As Cubs play tight, Cards aggressive
Rivals push chips in (even Reds make a move) amid league’s Harper-Machado watch
miss most of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in July but could return in September. He was 1-5 with a 7.60 ERA last season before being demoted and is 23-29 with a 4.38 ERA in five seasons.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals acquired slugger Paul Goldschmidt and signed left-handed reliever Andrew Miller while the rebuilding Reds added a pair of veteran hitters in Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, not to mention starter Alex Wood, in Friday’s sevenplayer deal with the Dodgers.
Whether the Dodgers will use the savings to invest in Harper, who already fits the Hollywood image, could change the offseason maneuverings of several teams, including the Phillies and White Sox.
While the Cubs aren’t keeping up with the Joneses, the Brewers haven’t made any big moves either. After winning the division by defeating the Cubs in Game 163 at Wrigley Field, they’re theoretically the team to beat.
“Now you want to stay there,” Brewers general manager David Stearns told me in November. “It’s hard to get there and even harder to do back-to-back years and stay there. The Cubs were a really good team in 2018, and they’re probably going to be better in 2019. They’re certainly not going to be satisfied with their season.”
Asked if they’d be able to spend more after their 2018 success, Stearns replied: “Certainly (owner Mark Attanasio) and our ownership group have proven that where there’s an investment that makes sense from a baseball perspective, they’re going to be supportive.”
Maybe, but we’re still waiting. Other than signing second baseman Cory Spangenberg and dealing outfielder Domingo Santana to the Mariners for young outfielder Ben Gamel, the Brewers have been conspicuously quiet.
Cardinals President John Mozeliak has been the busiest NL Central executive so far. He said in July at Wrigley that the organization doesn’t believe in rebuilding, and has proved it with the bold move of acquiring Goldschmidt and the riskier one of signing Miller.
A dominant reliever in recent years, Miller had three stints on the disabled list last season and has a lot of mileage on his arm. Still, he could be the Cardinals’ new closer or remain in the same chameleon-like role he had with the Indians, entering in the middle innings to put out fires.
“As far as me having a sticking point on what role? That’s nonexistent. I truly mean that,” Miller told the St. Louis PostDispatch. “I’d like to perform well and you talk about numbers and this and that, (but) the goal is to win the World Series. I certainly told that to the Cardinals. My goal is to be one of the 25 guys jumping on top of each other at the end of the year. And I wouldn’t play anywhere that I didn’t think that wasn’t realistic.”
The Pirates, who made a significant move in July by acquiring Rays starter Chris Archer in exchange for prospects, haven’t been as active as one might expect. Their biggest moves have been shedding Ivan Nova’s salary on the White Sox and signing Lonnie Chisenhall to fill in while Gregory Polanco recovers from shoulder surgery. Shortstop Jordy Mercer went to the Tigers, so the Bucs could take a flier on injury-prone Troy Tulowitzki, who played under manager Clint Hurdle with the Rockies.
The Reds’ big splash Friday, after recently acquiring starter Tanner Roark from the Nationals, seemingly transitions them from a rebuilding team to one intending to compete under new manager David Bell.
Whether that’s realistic, they certainly have a strong enough lineup to make noise.
Teams have plenty of time to spend this winter, and an assortment of free agents will be available in January when the prices generally come down for all but the superstars — such as Harper and Manny Machado.
Epstein said before the winter meetings that the Cubs have spent “more than enough to win” and probably will have the highest payroll in club history in 2019.
“If there are limitations or there is a need to get creative, it just underscores the fact that we have to do a better job and we have to find value and efficiency on the roster,” he said.
The reckoning is coming for everyone.