The Little Boy is a big Minecraft fan, and yesterday he showed me something he’s been working on for a long time: dude made a baseball stadium, complete with players on the field, clubhouses, and stands for the fans. Really impressive stuff, and a lot of fun.
… the only problem is that he made the Padres’ ballpark, because he fancies himself a Padres fan. At least it’s not the Dodgers, I guess.
- Speaking of which. It increasingly seems like the Cubs finished second for closer Tanner Scott, which is a fact about which I’m sure all of us have conflicting and frustrated feelings for a variety of competing reasons.
It was down to the Cubs and Dodgers but its LA that adds another top arm. https://t.co/O0yLMLnJZ2
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 19, 2025
Heard the Cubs offered Tanner Scott a 4-year contract at $66 million, prior to his agreement with the Dodgers. @MLBNetwork @670TheScore— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 20, 2025
- If the reporting is true – and there are other reports that suggest this is the ballpark – then I am perhaps most angry about the fact that the Cubs FINALLY went to this kind of level to secure a closer that they needed, only to lose out to THE F—ING DODGERS. I don’t really want to give the Cubs a lot of “credit” since they didn’t get the guy, but I do appreciate knowing that they are willing to do this when the need/fit is so clear, and I also appreciate knowing that the Cubs have at least $16.5 million in AAV they are willing to commit further to this roster. It’s probably more money available if the right opportunities materialize, but also this doesn’t mean they will spend all that they can (we already knew that). Still, it’s at least nice to know they aren’t privately limited to only $8 million or whatever.
- Given that the Dodgers’ deal (4/$72M) reportedly includes $21 million deferred, it’s entirely possible that the Cubs’ offer was worth more real money. But hey, Scott and his agent get to say they got $72 million instead of $66 million, and he gets to be part of a super team. Whatever. On to the next target, which will probably be whichever guy in the next tier is willing to take a one-year deal. (I’m bitter and mad about this whole situation. Can’t deny it.)
- As for the Dodgers, all we can do is hope every one of these Dodgers players somehow winds up sucking horribly. Imagine being a fan of a non-Dodgers NL West team right now. It has to be especially deflating to see what is happening.
- I mean, OK, but the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll is literally now $375 million, so I think we can focus on the money a little bit:
Cubs president Jed Hoyer on the mighty Dodgers: "People focus on the size of their payroll and the deferments, and stuff like that, but it’s just a great organization that’s kind of running on all the cylinders. They do well in the draft. They do well internationally. They make…— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 19, 2025
- Yes, the Dodgers do everything well, but the most impactful players on their roster are there because of money. Moreover, the money unquestionably helps them be good at all the other stuff. It’s OK to point out the super-extreme advantage they have, while also acknowledging that they can still be beaten.
- As for the Cubs’ resources, Nightengale’s piece reports on the expected number for the year: “Their 2025 payroll budget is $220 [million], according to a high-ranking Cubs executive.” That’s the actual cash number, not the AAV-based luxury tax number, by the way. Because the AAVs are a little larger on most of the Cubs’ deals at the moment, the luxury tax number would be about $10 million higher, which would, in turn, leave about $10 million in flexibility in-season under the first tier of the luxury tax ($241 million). If true, that would leave the Cubs with upwards of $20-25 million or so still available to spend (in real 2025 dollars), and the Scott offer suggests that could be accurate. We’ll see if the Cubs actually lay out that cash, though.
- That tracks, by the way, with Tom Ricketts saying multiple times this weekend that the luxury tax payroll number should wind up close-ish to the first luxury tax tier, give or take.
- The CubsCon Kids Only Presser:
We'll never be able to get Luke's Elmo impression out of our head. 😂 pic.twitter.com/oIUzcYh5PR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 19, 2025
- This is fun, and I certainly know which one is my favorite:
- Rest in Peace to long-time MLB manager Jeff Torborg:
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