Cubs sign Craig Kimbrel (3 years / $43 million)

[homer]

Let’s see how much money is spent at the deadline, to improve.

 

Because in order to sustain the success, I think we can all agree that’s going to be hard to do if we have to give up much if any real prospect capital.

 

Good idea, I agree.

 

Probably hard regardless of that. The Brewers can dream of being a sustainable contender for years, but my personal opinion is to chase windows and endure the bad rebuilds if need be. But no reason that window can't be another 3-5 years depending on some things going right...even if they purge some good prospect capital. I think our prospects at this point look very uninspiring and the odds they can refuel this team years from now if not the greatest of odds.

 

I think it will take some brass ones from Stearns. Tampa Bay was good last year...not awesome but in many years that team makes the wild card. They looked to be good again this year. But they still went ahead and traded Archer mid-season and now are even better than they were last year and have a nice core going forward. I'm not saying the Brewers have the same opportunity to trade a guy like Archer but that's the kind of thing Stearns is going to have to do in order to remain competitive.

 

So basically opposite of what the Pirates did to get Archer.

[DuWayne Steurer]

In and amongst all this talk of what an awful owner atanasio is oh, what I'd really be curious of, and what we'll probably never know is if during any discussion the Brewers might have had with Kimbrel or his agent is if they asked if he would be open to being a little more flexible with his role. A strictly ninth inning only 3 out closer doesn't really fit the Brewers Bullpen model, the way they operate right now. A guy who comes in to face the 6th 7th and 8th batters in a lineup in the ninth inning when the meat of the order was up the inning before, isn't really all that valuable on a given day. I understand that Hader would be the de facto eighth-inning guy but he's not always available every day, and if you want to use him for multiple Innings there might be stretches where he's not available for 2 days or more in a row.

 

Just a thought, wondering if that ever came up with Kimbrell's camp.

[tmwiese55]

In and amongst all this talk of what an awful owner atanasio is oh, what I'd really be curious of, and what we'll probably never know is if during any discussion the Brewers might have had with Kimbrel or his agent is if they asked if he would be open to being a little more flexible with his role. A strictly ninth inning only 3 out closer doesn't really fit the Brewers Bullpen model, the way they operate right now. A guy who comes in to face the 6th 7th and 8th batters in a lineup in the ninth inning when the meat of the order was up the inning before, isn't really all that valuable on a given day. I understand that Hader would be the de facto eighth-inning guy but he's not always available every day, and if you want to use him for multiple Innings there might be stretches where he's not available for 2 days or more in a row.

 

Just a thought, wondering if that ever came up with Kimbrell's camp.

 

Or that sometimes Hader is going to finish games once he's in for the 8th. Thus reducing the inflated Save stat for Kimbrel.

[Eye Black]

I had him in fantasy so I watched closely. It wasn't even just the postseason. He was shaky the whole second half. It was very Krod like with how there was always guys on base and drama, lots of walks. Who knows maybe he was just tired and it's not a big deal and he'll be fine. But Boston must've been a bit worried to commit long term. I think it's a good signing for the Cubs in their situation and money but it's riskier than people think as he just might not be what he was anymore.

From July 23rd through the end of the postseason these were Kimbrel's stats...

 

31.1 IP

19 H

23 BB

43 K

18 ER

 

5.20 ERA

1.35 WHIP

12.45 K/9

6.66 BB/9

 

Prior to that point he was putting together another fantastic season. As you mentioned, it is difficult to know what to make of it, if anything.

[Brew crew 92]

First, not signing Kimbrel does not make Mark A cheap or a bad owner or all the other nonsense getting tossed around. Payroll is already extended to a record high, and signing Kimbrel probably allows us nearly zero flexbility to make other moves to address others areas of need. Plus, for all we know he wouldn't have signed that same deal with the Brewers. Maybe he liked Chicago better. The whole Brewers signing Kimbrel argument is just dreadful.

