Cubs Discussion Thread

[GoSoxMMV]

This was mentioned in the playoff discussion thread, but I thought it might be worth having a separate thread to track the Bad Guys from the North Side.

First up, after a quick 2 and out playoff exit, Saint Theo will meet with Ricketts next week to discuss the Cubs offseason plans and his future with the team. Some are suggesting that Theo might depart this offseason. His contract with the Cubs is up after next season.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-rumors-...205833993.html

Incredible how the Cubs "dynasty" fizzled after their WS title year. I thought for sure after 2016 they were stacked for the future and a good bet to return to the World Series at least one more time if not more thanks to their young, cost-controlled team and their owners' deep pockets. They made it to the NLCS the following year, but after than they've played a total of 3 playoff games (all in the wild card round) and lost them all. They didn't even make the wild card last year.

Aside from Epstein's future, where to the Flubs go from here in 2021? One year of control left on Bryant and Rizzo. They have an option on Lester that they can buy out for $10M

[longtimefan]

They have to do something with 3 pitchers leaving. I suspect they may try for a 1 year deal with Lester and/or Q. They also have to make some significant roster moves. They are not hitting in the key situations. It's impossible to say who goes. That depends on return trade value. But if I was running the show, I would explore every possible scenario. Darvish may be a lock to keep but no one else. Bryant and Baez have the best trade value and who may be trade bait. I'm not sure about Contreras. Who would replace him? McCann? But that may be too much of a budget hit.
I started to think who may help us. I didn't want a DH replacement after the EE mess. But I then wondered would Schwarber be an benefit? Could he hit 30+ HRs next season for us and give us a left-handed bat? Could Q be our 3rd pitcher in the rotation?

[Dumpjerry]

Theo built the team to be a one-year wonder. Mission accomplished.

[Hitmen77]

Mark Gonzalez summarizes what has gone wrong with the Cubs since 2016:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-2016-world-series-20201004-t5cwyt3csvbmzlyvt6qdlx54h4-story.html

[HomeFish]

Can't believe they would even consider getting rid of Theo. Then again they ran Maddon out of town. Complete opposite of the White Sox culture, where people much less capable than Theo and Maddon have secure jobs for life.

[Hitmen77]

Can't believe they would even consider getting rid of Theo. Then again they ran Maddon out of town. Complete opposite of the White Sox culture, where people much less capable than Theo and Maddon have secure jobs for life.

I don't think the issue is whether the Cubs want to get rid of Theo. It's whether Theo wants to leave. The Cubs window is closing fast, this is a good time for him to get out while they're still a playoff team.....especially if they're planning to unload talent this year and start another rebuild. Let the next guy take the blame when they're mediocre and short on farm system talent. In 2011, the Cubs were the perfect destination for him - a team with deep pockets, bad contracts coming off the books, a few remaining veterans to flip for prospects, and facing several years of very high draft picks - just the right situation for him to work his "miracle".

[soxfanatlanta]

In 2011, the Cubs were the perfect destination for him - a team with deep pockets, bad contracts coming off the books, a few remaining veterans to flip for prospects, and facing several years of very high draft picks - just the right situation for him to work his "miracle".

He helped usher in their first ring since 1908, and several years of competitive baseball; he was not exactly a hinderance to the organization; don't you think?

[Hitmen77]

He helped usher in their first ring since 1908, and several years of competitive baseball; he was not exactly a hinderance to the organization; don't you think?

Where did I say he was a hinderance?

He obviously has a great eye for talent. He was able to turn Dempster into Hendricks, for example. I just think the Cubs situation in 2011 was a perfect destination for him to apply his talents: big market team with deep pockets and big contracts coming off the books, plus several high draft picks already lined up. Likewise, this is a good time for him personally to depart since their current run appears to be nearing an end. If he does announce this week that he's leaving the Cubs, I can't honestly say that I'll be surprised.

[soxfanatlanta]

Where did I say he was a hinderance?

He obviously has a great eye for talent. He was able to turn Dempster into Hendricks, for example. I just think the Cubs situation in 2011 was a perfect destination for him to apply his talents: big market team with deep pockets and big contracts coming off the books, plus several high draft picks already lined up. Likewise, this is a good time for him personally to depart since their current run appears to be nearing an end. If he does announce this week that he's leaving the Cubs, I can't honestly say that I'll be surprised.

All points true. I'm guessing he stays: the aforementioned pockets are still deep, he can dump the valuable pieces for draft picks, and have the Cubs back in business in roughly the same turnaround time as 2011. That is assuming he still has the eye for talent, and an appetite for some lean years. What other organizations have a similar situation?

[TDog]

Theo built the team to be a one-year wonder. Mission accomplished.

And they were fortunate to get that. Not that the team got lucky, but they caught the Giants at the end of their run, when they didn't have a bullpen and couldn't close out the NLDS clincher that, if lost, would have led to a showdown with Bumgarner at his prime. My wife spent a couple of weeks in Cleveland a couple of years ago, and people there were still complaining about the rain delay in Game 7. From beginning to end, there were points where the Cubs could have fallen short in that postseason -- more pronounced than you see with other teams' championship runs, and, of course, they have fallen short since.

It's good to see they went out so easily, especially at home against what was supposed to be an inferior team. Between the Cubs and Twins going down so quickly and so hard, there is something to feel good about this fall. I think the Cubs are 1-7 since with four straight losses and before 2016 had lost 12 straight postseason games going back to 2003 when they came home from Miami needing only one game to get to the World Series and Prior and Wood starting games 6 and 7.

How competitive the Cubs are in the future depends to a great deal on how well the rest of the division develops. The NL Central didn't seem competitive. Maybe that had to do with the Cardinals being sick. The Cubs offense is pretty feeble, though (contrived statistical arguments notwithstanding). It isn't just that they scored only on a solo home run in the postseason, but they have a lineup that is vulnerable to good pitching. Their offensive game plan may have worked in 2016, especially when Bryant and Rizzo were younger, but the GM who put together the lineup with those batting averages may not be equipped to adjust to the upcoming decade. I'm not sure if it was his last big move, but trading for Quintana, while not at the incompetence level of Hahn trading for Shields, doesn't speak well for is judgment. That was a trade the White Sox might have made if they weren't rebuilding. Even White Sox fans at the the time weren't excited about Quintana anymore. Hahn sort of redeemed himself by trading for Quintana, but Epstein seems so deep into sabermetrics that he may not be able to put together a team that can compete outside of the NL Central in the coming decade.

[Hitmen77]

The Cubs layoff 100+ employees, including in areas such as scouting. Note that they're not the only team cutting personnel. The Sox are mentioned as cutting personnel, too.

https://theathletic.com/2150818/2020/10/21/the-cubs-are-a-decimated-organization-after-laying-off-100-plus-employees/

[thomas35forever]

The Cubs have declined their 2021 mutual option on Jon Lester.

[MrX]

Theo stepping down at the end of the week according to Kapman. Hoyer taking over.

[Rocky]

I hope someone takes Hahn’s phone away.

[TomC727]

Theo stepping down at the end of the week according to Kapman. Hoyer taking over.

Not surprising. Theo knows the ship has sailed.