1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,639
Speaker 1: You know, this closing stretch here of the off season

2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,680
Speaker 1: is going to be massively important for this front office.

3
00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,680
Speaker 2: Welcoming to North Side Territory Fowel Territory Networks, Cubs Podcast.

4
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,680
Speaker 2: I'm Sada Charma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are

5
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,680
Speaker 2: back at it in the new year, Patrick twenty five. Uh.

6
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 2: We we were hoping for good things for all of

7
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,720
Speaker 2: us and and hopefully it's a a much more entertaining

8
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,800
Speaker 2: season than the average NICHE average.

9
00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,680
Speaker 1: We're focused on on marginal value and you know, consolidation

10
00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:49,680
Speaker 1: of podcasting. Uh, things like that. You know, gotta waiting

11
00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,320
Speaker 1: to see how the market develops, you know, waiting, waiting,

12
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,680
Speaker 1: hanging back obviously, you know it's the true holiday is

13
00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,520
Speaker 1: really Cubs Convention. We'll get into that next weekend. But

14
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,160
Speaker 1: a lot, a lot on the horizon, good stuff on

15
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,000
Speaker 1: the way.

16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,600
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, well, I mean they're better be because it

17
00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,360
Speaker 2: has been slow since Kyle Tucker was traded to the Cubs,

18
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,400
Speaker 2: and you know, not much has happened. And it's not

19
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,280
Speaker 2: like the rest of baseball that the hot stove is

20
00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,480
Speaker 2: not burning and that like this is normal, This isn't crazy.

21
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,760
Speaker 2: When Christmas hits and then the New Year's like, but

22
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,840
Speaker 2: it's a little slow right now. We got the Corbyn

23
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,480
Speaker 2: Burns surprise signing that was that was a little out

24
00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,120
Speaker 2: of left field. I don't think anybody really had that

25
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:39,440
Speaker 2: on their radar, him going to the Diamondbacks. So I

26
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,759
Speaker 2: guess the big names are off the board in that sense.

27
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,320
Speaker 2: But maybe Rokie Sazaki is holding up the market in

28
00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,160
Speaker 2: some sense that should be coming to a conclusion sometime

29
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,520
Speaker 2: around Cubs convention, I would expect, right so we could

30
00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,680
Speaker 2: we could be hearing about that in the next week

31
00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,880
Speaker 2: to ten days. But right now, the Cubs have made

32
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,960
Speaker 2: some smaller moves to start the year right like, this

33
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:10,000
Speaker 2: isn't this isn't you know, earth shattering news. Vidal Breuhan

34
00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,320
Speaker 2: traded to the Cubs for Matt Mervis. Kind of two

35
00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:19,040
Speaker 2: underwhelming prospects former highly thought of prospects that haven't panned

36
00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:24,880
Speaker 2: out yet. But Breuhan is someone that, you know, we've

37
00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,639
Speaker 2: known that the Cubs need either a left handed or

38
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,040
Speaker 2: switch hitting, versatile infield or someone that can kind of

39
00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,960
Speaker 2: play all over the place. Estoch Breatus is gone, they

40
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,560
Speaker 2: have a whole at third base. They took gauge workmen

41
00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,360
Speaker 2: with the rule five pick and now they've traded for Breuhan.

42
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,840
Speaker 2: Gauge workmen, Vidal Breuhan. None of these guys are the

43
00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,959
Speaker 2: type that, like, coming into the season, we're going to

44
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,080
Speaker 2: be like, this is a guy that's a difference maker.

45
00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,440
Speaker 2: But it's clear what the Cubs are looking for there

46
00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,079
Speaker 2: when they acquire someone like Brewhan. Yeah.

