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Report: The Cubs Are Interested In Zach Britton

By
Sean Sears
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The Cubs bullpen cracked under the postseason pressure this fall, with their dreams of repeating as World Series champs dashed by the Dodgers.

And to make matters worse, their most reliable reliever and closer Wade Davis is a free agent and may become too expensive for the Cubs to retain.

Enter one, Zach Britton to the conversation. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Cubs and Dodgers are once again expressing interest in the lefty-closer.

This is no surprise, as the Cubs were rumored to be the favorites to make a deal for Britton at the deadline this past summer. The 29-year-old reliever has put together two straight fantastic seasons, with a 2.89 ERA in 2017 and an incredible 0.54 ERA in 2016.

Britton is signed for this 2018 but will be a free agent after the season, which may drive the asking price down some for the Cubs. However, Baltimore ended up holding on to Britton at the deadline in hopes of the club making a late playoff push.

But with the Orioles two best players in OF Adam Jones and 3B Manny Machado both free agents after the 2018 season, maybe Baltimore will reduce the asking price?

With the Cubs reportedly willing to part with MLB talent to acquire the likes of Chris Archer or Andrew Benintendi, maybe they would do the same for Britton? I doubt Zach Britton alone nets the Orioles a Kyle Schwarber or Javier Baez, but maybe sweeten the deal with a Kevin Gausman?

No word on any actual deal forming, but with Heyman reporting it, the Cubs are surely weighting all options at the closer position.

The Bears Jim Harbaugh Connection Got Another Boost

By
Erik Lambert
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jim harbaugh

ESPN analyst Jim Trotter took a ton of heat last year from Michigan fans. That’s because he had the nerve to incite a Chicago Bears Jim Harbaugh connection. Here’s the context. In December of last season it was clear the team was going to finish with its worst record in decades. That put head coach John Fox squarely on the hot seat, ramping up speculation about a replacement.

Naturally Harbaugh would be a name to watch. He’d just come off a successful run with the San Francisco 49ers, making three NFC championships and a Super Bowl in four years. Most felt he had no desire to leave Michigan though, his alma mater. It was Trotter though that set social media on fire when he declared the Bears were his “dream job.”

“The Rams want a dynamic guy and they know in Los Angeles it’s all about entertainment,” Trotter said on SportsCenter. “Jim Harbaugh, from what I understand, the Rams is not a job he is looking at. If he were to come back to the NFL, from what I’ve been told, is that his dream job would be in Chicago where he started his playing career under Mike Ditka.

“People are going to take that as me saying he’s looking to leave Michigan, but I’m not saying that at all. If you know Jim Harbaugh the competitor, you’d know he has unfinished business with Ohio State having not beaten Urban Meyer yet. But from what I’ve been told, Chicago would be his NFL dream job.”

After almost a year of continued hammering from Wolverine fans for that statement, Trotter seems to have finally gotten some backup.

Bears Jim Harbaugh buzz gets another jolt

Fred Huebner has covered Chicago sports for the better part of three decades. He does radio for ESPN 1000 on the ‘Murph and Fred Show’. He recently spoke with former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael on the subject. “Mongo” insists the Harbaugh statement has lots of truth to it. The big obstacle is money.

It’s understandable. Harbaugh has quite the cushy job in Ann Arbor. He’s getting paid around $7 million a year. Not only that but his contract has a clause that states any time a new coach gets hired who makes more than him, Michigan must give him a raise to match. That’s a pretty sweet deal and hard to walk away from.

The top NFL head coaches right now are making at or just over $8 million. So the Bears would have to go a bit higher than that to secure his services. It’s difficult to imagine the McCaskey family doing that. Not only because of the money but also because of Harbaugh’s reputation. He’s known for being a bit combative in the work place. They might see him as another Ditka, something they’ve clearly tried to avoid for the past 25 years.

Still this is further smoke. It feels like only a matter of time before we see fire.

Projected Contracts For Cubs Free Agent Targets

By
Aldo Soto
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Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

We’re at the early stages of the offseason, one that should be a lot of fun for Chicago Cubs fans. That is if you enjoy the plethora of trade rumors and connections to free agents. If you’re more interested on the value of the players the Cubs could be signing in free agency, FanGraphs is here to give fans an in-depth look at this year’s free agent class.

Dave Cameron has been doing this for years and in this offseason’s edition he has the top-50 free agents and their projected contracts on FanGraphs.

I’ve been doing this exercise for a few years, and last year, we combined my projected salaries and rankings with the results of our contract crowdsourcing series. We’re doing that again this year, presenting you both the average and median estimated salaries provided by our readers alongside my own guesses at what these guys will sign for.

