Seems a lot of sources including ESPN Buster Olney believes that Maddon and the Cubs already have a done deal. He believes this because the Cubs have not come out and said one word about the speculation when other teams have said they have their manager. Renteria made a statement which is odd. This is a great move, if it happens. I love the way Maddon manages games and has worked with young kids his whole career. I also believe this means that the Cubs are going hard in FA for pitching and making their push for the playoffs. People wanted signs that they are progressing forward and this would be the biggest one to date.
I will temper my emotions on this until it happens. I would guess he is a top 5 manager give or take, and call it a PR move, but it surely wouldn't hurt to start the off-season campaign, especially if they land him early enough.
Definitely a PR move. A manager makes a difference of, at most, a couple games over the course of a season. This will buy them several more years of not having to spend in FA cause the sheep and fanboys will be satisfied that this move is enough. Paying a GM $3.5M has bought the team 3 years of dropping the payroll almost in half with very few complaints. Paying a manager is much cheaper than bringing in quality players and will buy the team several more years of satisfied fans and 2.5M paying customers for another 90+ loss team. I look for the Cub$ to again fail to land quality starting pitching and Theo can always fall back on his statement that he said there were no guarantees they would sign anyone this offseason.
And if you are a free agent, your decision could come down to 3 (not necessarily all) things. Money, team itself, and who is in charge of the team. Having Maddon would aide in the manager part. The Cubs being young and on the uptick helps tremendously. And freed up money they have helps too. There is also a fine line between paying someone, and drastically overpaying for them to be on the team. The Cubs are not poised to get that final piece and go all out and spend yet. They did in fact finish in last place. They are however positioned to make huge steps forward by getting a couple of free agents in here. I do feel they will be extremely aggressive in targeting pitching and in fact, land some, but every team has its limits. And just to add to it, take this for what it's worth, but I feel others around the league are seeing what's going on in Chicago. I would take either one at this point. Both would be phenominal. Lester, Arrieta, Peavy, Hendricks, and Wada/Wood would be a pretty solid rotation.
Read Theo went down to FLorida to talk to Maddon. Rumor is they're very close to a deal as of yesterday. You should retire, Ricky. Cubs are gonna pay you to sit at home.
Im still reading rumors that Ricky would take over a different position. I know people dont think that could possibly happen, but I dont see another team going after him hard as a head coach. He could stay on. He would be paid well for it. I still think its a done deal. There has not been one word from the Cubs FO which is extremely odd if they werent trying to sign him or have a deal in place. If the World Series ends tonight, I see an announcement coming within the next 3 days maybe a week.
Also, whats funny is people say the Cubs arent a desirable spot. It seems Maddon opted out for a chance to manage the Cubs. Add in the latest comments by Peavy on him and Lester and yea, it seems somebody doesnt know what he is talking about.
Typical fanboy hypocrisy at work. Signing a 26 year old Zambrano to like a 5 year deal is one of the worst moves in the history of the franchise and is still holding the franchise back. But signing a pitcher who would be 34 early next season, with 1 season of an ERA under 3.5 since 2010, is a great move that will propel the franchise to it's greatest heights. Fanboys will be fanboys.
It's been noted that they want veteran presence to help groom the kids, and in fact, much of what they appear to be targeting has playoff experience. There is nothing wrong with having a Peavy on the team as a middle of the order guy, and one would figure that his numbers improve in the NL as evidenced in Frisco. Is there a reason why you want free agents in here, and then shoot down every one that is rumored to be a potential player? Three years ago you wanted Wilson Betimit at 3B over Ian Stewart. Now Peavy, which would still be an upgrade is a bad thing. You hate just to hate. Funny how you said everyone else had an agenda when talking about Hendry. Hypocrisy? Pot meet kettle. *WALL*
If they were to get Maddon, there is little to no way to keep Renteria here. A demotion to be still on the team is not productive. Good thing is that his resume has not been tarnished as he did a respectable job wins-wise and with young players and with what he had. Wouldn't it be funny if he landed in Tampa?
Exactly where did I say that I didn't want Peavy here? Please post my accurate and exact words for a change instead of your fanboy exaggerations and hyperbole stating that I think signing Peavy would be a bad move. We will all be waiting anxiously.
Actually I wanted Aramis Ramirez to be kept. And I was correct about Betimit being an improvement over Stewart. You left that part out conveniently.
Do you blackout when you type? "Signing a 26 year old Zambrano to like a 5 year deal is one of the worst moves in the history of the franchise and is still holding the franchise back. But signing a pitcher who would be 34 early next season, with 1 season of an ERA under 3.5 since 2010, is a great move that will propel the franchise to it's greatest heights." Oh and before you try to strawman your way out of it by saying some ridiculous shit. No one said Peavy makes the Cubs champions. All that was said is that Peavy seems to find Chicago a desirable place with Lester when you have clearly stated the opposite.
Do you comprehend anything you read?? Not my statements. Guess that someone typing statements made by others is too complicated for you to grasp. Merely repeating from the fanboy Bible
Just as you conveniently left out the very next sentence after Stewart which quantifies upgrading. *WRITE*
Show where that was written word for word? If you cant produce, then those are your own words? Am I missing something? Wrigs would slap you around this forum.
