Cubs REKAP Podcast ⚾️ (S3 – EP34) – Surveying the free agent landscape as Cubs offseason nears

Cubs REKAP Podcast ⚾️ (S3 – EP34) – Surveying the free agent landscape as Cubs offseason nears

Welcome into the latest edition of our Cubs recap 
podcast. A presentation of our recap YouTube channel and available audio only everywhere 
you get your favorite podcasts. That’s my guy Gordon Whitten Meyer. I’m David Kaplan and we are 
going to talk a lot about the upcoming off season, what the Cubs could do, what they probably 
should do, and I got a question for Gordon as we watch this insane player named Show 
Otani just dominate in the World Series. It’s all brought to you by our great partners 
at the Illinois Tollway. Also a great sponsor of ours here on the recap on our football show. 
Make sure you always find our football show, Studio41 football recap live every Tuesday night 
here on the channel and our great partners at Sinus and snoringmd.com. This guy used to 
snore. My wife woke up one Sunday morning and said enough. I want to get a good night’s 
sleep. It’s the weekend and all you do is snore. You’re going to see signs at snoringmd.com. And 
so I did. Guess what? No more snoring. That’s right. Sinus and Snoring MD. They got locations 
around the Chicago area. Sinus and SnoringMD.com. Before we start, I want to clarify something from 
the last podcast. Uh I was talking about some of the Cubs financial history and and being the first 
big market team to tank. And you threw at me, “Aren’t the Astros a big market team?” Which 
they are. And I and and I hadn’t I was focused on another point and I didn’t come right back 
with the reason why the Cubs were the first. Um because I was doing the math in my head. Um but 
uh I wrote about it extensively back then. The Cubs were the first. Um the just this is just a 
clarifying point. The Rickettses bought the club in the fall of ’09. Jim Crane bought the Astros in 
the fall of 2011. Two years later, the Cubs were already into their process into 12. The Astros 
followed. They were already a terrible team, but they were a terrible team for other reasons. 
It was when Crane took over, Jim Crane took over, and then they followed the the the Cubs process. 
So, yes, and and you know, even if you want to split hairs, the Cubs are a higher revenue team 
um historically than the Astros anyway. But it was quick sequence, but the Cubs were the first. 
Just want to clarify that. There you go. So,   Jim Bowden, who I like very much, former GM of 
the Reds and the Washington Nationals. He now works for the Athletic and MLB Network Radio. 
He came out today with his projected contracts, best fits for the top 50 MLB free agents this 
winter. The guy he has ranked the number one player on the list is Kyle Tucker who did not have 
the best year. He was okay. He was really good the first three months. He was an MVP candidate 
early in the season. The first three months. Yeah,   absolutely. Beyond that, no. Now, he is 
not a Boris guy. He’s with Excel Sports Management. He writes, “Despite a season that was 
marred by injury and inconsistent performance, Tucker is expected to be the highest paid free 
agent in this year’s class with most analysts   believing he will get between 400 and$500 million 
based on the contracts given to the two recent big free agents. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 500 million 
with the Blue Jays, Juan Sto, 765 million with the New York Mets.” And he says even in a season 
that saw Tucker deal with multiple injuries, he was able to impact the game in all areas thanks to 
his hit tool, power, defense, arm, and speed. Hit 266 in 136 games, 377 OBP, 464 slug, 22 homers, 
25 stolen bases, and a near 1:1 walk to strikeout ratio. 87 walks to 88 strikeouts. Teams view him 
as a complete player who will be a threat. They hit 30 bombs and steal 30 bags every season. His 
projected contract, this is Jim Bowden, 10 years, $427 million. Would you do it if you ran the Cubs? 
No. I mean, that number feels about right. Um, and I think that the only reason it’s as low as 
it is is because of the recent injury history, um, and the way he finished. So I think otherwise 
he would have been in between Vladimir Guerrero and and Juan Stoodto probably 500 something even 
going into a labor stoppage. Well that that’s that’s another wild card but the big market clubs 
that that want to win and that are willing to throw around the money Cubs obviously not one of 
them. Um that’s not going to stop them I wouldn’t think. So, uh, the Cubs, I I I wouldn’t I wouldn’t 
do it. I don’t Look, I you know how I feel about left-handed monsters in the middle of the lineup. 
