New year begins with Cubs missing out on Tatsuya Imai
The Imai sweepstakes ended with the Japanese pitcher picking an unexpected team and settling for a smaller contract than projected. The Astros took on some risk, but they could also be rewarded with a very good pitcher. Why didn’t the Cubs sign Imai? And where do they go from here? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down on North Side Territory, the show for all the latest offseason news surrounding the Cubs.
23 comments
If the Cubs were in on imai isn’t this the kind of deal they want
Jed is full of it
Where’s Carter Hawkins is he in the Delorean on his way to 2032
Didn't Imai say that he didn't want to sign with a team that already had a Japanese SP? What's Imanaga, Italian? 🤣
Its Chicago Cub Excuse Season!!
They celebrate every year at this time.
Ricketts is running the Cubs like the pirates owner , watch he will ask Jed to sell before and at the deadline . Nico, Kelly, happ Suzuki, Jamison, mills and Shota get rid of all the payroll before the lock out
I wont pay to see this team play at Wrigley,. Its the only way to for me to show Ricketts im not happy
In a dream world…..there was a way to sign Imai, Okamato, Bregman or Bichette, while trading for Cabrera, L Gilbert, Hader, and M Gore. According to Baseball trade values they can accomplish that without giving up Ballesteros, Caissie, Rojas, or Wiggins. But Shaw and others would go. It will never happen as the Cubs lack foresight. Yes payroll would hit $290m for this year but after 26 around $60m would drop off the books and they would be under the cap in 27 and 28….yet stronger.
You guys bring up Kyle Tucker. They made money on that deal. By getting rid of Bellinger and putting that money in their pocket, they actually paid less to Tucker.
THE "OUR DEAL OR NO DEAL" PHILOSOPHY IS PATHETIC AND AN EMBARRASSING DISGRACE TO CHICAGO AND ALL CUBS FANS. ACTUALLY TARGET A PLAYER YOU WANT AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET HIM – STOP HOPING TO JUST SIGN WHOEVER FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS. THIS FRONT OFFICE HAS BECOME AN ABSOLUTE JOKE
You guys say that there are six of the nine remaining top free agents out there. What will the excuse be when the Cubs don’t sign any of them either?
It's also infuriating to listen to Sahadev and Patrick continuously tip-toe around what is clear and obvious to everyone instead of just firmly calling it out – this iteration of front office and ownership has achieved NOTHING on the field, and still ACTS LIKE THEY'RE SMARTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. Say it Sahedev and Patrick – SAY IT. What's your concern – losing "sources"? What good have those sources been? And do you work for the Cubs or your readers/listeners/audience??
The Cubs are bottom feeders why do you keep giving them your money
They won't do anything. All the Ricketts care about is lining their pockets with cash and the fans don't care.
Whatever. You guys trying to take the Cubs’ management side. Screw the Cubs. No way you should defend them in any way. I’m done watching this year
It's essentially a 1 year 31 million dollar contract once the posting fee is added in or a 3 year 24.5 million if he picks up all the options. You're forgetting that 10 million dollar posting fee is factored in and paid year 1. Plus 15% of the incentives which will bring it closer to 25 million aav over 3 years Or 33 million for 1 year.
Do any of those options add onto their 92 win season and make them better with their "budget"? Probably not. Even if they add Valdez or Bregman they're what 82-83 win team on paper. That's good for 3rd or 4th in the division. They're going backwards with a dim future when you consider no pitching in the minors outside of Wiggins and 13 pending free agents after this season.
I see no reason to give this FO the benefit of the doubt
Not a pitchers park I would want to bet my career on.
Cubs are in on everyone but get no one
I am not that disappointed especially looking at the numbers.
It is clear Cubs don’t want to have opt out after first year ! The money is not a problem. But because he is not being valued as a #2 or 1B starter, Cubs don’t want to tie 18m to someone is a #3 for just one year, we already have Shota, Boyd, for that role for one year! So signing another one for one year is not good. But if for two years at that 20m AAV range is another story ! Cause you likely will lose Boyd and Shota, so you have another #3 to count on!!
They will try to sign a #1 ! Trust me ! You guys are all wrong about Jed! Why? Because no one sees Tucker trade, no one sees Boyd signing, no one sees Bregman bidding coming! So don’t listen to the national media and most insiders, they don’t know !!!!
I appreciate the show guys.
It’s funny, every Cubs podcast I listen to has a segment where they say something along the lines of
“We know fans are upset that the Cubs refuse to spend money like a big market team but we can only talk about that for so long, eventually we have to talk about the team in the reality in which they exist”
It’s sad true but true. The #1 issue with the Cubs is the fact that the Ricketts family are simply refusing to spend like a big market team. It’s so sad, I hope they sell the team
エマ、オカマト、応援してます