What the hell has Sammy Sosa done to himself?

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6f&oe=56EEA35D

I'd move on from Adams, but I wouldn't bother giving LaRoche a roster spot, let alone paying him for it. He took a year or two longer to hit a wall than expected, but he hit it with a hell of a lot of force last year. Coming into his age 36 season and owed $13 million next year? Yuck - he's all yours. I'd keep Adams as a bench bat over LaRoche.

Yadi's aging quickly because we never bothered to find a backup C that would take the miles off him. His days as a plus hitter are likely over so you're looking at a catch and throw guy with decent bat control and that's about it. That said, he's still a difference maker. Hopefully Pena being on board will be enough to keep him healthy through October.

As for Holliday, the old guys get injured more often and for longer. Holliday has historically been amazingly durable, but he started to have muscle/soft tissue injuries last year and that's a bad sign. He didn't get hurt fouling a ball off his foot...he got hurt in a manner that wouldn't have happened to him 3 years ago. It's hard to count on him being truly 'healthy' ever again. If you expect about 400 ABs from him this season, you'll probably be in the ballpark.

Lackey signs two year deal with Cubs. Cards get their 1st round pick. I like it.

https://i.imgur.com/JQB7kh.jpg

They dont exactly get the Cubs 1st round pick.

They get a compensation pick that comes after the 1st round.

Technically I think we just get a comp pick and they forfeit their pick (we don't actually step into their shoes, IIRC).

But yeah, a dirt cheap year of innings, salary relief and a first rounder. I hated that deal at the time but Moe came out of that one looking pretty damn good.

And you give up yours.

Ya but they'll get one back when Fowler signs so its a wash.

16 mil a year for Lackey?

Yeesh

I figured Lackey would have only fetched a high 20's contract. Got a little feel of overpaid here, but its only 2 years and the Cubs pitching prospects will hopefully be knocking on the door by that time. Still would like to see them make a trade for a younger controlled high upside pitcher to put #4 and push Hammel out of the rotation and possibly trade him.

Short term so the AAV doesn't surprise me.

I am surprised, however, that a team was willing to give up a first rounder for only 2 years of control. If you can get a guy for 4 years, the first rounder isn't that big of a deal. But man, that's a fair amount of opportunity cost when you're just getting 2 seasons out of the pickup.

I'm surprised at the length more than anything. I figured he'd end up at something like 3/$39.

First round pick for two years control is insanity...

Having said that, screw the Scrubs.

I hope Lackey goes 2-15.

Yep, Mo made out like a bandit on that trade.

The Cubs have been rumored to be willing to trade Soler for pitching, like Miller/Teheran from the Braves. I wonder if this signing changes that from the angle of having to give up their top 2 picks if they were to sign Heyward/Gordon to replace him. If it's Heyward they sign it probably still makes sense given his age but I question if it's Gordon.

Rumors out there saying the Cardinals are shifting focus to Jeff Samardzija. I was kind of hoping the Cubs would sign him given his past history on the Cubs. He could have fit well in the rotation as the #3, if he started pitching good again. But his agent is claiming to have a $100 million contract offer in hand. I can only imagine if that's true its a 6 year contract. **** that.