47
00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,320
Speaker 1: I mean some of these guys. I look back, and

48
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,320
Speaker 1: particularly the earlier stages of the Theojed regime and other

49
00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,840
Speaker 1: certain cycles where it's like, why bother writing about some

50
00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,720
Speaker 1: of these guys when you know they're just going to

51
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,280
Speaker 1: get like DFA a week or two later. I mean,

52
00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,440
Speaker 1: we'll see how some of these shake out, but clearly

53
00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,760
Speaker 1: we know what they're targeting, right, I mean it's that

54
00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,680
Speaker 1: infielder you just mentioned. The bullpen stuff is never going

55
00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:32,560
Speaker 1: to stop. Maybe they get another starting pitcher. I'd be

56
00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,320
Speaker 1: surprised if they didn't. And I do think part of

57
00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,880
Speaker 1: the pace of this too. This week is what I

58
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,840
Speaker 1: was told is arbitration week. I think that's what agents

59
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,520
Speaker 1: and front offices are really focused on, the exchange of

60
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:54,240
Speaker 1: salary numbers for this upcoming season. Either reach an agreement.

61
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,160
Speaker 1: In rare cases, you know, maybe it's a multi year

62
00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,160
Speaker 1: agreement or teams now are in this you know, file

63
00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:08,960
Speaker 1: and trial stage where the essentially the Major League Baseball

64
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,960
Speaker 1: Central Office and encourages or strongly encourages teams, you know,

65
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,360
Speaker 1: to make a deal for the deadline or take them

66
00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,240
Speaker 1: to an arbitration hearing, which really no one wants. Neither

67
00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,880
Speaker 1: side really enjoys that process. So, I mean the two

68
00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,599
Speaker 1: big ones here would be Justin Steele and New Cub

69
00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:30,320
Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker.

70
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,000
Speaker 2: When when's the date for that? Do you know the

71
00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,760
Speaker 2: exact date off the top of your head, Sorry.

72
00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,840
Speaker 1: But I think it's Thursday or Friday. It's also one

73
00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,159
Speaker 1: of those things you see in different places. But it

74
00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,640
Speaker 1: was just, you know, someone who I was communicating with

75
00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:49,279
Speaker 1: earlier this week was like, arbitration week is the focus

76
00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:55,320
Speaker 1: right now, which may slow some of the the bigger stuff.

77
00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,039
Speaker 1: And also it's kind of like you get to this

78
00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,400
Speaker 1: point right of like if you don't sign right before Smith,

79
00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,560
Speaker 1: you know, the next kind of leverage point is when

80
00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,839
Speaker 1: players start showing up in spring training. So maybe you

81
00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,600
Speaker 1: waited out a little bit. And we were talking about

82
00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,720
Speaker 1: this off the air too of like there's a lot

83
00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,400
Speaker 1: of good bullpen names out there. I mean, remember it

84
00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:19,400
Speaker 1: was a year ago, well what was it, Like Matt

85
00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,119
Speaker 1: Stram signed with the Phillies and it was like, oh great,

86
00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,560
Speaker 1: And now it's like, all right, couple of probably wound

87
00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,400
Speaker 1: up with a really good like name pitcher for their

88
00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,400
Speaker 1: bullpen right.

89
00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,520
Speaker 2: Right, Well, so they got it. Looks like they have

90
00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,799
Speaker 2: their lefty, right, they have their LEFTI and Caleb Field

91
00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:44,159
Speaker 2: bar that they needed one. He has had some really

92
00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:50,160
Speaker 2: solid seasons with the Twins. Last year, the strikeouts went down,

93
00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,640
Speaker 2: the walks went up, but everything else was fine, Like

94
00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,960
Speaker 2: there was that, there was a lot of he had

95
00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,280
Speaker 2: some odd things going on. Talk to some people both

96
00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,280
Speaker 2: with the Cubs and outside.

97
00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,760
Speaker 3: The org that they like this move.

98
00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,640
Speaker 2: You know, as far as you know, he's not he's not. Again,

99
00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:10,960
Speaker 2: this isn't a needle mover. This is a smaller move.

100
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,400
Speaker 2: This isn't something that completely transforms the season like Kyle Tucker.

101
00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,279
Speaker 2: But it's it's a good it's a good ad. And

102
00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,839
Speaker 2: and now now we we have to think about they

103
00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:21,600
Speaker 2: are going to.

