This week’s mailbag gets into the Cubs’ remaining payroll space, how MLBTR’s arbitration projections came to be, what the Padres, Reds, and Rangers might do, possible fits for Marcus Stroman, the Jeff Hoffman situation, what the Cardinals could get for Erick Fedde or Ryan Helsley, and much more.
Walter asks:
With roughly $45 million left until the bottom threshold, how do you see Jed Hoyer spending it? Do you think he is being handcuffed because he is in the last year of his contract?
No, I can’t see the Ricketts family putting boundaries on Hoyer because of his lame-duck status. According to RosterResource, the Cubs’ CBT payroll sits at $198MM, which indeed puts them $43MM shy of the first threshold. I’m not convinced Hoyer will spend all of that, but he figures to spend a good portion.
The Cubs waited out Cody Bellinger until late February last year to get the short-term deal they craved. It’s not hard to see the Cubs being opportunistic on Alex Bregman, Jack Flaherty, or Nick Pivetta should they move into short-term deal territory. The Cubs giving $5MM to Colin Rea probably reduces the odds of pursuing another starting pitcher, however.
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