MLB Mailbag: Cubs, Padres, Reds, Cardinals, Stroman, Hoffman

This week’s mailbag will get into the Cubs‘ remaining payroll area, how MLBTR’s arbitration projections got here to be, what the Padres, Reds, and Rangers would possibly do, attainable matches for Marcus Stroman, the Jeff Hoffman state of affairs, what the Cardinals may get for Erick Fedde or Ryan Helsley, and far more.

Walter asks:

With roughly $45 million left till the underside threshold, how do you see Jed Hoyer spending it? Do you assume he’s being handcuffed as a result of he’s within the final yr of his contract?

No, I can not see the Ricketts household placing boundaries on Hoyer due to his lame-duck standing.  In accordance with RosterResource, the Cubs‘ CBT payroll sits at $198MM, which certainly places them $43MM shy of the primary threshold.  I am not satisfied Hoyer will spend all of that, however he figures to spend an excellent portion.

The Cubs waited out Cody Bellinger till late February final yr to get the short-term deal they craved.  It isn’t onerous to see the Cubs being opportunistic on Alex Bregman, Jack Flaherty, or Nick Pivetta ought to they transfer into short-term deal territory.  The Cubs giving $5MM to Colin Rea in all probability reduces the chances of pursuing one other beginning pitcher, nonetheless.

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