104
00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,479
Speaker 3: Add a bigger reliever.

105
00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:28,640
Speaker 2: Who is that going to be? How much how willing

106
00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,960
Speaker 2: is Jed to get out of his comfort zone? My

107
00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,159
Speaker 2: guess is it's exactly what you just said, that we're

108
00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,520
Speaker 2: at the point now that he's not going to feel

109
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,760
Speaker 2: like getting out of his comfort zone. We're we're too

110
00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,119
Speaker 2: far along. This is this there's too many relievers out

111
00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:49,000
Speaker 2: on the market, still, big names, solid names, whatever it

112
00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:54,600
Speaker 2: may be, whether it's Kirby Yates, someone like you know,

113
00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,679
Speaker 2: Jeff Hoffman, would keep hearing about him possibly starting maybe

114
00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,279
Speaker 2: that's what his lever, Tan or Scott is still out there.

115
00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,400
Speaker 2: I would be really surprised if he ends up with

116
00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,120
Speaker 2: the Cubs. That's a that's another lefty. But like I'd

117
00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,280
Speaker 2: be shocked if he ends up with the Cubs that

118
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:10,840
Speaker 2: it's just not a Jeed Hoyer.

119
00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,440
Speaker 1: Like a four year deal, yeah, you know whatever the

120
00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,680
Speaker 1: projections are like four times fifteen or twenty.

121
00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:22,120
Speaker 2: Like yeah, yeah, that's that's not like it just doesn't

122
00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,520
Speaker 2: that's not their mo o so. But but I'm saying,

123
00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,920
Speaker 2: like there's big names out there and then there's solid

124
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,080
Speaker 2: names out there. They're going to you, they're going to

125
00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,640
Speaker 2: end up with someone you've heard of that is a

126
00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,600
Speaker 2: quality reliever, and you just have to hope it's not.

127
00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,080
Speaker 2: It doesn't end up like hector Nerris right. They need

128
00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,480
Speaker 2: to make sure it's a it's a quality reliever. But yeah,

129
00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,360
Speaker 2: I think that's that's probably you know, when we talk

130
00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,320
Speaker 2: about what are the remaining needs, I would say, you know,

131
00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,200
Speaker 2: for me, when I look at this team, i'd say

132
00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,160
Speaker 2: that's probably my number one when I say remaining need.

133
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,440
Speaker 2: That's like I'd be surprised if they go into spring

134
00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,920
Speaker 2: training and don't have that guy. I'm curious. I wonder

135
00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:12,240
Speaker 2: if that's their number one priority, right or is it

136
00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,840
Speaker 2: still starting pitching, which yeah, they added Matthew Boyd, but

137
00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,400
Speaker 2: you know they've been trying since that Matthew Boyd moved

138
00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,920
Speaker 2: to continue Tod starting pitching. We know this, like we

139
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,840
Speaker 2: know they were in on Lozardo? Is this a trade?

140
00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,880
Speaker 2: Is this what we're talking about? With the market kind

141
00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,400
Speaker 2: of being slow and then someone lingers out there, Jack

142
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,040
Speaker 2: Flaherty doesn't have the QO attached to his name, still

143
00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,880
Speaker 2: still lingering on the free agent market, And that's the

144
00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,800
Speaker 2: type of stuff we have to be paying attention to.

145
00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,280
Speaker 2: And I wouldn't I wouldn't rule out a trade either.

146
00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,600
Speaker 2: Just because Lozardo it was traded, doesn't mean the Marlins

147
00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,200
Speaker 2: are closed enough shop. That's a that's a team that's

148
00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,360
Speaker 2: in full on rebuild, and it seems like Bendix kind

149
00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,760
Speaker 2: of wants to set up his own you know, he's

150
00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,880
Speaker 2: trying to rebuild, and he's trying to bring in his

151
00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,360
Speaker 2: guys and target specific types of players and and and

152
00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,600
Speaker 2: all that. And this is a full on rebuild. So

153
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,120
Speaker 2: I wouldn't be surprised if Miami's moving guys.