 

As for the Cubs, I feel many are underestimating how important those 35-40 innings plus potential playoff innings will be for the Cubs. The Cubs currently have 12 blown saves in 25 chances, ranking 27th in baseball in save percentage. Last year in his supposed "down year", he recorded 42 saves and 5 blown saves. I know that's an extremely simply way of looking at it, but if Kimbrel is able to lock down saves even at his 2018 rate...the Cubs will record so many more wins the rest of the season than if Cishek/Kintzler/Strop are acting closer. It also allows them to move everyone else in the pen down a rung into slightly less important roles and strengthens their entire bullpen. You can look at WAR all you want and say "35-40 innings is only worth like 1 WAR at best"...but if Kimbrel is 2018 version or better, it will result in a lot more extra wins than 1.

 

Here's hoping he regresses further from his 2nd half 2018, but I'm honestly expecting him to be back in premium form and for this move to really hurt the Brewers chances at the division.

 

A brutality honest, non-rationalization, post.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Let’s see how much money is spent at the deadline, to improve.

 

Because in order to sustain the success, I think we can all agree that’s going to be hard to do if we have to give up much if any real prospect capital.

 

Good idea, I agree.

 

Probably hard regardless of that. The Brewers can dream of being a sustainable contender for years, but my personal opinion is to chase windows and endure the bad rebuilds if need be. But no reason that window can't be another 3-5 years depending on some things going right...even if they purge some good prospect capital. I think our prospects at this point look very uninspiring and the odds they can refuel this team years from now if not the greatest of odds.

 

I think it will take some brass ones from Stearns. Tampa Bay was good last year...not awesome but in many years that team makes the wild card. They looked to be good again this year. But they still went ahead and traded Archer mid-season and now are even better than they were last year and have a nice core going forward. I'm not saying the Brewers have the same opportunity to trade a guy like Archer but that's the kind of thing Stearns is going to have to do in order to remain competitive.

 

So basically opposite of what the Pirates did to get Archer.

 

I could see something like this happening this year. Say for instance the Rangers manage to go on a run and get into Wild Card contention. I could see them making a play for someone like Moustakas ... and I could see the Brewers listening to offers on him, assuming Shaw rebounds and Hiura continues to mash in AAA. If you could get them to pay up to the tune of a Hans Crouse and maybe a reliever, it would be hard not to consider it.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

First, not signing Kimbrel does not make Mark A cheap or a bad owner or all the other nonsense getting tossed around. Payroll is already extended to a record high, and signing Kimbrel probably allows us nearly zero flexbility to make other moves to address others areas of need. Plus, for all we know he wouldn't have signed that same deal with the Brewers. Maybe he liked Chicago better. The whole Brewers signing Kimbrel argument is just dreadful.

 

As for the Cubs, I feel many are underestimating how important those 35-40 innings plus potential playoff innings will be for the Cubs. The Cubs currently have 12 blown saves in 25 chances, ranking 27th in baseball in save percentage. Last year in his supposed "down year", he recorded 42 saves and 5 blown saves. I know that's an extremely simply way of looking at it, but if Kimbrel is able to lock down saves even at his 2018 rate...the Cubs will record so many more wins the rest of the season than if Cishek/Kintzler/Strop are acting closer. It also allows them to move everyone else in the pen down a rung into slightly less important roles and strengthens their entire bullpen. You can look at WAR all you want and say "35-40 innings is only worth like 1 WAR at best"...but if Kimbrel is 2018 version or better, it will result in a lot more extra wins than 1.

 

Here's hoping he regresses further from his 2nd half 2018, but I'm honestly expecting him to be back in premium form and for this move to really hurt the Brewers chances at the division.

 

A brutality honest, non-rationalization, post.

 

Brutality honest sounds violent. That said, I haven't seen anybody rationalizing, just you continually throwing around that word. All I've really seen people saying is that this isn't some division clinching, throw your hands up acquisition, while conceding that it probably makes the Cubs better this year.

[pacopete4]

Follows/roots for the smallest market team in MLB then complains about it being the smallest market team in MLB. It is what it is, we know what we have here.

 

Market size > smallest

 

revenue > 15-20th smallest

 

And our payroll is #14 to start the year....so what am I missing? Seems to me our payroll is aggressive for our revenue size and it will only grow more mid-season. Seems a far cry from being cheap.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2019-mlb-opening-day-payrolls-red-sox-cubs-yankees-open-season-above-competitive-balance-tax-threshold/

 

You've commented plenty since this post Brew crew 92. Your fans are waiting for your response to this. How do you justify all the stuff you have said about our payroll and our management not doing enough?

