Short-Term Starters, Around the Central, White Sox ZiPS, Moncada, and Other Cubs Bullets ...Middle East

I woke up bummed. I have to reiterate that it’s not like I ever expected the Cubs would ACTUALLY land Roki Sasaki, and I’m hopeful that they were smart enough to plan accordingly. But when there’s that small chance at something so exciting, it’s impossible not to feel a little dispirited when it doesn’t come to pass.

In the short-term, here’s hoping the Cubs figure out a way to advantage themselves a little in the International Free Agency market, which opens up tomorrow. And in the medium-term, here’s hoping the Cubs can fill out the rest of the roster now, without regard to the Roki Sasaki waiting game.

Speaking of which, although I still tend to think Cubs won’t add another starting pitcher, they’re never going to say no to a great bargain. To that end, I do sometimes wonder about the Diamondbacks’ continued eagerness to dump Jordan Montgomery. They were already desperate to do so following their owner’s comments about what a mistake it was to sign the lefty, but now that they’ve signed Corbin Burnes, it’s all the more the case. If the DBacks get desperate enough and send along a lot of cash, there is a price level at which Montgomery, 32, becomes an attractive one-year bounce-back candidate. His results were a disaster last year after getting a late start, but there was also some flukey stuff going on, and for three years running before that he was a consistent mid-3s ERA guy with matching peripherals. If Jack Flaherty winds up having to take a short-term deal, I’d have some interest there, too. Funny thing is, Flaherty looked pretty close to cooked after 2023, and then boom, he’s outstanding again in 2024, and he’s considered a top free agent. Montgomery has a down year and he’s on no one’s radar. Again, I don’t think the Cubs are going to allocate many of their (sparse) remaining resources toward the rotation, but if they do, there are some interesting options still available. (Andrew Heaney, Spencer Turnbull, and Max Scherzer are also all still interesting on short-term deals, in my opinion.) Ultimately, I think the Cubs are going to have to get a tremendous bargain on any of these guys to justify (to themselves) using funds there – instead of just putting all that remains into the bullpen and the bench – but it’s certainly possible it happens. And if it does, even after adding Colin Rea as yet another depth starter/swing-man on a roster that has a lot of ’em, the Cubs could still be improving the projected rotation. Heck, it could make the possibility of a unique starting structure (six-man? piggy-backs? more openers?) all the more plausible, and I’d be down for that … The Reds have joined the Brewers in figuring out a one-year deal with Diamond Sports (now Main Street Sports – I guess they lost the diamond in bankruptcy) to stay on the new FanDuel Sports Network. That means fans will mostly get the same access and production that they’ve had in recent years, and the Reds may have to take only a smaller haircut from their previous TV deal. It’s unlikely that amounts to a huge boost in cash, but it does provide some certainty for the year ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised if it allowed them to add another small signing; ditto Brewers. Elsewhere in the NL Central, and speaking of the IFA open tomorrow, I keep forgetting to mention a sad Cubs connection I’ve seen: Royel Strop, the son of Pedro Strop, is expected to sign for a big bonus with the Cardinals. There will be no poaching there. All we can do is hope that Strop the younger wears his batting helmet to the left. The White Sox’s ZiPS projections are out, and they are not strong:

2025 ZiPS Projections: Chicago White Sox

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs.com) 2025-01-13T14:00:18.446Z I can’t decide what is the most impressive, having a hugely negative WAR projection in the bullpen (which means they would, in theory, be better if they could just find 10 literal replacement players), or having ZERO spots except center field projecting to be even average (2.0 WAR). There isn’t even a single pitcher anywhere in the org projected to have a league average ERA! Heck, there’s only one guy – Penn Murfee – who comes within 5 percentage points of average! Since he was an outgoing White Sox free agent, you get Yoan Moncada’s projection in this set of ZiPS: .249/.323/.392/101 OPS+, 1.5 WAR over 381 PAs. That would actually be a really strong bench season, and a guy you’d love to have available. I mention it because we’ve heard about the Cubs’ interest in Moncada as a possible target, and he does fit as a bench/third base/Matt Shaw-protection option (but without blocking Shaw). His 80th percentile projection, by the way, would have him back up to a .279 .353 .442/122 OPS+ slash line, of which we know he is capable. Speaking of infield options for the bench, one went off the board in Donovan Solano, signing a $3.5 million deal with the Mariners. The 37-year-old righty is more of a 2B/3B/1B than a more expansive utility type, but he’s quietly been a very good hitter for the last six seasons (.294/.353/.413/112 wRC+). He essentially replaces one or all of Josh Rojas (signed with the White Sox on a similar deal), Luis Urias (still available), and Jorge Polanco (still available) on the Mariners, who may yet be looking to add a starting-caliber infielder. Hey, maybe the Cubs don’t need to go outside the organization for a back-up infielder:

Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong PCA taking reps at 3B and SS during Mini Camp. 01-13-2025. pic.twitter.com/ezEUkIYGts

— John Antonoff (@baseballinfocus) January 14, 2025

Have we found the backup for Dansby?? #Cubs #PCA #setupmanmovemeny pic.twitter.com/1p8BeQKHtW

— Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22) January 13, 2025 Random reminder of how special Jake Arrieta’s run was:

Lowest ERA in a span of 35 starts(since they lowered the mound in 1969):Jake Arrieta, 1.21Dwight Gooden, 1.43Clayton Kershaw, 1.45Jacob deGrom, 1.47Greg Maddux, 1.49Pedro Martínez, 1.55Roger Clemens, 1.56Hyun Jin Ryu, 1.59Vida Blue, 1.60Gaylord Perry, 1.61 pic.twitter.com/jodL3sKzT8

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) January 14, 2025

ELSEWHERE AT BN: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter

Well, I guess we’ll see what happens:

REPORT: Mike McCarthy is Interviewing With the Bears on Wednesday t.co/al2y6pJyqn pic.twitter.com/ULgbKswMjm

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) January 14, 2025 There’s the century mark for Connor Bedard:

#Blackhawks Connor Bedard Reaches 100 Career Points t.co/uAz07lGjSE

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 14, 2025

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Short-Term Starters, Around the Central, White Sox ZiPS, Moncada, and Other Cubs Bullets )

Also on site :

Short-Term Starters, Around the Central, White Sox ZiPS, Moncada, and Other Cubs Bullets ...Middle East

Copycat sports networks are spreading an ugly epidemic

Leclerc admits to ‘pride’ amid the pain in Monaco miss

I’m a gardening expert – why using a kale leaf is a key DIY hack to keeping pests out of your gardens this summer

Will Still to be named new Southampton manager

Sunderland seal dream Premier League return as dramatic comeback extends 100-year Sheffield United curse

2025 Indy 500 full weather forecast: Will rain make it an evening race like 2024?

Sunderland promoted to Premier League as injury-time winner breaks Sheff Utd hearts

Max Fried’s early career struggles helping him deal with weight of $218 million Yankees contract

Monaco GP: Saturday's action in pictures

Arsenal vs Barcelona – Women’s Champions League final LIVE SCORE: Gunners make nervy start in huge Lisbon final

WWE Star Proposed Reviving Infamous Faction After 26 Years

Lando Norris breaks Lewis Hamilton record to make F1 history in Monaco

Jon Gruden's brother makes major claim about Jayden Daniels as Commanders QB heads into sophomore year

Charles Barkley ‘100 percent shocked’ Michael Jordan joined NBC

All-out Norris pips Leclerc to thrilling Monaco GP pole