154
00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:12,040
Speaker 3: Uh.

155
00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:17,319
Speaker 2: You know, there's like Arizona just signed h Burns. Are

156
00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,800
Speaker 2: they willing to move anyone yet? Like that? Those are

157
00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,720
Speaker 2: the types of things. Yeah, I think we have to

158
00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:22,360
Speaker 2: keep an eye on.

159
00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,920
Speaker 1: Yeah, for whatever reason, those Marlon's talks fizzled out and

160
00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:33,839
Speaker 1: we're not exactly sure what happened, but clearly it shows

161
00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,439
Speaker 1: a lot of interests and the Cubs still have those

162
00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:45,160
Speaker 1: trade chips available. There are some some interesting names out there,

163
00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,880
Speaker 1: you know, whether it's the you know, the old guy

164
00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,600
Speaker 1: you know, sure as are Verlander. They're serviceable guys. I mean,

165
00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,240
Speaker 1: like Kyle Gibson hasn't signed anywhere yet, Like just a

166
00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:02,320
Speaker 1: guy like that Hoffman, great stuff, wants to start. Worst

167
00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:06,080
Speaker 1: case he become like your best reliever tomorrow, right, like

168
00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,280
Speaker 1: so the most accomplished reliever. Just looking at the depth

169
00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,440
Speaker 1: chart now, I mean you know, some of these guys

170
00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,560
Speaker 1: are going to regress, some are going to get injured.

171
00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:22,240
Speaker 1: But it's like an it's a nice foundation. It's just

172
00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,640
Speaker 1: that they just need more. And you know, this is

173
00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:30,680
Speaker 1: something that Craig counsel, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins obsess over,

174
00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:39,200
Speaker 1: and so be surprising to not see what a legit starter,

175
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,320
Speaker 1: maybe not at top of the rotation in his prime guy,

176
00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:48,640
Speaker 1: and a legit proven late inning reliever. And I do think,

177
00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,760
Speaker 1: I don't know, you look at this division. You got

178
00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,960
Speaker 1: a couple of teams that have not spent a single

179
00:10:55,000 --> 00:11:01,920
Speaker 1: dollar on a free agent. Yet you know, it's a

180
00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:07,440
Speaker 1: division once again just there for the taking. And so

181
00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:12,560
Speaker 1: it will be interesting to see what they do leading

182
00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,400
Speaker 1: into Cups convention and sort of what the tenor is

183
00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,120
Speaker 1: by the time we get to the Sheridan in downtown Chicago,

184
00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,800
Speaker 1: because I think it's gonna be another one of those

185
00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,200
Speaker 1: years where there's gonna be a lot of interesting names

186
00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,600
Speaker 1: out there. The Cubs will still have some flexibility and

187
00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,679
Speaker 1: they're still I don't know, I don't see a ninety

188
00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,120
Speaker 1: one team yet on paper, do you?

189
00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,520
Speaker 2: Oh no, not on paper? You know this is like

190
00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,000
Speaker 2: ninety wins is outperforming projections.

191
00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly exactly right now.

192
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:54,400
Speaker 2: You know I wrote the I wrote like a roster

193
00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,679
Speaker 2: like kind of overview. And one thing I was kind

194
00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,559
Speaker 2: of surprised by. I don't thinking I really processed it.

195
00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,560
Speaker 2: And especially it's even odder now that Matt Mervis was traded.

196
00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,840
Speaker 2: They don't have a backup first basem like I don't

197
00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,839
Speaker 2: know who, Like I know that's not like the most

198
00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,560
Speaker 2: important thing got your roster, but like it just seems

199
00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,959
Speaker 2: odd to me, Like I like, who who plays first

200
00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,080
Speaker 2: base when Michael Bush needs a day off or or

201
00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,320
Speaker 2: he gets hurt, Like I don't know right now, so

202
00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,560
Speaker 2: you have to add someone like that, just even like

203
00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,120
Speaker 2: a like a veteran that like a minor league guy

204
00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,280
Speaker 2: that you you throw on on the Iowa roster because.

