Cashner and Na traded for Rizzo and Cates

[rawaction]

People keep calling Cashner a "relief pitcher". While he is 25 already, its pretty clear that he still has plenty of time to get his stamina back up and become a starting pitcher in the MLB. He's under team control for 5 more years, has an elite arm, and can still develop into a stud starting pitcher.

 

I'm very satisfied with this trade from the Cubs perspective, but don't write this off as the Cubs getting a big corner IF bat for a reliever.

[WrigleyField 22]

Well if Rizzo plays from June on I don't think anyone is gonna remember 2011 as the year Brian LaHair played 1B

 

Personally, I'll remember it as the year Carlos Pena played 1B

I was only one off.

[A New Era]

Or push Lahair to LF when Rizzo comes up mid year, if Lahair is hitting well that is.

[toonsterwu]

Holy crap, Lahair is seriously going to be the starting 1B isn't he?

Why wouldn't Rizzo? June at the latest.

 

He's 22, and this team is terrible. There's no reason to even consider him on opening day. Why rush him? Let him solidify his abilities in Iowa and call him up in September unless he's absolutely destroying everything.

 

Well, one argument is that Rizzo being such a good fielder may be a positive on a certain MI who can get a little erratic with his throws. I'm okay either way, but I don't know what he can solidify in the hitter friendly environments of the PCL, and his clock has already started so if they are trying to see what they have in BJax/Castro/Rizzo in an attempt to build towards a heavy FA push in 2013, may be best to throw him out there.

[rawaction]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this trade.

 

I honestly thought that, with the way some of the rumors had been presented earlier, that Rizzo would have costed us a lot more than this.

 

Really? We just gave up a high upside upper level arm. Granted, Cashner had big concerns to deal with off of injury, but that's a pretty steep price to pay in a deal these days overall, with how teams protect young pitchers with upside. You could make the case that Cashner was the highest valued asset in the deal, thus they had to toss Cates in, who I think is the clear 3rd highest valued asset in the deal, with us throwing a throw in in.

 

I agree with you, but the bold is pretty hilarious.

[Guest]

Or push Lahair to LF when Rizzo comes up mid year, if Lahair is hitting well that is.

 

You appear to have misspelled "the sun".

[ctcf]

My good friend that's a huge Pads fan and tends to follow the minors closely was of the opinion that while Rizzo was great, his swing was way too long and needed to be altered. Take that for what it's worth.

[toonsterwu]

So is Rizzo now the Cubs #1 prospect?

 

I would have to think so.

 

Eh, I'm just not completely buying Rizzo's bat as elite yet, after the long swing he was showing in the bigs last year. Even if he's slightly better offensively, does that compensate for BJax's defensive value?

[jersey cubs fan]

People keep calling Cashner a "relief pitcher". While he is 25 already, its pretty clear that he still has plenty of time to get his stamina back up and become a starting pitcher in the MLB.

 

I wouldn't characterize it as plenty of time. The back and forth nature of his use stunted that development and the injury hurt. I have held the opinion since day 1 that he was destined for the bullpen, but that it was well worth the shot of trying to stretch him out. There's just a hell of a lot pushing against him trying to be a guy who starts 35 games with 220 IP.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Or push Lahair to LF when Rizzo comes up mid year, if Lahair is hitting well that is.

 

Hopefully Cespedes is hitting well enough that that won't happen 8-)

[toonsterwu]

I'd love to go get Solar now, I'm probably the only one who is very meh on the Cepedes.

 

Nah, I'm not too psyched on Cespedes (don't get me wrong, would like to add him), but feel that the money is better spent on a younger talent like Soler.

[toonsterwu]

Love this trade. Now, I'm neither a scout nor do I follow the minor leagues as closely as some on this board. So, if one wanted to say I was out of my depth and my opinion was next to worthless on this issue, one would not inherently be wrong.

 

That said, without a personal scouting report on either player, I love the logic of this trade. The Cubs just traded a pitcher coming off an injury (with questions about his ability to become a full-fledged MLB starter?) for a similarly ranked, younger first baseman (which is a desperate, desperate, position of need). The Cubs management is also obviously very familiar, and very high, on the first baseman.

