The Hey its 2021 now guys MLB thread

[wadesworld]

The Mets just got insanely exciting.

[Dish]

I can't believe the Cubs couldn't get a better package for Kimbrel. As a Sox fan, when my reaction was "that's it???", usually not a good sign.

[Jockey]

Doubtful.  But at least the Ricketts have all that Wrigley redevelopment money!

That and Marquee are the money trees in the future. The baseball team is a secondary stream.

[rocky_warrior]

Will Cubs be better than Pirates next year?

Can they really get that much worse than this year?  Yeah, selling the major pieces, but they weren't doing it.

[Jockey]

I can't believe the Cubs couldn't get a better package for Kimbrel. As a Sox fan, when my reaction was "that's it???", usually not a good sign.

Dish, I'm sure it was the best they could do. Still decent for them because elite closers have zero value on losing teams.

[tower912]

Daniel Norris to the Brewers.  Lefty utility reliever.  Still wants to be a starter.   Erratic as hell.   

[jesmu84]

Francona stepping away from coaching to take care of his health.   Smart.   Like Gardenhire a year ago.

Quitting on his team? Can't wait to see the Biles reaction

[The Sultan]

Cubs fans still have a couple years of Jason Heyward to look forward to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I always love trading for relievers with ERAs .02 off from 6.

[PGsHeroes32]

The Twins just got two players for JA Happ.


This could be the changing of the guard in how this organization makes trades.

Meanwhile, the Cards should have the whole FO drug tested.

[JWags85]

The Twins just got two players for JA Happ.


This could be the changing of the guard in how this organization makes trades.

Meanwhile, the Cards should have the whole FO drug tested.

SHHH.  Don't send up the bat signal

[Lennys Tap]

I can't believe the Cubs couldn't get a better package for Kimbrel. As a Sox fan, when my reaction was "that's it???", usually not a good sign.

Agree. Madrigal is a nice little (emphasis on little) player and Heuer has potential, but c'mon. The Sox could probably trade Kimbrel in the off-season for a bigger haul than they gave up (if they want to).

[WI_Inferiority_Complexes1]

I can't believe the Cubs couldn't get a better package for Kimbrel. As a Sox fan, when my reaction was "that's it???", usually not a good sign.

Do you maybe just not like Nick Madrigal?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I get Madrigal is not exciting and doesn't have star upside but the industry seems to think the Cubs did pretty well with that deal.  I am curious what the other offers were. 

[Dish]

I want Nick Madrigal off my baseball team, like right now. I can't take it anymore. I don't care if he hits .350 with all his hits being single, I can't do this anymore with his horrendous defense and terrible base running.

From a few months ago...

[Pakuni]

I get Madrigal is not exciting and doesn't have star upside but the industry seems to think the Cubs did pretty well with that deal.  I am curious what the other offers were.

Yeah, I actually think it was a fair trade.
Madrigal may not be the second coming of Jose Altuve, but he's a legit MLB starter who's under control for five more seasons.
Heuer looked great last year but has been a mess this year.

[Pakuni]

From a few months ago...

I'd like to think the last six weeks of Leury Garcia and Danny Mendick manning second instead may have changed your mind about this.

[Dish]

Yeah, I actually think it was a fair trade.
Madrigal may not be the second coming of Jose Altuve, but he's a legit MLB starter who's under control for five more seasons.
Heuer looked great last year but has been a mess this year.

This is what I agree with, the multi year control at little cost is the biggest upside here. Madrigal has a 70-75 hit tool, but also has three of his last four seasons have seen bad injuries (including two from baserunning).

Heuer had a very good 2020, some bad luck this year, but I for one could not trust him come this October in a big situation. Multi year control though, could bounce back.

[Lennys Tap]

Cardinals get JA Happ and John Lester, essentially cornering the market on bad, over the hill left handed starting pitchers.

[Dish]

One thing that maybe I only find interesting, is in these crosstown mid season trades, I would assume it's got to be easier on Tepera and Kimbrel mentally.

Don't have to move at all, family can stay in place, kids go to same school. Just a different route to work each day.

[CreightonWarrior]

David Ross walking into the clubhouse today

[jesmu84]

David Ross walking into the clubhouse today

Kris Bryant today:

[Lennys Tap]

Yeah, I actually think it was a fair trade.
Madrigal may not be the second coming of Jose Altuve, but he's a legit MLB starter who's under control for five more seasons.
Heuer looked great last year but has been a mess this year.

I think it's TBD if Nick Madrigal is a legit MLB starting second baseman. He's a very good contact hitter but little else - zero power, very small and so far very fragile. Not a base stealer, questionable base running instincts, below average defensively, I would rank him pretty far down the list of second basemen. He does have years of control and may get better but he looks like a replacement level player to me. I'd rather have Hernandez and he's no all star.

Heuer, otoh, has a lot of potential. Who knows whether he will realize it.

Bottom line, if the White Sox decide they want to trade Kimbrel in off season I don't see why they won't be able to get at least the equivalent of Madrigal/Heuer in return. They can make that decision later. In the meantime, they get Kimbrel for the stretch run/postseason for nothing (other than his salary).

[JWags85]

Cubs give Bryant away for a song.  Not even surprised.  It became more and more apparent today that this was about dumping salary as opposed to trying to strategically accrue assets for the future.

Baez and a pitcher for a prospect coming off shoulder surgery.  Yay!

Really banking on the pink hat Cubs fans to fill Wrigley through the next few seasons while treating the team like the mid 2000s Marlins.

When Epstein rebuilt the Cubs, you could see the vision.  You could see what they were trying to do.  With this firesale, no damn idea.

[tower912]

Quitting on his team? Can't wait to see the Biles reaction

He has had health struggles the last couple of years.   Going to try to get healthy for next year.