205
00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:32,880
Speaker 1: I don't know.

206
00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:40,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I guess, like I mean, that's not happening, right,

207
00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,079
Speaker 2: make sure we don't get I would think it has

208
00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,760
Speaker 2: to be a right handed hitter too, I would think so,

209
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,120
Speaker 2: but that and and I still think like even though

210
00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,640
Speaker 2: we talked about it earlier with with all the guys

211
00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,800
Speaker 2: that they have, like do they need to get that

212
00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,080
Speaker 2: stop gap at third before Shaw or are they going

213
00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,679
Speaker 2: to push Shaw to start the season and try and

214
00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:09,800
Speaker 2: get that extra draft pick if he can win the

215
00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,880
Speaker 2: Rookie of the Year. I don't know, like that's those

216
00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,640
Speaker 2: are the types of that's something that I'm really curious

217
00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,839
Speaker 2: about right now. The first base thing is not a

218
00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,080
Speaker 2: big deal. It's not a huge deal. You find someone

219
00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,760
Speaker 2: eventually that falls slips through the cracks and it's like

220
00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,880
Speaker 2: signs of minor league deal. Or is your bench guy.

221
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:29,000
Speaker 2: You prefer that the guy can play more positions right

222
00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,000
Speaker 2: than just first base, because like having a first base

223
00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,640
Speaker 2: only guy, or he has to be like a pretty

224
00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,240
Speaker 2: good bat that can that can.

225
00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,480
Speaker 3: Be at d H every once in a while.

226
00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,480
Speaker 2: So it will be interesting to see how that plays out,

227
00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,080
Speaker 2: how those two spots they're not they're not unless the

228
00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,160
Speaker 2: thinking changes. You know, Alex Bregman isn't going to be

229
00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:54,360
Speaker 2: their starting third basement. Things like that aren't happening. So

230
00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,760
Speaker 2: so we like that how they put this together and

231
00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,800
Speaker 2: get to that ninety win team is going to be

232
00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,920
Speaker 2: It's a little right now, there's no obvious move for

233
00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,560
Speaker 2: those those spots, at least that I'm seeing. But you know,

234
00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,600
Speaker 2: I guess until we started hearing the rumors Kyle Tucker

235
00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,400
Speaker 2: like it came out of nowhere too, So who knows

236
00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,320
Speaker 2: what they have planned. The bigger stuff is obviously starting

237
00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:23,720
Speaker 2: pitching and relieving. Uh, and I think it and I

238
00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,000
Speaker 2: think those will be addressed, Like those are the things

239
00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:30,640
Speaker 2: that you know, maybe by the time Pubs convention wraps up.

240
00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,640
Speaker 3: Will know what they're doing there.

241
00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,920
Speaker 2: And like I mentioned before, Sasaki probably like what you

242
00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,120
Speaker 2: said with the arbitration makes sense, and then Suzaki probably

243
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,720
Speaker 2: kind of is. It's kind of a domino effect.

244
00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,520
Speaker 1: There perhaps, Yeah, no doubt, I mean the same way

245
00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,040
Speaker 1: that Soto kind of created a chain reaction. I think

246
00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,840
Speaker 1: we'll see that in the in the back half of January.

247
00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,440
Speaker 1: And it's funny when you mentioned the first based off

248
00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:06,000
Speaker 1: because they have to get this right. The Cody Bellinger

249
00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:13,040
Speaker 1: money has to be reallocated at least in full. Obviously

250
00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,840
Speaker 1: they should just keep spending more when you're this close

251
00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:20,160
Speaker 1: with that, but take all that money and you have

252
00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,960
Speaker 1: to deploy those resources the right way. I mean, that's

253
00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:27,000
Speaker 1: kind of obvious. But Cody Bellinger was a real nice

254
00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,800
Speaker 1: fit for this for a lot of teams. Maybe it

255
00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,200
Speaker 1: was he was a tad expensive. There's some unpredictability to it.