[Brew crew 92]

First, not signing Kimbrel does not make Mark A cheap or a bad owner or all the other nonsense getting tossed around. Payroll is already extended to a record high, and signing Kimbrel probably allows us nearly zero flexbility to make other moves to address others areas of need. Plus, for all we know he wouldn't have signed that same deal with the Brewers. Maybe he liked Chicago better. The whole Brewers signing Kimbrel argument is just dreadful.

 

As for the Cubs, I feel many are underestimating how important those 35-40 innings plus potential playoff innings will be for the Cubs. The Cubs currently have 12 blown saves in 25 chances, ranking 27th in baseball in save percentage. Last year in his supposed "down year", he recorded 42 saves and 5 blown saves. I know that's an extremely simply way of looking at it, but if Kimbrel is able to lock down saves even at his 2018 rate...the Cubs will record so many more wins the rest of the season than if Cishek/Kintzler/Strop are acting closer. It also allows them to move everyone else in the pen down a rung into slightly less important roles and strengthens their entire bullpen. You can look at WAR all you want and say "35-40 innings is only worth like 1 WAR at best"...but if Kimbrel is 2018 version or better, it will result in a lot more extra wins than 1.

 

Here's hoping he regresses further from his 2nd half 2018, but I'm honestly expecting him to be back in premium form and for this move to really hurt the Brewers chances at the division.

 

A brutality honest, non-rationalization, post.

 

Brutality honest sounds violent. That said, I haven't seen anybody rationalizing, just you continually throwing around that word. All I've really seen people saying is that this isn't some division clinching, throw your hands up acquisition, while conceding that it probably makes the Cubs better this year.

 

No denying this hurts our chances of winning the division

[KeithStone53151]

Brutality honest sounds violent. That said, I haven't seen anybody rationalizing, just you continually throwing around that word. All I've really seen people saying is that this isn't some division clinching, throw your hands up acquisition, while conceding that it probably makes the Cubs better this year.

 

No denying this hurts our chances of winning the division

 

Hurts our chances, absolutely. But the season is far from over. The Brewers have a ton of talent, and we'll have opportunities to improve our weaknesses over the next couple months as well. The Cubs look better on paper right now, but what if the Brewers add Smoak, Will Smith, and Stroman? Do they still look better? Maybe...but it's a lot closer. And again, that's on paper. Even if we don't add, the team is still good enough to seriously contend. Nobody is talking about taking our ball and going home.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Brutality honest sounds violent. That said, I haven't seen anybody rationalizing, just you continually throwing around that word. All I've really seen people saying is that this isn't some division clinching, throw your hands up acquisition, while conceding that it probably makes the Cubs better this year.

 

No denying this hurts our chances of winning the division

 

Hurts our chances, absolutely. But the season is far from over. The Brewers have a ton of talent, and we'll have opportunities to improve our weaknesses over the next couple months as well. The Cubs look better on paper right now, but what if the Brewers add Smoak, Will Smith, and Stroman? Do they still look better? Maybe...but it's a lot closer. And again, that's on paper. Even if we don't add, the team is still good enough to seriously contend. Nobody is talking about taking our ball and going home.

 

The Cubs were better on paper last year as well. The season, with its ebbs and flows, is what makes following the game great. I don't think anyone was expecting the rest of the NL Central to roll over and hand multiple division championships to the Brewers during this 3-4 year contention window.

 

The Kimbrel signing may very well make the Cubs better. But the only reason the Cubs are looking to get better is because that pesky team to the north beat them out for the division crown last year, and is threatening to continue messing up Chicago's perceived contention window, as they already have. All I know is that if the Brewers had signed Kimbrel to that kind of deal, all we'd hear out of Chicago sports talk today is how the Brewers made a panic move because they are afraid of the Cubs. Perhaps there is something to that in this case, and Brewer fans should be looking at this as a panic move by the Cubs to counteract the Brewers.

