Lukewarm Stove: Cardinals, Lynn, Fowler, Rasmus, Hamels, Scherzer

old stove featureI started to write this Lukewarm Stove yesterday afternoon. I led with this: “Things are going to start happening soon. I can feel it. It won’t be like November and December, no, but there are transactions out there yet to be made.”

Then I typed a bit about Evan Gattis and Mike Kickham (Gattis because he was in Houston for a physical, and Kickham because I merely wanted to update you on his status as a DFA limbo guy who could wind up being traded), and I was halfway through the Kickham part when his trade happened. And then almost immediately after, the Gattis trade happened. So my Lukewarm Stove was completely blown up and I buried it. Then the rumor about the Cubs looking for a regular outfielder came out, and it was clear that, yes, things are kinda rolling now.

  • The Cardinals have reportedly (Jon Heyman) agreed to a three-year deal with arbitration-eligible starter Lance Lynn, which would buy out his three arb years. Lynn gets $22 million, which is less than he would have gotten for the three years if he’d continued to pitch as well as he had for the past several years (he’d probably be looking at a schedule like $5M, $8M, $12M, at least), but this protects him against injury or a sudden drop in effectiveness. For the Cardinals, they get cost certainty, even if they’re not getting any options to cover free agent years. It’s a good deal for both sides, albeit not a huge needle-mover.
  • Ken Rosenthal says that the Astros are almost certainly not done dealing, and they’ve already discussed Dexter Fowler in trade talks. (We talked about Fowler last evening, if you missed it). The Cubs seem like a solid fit, all things consider. The Astros have also discussed catchers Jason Castro and Carlos Corporan, which could impact the Cubs’ efforts to move Welington Castillo.
  • Rosenthal implies that the Astros could be looking for pitching – prospecty or depthy – in these kinds of deals. If it’s the depth kind, the Cubs can help in spades. If it’s the prospecty kind, well, they’re a little less able, at least with potential impact arms.
  • Speaking of the outfield, we don’t know if the Cubs are still in on free agent Colby Rasmus or not, but you might be able to count the Rays out. They have been the only other team publicly connected to Rasmus besides the Cubs and Orioles, and Marc Topkin says the Rays are not the favorite for Rasmus. I guess that’s not quite counting them out, but it’s not much in the way of confidence. I still think we’re going to see something shake out between Rasmus, the Orioles, the Cubs, and the Diamondbacks. I’m not saying all four will be involved in succession, but there’s something there, what with the Cubs talking to the Diamondbacks about Welington Castillo, the Cubs wanting an outfielder, the Orioles wanting a Diamondbacks outfielder, the Orioles maybe still needing a catching upgrade, and Rasmus maybe deciding between the Cubs and Orioles. I’d hazard a guess though, that, because of the intertwined storylines there, we’re probably in the thick of a ton of misinformation.
  • With all of that in the back of your mind, keep an eye on what happens with free agent outfielder Nori Aoki. He’s currently being tied to the Orioles, Braves, and Giants, according to Jon Heyman.
  • The Phillies are reportedly waiting out four suitors on Cole Hamels – the Cardinals, the Rangers, the Padres, and the Red Sox. It still seems unlikely at this point that Hamels is dealt before midseason. And, in that case, my guess is the identities of the interest suitors will change once again.
  • How much is Max Scherzer worth? Maybe about seven years and $175.5 million. I bet he winds up getting a touch more.
  • Don’t forget to like BN on Facebook:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

    Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

    Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

    I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

    Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

    Latest News

    Braves vs. Phillies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Spencer Strider will take the ball for the Atlanta Braves when they take on starter Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 3:05 PM ET.If you're trying to watch this game,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans face the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires only one trifecta from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the BucksJonas Valanciunas' over/under...

    Top 25 College Basketball Picks and Best Bets: March 28

    The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa State Cyclones hit the court in one of four games on the college basketball slate on Thursday that include a ranked team.How to Bet on Top 25 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Top 25 Games for...

    What Does a Chicago Bears NFL Draft Trade Down Look Like?

    You'd think we'd be well-versed in trade-back options after months of wondering what kind of haul it would take for the Bears to move off taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. But trading...

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their season as -226 favorites in a home tilt against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on ARID.Arizona's Zac Gallen gets the start, and he'll go against Colorado's Kyle Freeland.Diamondbacks vs. Rockies...

    Mariners vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Seattle Mariners begin their season as -155 favorites in a home tilt against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on NESN.Luis Castillo takes the mound for Seattle while Brayan Bello is Boston's starter for...

    Guardians vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Cleveland Guardians start their season as road favorites (-156) in a matchup with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday at 10:07 PM ET, live on NBCS-CA from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Cleveland's Shane Bieber and Oakland's Alex Wood have been named the...

    Damian Lillard Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, and if the Bucks' Damian Lillard drains four 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.Damian Lillard's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansDamian Lillard's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Brook Lopez Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires two trifectas from Brook Lopez.Brook Lopez's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansBrook Lopez's over/under for...

    Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    On Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, the Milwaukee Bucks meet the New Orleans Pelicans, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires just one trey.Giannis Antetokounmpo's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansGiannis Antetokounmpo's over/under for three-pointers in this game:...

    more cubs news