Seems like a pretty typical Hoyer play - don't break the bank for the best players, but happily throw some money at the middle-tier guys. Just so you can have a couple of free-agent contracts to point to when fans complain about you being cheap. No doubt we'll get some vague reference to "seeing some things" in his mechanics that they can address in the Pitching Lab.

I mean, OK - the Cubs need starting pitchers. But a guy who's posted a 100 ERA+ in each of his two seasons since TJ seems like not really the guy to help you improve much from a 74-win team. Taillon seems more like the guy that a team with a strong 1-2 in the rotation signs for depth, not a guy a rebuilding team signs to help them get over the hump. Especially since he's already 31, has an extensive injury history, and generally doesn't seem like the kind of guy who's going to be super effective at the end of a 4-year deal.

Having Hot Topics include news items including:

* Josh Bell signing with Cleveland
* Jameson Tailllon signing with the Cubs
* Pirates land #1 pick in first ever MLB draft lottery

seems designed to trigger whatever is left of the remaining Pirate fan base here on BTF.

seems designed to trigger whatever is left of the remaining Pirate fan base here on BTF.

Maybe there will be an article later today "Actually, Sid Bream never touched home plate".

As an NL-only Rotisserie player, I just think of Taillon as the great prospect that I was always trying to trade for, and was always grateful that his owner wouldn't part with him when he went under the knife again. I guess the optimists viewpoint is that because of those injuries at 31 he doesn't have too many miles on his arm. Still, not exactly an inspiring signing.

Still, not exactly an inspiring signing.

That was kind of my point... Taillon and Bell were seen as potential superstars in Pittsburgh. One is 31 and almost done, the other is looking (at best) like an average player at his position. When these are contrasted with what one would assume should be excitement about having the first pick, it kind of ruins it.

Maybe there will be an article later today "Actually, Sid Bream never touched home plate".

Maybe the wayback machine bot that keeps posting in old threads can help us out with this, and you can always get help at myhelpers.com.

This seems like a solid signing given the crazy spending we're seeing.

Or we could have re-signed Contreras for similar money.

Yeah, underwhelming. Not that I expected anything exciting.

If you want a reason for optimism, maybe Taillon's high HR rate is because MLB was sending bouncier balls to Yankee games.

seems designed to trigger whatever is left of the remaining Pirate fan base here on BTF.

I think it's just you, now.

I'm getting major Edwin Jackson vibes here.

Hmmm ... back in 2013, that was 4/$52; 10 years later it's 4/$68. That's a very un-interesting rate of inflation.

The latest big acquisition for the Cubs weighs 225 lbs?

CC Sabathia snorts in derision.