Cubs' Hoyer Still Deciding How To Manage Trade Deadline

I think Stroman gets dealt regardless. They will just call up Wesneski to replace him. If they look like they should not sell, they will likely keep Bellinger and just get a comp pick for him. I don’t see a scenario where Stroman isn’t traded though. That’s just my guess. 

It would be so Cub to win 4/5, not sell, then immediately lose 3/4 to the Reds after the deadline

Even if Hoyer has decided to sell, it's to his advantage to pretend otherwise at this point. That may help to get other GMs to come in with the higher offers necessary to "convince" Hoyer to sell out on a potentially-competitive team.

While the Brewers and Reds have obvious issues, Fangraphs odds currently have us at just ~16% to make the playoffs. I'm inclined to think Hoyer has an eye on selling, as we'd need multiple significant upgrades to drastically change those playoff odds -- and that would come in the form of the young guys we need to come through to replace Bellinger/Stroman's production if we want to be competitive next year.

Also, I think Hoyer's comfort spot is being a deadline seller. And with potentially the two best non-Ohtani rentals on the market, selling is going to hold a lot of allure for him. I'm guessing we unload.

4 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

It would be so Cub to win 4/5, not sell, then immediately lose 3/4 to the Reds after the deadline

Or go on a 15- 35 run to end the season. But really, I don't care if they sell or deal from a strength and buy. Anyone they are looking to trade from the ML roster isn't likely to net them a game-changing player. They need game changers. Their best players under contract for next year are good, not great. They have an entire minor league system full of good, not great players to deal from. They need some stars either through development or FA. 

31 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, 

3 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

 

And I'm good with that.  Dude had some hate in him that always clouded his credibility. But apparently still breaking Cub news?

@jersey cubs fan and @CubUgly is there some sort of bad Cubs history with this guy? He used to work in Chicago, right?

14 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

@jersey cubs fan and @CubUgly is there some sort of bad Cubs history with this guy? He used to work in Chicago, right?

Longtime cubs beat writer for suntimes then nbc Chicago. He was criticized by a lot of cubs fans for negativity, but to be fair, he covered the cubs in an era with a lot of negativity. 

55 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

@jersey cubs fan and @CubUgly is there some sort of bad Cubs history with this guy? He used to work in Chicago, right?

He's a hack and likely also a racist. 

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

He's a hack and likely also a racist. 

So a good fit for Cincinnati.

Was it Wittenmayer or Kaplan that was always negative about Aramis being lazy and constantly raving about Ryan Theriot?

9 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Was it Wittenmayer or Kaplan that was always negative about Aramis being lazy and constantly raving about Ryan Theriot?

Yes

9 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Was it Wittenmayer or Kaplan that was always negative about Aramis being lazy and constantly raving about Ryan Theriot?

Brenly and Kaplan were very vocal anti Ramirez guys. 

8 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Brenly and Kaplan were very vocal anti Ramirez guys. 

You can add Barry Rozner to that list, as well. 

Remember when Bruce Miles would come to NSBB and chat?

9 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Remember when Bruce Miles would come to NSBB and chat?

We got lucky that we got the good Bruce.

No harm until waiting until after the Cards series. Winning 4 of the next 5 changes the equation a bit especially with the soft August schedule.

I would love for them to be buyers and have it work out. I’m just afraid they’ll go at it half-assed, kinda like free agency so often, and not really make the team better. But at least, ya know, they’re trying.

13 hours ago, PackLandVA said:

I would love for them to be buyers and have it work out. I’m just afraid they’ll go at it half-assed, kinda like free agency so often, and not really make the team better. But at least, ya know, they’re trying.

I kinda....wouldn't mind a half assed approach? Trade some dudes in the 11-20 range, hold on to your prized assets, basically let it ride with this squad and a couple competent reinforcements to shore up glaring weak spots. Give yourself a couple months to figure out the Bellinger approach, etc. There's not enough talent out there to improve a .500 team to an 87 win team at this point in the season. The team just has to play slightly better (not out of the question!) and hope for some pythag luck. 

I'm increasingly thinking the main type of trade this team can/should/will make is going to be one that resists categorization.  The Angels just paid a higher price for 2 rentals than recent years out of desperation but even if that sets the market it's not a big sea change over recent years prices.  The White Sox are clearly selling but apparently even they are telling teams they want to compete in 2024, which is a representative example that nearly everyone is either not giving up on this year, wants to be good next year, or both.  So the trades that do get made are likely going to be more like teams swapping disappointing young MLBers, taking chances on failed/blocked prospects, stuff like that.  More Arrieta trade than Samardzija trade.

Trade him, this team has been winning without him for a while now and he's coming back down to earth hard.

Sox just got a haul for Gio, stop wasting time.

Yeah, with Ohtani and Chisholm off the board the only star level talent I want is Carlos Hernandez, a RHRP unlikely to cost a whole ton. After that it’s guys Brent Rooker, Trevor Larnach, Aaron Bummer, Nick Lopez…I do still approve of getting weird and trying to pry MJ Melendez, but I do think the farm may still put out a player or two this second half and it’s not make or break 

48 minutes ago, Cubs420psd said:

Trade him, this team has been winning without him for a while now and he's coming back down to earth hard.

 

Sox just got a haul for Gio, stop wasting time.

The peripherals have dipped, but he had a .235 BABIP in that stretch leading up to London and it's been .375 since. It's somewhere in the middle, right where he's always been. If you don't think we need Marcus Stroman, but still want to win....that's misguided. 

I think we should sell, sell, sell. Unless you want to extend Belli (they won’t) no point on trying to win it with this team. They just aren’t good enough. 
 

In other news, have you guys ever considered having a separate thread for all trade deadline news and rumors? That’s way it’s all in one place and you can pick up right where you left off in the morning. 

If you're at or over .500 and you sell, just fold the team.