I mean, that that’s how you win. That’s they built   that lineup uh that they won with around Anthony 
Rizzo. Uh, you know, with all due respect to to Chris Bryant at the time, but uh I don’t think 
he’s going to be the difference for you this year. I think uh pitching will be the difference for you 
and I think that’s where you have to put your eggs in your basket this winter if you’re the Cubs. 
All right. His second best free agent is Kyle Schwarber, the X Cup, 32 years of age. He says 
that he believes he will get a five-year deal for $160 million. When you tell me that Kyle Tucker 
is going to get 10 years and 427, I’m surprised that he’s only giving 160 to Kyle Schwarber. Now 
he is three and a half years older. That’s a big deal. He also has Pete Alonszo, the third best, 
6 years, 182. Then he finally gets to a pitcher, Framber Valdez, who he links to the Cubs. They 
are one of the teams best fits Astros, Orioles, Mets, Braves, Cubs, Padres’s, and Giants. Six 
years, 190 is the projected contract. My fear is, as a Cubs fan, my fear is they won’t resign 
Tucker. They’ll put Owen Casey in right field. Kevin Alcantara will do something on that team 
unless he’s part of a bigger deal, a trade, and then they won’t spend all the Tucker money. 
They’ll get somebody, but they won’t push all their chips in. Yeah. I because of the labor 
stoppage and because they don’t do that. Not it’s not a Jed thing. Look, there’s an ownership. 
From an ownership standpoint, they’re one of the   biggest excuse makers in the game. And that’s 
what it would be. It wouldn’t be per se because of the potential labor stoppage. It would because 
it’d be because that’s a very convenient, rational looking excuse to not do it, to go short term, 
to not make a big commitment, which I think is is just flawed logic on its face if you look at it. 
Because if there’s a shutdown and if it results in a major change in the rules, then the teams that 
spent the money on on players, if there’s a if if there’s a a receding uh sort of um factor, if if 
there’s a salary cap of some kind or an additional restriction on salaries, the teams that are over 
it with certain contracts will get grandfathered in. There’s no way around that. They’re not going 
to get penalized for what they’ve already done   within the rules. So, are you telling me that 
we’ll leave the Cubs to the side and just make it a general discussion, a team goes out and signs 
seven amazing players at these massive contracts and then the rules change that they’re not going 
to put they’re going to allow all that to stand. Yes. But no team’s going to do that. That’s a 
that’s a that’s a ridiculous hypothetical because because they don’t do it already. I mean, they 
can’t pay for that already. I mean, that’s that’s   where you do start to get into where can teams 
actually pay for seven ridiculous $180 million contract situ deals. No. So, so there’s not enough 
teams that would be able to do anything close to that that that even matters. But the teams that 
have like a team that goes out and signs Kyle Tucker for what Jim Bowden thinks he he’ll get or 
or the the the Blue Jays that already have Vlatty at 500 or the Mets that already have Sodto at 
765. They’re not going to get penalized for playing by the rules to this point. When the rules 
change, they’ll have to factor that into whatever agreement they come up with. No ownership is 
going to sign off on that, never mind, you know,   the union. So that will get factored in. So if 
you’re hiding behind these potential rule changes, that’s on you as the ownership. If you’ve got the 
resources like the high revenue cubs do to go out and make a commitment now, you should do it in 
case the rules change because that’ll be an even bigger competitive. If if you’re telling me that 
there won’t be, and you’re probably right that they won’t say, “Well, Cubs, you’re x number of 
dollars over this new cap, so you got to divest yourself of players.” I don’t think they’ll do 
that. So then you should go out and say, “I’m going to get me cease fiber Valdez and I’m keeping 
Kyle Tucker and then I’ll deal with the new rules going forward.” Exactly. That’s what you should 
do. I would do it with with a pitcher like Framber   Valdez. Um Dylan Case maybe. I mean they know 
him real well. Um they know him so well they were going to make him a reliever as a young pitcher 
before they traded him to the White Sox. Um, Suarez, Ranger Suarez, I like him, too. So, you 
know, and then I wrote down your numbers here. Uh, Bowden has him at 6 for 164 as a projection. Um, 
cease at 6 for 187, which is absurd. I don’t Yeah, that that one blew me away. I I don’t think he 
does also have the Chicago Cubs involved with Tatsuya. He’s a right-handed pitcher, 27 years of 
age from the Satama Sabu Lions in Japan. He’s a Boris client. Now, that’s one thing. Best fits, 
Mets, Giants, Red Sox, Cubs, Orioles, Astros, and Padres’s. Predicted contract seven years, 
154. Now, now you’re talking 20some million. Um, and looking at some of these, look at what 
Yamamoto did the other day. If you’re going to   start do the do some Japanese comps if he’s coming 
from Japan, compare him to some other guys that have come from Yamamoto was with posting fee 365. 
