Pre-Winter Meetings Rumor Mill: Reynolds Requests Trade, Prices Keep Climbing, Judge and the Giants, O’s Get a Starter, More (UPDATE)

The Winter Meetings start tomorrow, and boy would it be nice if the Chicago Cubs already had a worthwhile signing in their back pocket by then. I’m not asking for a shortstop TODAY, but how about a catcher? A mid-rotation arm? A center fielder? Some other bat?

Things are very quiet, still, on the Cubs-specific front, though. So if something does happen today, it might be coming out of nowhere. Maybe just lock down Christian Vazquez?

Elsewhere around baseball …

  • Although I don’t see the Cubs and Pirates matching up on a trade right now within the division, Bryan Reynolds being available in the outfield pool could help the Cubs’ own pursuits in center field:
  • Reynolds, 27, is a switch-hitting center fielder who has posted a combined .281/.361/.481/126 wRC+ slash line in the big leagues. He’s also got three years of team control remaining, so if the Pirates accede to his request, they’re going to get a ton for him. Maybe the Cubs could and should try to seal the deal on a guy like Cody Bellinger while the market gets all hot and bothered about Reynolds’ availability.
  • Reynolds will DEFINITELY be seen as competition on the market for Brandon Nimmo, by the way.
  • UPDATE: From the Pirates, who say Reynolds’ request will have zero impact on their offseason:
  • I don’t think there’s much there, to be honest. Not like the Pirates are going to tell the world that they want to trade him, and the mention of three years of control is the tell. “You want him? You’re gonna have to knock us over with an offer to get us to consider it, because we have plenty of time.”
  • The Cubs were mentioned on Jameson Taillon previously, but I have a hard time seeing them go way over the rumored four years and $56 million, because I presume that’s now what his price tag is going to top:
  • Speaking of price tags going up, Joel Sherman is guessing 9 years and $342 million for Aaron Judge, and I’m thinking in this market there’s no reason to believe that’s too high:
  • And speaking again of price tags, I’ll be curious to see the value on this one, given how bad Gibson was last year (but given how much bounce-back veteran starters have been getting on one-year deals):
  • After trading Kolten Wong to the Mariners, Bob Nightengale says the Brewers are now done selling:
  • We’ll see if that holds, as it would be a bit silly for the Brewers to say anything else. I imagine they are still listening on all three of those guys.
  • I did not see this segment and I haven’t found a clip yet, but this seems impossibly low now that we have seen what the market is doing:
  • At 5/$120M, Rodon should be an OBVIOUS yes for about 15 teams, so that tells me it’s just way too low. With deGrom – much older and even more injured – getting five years, it’s not at all hard for me to see Rodon getting six years (albeit at a much lower AAV, because deGrom is deGrom). Two months ago, six years and $180 million would’ve shocked me. Now? That might just be market price and the risk you have to take.
  • Sounds like the Rangers pulled the “we’re gonna go way over the top if you just say yes right now and no one gets a chance to match” move:
  • Wonder if that’s what the Giants try to do on Judge, which might be the only way they can actually get him away from the Yankees.
  • Franchy Corder-O:
  • 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

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    It’s Gotten Impossible to Not Comment on the White Sox Making Futility History

    In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...

    Latest News

    Mariners vs. Rangers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Seattle Mariners (12-12) visit the Texas Rangers (13-12) at 2:35 PM ET Thursday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Caleb Raleigh has racked up six homers this season (No. 9 in the...

    Padres vs. Rockies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The San Diego Padres (14-13) are favorites (-151) on the moneyline when they square off against the Colorado Rockies (6-19) Thursday at 3:10 PM ET, live on SDPA.Randy Vasquez takes the mound for San Diego while Dakota Hudson is Colorado's...

    Dodgers vs. Nationals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Los Angeles Dodgers (15-11) have an opportunity to add to their three-game winning streak as they visit the Washington Nationals (10-13) at Nationals Park on Thursday at 4:05 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Dodgers will...

    Royals vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Toronto Blue Jays (13-12) are the underdogs on the moneyline (+100) in Thursday's contest against the Kansas City Royals (15-10). The game starts at 2:10 PM ET on SNET. The Blue Jays are favored against the spread in this...

    Astros vs. Cubs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    Two of the league's top power hitters meet Thursday when the Houston Astros (7-18) and Chicago Cubs (15-9) take the field at 2:20 PM ET, live on SCHN. Jose Altuve has six home runs for the Astros (-127 favorites on...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 25, 2024

    The Boston Red Sox versus the Cleveland Guardians is a game to see on a Thursday MLB schedule that features 10 competitive contests.There are typically plenty of MLB player prop bets available for each and every matchup. Scroll down to...

    Padres vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The San Diego Padres (14-13) play on the road against the Colorado Rockies (6-19) on Thursday. The matchup is set to begin at 3:10 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Padres will send Randy Vasquez (0-1) to...

    Brewers vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Milwaukee Brewers (15-8) are set to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-12) Thursday at 12:35 PM ET, airing on BSWI. The Brewers are listed as -126 favorites by sportsbooks, while the underdog Pirates have +105 odds for the contest.Freddy...

    Twins vs. White Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Chicago White Sox (3-21 look to avoid the sweep when they visit the Minnesota Twins (10-13) in the final game of a four-game set. Oddsmakers have listed the Twins as -252 favorites, while the White Sox are +206 underdogs...

    Phillies vs. Reds Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    Expect a display of power when Kyle Schwarber (6 HR) and the Philadelphia Phillies (15-10) take on Elly De La Cruz (7 HR) and the Cincinnati Reds (14-10) at Great American Ball Park at 1:10 PM ET live on BSOH....

    more cubs news