256
00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,120
Speaker 1: He'll probably hit better at Yankee Stadium than at Wrigley Field. Uh,

257
00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,840
Speaker 1: you know what Raally Field turned into last year. But yeah,

258
00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,320
Speaker 1: like what happens when you already have two middle infielders

259
00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:52,240
Speaker 1: who are coming off surgeries at the end of last season.

260
00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,240
Speaker 1: Third base is a question mark at best. Maybe Matt

261
00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,400
Speaker 1: Shaw is the rookie the year next year here and

262
00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:04,920
Speaker 1: you know, asked an answer, but you know, Michael Bush

263
00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:10,080
Speaker 1: is certainly a nice hitter at a very affordable salary.

264
00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,360
Speaker 1: They think he's a gold Glover, but there's not a

265
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,440
Speaker 1: ton of Major league track record there either. So it's

266
00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,400
Speaker 1: a It just kind of goes back to kind of

267
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:25,080
Speaker 1: the weird, weird spot this team is in, you know,

268
00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:29,240
Speaker 1: of kind of all these interchangeable pieces on the on

269
00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:34,440
Speaker 1: the pitching side, some clear holes that have not been addressed,

270
00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:39,640
Speaker 1: and then just the you know, you add Kyle Talker

271
00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:41,240
Speaker 1: to that line up, and before we could even like

272
00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,280
Speaker 1: put together like a mock lineup, Cody Bellinger's always trade

273
00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:48,640
Speaker 1: it right on those salary. So you know, this closing

274
00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,280
Speaker 1: stretch here of the off season is going to be

275
00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,000
Speaker 1: massively important for this front office.

276
00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,040
Speaker 2: Yeah, you bring up a good point that I hadn't

277
00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:04,840
Speaker 2: touched on before or in this episode. And like fans

278
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,520
Speaker 2: are probably getting a little restless about that money, right,

279
00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,399
Speaker 2: the Bellinger money, Like I know, it's what has it

280
00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,520
Speaker 2: been like two weeks, three weeks? I don't know, I

281
00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,880
Speaker 2: like the holidays have me in a blur. I don't

282
00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:23,000
Speaker 2: really know how much time has passed. But yeah, that money,

283
00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,879
Speaker 2: they cannot sit on it, and they've spent very little

284
00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,280
Speaker 2: of it. Right, It's like field Bar and that's it.

285
00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:35,200
Speaker 2: Am I missing anyone that they've signed since then? That's

286
00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,760
Speaker 2: not where the money's going, right, It's not they didn't

287
00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,200
Speaker 2: move Cody Bellager and then say like phew, we can

288
00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,600
Speaker 2: sign Kitlin field Bar. Now that that money has to

289
00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,320
Speaker 2: go somewhere. And it's not like not just that, right,

290
00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,000
Speaker 2: Like it's what you said, Like they have a lot

291
00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,080
Speaker 2: more money to spend than just that. And if if

292
00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,560
Speaker 2: I'm looking at Roster Resource, it says they're at one

293
00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:05,399
Speaker 2: ninety three luxury tax. That's twenty twenty five, one ninety three, okay,

294
00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,480
Speaker 2: and that's probably a little low. Let's say they're at

295
00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,720
Speaker 2: one ninety seven. Let's put another four million on there, okay,

296
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,000
Speaker 2: one nine ninety eight. That's like about they have about

297
00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:19,160
Speaker 2: forty million, let's say to spend maybe thirty five let's

298
00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,359
Speaker 2: say thirty five million to spend. That should be enough

299
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,160
Speaker 2: to get you some solid players, especially if you're doing

300
00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,560
Speaker 2: making trades like it. They should be able to take

301
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:35,000
Speaker 2: care of this roster pretty without much like stress. I

302
00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:39,240
Speaker 2: guess when I say like stress, financial stress, they should

303
00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:43,480
Speaker 2: be able to do that. How they allocate those funds,

304
00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,399
Speaker 2: how close they get to the luxury tax threshold. I

305
00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,280
Speaker 2: think these are these are things that fans are going