Keep in mind that the crowdsourced values are generally a good bit lower than what players actually receive, because the player generally goes with the highest bidder, while the crowdsourced results are an average of what our readers think a player should get. My guesses are generally a bit higher than the crowd’s estimate, though that isn’t true for every player; in particular, I think a bit more will be spent on the guys perceived as the best few free agents and less will be spent on the role-player types at the bottom of the list.

So, let’s get into the Cubs free agent targets, which are basically all pitchers.

Yu Darvish

Yu Darvish has been predicted to sign with the Cubs, but it really doesn’t seem like they’re going to go after him. It just doesn’t fit what they’ve done the last two years in free agency and the plan appears to focus more on trades to acquire young, controllable starting pitching. Nonetheless, the Cubs do need a few starters and Darvish is the number one starting pitcher in free agency. Here’s what the FanGraphs crowdsourcing article has and Dave Cameron’s projection as well.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron6$28.0 M$168.0 M
Median Crowdsource5$25.0 M$125.0 M
Avg Crowdsource5.4$24.0 M$130.7 M

 

Jake Arrieta

Jake Arrieta turned his career around with the Cubs and now he has a chance to cash in big time on his 4.5-year run on the North Side. The pitcher as well as Theo Epstein have expressed interest in coming to an agreement, but the 2015 Cy Young Award winner is going to have several suitors in free agency. The Cubs did extend him the qualifying offer, assuring themselves a compensatory draft pick if Arrieta signs somewhere else.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron4$24.0 M$96.0 M
Median Crowdsource5$22.0 M$110.0 M
Avg Crowdsource4.6$22.2 M$102.5 M

 

Wade Davis

Like Arrieta, the Cubs have publicly said they’ve love to have closer Wade Davis back in 2018. He only blew one save in 2017, but control issues hampered him throughout the season. The Cubs currently don’t have a go-to name to be their closer, so Davis remains a target in free agency. The Cubs also gave Davis a qualifying offer.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron4$17.0 M$68.0 M
Median Crowdsource4$15.0 M$60.0 M
Avg Crowdsource3.6$14.6 M$53.1 M

 

Alex Cobb

Photo by Kim Klement of USA Today

Alex Cobb was essentially on his hands and knees, begging for the Cubs to sign him during a radio interview recently and it sure does seem like a natural fit. His pitching coach in Tamp Bay, Jim Hickey, is now the Cubs pitching coach and both have a high admiration for one another. Cobb is also a big fan of Joe Maddon and who knows, maybe he takes less money in free agency to come to Chicago? It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened since 2015 with the Cubs.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron4$15.0 M$60.0 M
Median Crowdsource4$14.0 M$56.0 M
Avg Crowdsource3.6$14.5 M$52.6 M

 

Lance Lynn

Lance Lynn is yet another option the Cubs could go after, fitting the mold of Cobb, as one of the second-tier, starting pitching free agents. The 30-year-old has a 3.38 career ERA in six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He missed all of 2016, after having Tommy John Surgery.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron3$16.0 M$48.0 M
Median Crowdsource4$15.0 M$60.0 M
Avg Crowdsource3.6$14.7 M$53.2 M

 

Brandon Morrow

Brandon Morrow started his career as a starting pitcher and as recently as 2015, he was still starting games for the San Diego Padres. However, injuries have plagued Morrow’s career and has set him back at times. Despite pitching no more than 54.1 innings since 2013, Morrow had an impressive 2017 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a 2.06 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 43.2 innings. The Cubs need as many good arms as possible and Morrow certainly will be in the conversation.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron2$11.0 M$22.0 M
Median Crowdsource2$9.0 M$18.0 M
Avg Crowdsource2.4$9.2 M$22.4 M

 

Tyler Chatwood

Chicago Cubs, Free Agent, Colorado Rockies, Starting Pitching, Chicago Cubs

Another option for the back of the rotation is 27-year-old Tyler Chatwood. Yes, the 4.69 ERA in 2017, looks concerning at the surface, but remember he does pitch at Coors Field half the time. In 77.1 innings away from Colorado last year, Chatwood had a 3.49 ERA. Chatwood has had two Tommy John surgeries, but has shown some great flashes of success. In 2013, he had a 3.15 ERA in 20 starts for the Rockies. Could be an intriguing option for the Cubs.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron3$10.0 M$30.0 M

 

Addison Reed

    Aug 1, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Addison Reed (43) pitches during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Sign him!

