NEWSLETTER
I don’t think Alexander Canario’s (serious) injury is going to torpedo the Cubs chances of building a playoff contender next season — they were never going to be banking on his big league production (or if they were, it’d be a problem). But I also don’t think we can pretend like it’s not a significant loss. Canario had emerged as a legitimate, near-term contributor in center field, potentially with some true and immediate impact. And if not that, he could have helped facilitate a trade of significance for a big-league caliber player — either as the centerpiece of a deal, himself, or by way of the Cubs more confidently moving some other upper-level outfield prospect in a deal, or even Ian Happ.
The good news is that the Cubs already have two very good corner outfielders, Happ and Seiya Suzuki, under contract for at least next season (I don’t think this has much of an impact on an extension with Happ, for what it’s worth). But I can’t help but thinking about those Brandon Nimmo rumors that popped up yesterday in conjunction with the Cubs. Maybe that just became a bit more plausible?
Brett got into all of that and more yesterday — needless to say, the impact is significant:
Meanwhile, from around the MLB rumor mill …
Rockies Want Brandon Nimmo
This week the Cubs were included among the “other teams that might be interested” in signing free agent center fielder Brandon Nimmo, who’s coming off a monster 5.4 WAR season. The other teams mentioned, by the way, to varying degrees of likelihood: Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers, Marlins, and Blue Jays.
Not long after that post, a Rockies mailbag at The Denver Post revealed another team that could be interested, as well as some potential contract terms: The Colorado Rockies reportedly have Nimmo on their “preliminary wish list,” though the competition is potentially going to be stark. Nimmo is apparently from Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is just under a 2-hour drive from Denver, for whatever that’s worth.
So what does that all mean for the potential length and cost of a deal for Nimmo? Here’s Patrick Saunders: “Estimates that I’ve seen predict that Nimmo will land a five-year deal around $115 million-$120 million, although he might seek a longer deal.”
That projection is on the lower side of what the writers at The Athletic had bracketed, but Nimmo remains attached to draft pick compensation and has an extensive history of injuries. Before Canario’s injury (and Brennen Davis’ general soreness), I would have guessed probably not for the Cubs. But now? … I don’t know. I think I could get on board, depending on how aggressive the Cubs were elsewhere.
After all, we’ve been consistent in our belief that the Cubs need to add TWO bats this offseason, not just one. Especially if they’re going to lose Willson Contreras.
Yankees High Bidder on Judge?
Before we get into the more specific rumors, I think this article at SNY on the toxicity of being a New York Yankee, and the impact that has on free agents, perhaps especially Aaron Judge, is worth reading. Remember, Judge was *booed* in New York during the postseason, after setting a new AL single-season HR record. That’s not “high expectations in New York,” or a “spoiled fanbase.” That’s sh*tty and toxic and a very understandable reason to want to avoid that team if all else is equal.
Okay, now onto the latest on Aaron Judge’s free agency via Jon Heyman at the New York Post, who reports on opposing perspectives from inside and outside the organization:
“I would expect him to be a Yankee,” one rival says, echoing the thoughts of many. Another says he believes it would take a “screwup” for the Yankees to lose a legacy player like this….Even so, there appears to be some real concern within the Yankees’ ranks about their chances to keep Judge.
There’s real, internal concern about the Yankees chances to keep Judge? That’s news to me, though maybe it pairs well with that report of Yankee toxicity? In any case, Heyman says that the Yankees “expect to be the high bidder,” so perhaps it’s all moot. And to further clarify Judge’s expected earnings: “A source suggested he didn’t see why he should be below Anthony Rendon’s annual $35 million pay….”
And lastly, Heyman listed his the potential non-Yankees suitors in order of likeliness, doubling-down on his prior report that the Cubs are at least theoretically in the fight:
- Giants – prepared to spend”whatever it takes”
- Dodgers – could become “serious players”
- Mets
- Red Sox
- Cubs – main competition along with Giants and Dodgers?
- Rangers
- The Field
Heyman clarifies that while the Cubs “promise to spend, it’s hard to see them spending this big.” And I tend to agree, in a sense: it just doesn’t feel like Judge is the route they’re taking. And I think they can still have a HUGE offseason without him. But, I mean, yeah, they’ve been mentioned a couple times. So I guess we’ll leave the light on.