Yeah. I’m not even talking about the money. I’m talking about when you project what they’re what 
they might be able to do over here and and so I   think the I think we’ve got a pretty good sample 
size on that. Now, if if your scouts like him, go get him. Um, but I do think go go get a 
pitcher or two and and set yourself up. So, you would just so you’re on the record here, you 
would not give 10 years 427 to Kyle Tucker? No, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t I I don’t think like I I I 
don’t think he brings enough to the table. Now, when you look at Juan Sodto, he’s he basically 
got paid for one thing. He got paid for taking the greatest at bat in the game. Nobody takes a 
better at bat than he does. And he’s left-handed. Those are That’s a a huge He’s He might be the 
single greatest just at bat you can stick in the middle of your lineup. That’s why he got 
paid that much. I still think for one thing,   it’s probably too much. I mean, Show Otani should 
be by far the highest paid player in the game, and he’s not. And he’s making even less than 
Vlatty if you count the the deferred money. So, so and I don’t know what all the exchange rate 
is. Vlatty’s I know Vlatty’s making us money, but uh the I just think that uh they should put their 
resources somewhere else. And again, I’m taking into account I’m kind of thinking primarily as 
a front office knowing the restrictions that are going to get handed to me by ownership. And if 
I have if if I have a case to make to go big for something, I’m gonna make that case for pitching. 
Do you think if you’re a betting man, do we miss all of the 27 season? No. No. I as as much as 
owners have stepped in it at times over the years, especially in labor issues. This would be the 
ultimate stepping in it. This would be the dumbest ass thing they could do. We just saw I’m going 
to I know you want to talk about this later, but we just saw a story that you pointed out before 
we we taped this that the Dodgers made a billion in revenue. They first MLB team ever. Only four 
franchises in the world have had a billion dollar revenue year. Dodgers, Cowboys, Real Madrid, and 
FC Barcelona. Two American teams. Correct. And and so and and what’s the reason? because they have an 
international fan base now by by miles and miles and miles. 3 million people a game are watching 
on the stream of Sho Otani and Yashobu Yamamoto play for the Dodgers. And they said walk around 
Tokyo, all you see are Dodgers hats, shirts, whatever jackets. And when you consider that, 
Major League Baseball at the end of the season put   out um a report saying that their viewership is 
up. I believe attendance is up. Um, and baseball numbers ratings wise for TV for 18 to 34 year 
olds up dramatically. That is that’s the audience you’ve wanted to grow forever, for decades. 
And now you’re going to shut the game down   for a year. It would be the most foolish thing in 
the world. The the the bottom line stat to me is every franchise in baseball right now is worth a 
billion plus, including the frigin Miami Marlins. and and the Rays, the Tampa Bay Rays, that tells 
you how much money there is in this game in the current system for everybody. So, for you to shut 
it down and risk doing damage to the to the game, this fragile growth that you’ve and I think it is 
fragile now internationally, Japan, that’s very strong, but there’s only a few teams that are 
able to do anything with with leveraging that. In this country, baseball is still far behind. Uh 
certainly the NFL and and it’s nowhere near where it used to be. 94 95 that labor shutdown was 
massively destructive. Every every metric went down after that. Uh revenue went down and then and 
then you know the the summer of Sammy. Uh okay, let’s just be clear here. It would not just be 
the owners shutting it down. Yes, it would. No, it would not. It would be that both sides have 
to come together here, Gordon. Let me put it this way. This would be the owners drawing a line 
in the sand or making a demand that they’re not willing to move off of because if they don’t want 
to shut it down, the owners could unilaterally basically not shut it down because the if 
if they went in and they said no salary cap, we’re not going to we don’t need a salary cap. 