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron3$10.0 M$30.0 M
Median Crowdsource3$9.0 M$27.0 M
Avg Crowdsource3.1$9.2 M$28.3 M

 

Bryan Shaw

Well, all Cubs fans know who Bryan Shaw is, but hey, he’s put up some solid numbers and has been consistent from the start. At least 64 innings pitched in the last six years and a career 3.13 ERA.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron3$9.0 M$27.0 M
Median Crowdsource3$7.0 M$21.0 M
Avg Crowdsource2.7$7.7 M$20.5 M

 

Jake McGee

Formally with the Tampa Bay Rays, so boom, good fit with Hickey and Maddon. Plus, the Cubs have been linked to Jake McGee since 2015 in trade talks.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron2$8.0 M$16.0 M
Median Crowdsource3$8.0 M$24.0 M
Avg Crowdsource2.7$8.3 M$22.1 M

 

Jhoulys Chacin

Brendan Miller over at Cubs Insider has a great piece on Jhoulys Chacin and why he could be a great pick up. Check it out here.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron2$8.0 M$16.0 M
Median Crowdsource2$10.0 M$20.0 M
Avg Crowdsource2.5$10.0 M$24.7 M

 

Alex Avila

I mean, the Cubs could use a backup catcher and Alex Avila did well enough after Willson Contreras had his hamstring injury.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron1$6.0 M$6.0 M
Median Crowdsource2$8.0 M$16.0 M
Avg Crowdsource2.2$8.2 M$17.9 M

 

Jon Jay

A one-year deal for Jon Jay, sure why not.

Contract Estimate
TypeYearsAAVTotal
Dave Cameron1$7.0 M$7.0 M
Median Crowdsource1$8.0 M$8.0 M
Avg Crowdsource1.6$8.1 M$12.6 M

 

Check out the entire FanGraphs list here.

The Updated Chicago Bears 2018 Head Coaching Candidates List

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears 2018 head coaching candidates

John Fox likely blew his last chance to save his job with that uninspired mess at Soldier Field against Green Bay. This means the Chicago Bears 2018 head coaching candidates list can become more serious now. The odds of him being gone are higher than ever. So it will be important to get a head start on reviewing the likely names the team will look at.

Odds are the list might grow in the months to come but this will cover the ones that are bound to get the most attention.

THE HOT NAMES

Josh McDaniels (New England Patriots OC)

Positives:

  • 5x Super Bowl champion
  • 9x offense finished top 10 in scoring
  • Renowned for creative play calling
  • 41-years old

Negatives:

  • First head coaching stint was a disaster
  • Struggled to connect with players
  • Rumors hint he’ll desire control of personnel
  • Bulk of success has come with Tom Brady at QB

McDaniels is filling the role of that outstanding coordinator whom many are debating deserves a second chance at the head job. This is because his first shot in Denver ended in such spectacular failure. He alienated Jay Cutler, leading to him getting traded. An assistant he hired got caught videotaping another team during practice and to top it off he was part of the group that drafted Tim Tebow in the first round.

At the same time there is no more proven or experienced offensive mind in the game today. McDaniels is a mastermind of play calling and has a scheme that would fit Mitch Trubisky well. He’s still young and reportedly humbled by his prior experience. Most feel he’s ready for a second chance.

Jim Bob Cooter (Detroit Lions OC)

Positives:

  • Noted QB specialist
  • Has turned Matthew Stafford into a star
  • Personally sought out by Peyton Manning
  • 33-years old

Negatives:

  • One-dimensional in his offensive success
  • History of bad decisions off the field
  • Only been an OC for equivalent of two seasons

Fans are all over Cooter of late. His work with Stafford is undoubtedly the driving force behind it. The Lions quarterback was good before, but under Cooter’s direction he has become a much more efficient and effective player. Combined with his young age it’s felt this could be the next Sean McVay.

The problem is Cooter doesn’t get much done outside of the passing game. Detroit finished the last two seasons 32nd and 30th in rushing respectively. They rank 29th in 2017. What would that portent for Jordan Howard if he were made head coach? Then there’s the fact Cooter got in trouble twice. One was for drunk driving, the other for aggravated burglary.

Frank Reich (Philadelphia Eagles OC)

Positives:

  • Extensive QB background
  • Has worked with top QB specialists
  • Every offense he’s worked on has had success
  • Motivational speaker
  • Noted for being cool under pressure

Negatives:

  • Turns 56-years old in December
  • Much of his success as OC hasn’t involved play calling
  • Long history of losing in big games

Probably the name that is gaining the most steam of late. The Philadelphia Eagles are red hot and it’s their offense leading the way. The man tasked with organizing that impressive group is Reich. He’s been coaching since 2008 but before that the man was one of the most decorated backup quarterbacks in NFL history. He was part of all four Buffalo Bills Super Bowl runs from 1990 to 1993 and was the architect of the greatest comeback ever. Down 35-3 against the Houston Oilers in the 1992 playoffs, he rallied the Bills to a 41-38 win.

