The Cubs and Bryce Harper. What's a Hot Stove without a bunch of rumors?

This Hot Stove has been quiet.
Too quiet.

So Gordon Whittenmyer reported that the Cubs management spoke with Scott Boras for OVER 3 HOURS during the winter meetings. And they said hey man, before you have Harper sign with some other team, give us a call so we can create payroll space.
Wow that's crazy, isn't it?
I bet no other team said anything like it, and I also bet that if Mr. Boras called tomorrow and said Harper's going to another team, the Cubs would um.. well you know... create.. payroll space in ummm.. hey wait.
Scott, how much time can the Cubs have to do that?

But that's what this time of year is all about, wacky rumors.
The other day the Cardinals signed Andrew Miller, the formerly unhittable lefty stud Cleveland reliever.
While the Cubs signed some guy from Oakland.
When I heard about the Miller trade... just the way everyone's talking about the Cubs lately, I figured if the Cubs had signed Miller, everyone would be saying what a dumb signing.
"Miller's just another Morrow who's gonna blow out an arm next year."
But since the Cardinals signed him... OH MY GOD the Cubs have to do something!!!

I don't disagree that the Cubs have to do something.
For the bullpen.
And I promise they will.

Will they sign Bryce Harper?
No idea.
It's crazy time in the Hot Stove, and that's all I know.

Oh wait, it's also time to say Happy Holidays to you all.
And to thank you for stopping by.

Comments

[Steve]

Merry Christmas Tim! I keep vascillating about the prospect of signing Harper. In the end, I'll support whatever the braintrust decides, we owe them that! Wishing you are great 2019!

[Tim@Cubby Blue]

Agree.
I don't think there's a chance in hell, but whatever... EVERYONE talks about it.
Tell you what, I am really getting sick of people spending so much time talking about bad signings.
I mean, sure Theo can do wrong, but the level of respect that guy commands from me is off the charts.
I will praise him, Jed and the rest of the staff forever.

[Rich Beckman]

Merry Christmas, Tim!!

[Tim@Cubby Blue]

...and a Happy New Year to you, Rich!

[Bud]

Tell you what...

I'll take the team that Theo and Jed and Joe put on the field next year. We won 95 games last year in an injury-plagued season, and now there's some odd restless discontent. Do these concerned fans think that every free agent worth a damn belongs on the Cubs?

Guess what? Some of those free agents might turn out to be a net negative on this team.

You don't build a dominant team by throwing hundreds of millions at every decent ballplayer who happens to have achieved free agent status this year.

You do it by building team chemistry and camaraderie, veteran leadership, management (on and off field), coaching, training, medical staff and a BIG dose of good luck.

We still have as good a foundation as I ever remember the Cubs having during the lean years. Let's enjoy what we've had, what we will have to open the season and 162 hopefully competitive games next year.

I like our chances. And so should any REAL Cubs fan...

[Tim@Cubby Blue]

Hi Bud,
Yeah, I haven't been freaking out about anything Cubs because the Bears have been so good and taking up all the space in my sports brain.
I wanna see how they freshen the bullpen, and otherwise I think I'll keep enjoying the few precious holiday days off.