Cubs Fans...

[Irish2155]

Yeah they test for PEDS now. Saber metrics is the way baseball will forever be gauged now. Not HR totals and RBIs. And certainly not juiced numbers of players like Ramirez, Bonds, and Clemens

So you are saying Jason Hayword is worth this much money?

$184 mil is a lot for one player. He better be damn good.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Lol at Cardinals fans diminishing Heyward. He has the 9th highest WAR since entering the league and opt outs after years 3 and 4.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Career average of almost 20 HRs, 20 SBs, and 20 2Bs, .270 BA, .350 OBP. Rookie of the year and 3 time gold glove winner. Coming off of a career best year in hits, doubles, stolen bases, strikeouts, batting average and on base percentage. But hes JD Drew

 

[Irish2155]

Career average of almost 20 HRs, 20 SBs, and 20 2Bs, .270 BA, .350 OBP. Rookie of the year and 3 time gold glove winner. Coming off of a career best year in hits, doubles, stolen bases, strikeouts, batting average and on base percentage. But hes JD Drew

There is nothing overwhelming in that stat line at all. Consistent decent numbers for a decent to above ball player. That is a lot of money.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

There is nothing overwhelming in that stat line at all. Consistent decent numbers for a decent to above ball player. That is a lot of money.

Here's a good article that describes this argument:

A windfall for Jason Heyward, a victory for WAR-lovers | Mark Bradley blog

If you go by traditional stats, Jason Heyward is a pretty good ballplayer. Only once in six seasons has he hit above .277. Only once has he driven in more than 72 runs. Only once has he hit more than 18 homers. If we cherry-pick the best of his seasons, we get only .293 with 82 RBI’s and 27 homers. We get the sort of season Miguel Cabrera throws back.

If we go by advanced analytics, we find that Heyward has been — as ESPN Stats & Information notes — the fifth-most valuable position player in baseball over the past two seasons. The four above him: Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson, Paul Goldschmidt and Adrian Beltre.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Using Saber metrics most analysts say that a players contract should be anywhere from 5 million to 7 million per WAR. Heyward had a 6.5 WAR last season and about a a 5.5 on his career. Just because he doesn't knock in 150 runs and hit 45 HRs doesn't mean he isn't an elite talent, baseball is a different game then the steroid Era

 

[johnnycando]

There’s An 85 Percent Chance The Cubs Won’t Win The World Series Next Year Either | FiveThirtyEight

I like those odds.

It's as good for us as anybody else.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Also 20-20-20 isn't decent, that's elite.

 

[arahop]

Before last year he was considered a possible bust . One good year don't get this kind of money. But hey what do I know. Cardinals and the patriots are the best at cutting bait at the right time.

The Cards offered more money for him. Lol. See you April 18th

 

[Irish2155]

Also 20-20-20 isn't decent, that's elite.

That is well rounded, 5 tool...not elite. None of those numbers are elite. He is a very good baseball player.

Kyle Schwarber has potential to be every bit of elite. Now that dude can mash.

 

[FearTheBeard]

The Cards offered more money for him. Lol. See you April 18th

Well contract wise yes, but with the cubs his contract had a higher AAV. The cards and nats offered him more years, just less per year. And i thought i saw he has 2 opt outs on this contract but not sure where i read that. Hes a hell of a player and im pissed the cards couldnt keep him

 

[blueNDgold44]

Well contract wise yes, but with the cubs his contract had a higher AAV. The cards and nats offered him more years, just less per year. And i thought i saw he has 2 opt outs on this contract but not sure where i read that. Hes a hell of a player and im pissed the cards couldnt keep him

After years 3 and 4

 

[arahop]

Well contract wise yes, but with the cubs his contract had a higher AAV. The cards and nats offered him more years, just less per year. And i thought i saw he has 2 opt outs on this contract but not sure where i read that. Hes a hell of a player and im pissed the cards couldnt keep him

I think it was cleverly structured. Cards and Nats were 10 years at 20 mil per. Cubs offered 2 less years @ 23 per. The part that stinks for the Cards is that they traded Miller for Heyward and in return only got one year. The Cards went for it to win the Series last year and had the best record t in the NL. And still had a decent chance of re signing him. I think it was the right move at the time. Tough string of events. Red Birds will end up getting Gordon or cespedes,

 

[IrishJayhawk]

That is well rounded, 5 tool...not elite. None of those numbers are elite. He is a very good baseball player.

Kyle Schwarber has potential to be every bit of elite. Now that dude can mash.

Schwarber is an offensive stud. But he does cost the team some runs in the OF and on the basepaths. He can certainly be "elite."

That said, Heyward has the highest run prevention numbers in the field of anyone in baseball last year. That's what made the Cardinals so good last year. Pitching and defense.

For Cards, it's all about run prevention : Sports

You can argue that WAR is somewhat overrated, but it's a rough estimate of how important a player in all categories combined. He's absolutely elite in that category. As I posted above, he ranks 5th in baseball over the last two years.

 

[Irish2155]

Schwarber is an offensive stud. But he does cost the team some runs in the OF and on the basepaths. He can certainly be "elite."

