Re: Geovany Soto Traded Thread

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Not worth it. You're blocking Castillo that much longer in hopes that a catcher who looks to be in decline has a hot first half.

 

If Castillo were likely to be a really good starting catcher that would concern me, but there's not much to indicate that he is. I've never quite gotten the Castillo love - he looks like a nice backup or ok starter, but that's not the type of player you worry about blocking.

 

And Soto doesn't look like the kind of player I really want to give another shot to try to bounce back, so that works out well :)

 

I had him written off as a non-tender anyway.

[dew1679666265]

And Soto doesn't look like the kind of player I really want to give another shot to try to bounce back, so that works out well :)

 

I had him written off as a non-tender anyway.

 

Most did it seems. I see it as a waste of an asset - trading him now is fine, but non-tendering would have been really pointless. And the reason I'd have kept him is because there's very minimal risk involved, but the potential for a lot of reward with this FO's negotiating ability. If we held onto Geo and he flopped again in 2013, then we missed out on an ok bullpen arm. If we held onto Geo and he had a hot first half, the Theo regime probably gets a fantastic return for him.

 

Kinda like the Z/Volstad trade - making the deal is fine, but I wouldn't be sad to hold out for more and end up missing out on Volstad.

[davell]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

 

If he played well next year I'm sure you could have gotten significantly more. That's exactly how the Maholm deal happened. That is how Dempster's value went from non-existent to quite high this year.

[dew1679666265]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

 

Pretty sure that was argued about Dempster this past offseason too. Good hitting catchers are a rarity and that's what Geo is when he's playing well. I have little doubt the return would have been considerably higher if he could have had a good rebound in the first half of 2013.

[NOLA]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

 

If he played well next year I'm sure you could have gotten significantly more. That's exactly how the Maholm deal happened. That is how Dempster's value went from non-existent to quite high this year.

 

Yes, but he's a catcher. That does factor here as far as a trend.

[dew1679666265]

Yes, but he's a catcher. That does factor here as far as a trend.

 

Catchers hitting well are quite a commodity. I see him being a catcher and being capable of hitting well as a plus, not a negative.

[Guest]

He's also 29 this year, which makes him pretty old for a catcher.

 

However, I was confident enough in Geo that I made an expensive bet last week about what his numbers would look like in the second half. I'm very sorry to see him go, but I definitely understand the logic of it from the Cubs' perspective.

[davell]

Well, you guys got me with Dempster. Can't argue that. That said, I think the odss of Soto having a bounce back, All Star caliber season are slim rnough to where you move him now and give Castillo his shot.

[pccubfan]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

 

Castillo/Clevenger are not going to produce at Soto's level when Soto is playing at his best. I'm not sure that we'll ever see Soto again at his best though.

 

Most probable scenario, to me, is that the combination will produce roughly the same as Soto next year, but will do it at a cheaper price.

[XZero771679666304]

Castillo's never going to be a star, but he's worth some time and effort. He's ready now, so blocking him with an older version who looks to be on the downswing alrwady doesn't make sense to me. Not for what was never going to be a big return on Soto, even if he played decently next year. Last year of contract, questions as to whether he can keep it up, etc. Basically, the return in a best case scenario for him isn't worth keeping Castillo on the bench for another year to me.

 

Pretty sure that was argued about Dempster this past offseason too. Good hitting catchers are a rarity and that's what Geo is when he's playing well. I have little doubt the return would have been considerably higher if he could have had a good rebound in the first half of 2013.

 

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. I think it's possible that Geo would have had a bounce back season for us next year, but his on/off/on pattern has gone on/off/off, and his position does have some bearing.

 

I'm just not confident that he'll ever be 2008/2010 Geo again.

[dew1679666265]

He's also 29 this year, which makes him pretty old for a catcher.

 

However, I was confident enough in Geo that I made an expensive bet last week about what his numbers would look like in the second half. I'm very sorry to see him go, but I definitely understand the logic of it from the Cubs' perspective.

 

And Dempster and Maholm are 35, that's really old for pitchers. Like I said before, I'm fine with the Soto trade, just kinda feel like we could have gotten more had we waited.

[ConstableRabbit]

He's also 29 this year, which makes him pretty old for a catcher.

 

However, I was confident enough in Geo that I made an expensive bet last week about what his numbers would look like in the second half. I'm very sorry to see him go, but I definitely understand the logic of it from the Cubs' perspective.

 

And Dempster and Maholm are 35, that's really old for pitchers. Like I said before, I'm fine with the Soto trade, just kinda feel like we could have gotten more had we waited.

Maholm is 30.

[dew1679666265]

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. I think it's possible that Geo would have had a bounce back season for us next year, but his on/off/on pattern has gone on/off/off, and his position does have some bearing.

 

I'm just not confident that he'll ever be 2008/2010 Geo again.

 

I guess I'm just not impressed enough with Brigham to be all that bothered if we missed on him. I feel the same with this trade as I did with the Z/Volstad trade - it was probably fair value, but if we got a little greedy and ultimately missed out on the trade, it's not that big a loss.

[dew1679666265]

Maholm is 30.

 

Oops, you're right. He just seems older to me for some reason.

[jersey cubs fan]

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. .

 

I think that is a risk some people would be willing to take. A year from now Texas very well may have gotten nothing for Brigham.

[XZero771679666304]

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. .

 

I think that is a risk some people would be willing to take. A year from now Texas very well may have gotten nothing for Brigham.

 

It's not a huge deal either way, but I'd rather gamble on the young arm than the aging catcher. I love Geo, but I think there's a good chance he's done being productive player.

[jersey cubs fan]

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. .

 

I think that is a risk some people would be willing to take. A year from now Texas very well may have gotten nothing for Brigham.

 

It's not a huge deal either way, but I'd rather gamble on the young arm than the aging catcher. I love Geo, but I think there's a good chance he's done being productive player.

 

I'm more or less neutral on the trade. My commentary was in response to somebody saying that if he played well in early 2013 you still wouldn't get anything of value for him.

[Guest]

And if Geo gets off to a poor start in 2013, you get less, maybe nothing. .

 

I think that is a risk some people would be willing to take. A year from now Texas very well may have gotten nothing for Brigham.

 

It's not a huge deal either way, but I'd rather gamble on the young arm than the aging catcher. I love Geo, but I think there's a good chance he's done being productive player.

I think Soto is a classic change of scenery trade. I don't think the Cubs like his defense enough. He's still an above average offensive catcher.

[jersey cubs fan]

I do like this part of the email the Cubs just sent out:

 

Brigham, 24, entered the 2012 campaign ranked as the seventh-best right-handed relief prospect in the Rangers organization by Baseball America

 

Maybe a bit of a reach there with that one? I guess it's better than daytime batting averages or w-l record in home games.

[Andy]

Maholm is 30.

 

Oops, you're right. He just seems older to me for some reason.

Probably because the Cubs played against him about 300 times prior to arriving here.

[dew1679666265]

Maholm is 30.

 

Oops, you're right. He just seems older to me for some reason.

Probably because the Cubs played against him about 300 times prior to arriving here.

 

It did seem like he pitched against us in every series.

[Cubbie Swagger]

I'm really hoping that Geo puts up some really nice artificially-inflated numbers down there in Texas and then gets a nice fat deal from one of our division opponents.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@PWSullivan: Jake Brigham, starter acquired from Texas in Soto deal, already on Double-A Tenn's DL with arm issues.

[Quakers]

I may way off here, but does anyone think the Soto's trip to Texas was arranged to make Dempster willing to accept a trade???