[Brew crew 92]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

[KeithStone53151]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

You should probably temper your expectations. Money available is NOT a blank check.

[tmwiese55]

Especially after the Moose/Grandal 30 mil was spent. can't believe the owner is being so cheap.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

You should probably temper your expectations. Money available is NOT a blank check.

 

I don't know if there can be any expectations that can even be tempered yet, as the market of who is going to be potentially available is clear as mud right now. I mean we can make some guesses, but a lot of the names being thrown about right now are only marginal upgrades, if upgrades at all in my opinion.

 

Brew crew 92, just reading the tone of your post, it appears as if you are either skeptical or you don't expect the Brewers to make upgrades this year. It looks as if you are greasing your own wheels to be mad if/when the upgrades you're expecting don't happen. Am I off base in this assumption?

[markedman5]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

You should probably temper your expectations. Money available is NOT a blank check.

 

 

Yep......my god some people just believe what they want to believe.

 

They will do what they can do .........they made the big moves before the season so any moves that they make will be smaller in scale.......people need to prepare themselves that sometimes you go for it and it doesn't happen........no guarantees in sports......

[pacopete4]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

Crickets. Go figure...

[MrTPlush]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

Crickets. Go figure...

 

Can't be wrong if you don't respond

 

[Brew crew 92]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

You should probably temper your expectations. Money available is NOT a blank check.

 

What do you mean?

 

I’m expecting Encarnacion, did you see that 444 foot home run it last night?

 

I’m also expecting one of Zack Grienke or max Scherzer.

 

There’s others but those are A couple off the top of my head.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

What amuses me about this "do something, David!" sentiment the most is the very possibly and perhaps likely reality that he tried to get somebody and someone else made a better deal. Some people talk about this stuff as if it takes place in a vacuum and nobody else is trying to get these players.

[Brew crew 92]

We’re 6-7 weeks from seeing what Stearns has in store for us to beat out the Cubbies, and ultimately the LAs. Attanassio has already said he will have the money available if need be to improve the team at the deadline.

 

So we’ll see if he’s putting his money where his mouth is or not by midnight July 31.

 

You should probably temper your expectations. Money available is NOT a blank check.

 

I don't know if there can be any expectations that can even be tempered yet, as the market of who is going to be potentially available is clear as mud right now. I mean we can make some guesses, but a lot of the names being thrown about right now are only marginal upgrades, if upgrades at all in my opinion.

 

Brew crew 92, just reading the tone of your post, it appears as if you are either skeptical or you don't expect the Brewers to make upgrades this year. It looks as if you are greasing your own wheels to be mad if/when the upgrades you're expecting don't happen. Am I off base in this assumption?

 

Again, whatever our weaknesses are at the deadline they Will need to be addressed and money will have to be spent because we are not getting rid of our prospect capital in all likelihood. So large rental contracts of good players to solve our weaknesses would be the preferred route. Remember it would only be 1/3 of the contract, so I’m expecting 10 to 15 mil. Should do it.

[owbc]

I'm not seeing the justification to spend big this year. Those advocating for several major deals have a point--it would take several major deals to differentiate ourselves from the NL Central competition--and even then we would probably not be able to match the intangibles that made the 2018 team so good.

 

With a number of contending teams sitting on cash reserves, the market is ripe for overpays right now and I'd rather not be involved in that.

[Brew crew 92]

I'm not seeing the justification to spend big this year. Those advocating for several major deals have a point--it would take several major deals to differentiate ourselves from the NL Central competition--and even then we would probably not be able to match the intangibles that made the 2018 team so good.

 

With a number of contending teams sitting on cash reserves, the market is ripe for overpays right now and I'd rather not be involved in that.

 

Well then lets just sit on our hands and do nothing.

 

What the heck?

 

Well at least the overpay would be cash and not prospects, so what’s the downside?

[owbc]

 

Well then lets just sit on our hands and do nothing.

 

What the heck?

 

Well at least the overpay would be cash and not prospects, so what’s the downside?

 

Not having the cash to use later when better options might be available.

[homer]

Trade deadline could be interesting. I wonder where the Brewers would need to be sitting for Stearns to sell? 5 games out of a wild card? No idea.