2012 Winter Meetings Rumors & Discussion (12/2 - 12/6)

[KyleJRM]

The main problem with the "waiting to make a splash" plan is that there's pretty much nothing to make a splash on. Might as well grab the mid-tier guys you like when they become available.

[1972 Cubs]

If the Cubs are waiting until next offseason to make a big splash it would make sense. You will have more contracts coming off the books and also the Cubs will be getting a good TV deal. Plus they will be on year closer to our prospects being ready to go. Not only that we may know at the end of the year if Jackson is worth our time. I am very happy that we didnt lock ourselves into any of these bad contracts. Save now and spend later.

A typical response when signing long term contracts is that they all become bad and prevent the team from making additional moves. Can't they sign good contracts that help the team improve and hold value through the length of their deal ?

[gaughan333]

A typical response when signing long term contracts is that they all become bad and prevent the team from making additional moves. Can't they sign good contracts that help the team improve and hold value through the length of their deal ?

For top FA? No. The end of those deals are gonna be bad pretty frequently, which is why you try to configure the addition of them to meet with your teams ability curve.

[Cub_StuckinSTL]

Omg we haven't signed a big deal yet? Pull your head out of your *** theo. we're the cubs so we can spend money. We don't deserve a crappy team get to work!

[gaughan333]

The main problem with the "waiting to make a splash" plan is that there's pretty much nothing to make a splash on. Might as well grab the mid-tier guys you like when they become available.

Few options for next free agent class (just a few of the names)
McCann
Konerko
Morneau
Cano
BRIAN ROBERTS
Hill
Utley
Y. Escobar
Young
Ellsbury
Granderson
Beltran
Choo
Cruz
Hart
Pence

Hughes
Jimenez (maybe)
Johnson
Lincecum
Nolasco
Johan (if they buy him out)
Volquez

[KyleJRM]

Yeah, that free agent class sucks, It's worse than this year's, which everyone is complaining about, and we haven't even had the final year extensions to thin it out.

[ZamboniCub]

cubs would get a better tv deal if ratings where better we dont lose 100 again and we have less holes and are closer to the playoffs. hell if we had a capable roster to pull an As or Os season our ratings would give us a HUGE tv deal.

[cubsbullsbears2]

No way it's worse than this year's Kyle. Come on...

Imagine adding both Ellsbury and Cano. (Allows you to trade Almora for pitching)

[gaughan333]

cubs would get a better tv deal if ratings where better we dont lose 100 again and we have less holes and are closer to the playoffs. hell if we had a capable roster to pull an As or Os season our ratings would give us a HUGE tv deal.

I don't think that is really going to matter for the cubs signing a tv deal...they're the cubs

[gaughan333]

Yeah, that free agent class sucks, It's worse than this year's, which everyone is complaining about, and we haven't even had the final year extensions to thin it out.

that's your opinion, i disagree. Might be less talented at the top

[1908_Cubs]

No way it's worse than this year's Kyle. Come on...

Imagine adding both Ellsbury and Cano. (Allows you to trade Almora for pitching)

The pitching is garbage. This years was entirely better.

I will agree with Kyle on that front.

[KyleJRM]

I'll believe Cano doesn't get an extension when I see it, no matter how much rumbling comes out of NY between now and then.

FA classes always look way better a year out than they do when you get there, and that one looks bad even a year out. Your No. 2 position player will be turning 30 and has one 3.5+ bWAR season in his entire career.

And the pitching is just nothing. I know it's not going to happen, but one of the best reasons to be involved on Grienke is how bad the pitching classes are for the next couple of years. He might be the best we see on the market for some time.

[Assman22]

The pitching is garbage. This years was entirely better.

I will agree with Kyle on that front.

Yeah not too much to get excited about.

Cano, Ellsbury, Granderson, Lincecum.

Some decent 2nd tier guys like Hughes, De La Rosa, Johnson, Floyd, Choo, Pence, Prado, Utley, etc.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ee-agents.html

[cubsfan2206]

Choo, Ellsbury, Hughes, Johnson, Escobar, Cano(if he isn't extended) are all guys we should be targeting next off season. It's all gonna depend on health for JJ and Ellsbury though. If those guys stay healthy in 2013 we gotta be all over them. Both should be cheaper than Hamilton/Grienke this year and I like Ellsbury over Hamilton if healthy anyway

[CubbieSteve]

Already saying wait til next year in December. That's totally us.