Based on this distant, borderline creepy video of Jed Hoyer today, I have no choice but to conclude that Justin Turner will be a Chicago Cub before sunrise tomorrow morning. That’s what this tells me. Jed has pace and bounce and expectations to the conversation taking place. And that’s because he’s guided by sound judgment and reason, and sparked with the motivation to sign a veteran corner infielder.
That’s the vibe I get knowing Alex Bregman is off the table and the Cubs still need help.
There was chatter over the weekend and into Monday that the Cubs are after Turner if Bregman doesn’t come through. So now that Bregman has officially gone elsewhere, this would be the next logical step.
Also – there’s no way Jed is managing an extension like this in public. There’s no way that’s a conversation about a current player, and it’s definitely not about some canned bullshit with Tom Ricketts. That’s very much a real phone call transacting real business for the Chicago Cubs.
What type of business is worth that kind of pace and stride? My brain says the kinda business you expect to get done without any late changes.
That’s not the starting pitching staff. That’s not the outfield or the prospects. It wouldn’t be a bullpen deal because he wouldn’t have that kind of urgency. It’s not about budgeting or league news, and you certainly wouldn’t get a phone call about a player injury that the general public didn’t already know about.
So truthfully, as serious as I can say it, that leaves us with one shining possibility, and that’s finalizing the details of Justin Turner’s 1 year deal with the Chicago Cubs. That’s what Jed’s working on right now and I would be shocked to silence if it was something else. Expect an announcement shortly.
As for Matt Shaw – I think it’s a good thing that he has a veteran 3rd baseman alongside him at camp. Originally I wanted that to be Bregman to give us the best lineup and flexibility. But if we have to settle for Shaw while giving Justin Turner 350 plate appearances, then that should also be a very good option.
Whatever the mix, the most important thing is that we win the division and have momentum into the playoffs. That’s our primary objective and it would appear Jed’s on the phone making that happen right now.
Good.
That’s the walk of a big time commodities broker who just locked in a Minneapolis Wheat vs Chicago Board of Trade Wheat Spread that can’t lose.