Just imagine if Cam has a season like Jackson Merrill did last year for the Padres. Merrill also skipped AAA and only played in like 40 AA games before making the roster last season.
They believe they could have moved him and taken on no salary if he had agreed to a move earlier in the off season but he insisted on an extension to waive his NTC until it was clear that wasn’t going to happen. No idea for sure what financials would be because the pitcher they got was part of the deal as soon as substantive discussions happened. I find the fondness a little odd as he is a slight pitcher but lacks a hammer to get guys out.
That may be the case had he agreed early in the offseason but by the time the trade got serious the RP market had changed and I am virtually certain they would not have been able to dump it all.
The point completely flew over your head. Opening trade talks after Soto signs his contract and Tucker is heading into his final year severely limits your options. You have no leverage other than we can't afford him. I wanted to shop Bregman and Tucker heading into 2024 because the team didn't have it and were depleted prospects wise. 2 position players and a top prospect like Smith is where you start. The way you frame the talks to the Cubs, who aren't smart but have a ton of prospects, is Tucker is a game changing MVP guy. A pre injury Trout esque offensive player. And he was super reliable before last year. So Paredes and Suzuki (who is oldish) is a fair price in terms of tangible replacement, plus a top 5 prospect like Cam who by no means is a guarantee. The Cubs are desperate for a guarantee like Tuck. Obviously, if Cam has a 4+ war year as a rookie than all credit to Dana. He got his guy. But knowing who you can and can't afford, how the market is moving, and not relying on a discount is something you expect in a GM Owner relationship. That allows you to expedite decisions and get max value out of a guy like Tucker.
I think you were overtestimating the market for Tucker this off-season. The Cubs negotiating leverage was that Tucker is going to test the market no matter what. The Astros traded him for that reason.
