NEWSLETTER
If you’re traveling today for Turkey Day tomorrow, I wish you safe transport. And if you’re starting the process of cooking and all that, I wish you luck with that. Just remember: anyone who says cheesy potatoes are not a Thanksgiving food is a dang liar.
• So much drama this morning already about the Steven Matz signing, so catch up there if you missed anything. Basically, it’s all LOLMets. Meanwhile, the Cubs were IN THE TOP FIVE BABY:
Matz $44M guaranteed Cardinals deal includes a $2M signing bonus plus an extra $1M a year in incentives in innings pitched. Matz camp says Cards did a great job recruiting. Mets, Cubs, Red Sox, Jays finalists.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 24, 2021
• Who knows what that actually means beyond the Cubs being a “serious” bidder. For all we know, though, the Cubs may have been trying to sell Matz on a shorter-term, higher-AAV type deal, and that simply wasn’t his preference.
• I’ve been wondering, just for the sake of comparison, whether the Cubs would be better off landing a guy like Matz on a four-year deal, or a guy like Carlos Rodon on a much higher-risk, much higher-upside type signing. They aren’t direct comparables, but you’re talking about young-ish lefties who throw hard and come with certain risks. With Matz, you probably get a safer floor from a health perspective, but he might never be more than an average pitcher for 150-ish innings. With Rodon, you get the upside of a potential ace … just a very low likelihood it actually plays out that way. We have liked the idea of the Cubs taking a chance on Rodon, but you have to have your eyes open about the possibility that he gives you nothing at all. With the White Sox declining to even give him a qualifying offer, it makes you a bit worried about that arm. (No draft pick compensation, though, and if he’s open to a short-term, high-AAV deal, that’s the kind of thing the Cubs should be trying.)
• I’m gonna keep mulling it – again, it’s just for the sake of thinking, not anything that’s actually been raised by the circumstances. I liked the idea of Matz as a reasonable mid-rotation option with a little bit of upside, but it’s hard to argue against the idea that a team like the Cubs could and should be jumping all over short-term, high-risk moves like Rodon. (Yusei Kikuchi is the other mid-90s fastball lefty who is going to come up in this context, and while he’s been speculated to the Cubs a lot, they’d have to have a very specific plan for sorting out his egregious splits.)
• More Matz miscellany:
Also, worth keeping an eye on this late season change made with Toronto ..https://t.co/tVhGoxVPzo
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) November 24, 2021
• Looks like he made that change in mid-August, after which he had a sub-3 ERA. Doesn’t mean the results were wholly due to the change on the mound, and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s immediately portable to the same level of success in 2022 (hitters adjust). But that is a substantial change that did, last year, coincide with even better results.
• The Cubs are slowly working on the issue of diversity in their front office and through their coaching ranks, but more is needed:
As Major League Baseball talks about diversity, the Cubs have to put words into more action. "Baseball and teams are taking this seriously, but it’s still really hard and there’s a lot of work to be done." Story from @PJ_Mooney and me: https://t.co/QfIWm2LHpY
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) November 24, 2021
• Good work here:
.@nico_hoerner and Cubs associates helped @CubsCharities deliver over 600 meals to more than 20 shelters serving those experiencing homelessness across Chicago yesterday in partnership with @1800RUNAWAY. pic.twitter.com/1Pv1FGGCju
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 24, 2021
• Soooooooo, who gets to keep the clay model:
https://twitter.com/fergieajenkins/status/1463281240581226496
• Pretty darn cool for the Cubs announcer:
AT 22 YEARS OLD, YOURS TRULY AND THE WRIGLEY MICROPHONE FROM THIS SEASON IS IN THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME!!! #HallOfFame pic.twitter.com/96PRnBswn0
— Jeremiah Paprocki (@jtheannouncer) November 23, 2021
• Special show tomorrow night:
Thanksgiving on @WatchMarquee:
6pm – On the Marquee: Dead and Co.
7pm – Cubs Classics: 9/21/03 (Mark Prior 14 K's)
More info ⬇️https://t.co/pWYRzDAKXt— Alex Wilcox (@AlexWilcox10) November 23, 2021
• Hey. Protect your wrist, young man:
Kirby Dach’s first official NHL fight. Dach and DeBrincat fighting is not what the #Blackhawks want to see on a regular basis pic.twitter.com/d9rdY3EXOZ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) November 24, 2021
• Just a mess:
The Latest Reporting Sure Makes It Look Like Matt Nagy is Out, He Just Didn't Know It Yet – https://t.co/99UlLiAZ4o
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) November 24, 2021
• Heads up on what’s coming tomorrow night from Obvious Shirts:
1 ITEM = 10% OFF • 2 ITEMS = 20% OFF • 3 ITEMS = 30% OFF • 4+ ITEMS = 40% OFF SITE WIDE! Includes already discounted items too. Sale starts Tomorrow at 6pm central! #BlackFridaySale pic.twitter.com/5gzXRylhYl
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) November 24, 2021