Let’s just negotiate some of these other things.   Keep it relatively status quo. They could get 
that done. uh the players aren’t out there saber rattling for a specific big uh concession of 
any kind. Um so the big concession that we keep hearing about is ownership wanting and potentially 
demanding a salary cap. That’s the thing. Let’s not let’s not take our eye off the ball. That’s 
the thing that would shut it down. A drive for a salary cap the same way that it shut down the game 
in 94. They’ve already got a soft cap. And I would say it’s a little it’s a little firmer than soft 
uh because it you’ve got teams hiding behind it and there’s only a few teams that go over the 
luxury tax threshold and they’ve cap they’ve   hardcapped amateur spending very successfully. So 
for them to go to the players for more when they don’t even do full revenue sharing like the N the 
NFL does um is is it’s just it’s a non-starter. It should be a non-starter and the union would 
have to be idiots to not to not draw their hard line in the sand and then the and then the owners 
would have to be idiots to shut the game down for   it. Yeah. I think both sides status quo is never 
going to work. Why? It works now. I’m not saying it shouldn’t. I’m simply telling you from what I 
see it works for both sides now. Well, you have a a large collection of teams that will tell you 
we can’t play in a sport where one team’s got a billion in revenue. That’s [ __ ] I’m not [ __ ] 
I’m not speaking for them. I’m simply telling you what they’re saying. There has to be negotiating 
positions. These aren’t truth. The status quo is   not gonna happen. Well, then that that’s where 
the stupid ass [ __ ] comes in. That’s where people being dumb asses come in because it works 
and it it should be on the table. So, at least compared to a shutdown, for God’s sake, I don’t 
want a shutdown. I’m And again, let me make this clear. I’m not taking the owner’s position. I’m 
not taking anybody’s position. I’m simply telling   you that they will never agree to the status quo. 
And by the way, if they think that they can shut down the game, well, we’ve already laid out, you 
know, good luck getting enough fans back that you actually improve your position by doing that. Um, 
but beyond that, why any workingclass American, anybody that has a job and works for somebody 
else should really think about this if they’re on the side of supporting the owners on this 
because you certainly wouldn’t do it in your own business. The the major league players are not 
only the employees, they’re not only the labor, they’re also the product. So, I mean, they’re 
they’re the whole thing. They’re the game. and nobody’s paying them what they can’t afford to pay 
them. They they’re getting what the market bears uh within within the system. So for for PE would 
you do that if if if I mean we see companies do this with unions all the time come in and say 
well we’re losing money we need you to we need   to cut salaries or furlow or do whatever. Um but 
would you willingly do that? Would you would you as a as a working person who draws a salary from 
a company working for somebody else, would you support that? Would you would you offer that? No. 
Hell no. And and this game makes a ton of money for both sides. Franchise values are going up 
even as salaries go up as they should. As salaries should go up if if franchise values and revenues 
go up. Okay. I want to ask you about what we’re   seeing with Show Otani. I have long said he’s the 
greatest player in the history of the sport. Now, you got to be fired up. The greatest player in 
the history of the sport. Yes. Last night, we’re taping this on Tuesday, October 28th. Last night, 
he had on base nine times. That’s never happened in a postseason game. Four extra base hits, five 
walks, four of which were intentional. We’ve never seen like this. Well, we’ve only seen one other 18 
inning game in the in the World Series, but yeah, I mean, it’s it’s crazy. Look, he what what was 
it? Uh home run. No, double home run. Double home run. He had two doubles, two home runs. Yeah. And 
the second home run tied the game. Correct. And I think the double tied the game, too. And then so 
then they they get into the extra innings or maybe the late innings and then the extra innings 
and just say, “Nope, nope.” Um even when they supposedly pitched to him because the leadoff man 
or the guy got on base with one out I think uh in one of the they didn’t come close to the plate. 
They were they were that that was the un that   was the unintentional walk which was basically an 
intentional walk. Correct. He went to three and 0 and then he went here you go not giving anything. 
