It’s Tuesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by this evening. Please come in out of the cold. There’s no cover charge. We can check your coat. There’s still one table left by the fire. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules
of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Yesterday I asked you if the Cubs should ink second baseman Nico Hoerner to a new, long-term extension. Most of you are understandably Nico Hoerner fans as 65 percent of you said that a five-year, $100 million dea would be a fair offer to Hoerner. Another 16 percent thought he’d cost more than that.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I don’t normally do a movie essay. But you still have time to vote in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic between Star Wars and the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. But fell free to stick around for the jazz. But if you don’t, we’ll see you on the other side.
Tonight in our Christmas jazz festiva, we’re featuring pianist Cyrus Chestnut and friends playing “What Child Is This.” Christian McBride is on bass, Stefon Harris plays vibraphone, Steve Gadd is the drummer and vocals are provided by no less than The Manhattan Transfer.
This is from 2000.
Welcome back to those of you who skip all the jazz.
The Winter Meetings are still quiet as far as the Cubs go, but there is some noise about free agent Brad Keller, who was so important to the Cubs bullpen last year.
The Tigers are reportedly interested in signing Keller and making a starting pitcher out of him again. A rumor from earlier today is that the Yankees would like to sign Keller as a reliever, although they might have him start to begin the season until pitchers like Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón return from injury at midseason.
The Cubs, on the other hand, have reportedly not closed the door on Keller’s return. (The Athletic sub. req.) The Cubs are still in the market for relievers after signing Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million deal. Keller said he enjoyed pitching for the Cubs and would be open to return. (The Athletic sub. req.) But if the Tigers, Yankees or some other team are offering a lot more money, it would be hard to justify to himself and his family a return to the North Side.
Of course, this comes down to money on both sides of the negotiation. The estimates for what Keller will get in free agency are all over the board. The Athletic estimates he could land a two-year, $15 million deal. Or essentially what Maton got. MLB Trade Rumors goes nuts, estimating a three-year, $36 million deal for Keller. ESPN is in the middle, with a two-year, $22 million deal.
I’m going to go with a two-year, $23 million deal to bring Keller back, which is basically what ESPN predicted. I have trouble seeing any team offering Keller three years just one offseason after he came to the Cubs on a minor league deal. On the other hand, The Athletic’s deal seems low in light of what Maton got.
So would you offer Keller two years and $23 million? Relievers tend to be volatile and Keller has just one season as an effective reliever. That seems a lot for a guy who the Cubs got for next to nothing last winter. But that also seems to be the going rate for a pitcher who throws strikes and touches 99 miles per hour on the radar gun as a reliever.
So would you bring back Brad Keller at that price?
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We can get your coat for you now. Get home safely. Stay warm. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.
