The annual MLB basic managers conferences lay the groundwork for the remainder of the offseason.
The Chicago Cubs’ sudden hiring of supervisor Craig Counsell added a wrinkle to what ought to have been an in any other case regular starting to free company. But it didn’t change the mission this week for President Jed Hoyer and the Cubs entrance workplace: getting an early really feel for the free-agent market, the commerce panorama and assembly with brokers, together with Scott Boras.
As the Cubs put together to formally introduce Counsell subsequent week, listed here are three takeaways from the GM conferences.
1. Craig Counsell’s departure to rival a shock for Brewers GM
Thirty-six hours after the Chicago Cubs named Craig Counsell their supervisor, Brewers basic supervisor Matt Arnold said he was shocked by Counsell leaving Milwaukee for a division rival however nonetheless spoke extremely of his pal.
“From our perspective, it’s always been about people, that’s something Craig and I talked about a lot after working together for eight years and I think that’s really important for us to put people first,” Arnold mentioned Wednesday. “In this case, we put Craig first all through the method and I’m thrilled for him and his end result. At the identical time, we’re able the place we’ve got to place our greatest foot ahead and we’re going to do precisely that.
“Everything that Craig has done, all the accolades he deserves, I certainly enjoyed our time together and I’ll always have good memories of working with Craig Counsell, there’s no question about that. But at the same time, we’re going to be competing against each other and it should be a lot of fun.”
Pat Murphy, Counsell’s bench coach in Milwaukee, is in a “very real” dialogue for the Brewers’ supervisor opening, Arnold mentioned. If he isn’t employed, Arnold needs to verify the incoming supervisor brings on their very own bench coach. That may create a path to Murphy becoming a member of Counsell in Chicago because the Cubs work by way of who shall be retained from David Ross’ workers.
Arnold wouldn’t focus on different names the Brewers are contemplating for the job, together with whether or not their listing contains Ross.
“If it ends up with Pat Murphy not being our manager, he will absolutely have a home here with the Brewers,” Arnold added.
Arnold didn’t shut the door on letting members of the Brewers teaching workers comply with Counsell to the Cubs, stating if it’s a superb alternative for somebody, they might be open to having that dialogue.
“Having come from the Tampa Bay Rays, there are a lot of places where you get raided when you have good people and I think we’ve had that happen here in Milwaukee and that’s something we should be proud of,” Arnold mentioned. “That speaks to our culture and the good people that we’ve produced here.”
2. Christopher Morel will get offseason work at first base
One of the Cubs’ largest inner roster questions facilities on Christopher Morel’s positional future with the staff.
The Cubs have had ongoing conversations about his greatest match and consider Morel, 24, would profit from sticking at one place defensively relatively than being utilized in a utility position. Ideally, the right-handed Morel would play second base the place his athleticism and arm energy may shine, however that spot is locked down by Gold Glove award winner Nico Hoerner for not less than the following three years. They have tried Morel at third base, the place he logged a majority of his begins within the minors. He put in work pregame there, too, in his final two big-league seasons to enrich his 17 begins on the scorching nook for the Cubs, however inaccuracy together with his throws has been a seamless challenge.
It’s a stability between mixing Morel’s strengths and ability set with the staff’s personnel.
“He’s a very capable second baseman, we have (Hoerner) so that’s not the spot we’re going to put him,” Hoyer mentioned Wednesday. “Another team might be able to put him there and have him do that.”
With restricted on a regular basis choices for a non-designated hitter position, the Cubs need Morel to get offseason work at first base in winter ball and see how he handles the place.
“Finding a home for him is something that would be really valuable,” Hoyer mentioned. “(First base) fits our needs and potentially his needs. … With that position too you’ve got to put a lot of work in.”
“The hard part about first base is that certainly it doesn’t require a lot of things that third base or second base do, but the footwork around the bag, understanding positioning can be really challenging so that’s a big part of it,” Hoyer mentioned.
The Cubs wouldn’t have an apparent possibility throughout the group to take the majority of enjoying time at first base the place they used Cody Bellinger extra within the second half of the season. Lefty slugger Matt Mervis may get one other look in spring coaching and present he discovered from his first style of the majors. Otherwise, their first baseman would wish to come back by way of a commerce or free company if they need a non-platoon setup — maybe re-signing Bellinger, Jeimer Candelario or signing Rhys Hoskins. Candelario, although, most well-liked enjoying third base, which prompted former supervisor David Ross to as a substitute use Patrick Wisdom at first when each have been within the lineup.
There is not any hurt in seeing if Morel can deal with first base over the offseason. He additionally represents a commerce asset the Cubs can use to assist purchase a greater roster match, specifically a star participant. Morel isn’t arbitration-eligible till after the 2025 season and boasts simple energy, each engaging qualities to different organizations.
3. After Marcus Stroman’s opt-out, Cubs will discover inner and exterior choices for rotation opening
Hoyer didn’t know which approach right-hander Marcus Stroman was leaning within the lead-up to his opt-out choice.
Hoyer had a number of prolonged conversations with Stroman’s agent Brodie Van Wagenen on Friday and Saturday about what the pitcher needed to do by Monday’s deadline. Even in the mean time Van Wagenen referred to as to tell Hoyer of the choice, he was uncertain whether or not Stroman would return for the remaining one-year, $21 million on his contract.
“I think he felt like in this market he’d secure a multiyear deal and I think that was a priority,” Hoyer mentioned. “It’s not usually once I actually didn’t know what route that was going to go. That’s why we had a bunch of conversations as a result of I feel they have been form of feeling it out and serious about it too.
“He was a very hard worker, really diligent with his preparation, really cares about winning. He wants to sort of do his own thing in terms of how he does his preparation and that’s great. We gave him that freedom because he deserves that and he always gets his work done. He’s always prepared. I thought it was a good match for us.”
Stroman’s departure opens a spot within the beginning rotation, and Hoyer needs to provide alternatives to pitchers inside their group, pointing to the depth that they had this 12 months. It’s a big-league group that featured right-handers Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski and left-handers Jordan Wicks and Drew Smyly, plus arms on the higher ranges within the minors that almost all notably embrace right-handers Ben Brown and Cade Horton.
“I do like the fact that we can give some young guys some opportunities,” Hoyer mentioned.
But as Hoyer likes to evangelise: Teams can by no means have sufficient pitching. So count on the Cubs to discover the beginning pitching market. The Cubs’ pitching workers wants extra swing-and-miss stuff, which Hoyer mentioned he would look so as to add.
“I still don’t feel like the stuff of our staff can still continue to ramp up,” Hoyer mentioned. “It’s gotten better, but the stuff in the big leagues isn’t where our minor-league system is. We’ve got to continue to migrate that up and have more swing-and-miss.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com