Jed's open to pretending to throw us a bone this winter

Jed Hoyer met the media on Monday at the Winter Meetings and was just full of interesting stuff. He said the team has a lot of faith in Matt Shaw and he's surprised to see them connected to third basemen. He said even after signing superstar Phil Maton they still need bullpen help. And, he said they knew Shōta might accept his qualifying offer so they planned for it, just in case. Wow. Incredible. Don't give too much away, Jedward.

First, he didn't say they weren't trying to sign a third basman. If he wasn't looking to keep adding bullpen arms the Cubs' opening day bullpen would be Maton, Daniel Palencia and a Juggs machine. Of course Shōta accepted the qualifying offer. Where the hell else was he going to get $22 million for next season?

I enjoyed Jed's vote of confidence in Shaw, in particular.

Got it. Jed has the opposite of zero lack of confidence in Matt Shaw.

He has zero confidence in Matt Shaw.

Yesterday, Sahadev and Mooney had an article in The Athletic where they rightly mocked the idea that the Cubs have decided it's time to be open to spending on real players, "according to team and league sources briefed on the club's deliberations."

The entire concept is basically the Cubs way of saying, "Ehh...let's throw the fans a bone and act like we really want to try to win." Because even their tepid attempt to maybe, sorta, kinda, "go for it" comes with their own long, list of qualifiers.

They have zero interest in remotely spending, even for one offseason, like the Dodgers or Mets. Something that we are just supposed to accept as a thing "they can't possibly do." When, bullshit, of course they could.

They will be active in the starting pitcher market...as long as some other team doesn't bid up one of their targets slightly out of their comfort zone, like the Blue Jays did with Dylan Cease. Even though after the initial shock of his seven year deal wore off, it became apparent it was a very reasonable five-year deal with two years tacked on to spread out to the annual value to help the Blue Jays keep spending in future seasons.

They have "demonstrated that their bullpen won't be entirely remade with relievers on one-year contracts and minor league deals with invitations to spring training." Gee, how big of them.

Hoyer said, "We'll be really active in the pitching market." Being active doesn't actually mean accomplishing anything. I mean, just watch RFK Jr. try to do even one pull-up.

"No kipping, you steroid filled raisin!"

The Cubs are being attached to some of the right players at these winter meetings. But even then there's always a but.