That said, Heyward has the highest run prevention numbers in the field of anyone in baseball last year. That's what made the Cardinals so good last year. Pitching and defense.

For Cards, it's all about run prevention : Sports

You can argue that WAR is somewhat overrated, but it's a rough estimate of how important a player in all categories combined. He's absolutely elite in that category. As I posted above, he ranks 5th in baseball over the last two years.

Yeah, he is a really good player and can be even better in this lineup especially. He doesn't do anything bad, a borderline all-star year in and out. Theo is certainly loading up.

Rizzo swings it really well too...that is kind of your guy's "problem" (for lack of a better word)...having two first baseman that can crush the ball without a DH. They both have to play somewhere though.

 

[philipm31]

I think it was cleverly structured. Cards and Nats were 10 years at 20 mil per. Cubs offered 2 less years @ 23 per. The part that stinks for the Cards is that they traded Miller for Heyward and in return only got one year. The Cards went for it to win the Series last year and had the best record t in the NL. And still had a decent chance of re signing him. I think it was the right move at the time. Tough string of events. Red Birds will end up getting Gordon or cespedes,

Unlikely.

They will try and concentrate on pitching now for sure, with all the question marks surrounding their staff, which is without Lynn for the year and has to rely on Garcia, Wacha and Wainwright all being healthy for the full year, as well as Matt Holliday and Matt Adams.

The Cards took a major step back, so I do not see them as being an attractive place for guys like Gordon or Cespedes. Although, if it were to happen, getting Cespedes would add power to the offense and add a great defense in the outfield, which they sorely need.

 

[arrowryan]

Heyward moving back to right field? So much talent on this team

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: Dexter Fowler is here! <a href="https://t.co/dEYq9tsUQH">pic.twitter.com/dEYq9tsUQH</a></p>— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/702909030927200256">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> and OF Dexter Fowler have agreed to terms on a 2016 contract with a mutual option for 2017. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGo?src=hash">#LetsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/l6PYVJgEx6">pic.twitter.com/l6PYVJgEx6</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/702910473860059136">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[Irishnuke]

So someone is going to be traded. Too many outfielders now. Soler, Schwarber, Heyward, Fowler, Baez. The three junior guys need to develop as OFers and that's not going to happen if the three of them are battling for one spot.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

So someone is going to be traded. Too many outfielders now. Soler, Schwarber, Heyward, Fowler, Baez. The three junior guys need to develop as OFers and that's not going to happen if the three of them are battling for one spot.

Great problem to have. Fowler in CF is solid and Heyward in RF is a gold glove. Suddenly Shwarber's deficiencies in RF aren't as glaring. Soler will get his time, especially in interleague games. Baez is tricky. I bet he gets 20-30 starts and 200 ABs, giving Zobrist, Fowler, and Russell some time off.

 

[arrowryan]

Also, Chris Coghlan was traded today for Aaron Brooks (pitcher). So, they basically got Fowler and an extra arm for Coghlan. That is too good to pass up.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PS the Cubs don't have too many OF's. The irony of people worrying about this is pretty awesome. "We have TOO MANY good players!"</p>— Len Kasper (@LenKasper) <a href="https://twitter.com/LenKasper/status/702938943092752385">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[drake29]

As a Royals fan -I'd like to see them trade for Soler and Baez....

 

[johnnycando]

C'mon baby!

Arrieta looking SKRONG.

 

[GBdomer]

Fck the got damn Cubs, but damn you guys are sooo loaded

 

[johnnycando]

Just ANOTHER No-No.

 

[Irishnuke]

He's the best pitcher in baseball right now. Cubbies are looking skrong af.

 

[ACamp1900]

Could you imagine Baltimore with him at the top of their staff?? ouch. And I think the Angels not signing Matt Harvey years ago is painful to think about...

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Could you imagine Baltimore with him at the top of their staff?? ouch. And I think the Angels not signing Matt Harvey years ago is painful to think about...

Going to go down as one of the most lopsided trades in history.

15 starts of Scott Feldman for Arrieta and Strop.

Chris Bosio is becoming the new Dave Duncan.

 

[NDdomer2]

Going to go down as one of the most lopsided trades in history.

15 starts of Scott Feldman for Arrieta and Strop.

Chris Bosio is becoming the new Dave Duncan.

Is clevenger still with the O's?

People are forgetting that arrieta had a 7something era that year I think.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Is clevenger still with the O's?

People are forgetting that arrieta had a 7something era that year I think.

Clevenger isn't still with them.

Steve Clevenger Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

And I'm not forgetting that Arrieta wasn't very good that year for the Os. There was reason to doubt that he'd ever pan out. That said, Lou Brock was only hitting .251 through 50 games when the Cubs traded him to the Cards. Doesn't mean they didn't get fleeced.

 

[arrowryan]

Has anyone else heard of the rumor that the Cubs will trade for Sonny Gray before the deadline? Tom Waddle from ESPN Chicago said that; it was the first time I had heard of that rumor and I've been thinking of who they'd have to give up for him.

With Bryant playing well in LF and Baez playing well at 3rd base (from what I have seen anyway), I am warming up to the idea of trading Soler.