2015 Cubs Offseason: Building a Winner Around David Ross

[thehawk]

Easy, guys.  Cahill might not be the skinniest guy in the clubhouse, but he's no Baez.

Does this mean Cahill can play CF on his off days?

[Eli]

Since there are tons of rumors about Shelby Miller, if you want to get excited about potentially acquiring him, Jeff Sullivan compares him to Arrieta right before Arrieta broke out.

The best cutter last year, among starting pitchers, belonged to Jake Arrieta. The second-best cutter belonged to Corey Kluber. The third-best belonged to Shelby Miller. Out of nowhere, the pitch didn't just fold itself in to Miller's mix; it became maybe the best thing he throws.

I really don't want to make too much of this, because it's not the sort of thing you can just expect, but there are some parallels between Miller and Jake Arrieta, right as he was preparing to break out. Arrieta has turned into one of the top five or so starting pitchers in the game, and no team would figure Miller's in line to follow, but you could see him on a similar general path, where last year might've been kind of like Arrieta's 2013. Miller has shown the signs, and now it's time to put it all together. His repertoire has become similar to Arrieta's. Arrieta throws his slider/cutter hybrid a bit faster, but Miller showed a velocity uptick in the second half. Maybe he won't become a seven-win pitcher, but he could become a five-win pitcher. He seems to have what he needs.

[SKO]

Since there are tons of rumors about Shelby Miller, if you want to get excited about potentially acquiring him, Jeff Sullivan compares him to Arrieta right before Arrieta broke out.

The best cutter last year, among starting pitchers, belonged to Jake Arrieta. The second-best cutter belonged to Corey Kluber. The third-best belonged to Shelby Miller. Out of nowhere, the pitch didn't just fold itself in to Miller's mix; it became maybe the best thing he throws.

I really don't want to make too much of this, because it's not the sort of thing you can just expect, but there are some parallels between Miller and Jake Arrieta, right as he was preparing to break out. Arrieta has turned into one of the top five or so starting pitchers in the game, and no team would figure Miller's in line to follow, but you could see him on a similar general path, where last year might've been kind of like Arrieta's 2013. Miller has shown the signs, and now it's time to put it all together. His repertoire has become similar to Arrieta's. Arrieta throws his slider/cutter hybrid a bit faster, but Miller showed a velocity uptick in the second half. Maybe he won't become a seven-win pitcher, but he could become a five-win pitcher. He seems to have what he needs.

Fine, fine. Coghlan, Wood, AND Almora.

[Quality Start Machine]

Since there are tons of rumors about Shelby Miller, if you want to get excited about potentially acquiring him, Jeff Sullivan compares him to Arrieta right before Arrieta broke out.

The best cutter last year, among starting pitchers, belonged to Jake Arrieta. The second-best cutter belonged to Corey Kluber. The third-best belonged to Shelby Miller. Out of nowhere, the pitch didn't just fold itself in to Miller's mix; it became maybe the best thing he throws.

I really don't want to make too much of this, because it's not the sort of thing you can just expect, but there are some parallels between Miller and Jake Arrieta, right as he was preparing to break out. Arrieta has turned into one of the top five or so starting pitchers in the game, and no team would figure Miller's in line to follow, but you could see him on a similar general path, where last year might've been kind of like Arrieta's 2013. Miller has shown the signs, and now it's time to put it all together. His repertoire has become similar to Arrieta's. Arrieta throws his slider/cutter hybrid a bit faster, but Miller showed a velocity uptick in the second half. Maybe he won't become a seven-win pitcher, but he could become a five-win pitcher. He seems to have what he needs.

Fine, fine. Coghlan, Wood, AND Almora.

Anybody but LaZobrist.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Since there are tons of rumors about Shelby Miller, if you want to get excited about potentially acquiring him, Jeff Sullivan compares him to Arrieta right before Arrieta broke out.

The best cutter last year, among starting pitchers, belonged to Jake Arrieta. The second-best cutter belonged to Corey Kluber. The third-best belonged to Shelby Miller. Out of nowhere, the pitch didn't just fold itself in to Miller's mix; it became maybe the best thing he throws.

I really don't want to make too much of this, because it's not the sort of thing you can just expect, but there are some parallels between Miller and Jake Arrieta, right as he was preparing to break out. Arrieta has turned into one of the top five or so starting pitchers in the game, and no team would figure Miller's in line to follow, but you could see him on a similar general path, where last year might've been kind of like Arrieta's 2013. Miller has shown the signs, and now it's time to put it all together. His repertoire has become similar to Arrieta's. Arrieta throws his slider/cutter hybrid a bit faster, but Miller showed a velocity uptick in the second half. Maybe he won't become a seven-win pitcher, but he could become a five-win pitcher. He seems to have what he needs.

You know...there would be the added--albeit superfluous-benefit of Miller blossoming and shoving it up St. Louis' hiney for a good while.  Maybe then the BFIB will be upset with Oscar Tavares for murdering his girlfriend.

[SKO]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Well then there goes my rationalizing/bargaining/acceptance of losing Soler or Baez.  Phew.

[SKO]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Well then there goes my rationalizing/bargaining/acceptance of losing Soler or Baez.  Phew.

I'm sure those names are still coming up in any trade with Tampa or Cleveland or San Diego for pitching.

[Quality Start Machine]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I'll be much less butthurt if Baez or Soler go to an American League team.  I don't even want to see Castro with the Reds or some shit like that.

[Eli]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I think they want to hang onto Hendricks. My harebrained theory is they'll trade for a young arm, dump Hammel's salary and sign Heyward.

[Quality Start Machine]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I think they want to hang onto Hendricks. My harebrained theory is they'll trade for a young arm, dump Hammel's salary and sign Heyward.

I think they'd do it for Carrasco, that would mean 3 5-win pitchers at the top of the rotation.

[SKO]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I think they want to hang onto Hendricks. My harebrained theory is they'll trade for a young arm, dump Hammel's salary and sign Heyward.

Yeah I don't think they trade Hendricks. The key thing that Jepstink keeps harping on is pitching depth. They sound like they'd be more inclined to add another Hendicks-ish #3/4 type than to trade Hendricks as part of a package to get a 1/2 type. It seems like the breakdowns at the end of last year convinced them more than anything that they need 6 quality starting pitchers more than they need 3 really good ones and meh at the bottom of the rotation. I can't say I disagree.

I'd honestly be fine with whatever Rays starter they can pry without giving up Soler, or if they can get Gausman from the Orioles without giving up Baez or Soler (either seems like too much to give up for a guy an unproven starter, however talented).

[SKO]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I think they want to hang onto Hendricks. My harebrained theory is they'll trade for a young arm, dump Hammel's salary and sign Heyward.

DPD, but this is a good thought. I bet there's a tanking team out there willing to take on one year of Hammel's salary if the Cubs offer actual prospects along with him, especially since said team could probably flip Hammel anyway if he has another first half like he did last year.

[Quality Start Machine]

Apparently Rosenthal just said on MLBN that the Cubs are out of the Miller sweepstakes so someone else can enjoy Jake Arrieta 2.0 I suppose.

Hopefully they can talk to Cleveland about Carrasco. (non SKOpoke) I think Baez and QSM can get that done.

I think they want to hang onto Hendricks. My harebrained theory is they'll trade for a young arm, dump Hammel's salary and sign Heyward.

DPD, but this is a good thought. I bet there's a tanking team out there willing to take on one year of Hammel's salary if the Cubs offer actual prospects along with him, especially since said team could probably flip Hammel anyway if he has another first half like he did last year.

Or at the very least, even tanking teams need to fill out a roster.