The 2022 winter conferences convene subsequent Sunday in San Diego, the place eight years in the past the Chicago Cubs signed Jon Lester in what is taken into account an important free-agent signing in franchise historical past.
Not to place any strain on workforce President Jed Hoyer — who was then serving as common supervisor and finest supporting actor to Theo Epstein — nevertheless it’s time to place his personal stamp on a winter assembly.
An “intelligent” spending spree could also be Hoyer’s most well-liked plan of action over a big-ticket merchandise, however we’ll have to attend to see. The groups, media members, brokers, honchos and wannabe honchos start congregating Dec. 4 at a downtown Hyatt Hotel, with the conferences beginning the subsequent day and working by way of Dec. 8.
By that time we must always have a good suggestion of the place Hoyer is headed, even when nothing is introduced.
The winter conferences are one thing of an anachronism within the smartphone period. Last yr groups spent about $1.7 billion on free brokers earlier than the Dec. 1 lockout by homeowners, figuring out signings can be prohibited for at the very least a few months. The pre-deadline motion steered massive offers can get carried out with out clandestine conferences in resort suites stocked with liquor and salty snacks.
We had been robbed of a real Hot Stove League final winter. The winter conferences had been held final December in Orlando, Fla., however MLB bowed out and left it for the minor leagues. This could possibly be a return to an old school, pre-pandemic doozy of a winter assembly. Teams have to this point declined to leap cannonball-style into the free-agent waters, doubtlessly saving their heavy lifting for San Diego.
Modern executives don’t even attempt to stay as much as the previous commonplace set by late GM Kevin Towers, who didn’t thoughts conducting enterprise on the resort bar with a glass of whiskey, a cocktail serviette and a handshake.
It was a special time. Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry as soon as signed pitcher Ted Lilly to a four-year, $40 million deal through the 2006 conferences in Orlando after being taken to a hospital with chest pains.
“Jim was hooked up to an EKG machine, and we got it done,” Lilly’s agent, Larry O’Brien, introduced that day.
The Cubs spent almost $300 million that winter, almost doubling the subsequent highest-spending workforce, the Boston Red Sox, then run by Epstein. Now you may provide $300 million to 1 free agent and nonetheless come up brief.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is at a crossroads two years into the post-Theo period. He lauded Hoyer’s not-to-be-named sport plan in September, calling it a giant “success” within the first yr and a half after the sell-off and promising to open up the digital checkbook.
“He’s got a lot of flexibility, and we’ll let him do it,” Ricketts mentioned of Hoyer. “I have confidence Jed knows what he’s doing.”
Hoyer, in flip, has conveyed a way of urgency. Cubs followers have begun displaying indicators of impatience — principally by not attending video games or watching them on Marquee Sports Network — and questioning whether or not all of the revenue-enhancing additions to Wrigley Field are actually going again into the workforce.
It was one yr in the past that Hoyer signed pitcher Marcus Stroman to a three-year, $71 million deal on the eve of the lockout, determined to get one acquainted title earlier than the sport shut down for the subsequent few months. Stroman, who went 6-7 with a good 3.50 ERA in 25 begins, has an opt-out after this season and little doubt shall be searching for an extended take care of the Cubs or elsewhere.
Like most groups, the Cubs have been doing their due diligence and ready for the dominoes to start out falling. They’ve employed a digital faculty of hitting coaches — 4 eventually rely — and wish so as to add a couple of extra high quality hitters to truly coach. Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are the one returning regulars who hit larger than .250. There are openings at virtually each different spot.
While the Cubs look like all-in on signing one of many Big Four free-agent shortstops, Hoyer additionally factors out they’re pleased with Hoerner, who confirmed sufficient progress in ‘22 to deserve a starting position. The question is exactly where he’ll begin.
If they don’t signal one of many 4 — Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts or Dansby Swanson — they’d be happy with Hoerner at brief and would transfer to different areas of concern. But as motivated consumers, and with all of the speak about having flexibility, it might be prudent for Ricketts to again up the daring speak. The Cubs formally swallowed the ultimate $22 million of Jason Heyward’s deal, a great signal they’re severe.
Before the Cubs signed Lester in 2014, Epstein spoke of the precarious “balancing act” between overpaying for a free agent too quickly within the rebuild and remaining affected person.
“If you’re counting on one free agent who by definition you’ve paid more for than … anyone else in the industry, you’re usually buying some phase of his decline,” he mentioned. “If you’re counting on that player to make the difference for you and he must perform, I think you’re on a bit of a fool’s errand.”
Epstein promptly signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal, signaling the beginning of the pivot towards contending. Misdirection was one in every of his go-to strikes.
I can recall leaving the winter conferences resort in San Diego to get some recent air, solely to identify Epstein and Hoyer huddling exterior a close-by resort, actually within the shadows, like a few spies. They appeared to like the skullduggery of a high free-agent pursuit.
I waved and went again to the MLB resort. A pair hours later, the Lester deal was confirmed and the resort foyer was buzzing.
“People ask if we’re all-in for 2015,” Epstein mentioned the subsequent day. “The best response is we’re all-in for the future. The future starts in ’15. We’re going to do some things to put as competitive a roster as possible on the field to try to win. Our goal is to win the division and then, as Joe (Maddon) said, the World Series.”
Seemed like a good suggestion, and it turned out to be the correct one.
Can Hoyer flip again the clock to 2014 and re-create the magic of that memorable week, together with his arms on the wheel this time and GM Carter Hawkins as his Dr. Watson?
It’s elementary.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com