That proves Reich never believes his team is out of a game. His time spent before getting into coaching as a motivational speaker also means he can communicate well with people. His primary issues are he is getting older. The Bears have already gone the aged route with Trestman and Fox. Much of his success as a coordinator involved head coaches with deep play calling backgrounds as well. To date he’s also lost five Super Bowls as a player and assistant coach.

Matt Patricia (New England Patriots DC)

Positives:

  • 3x Super Bowl champion
  • 5x defense finished in top 10 in points allowed
  • Ability to adjust to players he has
  • Engineering background
  • 43-years old

Negatives:

  • Never coached anywhere else
  • Feared he’s a cog in Bill Belichick machine

If only Patricia coached on the offensive side of the ball. He’d be the top option and it’s not even close. Unfortunately the advent of the quarterback era has made teams wary of defensive coaches. Never mind that five of the teams with a 6-3 record or better this year are defensive coaches. Patricia entered the NFL with the Patriots and worked his way up the ladder until he became their defensive coordinator in 2012.

Since then they’ve won two Super Bowls and consistently had one of the hardest defenses to score on in the league. His background as an engineer also helps him with details and to make adjustments with personnel, like a mechanic repairing an engine. The lingering question is how much of that is him and how much is it playing under Belichick?

THE OLD GUARD

Jim Harbaugh (Michigan HC)

Positives:

  • Previous NFL head coaching success
  • Former QB background
  • Ties to the Bears
  • Winning record vs. the Packers
  • Hiring could help retain Vic Fangio

Negatives:

  • Fiery personality that tends to wear on people
  • Could clash with Ryan Pace over control of roster
  • Turns 54 in December
  • History of losing big games
  • Money

For a vast portion of Bears fans, this is the hire they need to make. Harbaugh gas so much going for him. His lone stint as an NFL head coach lasted four seasons. During that time he never finished worse than 8-8, went to three NFC championships and reached the Super Bowl in 2012. His background as a quarterback and quarterbacks coach will aide the development of Mitch Trubisky. Harbaugh revived the career of Alex Smith and turned Colin Kaepernick into a near-superstar.

Best of all Harbaugh has Bears blood in his veins. He was their starting quarterback for a number of years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a coach he also has a 4-0 record against the Packers. Where it gets dicey is his history. Harbaugh has a tendency to wear out his welcome. As a head coach he’s never held a job longer than four seasons. His exit from San Francisco was reportedly due to his exhausting personality and his clash with the front office over the roster.

Throw on top of that a long history of losing big games. He lost an AFC championship as a player, three as a coach and lost the Super Bowl with San Francisco. He’s also not getting any younger. Then there’s the matter of his contract with Michigan. Currently he makes around $7 million, which is more than the Bears are paying Fox. He also has an escalator in his contract that will raise his salary whenever another coach makes more than him. Long story short? The McCaskeys will have to pay big for his services.

Jon Gruden (Retired HC)

Positives:

  • Won a Super Bowl as head coach
  • Tireless worker and detail-oriented
  • Turned decent QBs into Pro Bowlers
  • Appreciates defense

Negatives:

  • Retired since 2008
  • Will be 55-years old
  • Has never developed a young QB

The allure of Gruden is easy to understand. He did all there was to do as a head coach in the NFL. He turned a team around in Oakland, making them contenders. Then he was traded to Tampa Bay and immediately led them to a Super Bowl title. Best of all he developed a reputation for taking grade B and C quarterbacks and making them play at A levels. He also never took the defense for granted.

Thing is though there are all sorts of concerns. He hasn’t been on a sideline in close to a decade. The game has changed a lot since then even though he’s stayed close with his Monday Night Football gig. He’s not the young buck he was back then either. Last but perhaps most important, his career successes are tied to veteran quarterbacks. Not once did he turn a young QB into a viable starter.

THE SLEEPERS

John Morton (New York Jets OC)

Positives:

  • Comes from a strong coaching tree
  • Proving he gets the most from his players
  • A wide receiver specialist

Negatives:

  • Only been an OC for one season
  • Not noted for any quarterback history

Morton is among the newest names to join the list of viable candidates. The work he’s done with the New York Jets this year stands out the most. Despite a considerable lack of talent he has the unit playing well. His background is heavy in wide receiver specialization, something that would specifically benefit the Bears. Best of all he’s learned at the knee of coaches like Harbaugh, Sean Payton and Norv Turner. That’s quite a collection.

