Jason Heyward signs with Cubs

[Laika]

Man Crawford really fell off a cliff.

 

Source: FanGraphs -- Carl Crawford, Jason Heyward

 

oops

[KingKat]

oops

 

You guys are annoyingly fast.

[jaysfan2014]

K... but our team is super f***ing old and two of our best hitters are only under contract for this year. The Cubs are all 26 or younger and locked up long term. The are most likely going to win multiple pennants in the next 5 years.

 

Uh... Cardinals? Pirates? They're in the same division, and are better than the Cubs. And the Cubs need more pitching.. they aren't going anywhere unless they upgrade that rotation. Lester is going to be in his decline years soon, Hammel's gone after next season, and they have very little in their farm system--most of their top prospects are hitters. And Arrieta's a free agent after 2017..

[King]

Uh... Cardinals? Pirates? They're in the same division, and are better than the Cubs. And the Cubs need more pitching.. they aren't going anywhere unless they upgrade that rotation. Lester is going to be in his decline years soon, Hammel's gone after next season, and they have very little in their farm system--most of their top prospects are hitters. And Arrieta's a free agent after 2017..

 

Mods

[fatcowxlive]

K... but our team is super f***ing old and two of our best hitters are only under contract for this year. The Cubs are all 26 or younger and locked up long term. The are most likely going to win multiple pennants in the next 5 years.

 

I have hopped on the Cubs bandwagon for now as my second team to follow (still got love for the A's) what a beautiful team they have, it's going to be exciting to watch them

[Angrioter]

Hansel = Cubs

[glory]

Cubbies are going to be fun to watch for the next few years.

 

And if they add Carrasco like someone mentioned? Damn.

[FrozenRopes]

C - Montero

1B - Rizzo

2B - Zobrist

3B - Bryant

SS - Russell

CF - Heyward

LF - Schwarber

RF - Soler

 

Baez/Coghlan

 

Arrieta

Lester

Lackey

Hendricks

Hammel

 

That is absolutely ridiculous.

 

Pitching staff doesnt scare...

[Orgfiller]

The NL Central is going to be a bloodbath. This is great.

[Orgfiller]

Pitching staff doesnt scare...

 

wat

 

Ace

Ace/#1 pitcher

#2 starter

#2/#3 starter, possibly better

Solid back of the rotation starter

[BTS]

Pitching staff doesnt scare...

 

wat

 

Two aces, a #2, and two #3s.

[Grant77]

Two opt outs!!!!

 

There are TWO opt outs in the contract!!!

 

This changes everything.

 

The value of the opt outs probably puts the "theoretical" value of the contact well up over $200M.

 

It's basically a 3 year contract with a couple of player options. If he's good, he will leave and if he's a bust, he will stay. They probably get tremendous value for 3 years, but also take on tremendous risk with no upside for the next 5 years.

[GD]

There isn't a single weakness

 

Even their 6/7 guys are roughly as good as our 4th/5th lol

[DuckDuckGose]

Their lineup and rotation is going to be bonkers:

 

1. Zobrist (2B)

2. Rizzo (1B)

3. Heyward (CF/RF)

4. Bryant (3B)

5. Schwarber (LF/RF)

6. Montero ©

7. Russell (SS)

8. Coghlan (RF/CF)

9. SP

 

 

Meh, the Jays still have the best offense in baseball.

[Captain Adama]

Meh, the Jays still have the best offense in baseball.

 

IMO I'd take the Cubs lineup over the Jays.

[DuckDuckGose]

IMO I'd take the Cubs lineup over the Jays.

 

Because they are all under 30 I would too but for 2016 I take the Jays easily.

[Captain Adama]

Because they are all under 30 I would too but for 2016 I take the Jays easily.

 

Even then I'd probably still take the Cubs'. There are less question marks in that lineup than the Jays'.

[DuckDuckGose]

Even then I'd probably still take the Cubs'. There are less question marks in that lineup than the Jays'.

 

C -- Martin over Montero

1B -- Edwin and Rizzo are a wash

2B -- Travis and Zobrist will be about the same but edge to Zobrist

3B -- JD over Bryant because Bryant's K rate is scary and JD is the MVP

SS -- Tulo well ahead of Russell

LF -- Schwarber over Revere by a lot and Saunders by a bit

CF -- Pillar over Soler but it'll be close. Soler will just strikeout way too much

RF -- Joey bats over Heyward

 

IMO really only one position where the Cubs are clearly better offensively and ~4 spots for the Jays.