And so uh I mean it I mean the guy’s a freak. A freak. Absolute freak. It’s crazy. And he pitches 
tonight as we tape this. He He’s He’s pitching game four. He’s starting game four. Yeah. I read 
an article where he says he sleeps 14 hours a day. He better. And he believes that that 14 hours is 
the key to his longevity and his abilities and he has a special way he sleeps and what he wears. 
Like this dude takes it to the nth degree. Well, there’s no way he’s getting 14 hours of sleep from 
last night’s game. No. In fact, that was the thing   he said postgame multiple times when people were 
asking him like, “Are you ready for tomorrow?” I said, “I I just want to go sleep, right? I just 
want to go home and sleep.” Right? So, do I think that the Blue Jays have a chance because he won’t 
be on his regular rest, so to speak. You know what? He might not be as sharp just because 
of what the toll of 18 innings of play. Even though he’s a DH, he’s not playing a position, 
but he was on base nine times. But just the toll   of the late night and the stress and the and the 
leverage and all that, it’s possible just being off his routine, never mind off his sleep routine. 
I tell you what, the the the 14 innings of sleep, it’s it’s a reminder, you know, 14 hours, you 
mean? Or 14 hours. So I’m I’m like uh uh you know, we’re old guys, Cap, you know. So over the years, 
uh speak for yourself. I know, I was waiting for that. uh over the years uh you know you you 
read up on what’s the best nutrition and you know exercise routines and stuff like that but the 
the one thing beyond fluids exercise nutrition the most important thing to for health is sleep is 
good sleep yes you know you talk about the the sinus institute there um not snoring that’s a big 
deal there’s a lot of Americans with sleep apnea issues and not getting enough sleep and That’s a 
massive health issue because you restore all those all those tissues and and like if you work out a 
lot, you need a lot of sleep, right? To to restore   that and build the muscle. The fact that he’s 
doing that, the fact that he’s incorporating that to some extreme degree might go at least a little 
ways to explaining some of the freakishness, not to mention just how freaking good he is. 
All right, I got a couple quick questions and   I’ll let you go. Again, it’s brought to you by 
our great partners at sinus and snoringmd.com. Fall allergies in full swing. Ragweed, mold, dust 
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stuffy nose. And snoring often gets worse as   cooler weather leads to more indoor time and dry 
air. Do what I did. I quit snoring. Sinus and snoringmd.com. Is Freddy Freeman a first ballot 
hall of famer? Oh, that’s a great question. W with the stuff that he’s done in the postseason. Yeah, 
this is backto-back seasons. I think it’s his   last 17 World Series games. He has 10 home runs. 
Yeah, I think you know I give you an example like uh Jack Morris forever. He was on a lot of ballots 
and didn’t get in. I want to say he got did he get in with the the Veterans Committee? I believe he 
did get in. I know he’s in. I I can’t remember if   the if it was a veterans committee or one of his 
last baseball writers ballots, but toward the end um I had the opportunity to vote for him the last 
few times on there. And my and same with BL 11. Um my tiebreaker on you know fence sitting was how 
they rose in the postseason. And I think that if there if there’s people on the fence when it 
comes time to vote for Freddy Freeman, what he’s done in the postseason um to win directly win 
rings will come into play. Ryan McGuffy and I were playing this game. He has a list of the projected 
Hall of Famers ranked by tears. like Otani is not considered he’s considered a rising star who will 
eventually will get there but some of the older guys Max Scherzer lock Justin Verlander lock 
and they had Freddy Freeman first ballot. Yeah, I could see that going in. I mean that now it 
used to be there were a handful of old school writers who for whatever reason would would 
reserve first ballot status for only inner circle. Yeah. You and the writers, you go in your 
little room and go, “Yeah, let’s not vote for Tom Siver.” Writers don’t go into a room like they do 
in the NFL. Everybody votes separately. It’s their own. It’s Yeah. Somebody’s calling you dudes and 
going, “Hey, this time Gordon, don’t vote for Greg Maddox. We can’t have anybody go in with 100%.” 
