MLB - NEWS & NOTES

But what he does well is what the Cubs need. They don't need a slugger, they've got 3 or 4 (depending on if they keep Soler or not). They need a guy that doesn't strike out a bunch, gets on base and plays great defense. He's only 26, and will only be 32 at the end of his contract. The Cubs are paying for what they think he will do and they have the money to do it.

It is a good, if not pricey fit. But he apparently took less money to come to Chicago.

 

He gets on base sure, but is he a good defensive CF? He has publicly stated he hates leading off so I can only assume he'll hit #2 for you. That's a plus, but he hasn't shown great D in CF.

Also, I don't get your math. He's 26. He got an 8 year deal with an opt-out after 3. He will be either 29 or 34 at the end of the deal.

And when did striking out in 21% of AB's not striking out a bunch?

 

1. IF, he aint all that, then why did the Cards offer him more money?

2. Heyward, 26, fills a large gap in center field, replacing Dexter Fowler, who is a free agent. In addition, he is an attractive fit at Wrigley Field, where he's batted .311 (28-for-90) with four home runs, five doubles and 13 RBIs in 25 games.

3. The Cubs were looking for defense in center to cover the corner outfielders, Schwarber and Soler, and Heyward should perfectly fill that responsibility. He has won three Gold Gloves in the past four seasons, winning two with the Braves and another with the Cardinals.

4. At a 21% strikeout rate and batting near the top of the lineup, his average SO/game is less the 1... aint great, but with the return he should provide, its worth the gamble.

 

1. Don't know, glad he didn't take it, just like I'm glad Albert turned us down.

2. He's an offensive upgrade over Fowler, as I pointed out. But don't expect him to be a .300 hitter in Wrigley, the Cubs have sucked most of his career so I'm sure that helps his numbers there.

3. He has won 3 GG's, in RIGHT FIELD. Did you see him play CF in ATL or STL? He has 30 career starts in CF and I can tell you he's not the same CF as he is RF. He has good speed, not great, so his range plays really well in the corner, but he doesn't have great gap coverage in CF. I'm sure more time there will help, but I would bet against him being a GG CF.

4. He has an average K%. That's fine, but the Cubs will still be striking out a ton and he won't help counter act that by not striking out.

I'm not saying he's not a good player, he is. But he's not an elite player. I'd like to have him on my team, but not at that price. As I've pointed out before he's Neil Walker at the plate. Neil Walker's arb projection is $10.7M for 2016. So do you really think his defense and baserunning are worth $12.3M with 2 opt outs?

 

...and now the O's have pulled that offer off the table.

 

davis--sign man. $150 MILLION! You could break your ankle tomorrow chasing your kids around. SIGN MAN, SIGN.

as for the cubs -- with Heywood, they are going all-in on the World Series now. No more excuses or losses. They got Lackey now and Heywood, with Lester and Bryant and company. World Series or bust.

oh and Heywood had deals of $200 mil on the table he turned down.

wish I played baseball!

and the giles - phils deal has changed now to a 5 or 2 deal and former #1 pick mark appeal going to philly now too. the 5 guys philly is getting are pitchers now and not that 1 hitter.

 

Dan Duquette said they have broken negotiations with Scott Boras for Chris Davis and it will be on Boras or Davis to resume any.

I wish I could find this online, but I heard an interview on the radio where he spoke about the Cubs contract with Heyward. He talked about how the O's would never sign a contract like that because all the advantage is to the player. If he plays well the player opts out and the team loses out on the benefits of the long term contract. If not they are saddled with a bad contract. He feels its high risk, low reward. He also noted the Price contract and Greinke's contract in LA were the same way, he even used the Greinke contract as a perfect example.

 

Just a cool pic... dig the cars.

 

There is a good chance that Soler will be traded for more pitching IMO. He struggles to stay healthy and if I remember correctly, he's a Hendry signing and not a Theo signing. I don't think Heyward will be playing CF often for the Cubs.

Not that I'm willing to give up on Schwarber, but he could bring in a high quality arm. But the Cubs aren't willing to part with him yet.

 

no way i trade this kid. he's a beast! you keep guys like him, not trade him.

 

Theo has a man crush on him, so he isn't going anywhere. But I think he is more valuable in the AL than the NL. Don't get me wrong, I like him and he is less than 2 years out of college, so he can improve on his weaknesses and he will. But I would really like another young arm with potential. I like Hendricks, but he doesn't top 90 on the gun. He's a nice #5 guy.

 

i would trade someone else over schwarber for a arm. i know the trade value may not bring back what you need, but he's too good to trade.

 

They are most likely going to move Soler. That doesn't solve the problem of who will play CF though. Schwarber and Soler sure aren't going to do it. If you guys want to run out Chris Coghlan in CF everyday that's fine with me, but a very average player who's now 31 and has 91 career starts in CF isn't exactly going to convince me you have a CF. Dexter Fowler played 156 games in CF last year for you haven't added anyone to replace that.

So if Heyward isn't your CF, who is?

Another question, who is going to hit leadoff? Heyward has publicly stated he hates it. Russell had a .307 OBP last year. Zobrist has lead off 129 games and has a .302 OBP doing it. It's not going to be Rizzo, Schwarber, Bryant, Montero, Coghlan, or Soler. So who will it be? I would have to say Zobrist but I wouldn't feel good about it.

 

I could make a very strong argument Soler is worth more in trade than Schwarber, especially if he's going to an NL team. He actually plays a position.

 

I agree with, mutigers. I think Soler would bring more right now especially in filling a team with a hole in the outfield. Hell, he'd be a good fit in right field in Detroit... many places i think.

He can do it all... improvement on last years .263 BA and you really have someone.

 

i thought schwarber was catcher / left field ? he was on my fantasy team this year...

 

Meanwhile... he's not bad...

[video]https://youtu.be/dW5CVQzqWlc[/video]

 

Wow! he's good. Sounds just like the original!

 

If they trade Soler, then they will probably aquire someone for CF. Leadoff is pencilled in as Zobrist or Heyward. Russell has potential. He was working in September to round out his game a lot more. His bat was not major league ready when they called him up last year, but out second basemen were batting under .200 so they called him up because at least he had the defense and he was the future. His bat was better in the second half.

Almora or McKinney could be options as mid season call ups to play Center. They won't start the year with the Cubs, but I wouldn't discount a July call up with either.

They bottom line is the Cubs have options. Baez and Soler are both interesting trade bait.

Schwarber will still mainly play left next year, but potentially catch. The organization will want to see how he progresses, but with Wilson Contreras in the minors, I think they don't care if Schwarber is able to succeed Montero/Ross at the end of the year. (I don't remember how many more years Montero has, but Ross has said this is his last year).

With Maddon, the lineup will change daily anyway based on matchups. So, I am not too worried about who will do what. The kids will be in a position to succeed. If they don't, that is on them, not because they weren't put in the best position possible.

 

[h]Breaking News[/h]

MLB announced today that Pete Rose?s application for reinstatement from the Ineligible List has been denied.
__________________________

They will never forgive him, but others they turn a blind eye = double standard.