At the same time he’s never had any sort of reputation for developing quarterbacks. His biggest success is with a 38-year old veteran. Also he’s in his first year as an offensive coordinator. Perhaps it might not be prudent to jump on his bandwagon until NFL defenses have had time to adjust.

Teryl Austin (Detroit Lions DC)

Positives:

  • Super Bowl champion
  • Sustained success as an assistant for years
  • Highly experienced and respected
  • Shows ability to adjust with his play calling

Negatives:

 

  • Turns 53 next year
  • Has no background in coaching quarterbacks

In terms of the most qualified and polished coaching candidate, that has to be Austin. There aren’t many holes to poke in his qualifications. He’s got a ring as an assistant with the Ravens in 2012. He reached two other Super Bowls with Seattle and Arizona. So success follows him. Four years as a coordinator reveals his ability to adjust and adapt to his players from year to year.

Best of all he’s gotten his education from several offensive head coaches including Mike Holmgren and Jim Caldwell. Not to mention a fine run under John Harbaugh. There are two lingering issues. He’s a defensive specialist so it’s unknown if he can coach up quarterbacks. Also he turns 53 by next season. That’s not old, but it does raise long-term questions.

Matt Lafleur (Los Angeles Rams OC)

Positives:

  • Deep background coaching QBs
  • Offensive success everywhere he’s been
  • 38-years old

Negatives:

  • Only one year as a coordinator
  • Doesn’t call the plays

This might be the most intriguing name on the list. Once somebody digs into the background of Lafleur, they find a lot of success. He’s learned under some really good coaches including Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Gary Kubiak and Dan Quinn. Three of those men went to Super Bowls. He’s also a great influence on his quarterbacks.

Robert Griffen III went to the Pro Bowl under his watch in Washington. Matt Ryan became MVP in Atlanta. Jared Goff is streaking towards All-Pro status. Perhaps most impressive though? He got Everett Golson to throw 29 touchdowns in 2014. The other two seasons he didn’t have Lafleur? He threw 23 combined. That’s tangible impact. Of course being a head coach is about more than the quarterbacks.

He’s only been a coordinator one season and doesn’t call the plays for it. This makes it difficult to determine how much of its success is truly his.

Nikola Mirotic Returns To Bulls Practice

By
Matt Peck
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nikola mirotic returns bulls practice

Nikola Mirotic is back, folks.

Well, not all the way back. His face is still healing from the fractures received from Bulls teammate Bobby Portis, and he’s not yet cleared to play. However, moments ago K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune broke the news that Niko is attending today’s team practice.

Using deductive reasoning, one would assume that means Mirotic and Portis are now in close quarters for the first time since the latter broke the former’s face with one punch during an October practice. But Bulls VP John Paxson said there still hasn’t been contact between the two.

So how does that work, exactly? Niko and Bobby are both at practice, but they still haven’t had contact? Are they just doing shooting drills on opposite ends of the Advocate Center court? Are they awkwardly avoiding each other like the guys and girls at a middle school dance? It’s a funny mental image, but an embarrassing one for the organization as they try to move past this incident and create a positive culture for their rebuilding youth movement.

Portis once again extended an olive branch from his side of the feud, saying he’d welcome reconciliation from Mirotic. Here’s a clip of Bobby talking about the situation, courtesy of WGN’s Josh Frydman:

Paxson also noted – with regard to Niko’s “him or me” demand – that trading one of the two clashing players is easier said than done.

Given the structure of Mirotic’s new contract, he can’t be traded until January 15th. The Bulls recently picked up the fourth year option on Bobby’s rookie contract.

Check back for more updates as news warrants. For now, the stalemate continues between the two veterans fighting to be shining rookie Lauri Markkanen’s backup.

Rick Hahn’s To-Do List At GM Meetings This Week

By
Matt Enuco
-

The first big event of the 2017 offseason kicks off on Monday in Orlando, Florida. The general manager meetings are a preamble to the Winter Meetings in Dec. but there is plenty of reason to keep an eye peeled for movement.

Rick Hahn was active last winter in rebooting the White Sox roster and this offseason stands to be more subdued. There is scant value hidden among the leftovers on the big-league roster besides Jose Abreu and there is nary a scent of interest in other White Sox players. But the GM meetings are the place to stoke the coals and create markets for players.

