Will extend Contreras a qualifying offer.

Talk as if they are going to be real active this winter spending money.

We shall see.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Josh Bell 1B is my guess

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'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.

No, they like Mervis and Bell will block him and is a statue defensively. More likely someone RH who can play 1B/OF.

I think they should try to upgrade all 12 hitters not named Suzuki or Hoerner. Obviously they won't succeed in upgrading more than maybe four, but if you can upgrade four position players every year between free agency, trades, and the minors, you are doing well. That's what the Braves do, and they they hand out extensions to pre-arb guys so they never have to hand anyone a 10/340 type of contact out of desperation.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Assuming Mervis is going to hit is foolish. I've seen one too many Brian LaHairs. I like Mervis but he shouldn't be handed any job.

I agree but you also can't totally block him either. Whoever they sign has to be able to play another position if Mervis does turn out to be legit. Trey Mancini fits the requirements better than Bell.

Same with center field, they need to sign somebody who can be flipped or moved to LF if Brennan Davis comes up July 1 and shows that he is ready and that he's not Jo Adell or Joe Borchard.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

I wonder if Brennen Davis, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Matt Mervis all make their debuts at some point next year?

Hopefully, the rumors are true and they sign one of the top SSs. I'm done with Contreras and Happ won't repeat what he did last year.

Mervis will be given every chance to be the Opening Day 1B/DH.

Davis and Alexander Canario will probably be kept in Iowa until after the Super Two date range is over, so late June.

PCA is likely going to start at AA. Doubtful that he comes up during the regular season unless they are in a playoff race in September and want his defense on the bench.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Yeah, that sounds accurate. PCA is still so young.

I'd like both a SS and starting pitcher but I'd rather take the bat if the wallet isn't fully open. Turner or Correa would be ideal.

I'm fine with Hoerner at SS. Would rather they focus on other areas.

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Who's going to play 2B? I feel like that's Hoerner's natural position. They should open up the wallet and get a legitimate SS.

I guess Madrigal but he seems pretty fragile. I guess if it were either/or, I'd rather sign Judge than Correa.

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Hoyer needs to pull off a Rizzo like trade where they literally stole him from the Padres during the first rebuild. Hope Jed has Heyward's picture in his office to remind him of how crippling bad money can be and hit home runs spending.

I want Trea Turner at SS and Hoerner at 2B.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'd make an offer to benintendi and Rodon.

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Was an article that made mention that the end of the shift might require a more athletic SS and that maybe Hoerner would be better served at 2B probably. In saying thst, he seemed more than adequate at SS this past year although his health record is also not great.

I'd definitely agree with you on that . Judge would be awesome. Anxious to see what kind of money he gets this winter.

I don't want anything to do with signing a 31 year old Judge to a 350 million dollar deal. Whoever the sucker is will regret that pretty quickly.

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You gotta make a huge offer on Judge, if anything just to run up the bill on the Yankees

He’s vaxxed you stupid idiot

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8/400. Just enough so the Yankees have to call, and the Angels panic that they might bid 8/500 on Ohtani in a year.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

What if we get stuck with him? 10 years at 40 per..

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Don't worry about that

Ohtani should be the real target. Bidding Judge up just takes the Yankees out of the Ohtani bidding.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

It's only a matter of time before Ohtani and Trout get dealt. The Angels had a worse record than the Cubs this season with both of those guys. It's not if, it's when -- and the hauls will be massive.

If Im the Cubs I offer a half dozen mostly MLB-ready pieces (starting with Happ and either Davis or Canario) for Ohtani the day after the World Series ends, but I want a weeklong negotiating window to extend him before the deal can be approved.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

There are few things more satisfying than watching Cub fans hoping on minor league players.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

love to get him, but i don't believe there is no way he'd want to come to the current cubs. he'd solve the #1 SP issue along with a potent left-handed bat. maybe suzuki would be more important here than hoyer and hawkins. you never know.

doesnt Trout have basically full control of any potential trade destination? thought that was part of his latest contract with the Angels

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'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.

He is a ten and five guy now. So he has a full no trade.

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Correa will be opting out and while Trea Turner’s home run last night was cool, he cost his team defensively. It was tough to watch.