 

the logic is fine with the deal. I don't think anyone can knock the logic of the deal. I just hope Rizzo becomes this full-fledged corner slugger and stud all around bat that people are making him out to be this year (elsewhere, haven't really paid attention to what the majority think on rizzo here).

[toonsterwu]

I used to be a prospect-whore, but I've never heard of Na. Heard of Ha, but not Na.

 

Smallish CF that the Cubs paid a lot for (above 700 K I believe). Arguably the best CF in the system, but bat is squadoosh right now.

[toonsterwu]

2014 Cubs:

 

C - Castillo

1B - Rizzo

2B - Stewart

SS - Castro

3B - Baez (I know too soon for him to be up)

LF - FA

CF - Jackson

RF - Cespedes (please)

 

Ian Stewart at 2nd? Don't see that one.

[treebird]

Or push Lahair to LF when Rizzo comes up mid year, if Lahair is hitting well that is.

 

You appear to have misspelled "the sun".

 

"hey bryan, we're going to need you to get in this rocket ship now, don't worry, i'm sure it's going somewhere bright and warm"

[SouthSideRyan]

My good friend that's a huge Pads fan and tends to follow the minors closely was of the opinion that while Rizzo was great, his swing was way too long and needed to be altered. Take that for what it's worth.

 

Nothing? Got it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Whenever Theo and Jed decide to unload the war chest, we are going to have an insane amount of money to spend, with cheap young players at a bunch of positions already in place.

[rawaction]

Love this trade. Now, I'm neither a scout nor do I follow the minor leagues as closely as some on this board. So, if one wanted to say I was out of my depth and my opinion was next to worthless on this issue, one would not inherently be wrong.

 

That said, without a personal scouting report on either player, I love the logic of this trade. The Cubs just traded a pitcher coming off an injury (with questions about his ability to become a full-fledged MLB starter?) for a similarly ranked, younger first baseman (which is a desperate, desperate, position of need). The Cubs management is also obviously very familiar, and very high, on the first baseman.

 

the logic is fine with the deal. I don't think anyone can knock the logic of the deal. I just hope Rizzo becomes this full-fledged corner slugger and stud all around bat that people are making him out to be this year (elsewhere, haven't really paid attention to what the majority think on rizzo here).

 

You seem convinced that Rizzo has to become Adrian Gonzalez for this to be a good deal. That's not even close to being the case.

[rrudd2]

If Rizzo comes up mid year, and the Cubs can't find a taker for Soriano, is a LaHair/Soriano platoon a decent option in left field?

[toonsterwu]

Josh Byrnes said they're going to use Cashner in the pen.

 

In some respects, it's somewhat smart of them even if Cashner is in the pen. They had an abundance of first basemen, and instead of spending big on pen help, they trade for it because of the park. They have a fair amount of intriguing arms in AA already with starting potential.

[PrimeTime]

How is he with the glove? Anyone familiar with his defense? Ive heard above average.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

My good friend that's a huge Pads fan and tends to follow the minors closely was of the opinion that while Rizzo was great, his swing was way too long and needed to be altered. Take that for what it's worth.

 

Nothing? Got it.

 

 

"Swing is too long" is universal fan code for "He didn't hit well in his cup of coffee."

[SouthSideRyan]

My good friend that's a huge Pads fan and tends to follow the minors closely was of the opinion that while Rizzo was great, his swing was way too long and needed to be altered. Take that for what it's worth.

 

Nothing? Got it.

 

 

"Swing is too long" is universal fan code for "He didn't hit well in his cup of coffee."

 

Only if he plays a power position and strikes out a lot.

[toonsterwu]

I can't believe that the Padres did this deal, considering they feel Cashner is a bullpen arm. You don't deal your #1 prospect for a bullpen arm, even if you expect it to be a very, very good bullpen arm.

 

There were a lot of people concerned with Rizzo's swing. It seems clear that they don't view him as their number 1 prospect, because otherwise, they don't make that alonso trade. It seems clear they had some concerns. Now, I've heard others say the swing issues should be worked out, but I don't think this is a case of San Diego feeling like they dealt their top prospect away. At least, IMO.

[rawaction]

How is he with the glove? Anyone familiar with his defense? Ive heard above average.

 

Yeah, pretty good glove.