Uh, who was the first one? No, it doesn’t work like that. Well, then how does And the point is I 
don’t know how because because there are holdouts and and this is part of my point. There there 
was now this was I never did this because it made no sense to me. But there was a time when 
writers would say, “Well, only Willie Mays and Nicki Mana and Babe Ruth are those Ted Williams, 
those inner circle guys are the ones that are deserving of first ballot.” The rest of them that 
I think are Hall of Famers, but not inner circle,   I’ll put them on a second year. Uh, don’t I I I 
I don’t understand that. Never have. There aren’t many guys. I don’t know personally anybody that 
does that now. So to me, if a guy’s you you can add those votes if if if that’s an issue, if that 
ever would have been an issue for Freddy Freeman, I don’t think that’s an issue now. So if he’s a 
Hall of Famer, he’s a first ballot hall of famer if he’s How do I get a ballot? I No one watches 
more baseball than me. Like you and your writing brethren. Hey, listen, Kyle. Let me tell you 
something. Hold on a second. You and your writing   brethren, you’re covering your team. I’m watching 
it all, dude. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t lobby for it. The Hall of Fame gave it to the baseball 
writers a long time ago. And they continue to tell us they’re happy with the process and and happy 
with the voting pool. If you can make a case to the Hall of Fame that you deserve the vote instead 
of me, you can have it. My guy Sully, isn’t he the head of the chapter here? Not anymore. He But he 
used to be forever. wouldn’t get fired. Talking he he he stepped down. He didn’t get booted. No, 
Sully’s a good man. Why Why do you think Sully would get booted? Well, I mean, from the being the 
head of the baseball writers around here. No, he   he he was in for life as a Chicago way thing and 
then and then he wound up uh Chicago Way thing. So, who’s the head of the Chicago chapter now? Uh 
Megan Monamiro at the Tribune. Oh, she’s a lovely person. I see Megan up at Wrigley. Go. But but 
she can’t do anything about it either. This isn’t   about the baseball writers. just about the Hall 
of Fame. If the Hall of Fame wants to change it, they’ll change it. So, you’re telling me Bruce 
Levine can’t get a vote? He was in the Baseball Writers uh association briefly and uh and had 
he stayed in for 10 consecutive years, he would have had a vote. Um he didn’t he didn’t qualify. 
I’ve been doing it for 35 years. Why does Teddy Greenstein get a vote? Why is David Hog get a 
vote? Yeah. Why is David Hog getting a vote? That   guy’s never covered a beat. And I like David. I 
I’ll I’ll say this. A few years ago, the organiza went through and they called the roster of of 
people like that. Neither one of those guys should have a vote. I’m on I’ll be and I got I got no 
personal issue with either one, but neither one of those guys should have a Hall of Fame vote. I’ll 
go on a record right now. Um but agreed. Um but it’s the Baseball Writers Association of American. 
You have to do it for a long time. Um, I I don’t know that there’s I don’t know that we do it as 
as well as some other pool would do it. I don’t know. Let the recap do it. Me and Guff will pick 
the Hall of Famer. Hey, the the recap and we could all get together and just start our own recap 
hall of fame. The recap baseball hall of fame. Oh,   that’s a pretty good idea. What do you think, 
Guff? I like it, Gordon. Let’s do that. Let’s do that. Let’s do that. The recap hall of fame. 
All right, Gordon. A lot of fun, man. As always, we do a ceremony annually. That’s it. We could 
call it Kapper Town. Oh, good lord. But let’s let’s discuss this on the next podcast. We’ll do 
it. We’ll talk about who belongs that’s currently playing. Uh even the young guys as they start 
to trend that direction. That is a wrap for this edition of our Cubs recap podcast presentation of 
our recap YouTube channel and available audio only everywhere you get your favorite podcast. 
By the way, if the Dodgers win two more, we’re into the off season and then shit’s going to 
get real around here cuz I’m putting some level of expectation on you Tom Rickettts on you Jed Hoyer 
and tell Carter keep his beak out of the meetings with his 87 win nonsense in 2032. Not good. 
Gordon, have a great night. You too. Take that.

Many questions surround what the #chicagocubs will do this offseason to follow up a 92-win campaign that came within a win of the NLCS. Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed his Top 50 free agents with predictions of contract and teams interested. #kyletucker is atop the list, but the #cubs aren’t atop the predicted teams. So, if not Tucker, who? What will be the resources and budget available? #kap and Gordon Wittenmyer break it all down, plus more discussion as to why #shoheiohtani is the greatest #mlb player ever.

#takethat

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