306
00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,280
Speaker 2: to be up in arms about until they spend that money,

307
00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,840
Speaker 2: right until they until we head into spring training all

308
00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,240
Speaker 2: the free agents are off the board, and the foster

309
00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,000
Speaker 2: a set and and we and we can say this

310
00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,680
Speaker 2: is the team, right or maybe until maybe it'll take

311
00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,080
Speaker 2: as long as until we, you know, go to Japan

312
00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,920
Speaker 2: and and see what they what the team looks like. Right,

313
00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,320
Speaker 2: But they have that I think that's a that's probably

314
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,159
Speaker 2: kind of an underrated thing. That that underrated, like at

315
00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,960
Speaker 2: least that I overlooked just in the past, in the

316
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,800
Speaker 2: past hour at least uh fans, like I said, I'm

317
00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,439
Speaker 2: sure are well aware and and and stressed about it.

318
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,879
Speaker 2: But like that that was spending that money and making

319
00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,000
Speaker 2: sure you don't just like that. It cannot be we

320
00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,320
Speaker 2: said it at the time. This isn't a salary dump

321
00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,320
Speaker 2: in this in the in the pure sense, right, it's

322
00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,760
Speaker 2: a reallocation of funds. Okay, go spend that right, like

323
00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,159
Speaker 2: make sure that we were not wrong on that or

324
00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:52,440
Speaker 2: or that, like you don't you don't miss an opportunity here,

325
00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,000
Speaker 2: and and be aggressive when the time calls for it.

326
00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:02,320
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean very rough back of the Napkin math here.

327
00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,920
Speaker 1: I mean Bellinger's money get you a nice starting pitcher

328
00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:12,760
Speaker 1: and a nice reliever fairly easily, right, I mean, this

329
00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:17,440
Speaker 1: is not It kind of goes back to really that

330
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,639
Speaker 1: Jets press conference right after the season ended of he

331
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:29,560
Speaker 1: feels a very stable, solid roster without like huge holes,

332
00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:37,680
Speaker 1: with a clean financial sheet, but like Tucker is obviously

333
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,360
Speaker 1: a great player, Like that is a move. I don't

334
00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,879
Speaker 1: care what camp Smith does seven years from now, Like

335
00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,479
Speaker 1: that was a move you have to make, But like,

336
00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,880
Speaker 1: what are the other moves to kind of build around him.

337
00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,040
Speaker 1: It's the Craig Council thing all over again. You're go

338
00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:57,000
Speaker 1: to higher Craig council, but then not really follow through

339
00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,840
Speaker 1: in free agency and so you know, in the big name,

340
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,159
Speaker 1: but then still take a very measured approach and you know,

341
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,680
Speaker 1: try to win on the margins and you know, try

342
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:11,600
Speaker 1: to get the details right. It's just I don't know there,

343
00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,600
Speaker 1: there's gonna be h. They don't really get the benefit

344
00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,480
Speaker 1: of the doubt at this point. But there's a huge

345
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,560
Speaker 1: opportunity in front him. I mean, I really think one

346
00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:25,360
Speaker 1: or two moves, you'll be like, wow, like this team

347
00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,399
Speaker 1: should win the division because Saint Louis isn't trying.

348
00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,880
Speaker 3: To win the division this year, No, not at all.

349
00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:33,800
Speaker 1: I mean one of these years the Brewers will have

350
00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:39,600
Speaker 1: to take a step back. Pirates, right, yeah, I mean

351
00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:46,480
Speaker 1: the Pirates are not not exactly going full throttle. And look,

352
00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,480
Speaker 1: I think the Reds are going to be pretty good.

353
00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:55,280
Speaker 1: I think Francona, their talent that ballpark, I don't know there.

354
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,720
Speaker 1: I think they'll be an interesting team. I think they'll

355
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,520
Speaker 1: they can give the Cups a nice challenge. And there's

356
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,959
Speaker 1: you know, there's always gonna be surprises. But you know,

357
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,880
Speaker 1: when we go down to Mesa, like there's no reason

358
00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:14,040
Speaker 1: why the expectations shouldn't be winning the division, Like, come.

