Pancake Bear

That isn’t what he said. He said if this ‘if this is our second acquisition’. I don’t necessarily agree with him on that. If we get Cole and a catcher, I’ll wait it out and see how it goes. I do agree if we don’t get an impact pitcher, I’ll call for Eppler to be out.

That’s what scares me. ”If you’re always rational about every free agent, you will finish third on every free agent.” Sometimes you have to spend stupid money. This is one of those times. If the Yankees or Dodgers do decide to get competitive (I’m skeptical, but both teams have the financial means to do so if they choose to), we will have to have the high offer to have a chance. Sox were highest for Wheeler and still lost.

That’s not what makes him good at his job. That’s what he does (not just him) to pretend he’s working. I don’t particularly like Morosi, but it isn’t because he’s a bad reporter, it’s because he’s a garbage analyst who seems to have a hate-on for Trout for some reason.

This is important. There is no ace next year. It’s basically Cole (/possibly Strasburg) or bust. That or get lucky on bargain guys like the Rangers did with Lynn and Minor. I don’t know that I trust Eppler to get lucky on starting pitching, although having Callaway and Maddon assures me that the coaching staff will get the most out of what we have. I’m not okay with 2022. If Eppler strikes out on Cole, I’ll watch till the end of the year to see how his backup plan worked out. If we’re not at least in contention in late September, Eppler needs to go.

Probably not too reliable, but what the heck:

Okay, I’ll bite. Who is worth the risk in your opinion?

That makes no sense. Longer term ——> Lower aav. 7-8 vs 12 years and he’d balk at 36 for the best pitcher in baseball?

I wouldn’t. That’s how we ended up with Harvey and Cahill. Teams don’t contend with cheap pitchers unless they get lucky. Our pitching staff will be worst in the division unless we have an ace.

None of those are great options. Arte really needs to open his pocketbook.

Probably Boyd.

Who is available for trade? Thor and deGrom are off the table, so is Gray. Ray is a rental, and Boyd is supposedly super expensive. Do you trade for an unproven young arm and hope you get lucky?

I guess the small bright side is that this probably takes the Phillies out on Cole, and the White Sox already said they’re out. I’m curious who is willing to spend on him still. Hopefully the Angels, but beyond that, who knows? Also, who is our new top secondary choice? Bumgarner seems like a bad idea. Ryu would fit right in as an IL regular. Who else?

Quit screwing around, Eppie.

Is a new stadium more likely in your opinion or renovation?

This is the only way it would make sense. I don’t see it happening, but you never know.

Wheeler’s agent is apparently letting teams know he wants to sign this week. Word is the White Sox are offering the most. Suggests to me he doesn’t really want to go to Chicago but doesn’t like the other offers so far and is trying to get other teams to offer at least comparable money.

Cole won’t be signing for 230 or for 6 years. 7 260 *might* get it done.

I think Wheeler going to the White Sox. I don’t see the Angels going that high. If they did, it probably means they’re out on Cole.

I may have spoken too soon.

Either the Angels are keeping interest quiet or they’re out on Wheeler. Which presumably means they can’t do both and they’re all in on Cole. I can’t see a scenario where they think they have a low chance at Cole and don’t go after Wheeler instead.

Are you kidding? People still talk about Osuna and Chapman (AC’s weren’t quite the same, iirc). Maybe Russell will land with the Royals. Second chances and all that.

Yep. If he really wanted to be here he’d tell Arte, “Dude, I’ll sign for less so you can sign Stras, too.” What a loser. We should only go for people who really want to be here.

Because it virtually always means the same thing?

That’s one use of the term. bBut generally without context, if someone else had written what I wrote, I would read it as synonymous with releasing them. Paying the salary and cutting bait. I’m not sure why you assumed I meant anything other than that. As you said, that doesn’t really happen in baseball. Other sports sometimes.