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Morrow is an interesting addition. I've always like him and his stuff. I kept waiting for him to put it together in Toronto. His underlying numbers have always suggested he should be better then his ERA was. I just hope he proves to be a big time RP and not a sample size fluke.

i like these moves, nothing splashy but some solid depth building

Agreed. Like Morrow a lot. I do think signing Davis (going to keep beating that drum) gives us a chance to really shorten the game with Montgomery and Edwards.

Morrow should not be a replacement for Davis. If they resign Davis or replace him then the bullpen looks good. They still need another established starting pitcher, i.e. Arieta, Darvish, Cobb, etc.

Smyly is an interesting signing. Cheap contract. Low risk. He has some big upside.

do we need any bats? or is pitching going to be the main focus of the off-season?

hermes wrote:do we need any bats? or is pitching going to be the main focus of the off-season?

The only bat they could consider would be someone for the top of the order. Pitching is the need and primary focus.

Steve Cishek is another solid addition to the bullpen. I'd still like to see them get that established closer, i.e. Davis, but the bullpen is already looking better then it did going into last season.

Morrow, Cishek, Edwards, Strop and Montgomery is a solid group, especially if that is the 6th-8th inning group. I don't think I forgot anyone that should be significant.

Bullpen looks much better. I think the question is whether "last" move is sign someone like Cobb to round out the starting rotation and have Morrow close or resign Davis and go with Montgomery as a starter.

Interesting thing I've heard locally is Diamondbacks are open to trading Grienke to free up money to resign JD Martinez. Think he's around 4/130 left and on open market he'd be around 4/120 pretty easily. If we didn't have to move anything significant as far as a pitching prospect would you do it?

If you are getting Greinke just for taking on the contract and not giving anything up that matters then I'd consider it depending on the dollars and years you are going to have to give Cobb, Arrieta or whoever else you would sign. I think they can still do Davis and Cobb. I think Montgomery will start in the bullpen and be that 6th starter when needed. If they are going to go with Morrow as the closer I think they need one more 7th/8th inning type of arm. I'm looking for one more starter and one more reliever. I'm not sure they do anything on offense/defense at this point.

The Darvish talk is interesting, but I'm starting to be more inclined to think we go for a cheaper option to fill out the rotation and then make the last big purchase on a closer. Not that i would be unhappy with Darvish.

I would rather spend the money on a 200 inning arm then an 80 inning arm. The bullpen as currently constructed is solid. I would like one more proven arm in there, but they could go into the season with what they have and it would be better, overall, then what they started with the last two years. I hope they have the money for both Darvish and Davis or something equal to that. They still have other options for adding a reliever. They could move Almora if they see Happ as the everyday CF and resign Jay or someone similar. I think Caratini could bring a solid bullpen arm during the season, although I really like him as the backup catch for Contreras.

Something else to keep in mind with the bullpen is the Cubs have a pitching prospect named Adbert Alzolay who should be solid. He probably starts the year in AAA and could be a big bullpen arm down the stretch before competing for a starting spot in 2019. He could end up a bullpen arm given the lack of innings he has been able to accumulate and they were giving him extra rest late in season last year. He has good stuff and fangraphs considers him the #2 prospect in the organization right now. They have a few pitching prospects that could contribute in the bullpen this year. I'd rather be looking for a prospect to fill a 7th inning role then a starting spot. It doesn't mean they don't move into the rotation in the future, but starting a prospect in the bullpen for their first half season isn't a bad thing.

I defintiely think an innings eater should be picked up, but with the rotation we have and the trend of going to the bullpen earlier especially in the playoffs I could see us going with a lower priced option to fill out the rotation and focus the $ on the pen. Ideal world we get Darvish and re-sign Davis, just not sure how likely it is. That said the market hasn't really moved much which is weird considering this time of year.

Love Davis, but that was a lot of money for a reliever.

No action in quite awhile, but seems like we still have a good chance at Darvish or Cobb. Less than a month to spring training, so I expect movement soon. Any predictions?

i'll guess cobb

Agree Cobb seems like the most likely. Of course each day that passes i feel like an improbable Arietta reunion happens.

Either Yu's camp is waiting for yanks and Dodgers to free up space (unlikely) or it's a bidding war against cubs, twins and brewers. Still think Cubs still have upper hand. Especially if he wants to contend for championship.

got darvish, 6 years $126m

and now the dominoes will start to fall

hermes wrote:got darvish, 6 years $126m

and now the dominoes will start to fall

Finally! Lol. It's been brutal. I can see the crew going after Arrieta now watch.