359
00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:18,439
Speaker 2: On, right, right, and you know, it's like it doesn't

360
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,480
Speaker 2: seem like anyone's being super aggressive right now outside of

361
00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,440
Speaker 2: the Dodgers just acting like maybe maybe the Mets to

362
00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,560
Speaker 2: a degree, but like they've kind of I mean, I

363
00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,800
Speaker 2: guess they've made plenty of moves that they've made that

364
00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:33,880
Speaker 2: they've i mean.

365
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:39,000
Speaker 4: The biggest contract in Yes, I was thinking outside of

366
00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,080
Speaker 4: Soto and then I was like, no, they signed Clay Homes,

367
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,359
Speaker 4: they signed Sean and they've they've they've done plenty.

368
00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,800
Speaker 2: They they're they're them, and the Dodgers kind of set

369
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:48,960
Speaker 2: the standard when it comes to finances.

370
00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:49,920
Speaker 1: Uh.

371
00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,280
Speaker 2: The Yankees have done a good job of spreading the

372
00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:55,639
Speaker 2: Sodo money around exactly what we were talking about with

373
00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,960
Speaker 2: the Cody Bellinger money, like they need to the Cubs

374
00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,720
Speaker 2: need to behave in that manner, kind of spread that

375
00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,200
Speaker 2: money around. Then if you're not spending it on Cody Bellinger,

376
00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,159
Speaker 2: we'll see what they do. I think. I think this

377
00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,960
Speaker 2: maybe by the time Cubs convention is done, will have

378
00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:15,639
Speaker 2: some news to talk about, something real, some more action

379
00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,399
Speaker 2: happening that's more than just like these smaller moves. But

380
00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,280
Speaker 2: for now, that's that's what's going on. It's not the

381
00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:28,600
Speaker 2: most entertaining holiday stretch of baseball hot stove action. But

382
00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,600
Speaker 2: it's the reality that we're dealing with, and I do

383
00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:35,080
Speaker 2: think it kind of does as annoying as it is

384
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,520
Speaker 2: for the fans, it does set up well for what

385
00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,600
Speaker 2: Jed Hoyer loves. Right the way this is kind of

386
00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,359
Speaker 2: dragging on, it's going to it could end up well

387
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,159
Speaker 2: for him, just like it ended up well, uh in

388
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,800
Speaker 2: the sense that like it was the was Cody Bellinger's

389
00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,240
Speaker 2: season perfect, No, but that the way that played out

390
00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,000
Speaker 2: was kind of how he wanted it to play out

391
00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,120
Speaker 2: at the time. So we'll see. We'll see what these

392
00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,960
Speaker 2: next ten days two weeks have for us. It's going

393
00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:07,760
Speaker 2: to be critical, like Patrick wered, a month away from

394
00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,000
Speaker 2: like heading to Mesa, Like I think people like they

395
00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,560
Speaker 2: report early this year because of Japan.

396
00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:24,120
Speaker 4: So yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's an off air that

397
00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:24,679
Speaker 4: we that we can have.

398
00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,280
Speaker 2: Well, this is our first episode of the new year.

399
00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:30,880
Speaker 2: Thanks everyone for listening. We had a great first year.

400
00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,400
Speaker 2: It wasn't even a full year, and you guys gave

401
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,359
Speaker 2: us a lot of support, So thank you so much.

402
00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,080
Speaker 2: We appreciate and make sure to continue to support us. Subscribe,

403
00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,359
Speaker 2: rate and review, subscribe to the YouTube channel. Please subscribe

404
00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,000
Speaker 2: to The Athletic, where Patrick and I are on top

405
00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,480
Speaker 2: of everything Cubs all off season and into the spring

406
00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,439
Speaker 2: training and all summer long. Thanks so much for listening

407
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,320
Speaker 2: to everyone. This is Northside Territory.

408
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:52,840
Speaker 3: Take care.

409
00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:18,520
Speaker 2: Then I met them on the d