Feel out the free agent market

Given the White Sox’ activity last offseason and leading up to the trade deadline, teams aren’t certain to kick the tires on many south-side assets. The White Sox farm system has been restocked and there is little pressure to cut deals that “serve two masters” as Rick Hahn likes to call it.

Teams will take the next few days to check in on free agents and talk to player-agents to gauge what players are looking for while Hahn is sure to chum the waters searching for bullpen help. Hahn doesn’t have much to offer out of the bullpen and most of his value is shelved recovering from injuries, but it never hurts to ask. In fact, Hahn might be more active in free-agent reliever discussions than actively seeking buyers.

Pitching

Although the South Siders aren’t ready to make a splash in free agency they need to sign a starting pitcher and look for value from available relievers. Signing Derek Holland didn’t pan out the way White Sox brass expected it to, but they will eye similar bargains this offseason.

Relievers are always a tough market to follow. Given the uncertainty with Nate Jones after having nerve repositioning surgery, Jake Petricka undergoing a similar procedure in Oct. and Zack Putnam returning from Tommy John surgery, the bullpen is in flux to say the least. There are plenty of quality relievers aiming to revive their careers that could pique Hahn’s interest – Huston Street might be the top target.

Avisail Garcia

I don’t think Garcia will be traded this offseason. Too many unanswered questions swirl in his orbit. Evan after a strong 2017 campaign, teams will undoubtedly want to see if Garcia can pile up consecutive productive seasons. Still, Hahn will certainly throw his name out in conversations to see what the market expects from the 26-year-old slugger.

Lots can happen between now and Winter Meetings in Dec. but the White Sox don’t have the same talent to sell that they did last year. If no one overbids for Garcia this offseason White Sox brass will allow Garcia to set the tone next season. There is no promise of a return but if Garcia can erupt early in the season and demonstrate the kind of power and consistency teams want to see from his frame he could be a sought-after trade target by mid July.

Matt Davidson

Here is a question few prognosticators have addressed: Where does Matt Davidson fit into the future with the White Sox? While many have focused on Abreu and Garcia’s future, Davidson has quietly receded out of the conversation.

Davidson had a good rookie campaign. He ranked among rookie-leaders in home runs but never stood a chance against Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. Both will run away with Rookie of the Year awards but there is no denying Davidson’s power-stroke.

But Davidson might be a one-trick pony. He batted a low .220 with an ugly 37.2 percent strikeout-rate. Yolmer Sanchez can easily handle the defensive duties at third base while offering flexibility in the line-up. Whether Hahn is willing to jettison Davidson after one season is difficult to pin down, but if another team is willing to make a fair swap Davidson could be dealt.

And if there is a question about who can help out at D.H. Nicky Delmonico might be able to shoulder some of that burden.

Hahn certainly won’t be a passive observer in Orlando this week, but he probably won’t hold court like he did last year.

Two Certainties For The White Sox Roster This Offseason

By
Matt Enuco
-
Abreu, Garcia trade unlikely this offseason.
Ron Schwane & Jon Durr/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.

Let’s face it, Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu are not going anywhere. The White Sox are in their second offseason of rebuilding the franchise and despite buzzing anticipation for a scintillating action-packed offseason, this winter is poised for a frozen chill.

Let’s start with Nick Cafardo’s proposition in the Boston Globe. The Red Sox still have an arsenal of talent piled up in the minor leagues and they are apparently willing to trade Jackie Bradley Jr. to grab a slugger. They have been linked to the Giancarlo Stanton sweepstakes and now there might be interest in Abreu.

This is unlikely for several reasons — enough for a separate article.

There is a litany of reasons why Garcia and Abreu won’t be traded this offseason. In fact, there is a fair argument against trading any more players unless teams are willing to overpay for the White Sox leftovers. Besides a few bullpen arms that are recovering from injuries, Garcia and Abreu hold the most value around the league and Rick Hahn is going to wait for the right moment to strike a deal.

If either of the two is cast out into trade waters it will be Garcia. Everyone from scouts to front-office officials has been hoping for a season from Garcia like the one he just posted. He is a hulking 26-year-old with piles of promise that needs to repeat a .330/.380/.506 slash-line. A .885 OPS and 18 home runs are in the neighborhood of expectations for Garcia but with such a large frame many decision-makers around the league would rather see him blast a few more long balls.

And that is why Garcia will not be traded this offseason. Garcia’s 2017-season was a strong deviation from past years and unless another team over-pays for him he will be on the south side again next year. Unlike players from past trades, Garcia does not have a team-friendly contract that would sweeten a deal and it would be foolish for Hahn to extend Garcia before he proves his mettle in consecutive seasons. The other reason to hold Garcia in arbitration is a prospect named Eloy Jimenez.

