I could live with that deal.
The deal would Cubs enough MLB ready talent to keep their contention window open.
The good thing is the Phillies don't have the talent available to trade to match that package.
Maybe the Cubbies have been reading CLV's dissertations and believe with more AB's Riley can hit breaking pitches.
This would be a nice upgrade offensively, but what would our OF look like? Acuña, Markakis and Duvall? Yikes. Pache and Waters aren’t ready yet.
We’d have to get Almora or Happ back in the deal also.
If all of Ender's salary went to the Cubs then the net increase to add Bryant would only be in the 12 million range. The Braves would have a a little money to upgrade the Neck/Duvall tandem. All you need in the outfield is a place holder until Pache is ready. Pache is already a better defender than Ender. How long will he need to stay in AAA to be a better hitter. My guess is maybe half a season.This would be a nice upgrade offensively, but what would our OF look like? Acuña, Markakis and Duvall? Yikes. Pache and Waters aren’t ready yet.
Riley Ender and pitcher for Bryant doesn't do enough payroll reduction. Has to bigger deal if true.
Riley Ender and pitcher for Bryant doesn't do enough payroll reduction. Has to bigger deal if true.
If we can trade for Bryant and extend him 2-3 years I think that's the preferred route. He's only 27 and when his current contract is up he'll be sitting in his prime so a 2-3 year extension wouldn't be awful. I wonder if Riley + could get it done?
The 80 million or whatever it is will be spread out over a later date. So if 80 million is deferred then his 7 year deal is worth 165 million or 23.5 per year. He then will get paid the rest of his money likely after he is retired at some point.
The benefits are to the team. They pay less per year now so they can keep payroll down and they will pay the 80 million in the future when it's worth less than it is now due to inflation.
The only benefit I can see to the player is if they can negotiate more in total than they would get without any deferrals. And with Stras' history that's likely what happened here.
Depending on the pitcher, Riley plus Ender plus an arm is going to be a rough pill to swallow when it opens another hole in an already bad OF.
Assuming Bryant is currently at his peak as a 5 WAR player, his surplus value is roughly $30M if he has 1 year of control, and $50M if he has 2 years of control. That must be clarified before any trade can go down.
If we count Riley as a 50+, that's ~$30M in value alone. If a team doesn't view him as a centerpiece for a player like Bryant, the Braves should not trade him away. From the Cubs perspective (as an ignorant non-Cubs fan), he seems to be the most logical target to step right in to replace Bryant and be marketed as the guy who just needs to learn how to recognize spin.
Anderson as a 55 is worth ~$35M, and if the spin rate issues are truly a problem, then cashing him in for a player like Bryant may be the best use of his value. There is no way he should be packaged with Riley for Bryant.
Pache is obviously a non-starter, but Waters carries a value around $50M, and would be a 1 for 1 for 2 years of Bryant. Unfortunately, Waters doesn't solve a current need for the Cubs in a season they hope to contend.
Selling low on Ender is a bad idea as the roster is currently constructed. Even if the Cubs value him as a 2-3 win CF under reasonably priced team control, the Braves need exactly that type of player in 2020. The flashes Ender showed while healthy in 2019 suggest he is still exactly that. It's hard to see Ender for Bryant working for the Braves without other moves going down to back fill that hole in the OF.
A FV 50 pitcher carries ~$20M in surplus value. That's someone like Wright or Wilson from the Braves system. I'm a huge Wright homer, so I would hate to see him and his spin rates cashed out so early...but the clock is ticking with him. I'd much prefer Wilson be spun off.
Riley ($30M) plus Wilson ($20M) for 2 years of Bryant ($50M) seems like a realistic framework of a package. It gives the Cubs massive payroll relief and a 3B and SP that can step in nearly immediately.
Prediction: Nats resign Rendon, too
They're going for a dynasty
Considering they already said they weren't going to, I would say you're wrong