Caught up in the Cubby vibe much? Ha! It's not even June yet. This team is very capable of going on one of their patented run scoring droughts at any moment....we seen it before, many times. And with this group of starters, that would bring things to a skreeching halt. I will say that Jed has some decisions to make coming up. I mean I said it before in another thread....somewhere along the line he will have to decide to do a full rebuild or not. If things continue as they have....he will have some real valuable pieces to move at the deadline. Long term....that's probably what he should be looking at. But it will be damn hard to make those moves if the Cubs are anywhere near 1st place at the deadline. The fans will eat him alive.
If he did resign all 3.
2022
Joc LF (walk year)
Happ CF (23 last year)
Heyward RF (23 last year)
Bryant 3B
Baez SS
Hoerner 2B
Rizzo 1B
Contreras (walk year)
Hendricks (23 walk year)
Alzolay
Williams (walk year)
Arreta (walk year)
5th starter.
Now Jake has a 10M opt and a 2 M buyout.
Joc 10M opt and 2.5M buy out.
They are both worth retaining. Jake would slot #3 in this rotation. It only exception is both Steel and Thompson look ready to take over starting roles. Then you look at over head. Williams costs nothing to not offer. He did cost 2.5M and would cost $4. Jake would cost $8. So in this scenerio you save the 4M unless Jake is a 3+ WAR pitcher and Williams is a 0 WAR pitcher. Then the cash is worth it.
If they are contending you pull 16M opt on Kimbrel. The pen is going to get better and they can save with adding youth and not signing vets
Chafin 2.75M
Winkler .9M
Brothers .85M
Teperia .8M
Holder .75M
Mills .6M
Wick .59M
Adam .5M
Maples .6M
It adds up .
The way I look at it is to bring up pitching via the pen. As they start to cost$ then decide. Closer material? Stater. Or cut and keep the talent upwelling.
Self developed pitching is a huge asset. F/A pitching can be a money dump. Especially with injury being more frequent.
