitting leadoff and playing CF every day, especially if they’re not going to give that to Almora already.  Only problem with Pollock is that he is injury prone; Cubs have the depth to make up for that… at least right now we do.  DJ LeMahieu is a free agent as well per MLB.com.  I know we traded him before he became the player he did, but bringing him back would fill in that 2B position that will be vacated once Baez moves to SS after Russell is traded.  Now I don’t know that, and don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world if we brought Addison back… just an option.  I always liked Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen, two ex-Pirates out there; I liked Adam Jones from the Orioles as well.  What about that player that is currently leaving the Braves a RF vacancy?  Nick Markakis?

I know these aren’t the big Bryce or Manny splashes some are hoping for, but honestly, I don’t think we need to go there.  This Cubs team played its ass off, through more injuries than the previous 4 playoff appearances, and was still one of the top teams in the NL.  Problem is, that just isn’t good enough any more.  It’s like Bizzaro Cubs World we’re living in right now… Just think about it, if the Cubs make the playoffs for a 5th straight season, but do not win the World Series, we may let our manager walk.  Yes, this is the new world we are living in.  World Series Champions or bust.  I’ll talk much more about that as we get closer to baseball season, but for now, I just wanted to do some checking on the stove.  Let me start reading that chapter on Game 6… Go Cubs!

  1. MK

    Can’t wait to read The Cubs Way…2016 will never get old!
    As for the hot stove this offseason, I am not big on harper or machada. Would I be opposed if either of them came to Wrigley, of course not, but I do not feel that the Cubs need to land either to have a shot next year. Both guys are young, both guys have their issues. Who doesn’t at this point? But I agree, I think harper is a bit overrated. $400 million sure sounds like a pass in my book. What did he ever do in Washington? Exactly. The same can be said for machada. Here’s another guy who just needs to shut his mouth and play. He doesn’t hustle and seems dirty at times. Plus, see how he led lala to the promised land this year? Yep, exactly. I would be fine with a 2nd tier free agent pick up or 3. The Cubs are young and still learning with a new hitting coach coming. 2019 should be another solid Cubs year. Hopefully, Theo and Joe are able to put all the pieces together to get them back to being champs! GO CUBS GO!!!

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