Abreu, on the other hand, is the nucleus of a withered roster. He was the centerpiece of a presentation to land heralded Cuban-prospect Luis Robert and serves as a mentor for a blooming Yoan Moncada. It would be silly to ignore an enormous offer for the slugger and the charge to snuff out intangible factors like leadership skills and clubhouse chemistry led by SABR gurus wielding excel sheets and algorithms should be dispensed with in discussing Abreu’s value. Abreu is much more than a thumping first baseman and he means more to White Sox fans than can be tabulated on a balance sheet.

The numbers are there but age is a concern. Abreu is one of three players to post four consecutive 100-RBI, 25-plus home-run seasons to start his career. He migrated late in his career over the Cuban wall but has sizzled since his first at-bat in the big leagues. And beyond his Rookie-of-the-Year award in 2014, Abreu had the cojones to bail out of his $68-million contract and bet on himself for the remainder of his arbitration years – a decision that will heap riches upon him this offseason.

But Pito will play next season at 31 years old and only has two years of arbitration left. The White Sox stand to contend (realistically) in 2020 and beyond, and Abreu might find himself in a confounded calculus of age and production. But thinking about Abreu in a silo discounts the typically muted market for first baseman.

First basemen can be found in many places – same with designated hitters. Aging infielders, catchers and slugging corner-outfielders are all prime candidates to platoon at first base weakening the market for trades. Besides, this is a rare period in Major League Baseball where there is a coterie of elite first baseman around the league, not to mention a strong free-agent class.

Unless teams overbid for Garcia and Abreu we can expect them to remain in White Sox Sunday uniforms. This should be a welcomed reality considering the haul of prospects already culled from previous trades. With a legendary class of free agents hitting the market next offseason the White Sox are poised to make a splash with at least one signing and if Garcia stacks another tremendous season in 2018 it is only added value.

Bears Reportedly “Done” With John Fox, Deciding on When

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox era

For most Chicago Bears fans the John Fox era ended today with that humiliating loss to Green Bay. Everything about it felt like that proverbial “nail in the coffin” moment. The Bears had 15 days to prepare. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t playing. It should’ve been the perfect situation for them to finally get a win over their rivals.

Instead the Packers came out hard and aggressive. The Bears were flat-footed, sloppy and lacked urgency almost the entire game. Ongoing issues with penalties continued and Fox committed what was probably the worst coaches’ challenge of the 2017 season. The 62-year old coach is now 1-5 against the Packers and 12-29 overall.

People have used injuries and lack of talent as an excuse for too long. Fox just isn’t at the same level as other coaches in this division, let alone the rest of the NFL. His conservative nature isn’t doing the team any favors. All three of their wins felt like pulling teeth. There was relief at the end but tons of pain throughout.

Now it may finally be over.

Multiple sources claim John Fox era is at an end

Not long after the game ended in a 23-16 defeat, word began to filter out that the decision has been made. Fox is done in Chicago. First to make this statement was local radio personality Kevin Matthews who claims the coach will be gone before next Sunday.

By itself it’s hard to take this seriously. Matthews has connections with a lot of ex-Bears but it’s hard to say how solid his sources are. That is until he was corroborated by a more seasoned insider in Benjamin Allbright. He was the first one to break that the Bears were switching to Mitch Trubisky six weeks ago. He’s been tied closely to Fox ever since he coached in Denver. It’s no longer a question if the coach is gone. It’s a matter of when.

The Bears have never fired a head coach in the middle of a season. Not even Marc Trestman who gave up 50 points in back-to-back games. Would they really break that streak for Fox? It’s hard to say at this point. Yet the big news remains. Credible voices have begun to speak up that he is gone. That’s no longer a question. Only time is the factor now.

Thus the search can truly and properly begin for who will take over the management of Trubisky next year.

Mitch Trubisky Quietly Did Something No Bears Rookie QB Has

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky debut
Credit: Chicago Bears

The Mitch Trubisky debut against the Green Bay Packers did not go as planned for the Chicago Bears. It was a constant nightmare in fact. No Aaron Rodgers for the game, so no excuse right? Well in predictable fashion the team came out entirely flat. Green Bay were the aggressors from the opening gun. The Bears lacked discipline and they lacked urgency. Constant penalty issues killed drives and the defense showed zero fight.

The fact this happened with the Bears having 15 days to prepare in advance pretty much puts a stamp on head coach John Fox and his forgettable time with the team. Nobody wants to see him oversee Trubisky moving forward. He’s too old, too conservative and too unwilling to tell the players what they need to hear.