[Captain Adama]

C -- Martin over Montero

1B -- Edwin and Rizzo are a wash

2B -- Travis and Zobrist will be about the same but edge to Zobrist

3B -- JD over Bryant because Bryant's K rate is scary and JD is the MVP

SS -- Tulo well ahead of Russell

LF -- Schwarber over Revere by a lot and Saunders by a bit

CF -- Pillar over Soler but it'll be close. Soler will just strikeout way too much

RF -- Joey bats over Heyward

 

IMO really only one position where the Cubs are clearly better offensively and ~4 spots for the Jays.

 

LMAO @ Schwarber over Saunders by a "little bit"

Heyward is certainly over Bautista, any edge Bautista has over Heyward offensively is lost over his dismal fielding.

Tulo over Russell is reasonable, but Tulo's injury risk is a big deal and Russell was worth 2.9 WAR last year even with a below average bat.

[Dr. Dinger]

C -- Martin over Montero

1B -- Edwin and Rizzo are a wash

2B -- Travis and Zobrist will be about the same but edge to Zobrist

3B -- JD over Bryant because Bryant's K rate is scary and JD is the MVP

SS -- Tulo well ahead of Russell

LF -- Schwarber over Revere by a lot and Saunders by a bit

CF -- Pillar over Soler but it'll be close. Soler will just strikeout way too much

RF -- Joey bats over Heyward

 

IMO really only one position where the Cubs are clearly better offensively and ~4 spots for the Jays.

 

Their rotation is better than ours all the way from 1 to 5, and it's not even remotely close.

[DuckDuckGose]

LMAO @ Schwarber over Saunders by a "little bit"

Heyward is certainly over Bautista, any edge Bautista has over Heyward offensively is lost over his dismal fielding.

Tulo over Russell is reasonable, but Tulo's injury risk is a big deal and Russell was worth 2.9 WAR last year even with a below average bat.

 

We were only ever talking offense. I'd take Heyward over Jose in terms of the total package. Lets also remember Russell has never played a full season even in the minor leagues. I'm doubtful that he'll play more than Tulo and assuming both will miss some time.

[HERPDERP]

Their rotation is better than ours all the way from 1 to 5, and it's not even remotely close.

 

they were talking strictly lineups.

[burlingtonbandit]

I'm really happy that its the Cubs franchise too. Such a historic franchise and its all around great for the game. Really hard not to like the organization from the FO to the coaching staff to the players.

[DuckDuckGose]

Their rotation is better than ours all the way from 1 to 5, and it's not even remotely close.

 

100%, I just don't find their lineup that scary. Great rotation, defense and baserunning, solid BP and offense.

[DuckDuckGose]

I'm really happy that its the Cubs franchise too. Such a historic franchise and its all around great for the game. Really hard not to like the organization from the FO to the coaching staff to the players.

 

It's nice when they're relevant and lose. Hope they don't win a WS in my lifetime though.

[CJ-Freeway]

Nice move by the Cubs, I'm jealous.

[tpurewal97]

Their lineup and rotation is going to be bonkers:

 

1. Zobrist (2B)

2. Rizzo (1B)

3. Heyward (CF/RF)

4. Bryant (3B)

5. Schwarber (LF/RF)

6. Montero ©

7. Russell (SS)

8. Coghlan (RF/CF)

9. SP

 

1. Arrieta

2. Lester

3. Hendricks

4. Lackey

5. Hammel

 

 

Baez too , unless they trade him for a SP

[fatcowxlive]

100%, I just don't find their lineup that scary. Great rotation, defense and baserunning, solid BP and offense.

 

What? The Cubs and Jays have the best two lineups on paper right now in the majors. No question about it. How can you not be scared lol

[burlingtonbandit]

It's nice when they're relevant and lose. Hope they don't win a WS in my lifetime though.

 

I do. It'd be cool to be able to witness history like that. I like the Cubs and hope they do well, and since they are in the NL the Jays don't compete against them really. Its not like they are the Red Sox who I can't stand.

[tpurewal97]

Theo Epstein = Legend