Offseason 2016: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs made a splash just two days after losing the World Series, shedding tons of salary and adding a couple of interesting young players. Their trade, with the Seattle Mariners, shipped pitchers Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and Adam Ottavino; catcher Wilin Rosario; and infielder Jonathan Villar, plus $10 million in cash, in exchange for pitchers Brandon Maurer and Hisashi Iwakuma and minor-league infielder Conner Hale. Says GM Parker Bernhart, “The guys we traded were all going to be out of a job anyway, we had too many guys behind them pushing for their jobs and this allowed us to free up a lot of cap room to build a better team for next year. In addition, we think Maurer can compete for a late-innings role next season, and Hale should help our infield depth. Iwakuma will probably be released as he has stated his desire to test free agency.”
On the same day, Matt Harrison’s option year was voided as the club did not want to pay the $14.5 million that would have been owed to him.
On the 14th, the team made a few moves, re-signing four players. Minor leaguers Luis Flores and Jae-Hoon Ha were both re-signed to minor league deals, infielder Reid Brignac was signed to a $1M extension, and outfielder Brett Jackson was re-signed to a deal that will pay him $900K in 2017, $1M in 2018, $1.1M in 2019, and a $2.4M option in 2020 that vests if he acquires 600 plate appearances.
On the 17th, backup first baseman/pinch-hitter/DH Paul Konerko was re-signed to a one-year contract worth $1,600,000. Minor-league right-hander Ryan Searle had his minor league contract renewed, and Hisashi Iwakuma was released.
On the 25th, another big trade was completed. Chicago sent southpaw Robbie Ross and second baseman Wendell Rijo to Kansas City for pitching prospect Carlos Rodon and $8,000,000 in cash. Rodon, 23, was selected 15th overall by Arizona in 2014, then 13th overall by Oakland in 2015, and was traded to the Royals along with infielder Gavin LaValley for outfielder Junior Lake after the season.
On December 1st, the Cubs selected lefty Kevin Chapman and righty Brad Boxberger in the Rule 5 Draft; they will both have to stay on the active roster for the entire 2017 season or be returned to their original clubs.
On the 4th, outfielders Quintin Berry and Jarrod Dyson along with right-hander Blake Parker signed minor league contracts with invites to spring training.
And then, on December 17th, something big happened. Something really big.
We signed Stephen Strasburg.
The contract will pay him $24,000,000 a year through 2022, with two team options each worth $25,000,000 with $2,500,000 buyouts. A no-trade clause and a guaranteed rotation spot are included in the language of the contract. Because Strasburg was a whatever type free agent, we had to surrender our first-round pick (if it is in the top ten, we surrender our second-rounder) to get him.
A few days later, on the 20th, Japanese catcher Sekien Kouda signed a minor league contract.
The Cubs waited just over a month before making their second big signing of the off-season, on January 22, adding left-hander Tim Collins at $8.4 million per year; the deal is guaranteed for 2017 and 2018, with a team option and $1 million buyout for 2019. But perhaps the even bigger storyline was second baseman Rickie Weeks, who had leaned toward signing with Chicago, abruptly retiring on the first of the month, upsetting management.
On the 23rd, the Cubs inked infielder Logan Forsythe and starting pitcher Travis Wood to one-year contracts. Forsythe will get $1.1 million, while Wood, who started 62 games for the Cubs from 2012-14 before being traded to San Francisco (the trade included Jeff Samardzija and Darwin Barney, and netted Chicago reliever Heath Hembree and catcher Andrew Susac) mid-season.
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During spring training, outfielder Austin Wates sprained his thumb and was placed on the 11-day DL.
After spring training was over, the Cubs finalized their roster. But one problem loomed—they had too many pitchers. After making some tough cuts, they still had too many men on the roster. So they did the only logical thing and made a trade.
The trade, with Baltimore, sent pitchers Jarred Cosart, Travis Wood, and Alfredo Silva, infielder Jordan Hankins, and outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha to the Orioles for pitcher Nick Burdi, catcher Jack Murphy, and outfielder Conor Bierfeldt (all minor-leaguers, all decent or better prospects)
After the trade and all the cuts, the Cubs’ roster looks like this heading into the season:
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Starting Rotation
RHP Stephen Strasburg RHP Won-sub Lee RHP Matt Wisler RHP C.J. Edwards RHP Kyle Zimmer
Bullpen
Closer: RHP Heath Hembree Setup: RHP Dellin Betances Setup: LHP Tim Collins Setup: RHP Brandon Maurer RHP Brad Boxberger LHP Kevin Chapman RHP Ryan Searle
Starting Lineup
RHB Albert Almora, CF (RHB Matt Szczur, LF) RHB Starlin Castro, SS LHB Anthony Rizzo, 1B RHB Kris Bryant, 3B RHB Jorge Soler, RF LHB Brett Jackson, LF (RHB Albert Almora, CF) LHB Reese McGuire, C (RHB Andrew Susac, C) LHB Reid Brignac, 2B (RHB Logan Forsythe, 2B)
RHB Paul Konerko will DH and bat 7th LHB Ryan Sweeney is the fourth outfielder
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The top prospects list was posted. Chicago has representatives in #16 Ryan Burr, #46 Dylan Cease, $59 Julio Urias, #63 Dan Vogelbach, #69 Carlos Rodon, #82 Stephen Kolek, and #86 Tyler Thompson. The seven prospects are down from eight in 2015 and eleven in 2016, but still very good. Of note: Brady Aiken dropped from #1 last year to being completely off the list; Bryant and McGuire lost prospect eligibility; and we traded Fisher and Seager. Juremi Profar and Jameis Winston (#59 and #75, respectively, in 2016) both also dropped off the list.
_________________ yeah that log's dead too- i mean on hiatus (yes that one too) (seriously all of them now lol)
NAPOLI FOR MVP
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BrewersFuzz wrote: PEDs wrote: i think we banned him cause he was an idiot glad i never got banned for that
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