At the same time, in the midst of that cringe-worthy afternoon something happened. Something that people likely didn’t notice. In spite of another demoralizing defeat to the Packers, their young quarterback accomplished something nobody ever has in the past five decades.

Mitch Trubisky debut vs. Packers was best ever for a Bears rookie

Bears quarterbacks in general tend to get exposed by the Packers in their debuts. It’s a fact of life many have grown to live with. However, rookie quarterbacks especially have gotten exposed. Go back through the entire era and it’s a long list of ugly. Well that is except for Trubisky, who is the first rookie Bears QB in the Super Bowl era to ever throw a touchdown pass in his debut vs. Green Bay.

  • Virgil Carter:  5-of-14, 51 yards, 2 INTs
  • Gary Huff:  10-of-27, 110 yards, 1 INT
  • Bob Avellini:  9-of-25, 109 yards, 3 INTs
  • Cade McNown:  2-of-5, 15 yards
  • Kyle Orton:  6-of-17, 68 yards, 1 INT
  • Mitch Trubisky:  21-of-35, 297 yards, 1 TD

Not only is the Bears #2 overall pick far superior to anybody else on that list, it’s not even close. In fact he played better than the three other first round picks besides McCown, all of whom didn’t play Green Bay until their second or even third seasons.

  • Jim McMahon:  20-of-38, 298 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Jim Harbaugh:  16-of-30, 203 yards
  • Rex Grossman:  10-of-18, 131 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Jay Cutler, who was a Pro Bowler at the time, threw four interceptions in his first crack. He played against the Packers for eight seasons. In that span (14 games) he had no interceptions in a game just twice and a quarterback rating of 97 or higher once. Trubisky managed to accomplish both in his first try.

That he was able to do it with second-rate weaponry and third-rate coaching? It’s hard not to feel at least a little enthusiastic about that. If the Bears could get him weapons and some adequate coaching? This might truly be the man Chicago has waited for.

Bears Ownership Got What They Asked For with John Fox

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

I blame Mike Ditka for this. Okay, maybe it’s better to start from the beginning. Think about this question for a second. When was the last time the Chicago Bears ownership employed a head coach who displayed any sort of passion and fire since Da Coach bowed out in 1993? Think hard now. Nobody. It’s become clear that the McCaskey family soured on the idea of outspoken coaches thanks to Ditka.

That’s how you get a string of coaches like Dave Wannstedt, Dick Jauron, Lovie Smith, Marc Trestman and John Fox. Sure they’re all different personalities in their own way, but they also have one thing in common:  they are yes men. They’re not combative. They do things by the book, just like a family-owned corporation would want it.

Problem is conservative coaches don’t win much in this NFL. That was proven yet again as Mike McCarthy coached circles around Fox for the fifth time in six games, winning 23-16 without Aaron Rodgers. If that’s not the height of embarrassment for this organization, nothing is.

Did Ryan Pace want Fox? Who knows but Bears ownership lets it continue

The persistent rumor over the past year is GM Ryan Pace basically was pressured to hire Fox by consultant Ernie Accorsi and the Bears brass. The idea being a young, rookie GM could use a veteran coach as a counterweight. If it’s true that was the worst reason in the world to make that call. Did anybody stop to think that Denver had just fired the man despite going 12-4 the previous season? Or that they won the Super Bowl immediately after removing him?

Of course not because once again the Bears proved they’re a step or two behind everything in this league. Fox was the safe choice. They wanted the safe choice. Here’s another newsflash. Safe choices aren’t always the right choices.

In truth Fox should’ve been gone after last season. No coach who goes 3-13 should deserve to keep his job. It was far too easy to use the injury problems as an excuse. Green Bay just showed that good coaching can still win games despite a myriad of health issues. Fox is the proven master at playing not to lose. He’s a poor man’s Dan Reeves, Marv Levy and Bud Grant. His teams play hard but they also play dumb and sloppy.

Discipline and urgency remain absent from this team

This organization has grown enamored with players coaches. Men who expect the players to hold themselves to a higher standard and discipline. That can work for a time with veteran teams, but not with young ones like this. Part of the reason Belichick and McCarthy have success is because they understand how to discipline their players and how to motivate them into a sense of urgency. The Bears haven’t shown much of either this season or most of the past four seasons.

Fox will likely get fired at the end of this year. Being swept in two-straight seasons by Green Bay can do that. Even so can anybody trust this organization to find the right guy? Yeah the Cubs and Blackhawks ended up finding theirs. Thing is that only happened after a change in ownership. As the McCaskey’s have said, this team will have to be pried from their cold, dead fingers.

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