New York Mets acquired Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland (baseball team?). This is a move that completely rocked the landscape of the American League Central and possibly the National League East. While, no one really expected the Clevelander’s (seriously, what do we call them now?) to compete, the loss of Lindor and Carrasco changes the dynamic of that division. It also gives the Chicago White Sox an even more likely path to compete.
This move also ratified the NL East, and is showing the league that Steve Cohen is certainly willing to do what it takes to make the Mets a contender. While, like Ron Santo (God rest his soul), I will never like the Mets, but baseball is stronger when the Mets are competitive. They are still an impact bat away from being a real competitor, but this was a great start for their new franchise.
Almost immediately after this deal was closed, there was a report suggesting the Chicago Cubs were in talks to trade their best player to the Mets as well. A move that would send similar shockwaves across the NL Central, the NL East, and baseball itself.
Meanwhile, the Mets still are engaged with free-agent closer Liam Hendriks and center fielder George Springer, and have had trade talks with the Chicago Cubs for third baseman Kris Bryant.
Bob Nightengale, USA Today
(Now, I know some will call out the Bryant being the best player on the team, but look at the actual results. And I don’t mean the cherry-picked, small sample sized results, I am talking about full career and it’s painfully obvious)
Once in New York, Cohen has the funds to keep Bryant around. Hell, he even has the guts to actually have a conversation with Scott Boras about trying to retain a talent like KB. He realizes that adding a player of his talents, along with Lindor, with guys like Pete Alonzo, Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto would create a decently special offense. Then add their seemingly incredible rotation, they have an opportunity to become a legitimate playoff contender.
Bears changing their fortunes?
Nearly four months after he signed a massive $156 million contract, he could be ready to ask for a trade. The Chicago Bears made a franchise altering mistake by not drafting him instead of Mitchell Trubisky, and now four years later they might be able to correct this fatal mistake.
Of course, I am talking about Houston Texans quarterback, DeShaun Watson.
Coming into the 2017 draft, I know I wanted the Bears to draft Watson. While he was somewhat rough around the edges, he had a winning pedigree and I believe players that win will always find a way to win. Even standing here today, knowing what we know about Watson, Trubisky, and Patrick Mahomes, I firmly believe Watson was the right choice for the Bears in that draft.
I may have become a little punch drunk over the prospect of drafting Trubisky. There was a fascination with the relatively unknown. A draw to the idea of what could be, and not what we had already seen.
While Watson had the championship pedigree, Mahomes was essentially a .500 QB in college – Trubisky presented a mystic promise of greatness yet to be uncovered. It appears to be a greatness that the Bears will never tap into. While I still sit here believing that if Mitch were in the same situation as Mahomes, he too would have become a much better QB and if the Bears grabbed Watson they would have become a perennial Super Bowl contending team.
This offseason, the Bears may have the opportunity to right a regrettable wrong. If Watson asks for a trade, as many in football now believe, the Bears should hold nothing back to try and acquire him.
Deshaun Watson has not spoken to #Texans brass in the last few days, though they have tried to call him. https://t.co/6ObYHqrdgB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2021
Professional sports organizations should not make it a point to build a front office, coaching staff, or roster based on the opinion of a player. The only exception, and someone all NFL franchises HAVE to listen to is their franchise QB. This is especially true when that QB is coming off a 4,800 yard season where he had 33 TD and only 7 INT while completing 70% of his passes.
What would it take? Several draft picks that this front office has shown no real ability to get right with a high probability?
This would completely change the dynamics in the NFC North. This would catapult the Bears to the top of the North. While yes, Watson doesn’t stop Aaron Rodgers from putting up 35 points a game, but he does help the Bears put up 36.
