Random Cubs Musings

[Guest]

I really don't want to trade for anything. Just sign a couple pitchers, maybe a bench bat if they're insistent on the veteran presence thing, and play ball.

[davell]

I really don't want to trade for anything. Just sign a couple pitchers, maybe a bench bat if they're insistent on the veteran presence thing, and play ball.

 

I agree. We don't need to trade anyone. And I see no reason we can't spend 20 mill per on 2 different pitchers. And I can see where it'd take 2 offseasons to accomplish that. But I expect one now.

[Brian]

I don't know about other teams farms systems enough to be sure about this but hypothetically is there any team could come close to touching a package we could offer for Stanton?

 

Russell/Almora/other pieces farther down like a Vogelbach and/or one of our pitchers.

 

What would you rather have?

 

Soler/Bryant at the corners and the Shortstops + Rizzo in the infield, or Soler/Stanton at the corners and Bryant at 3B?

 

 

I wasn't a guy that was in love with Russell before we got him and he still feels like a bonus that's not even our guy.... so I think I want to go and get that proven MVP candidate if you can.

[Guest]

Addison Russell might be the best prospect in all of baseball. Just because the Cubs didn't initially sign or draft him doesn't mean you should be so eager to part with him and consider him only a bonus.

 

That said, I'd trade any of the Cubs prospects for Stanton.

[Brian]

Yeah, it's not like I just want to throw him away for anybody because he's not 'our guy'.

 

 

An offseason adding Stanton and Lester would be pretty awesome, and seems very doable.

[Clem Fandango]

The more these guys rake the more I lament the possibility of trading them, but at this point if they're being moved, it's Stanton or bust. He's literally the only person (who is conceivably available for trade) that any of these guys should be moved for. If he's not available, then they need to keep all the big ticket guys. Pitching can be bought for the team and supplemented with what we have. But this offense, with or without Stanton, will be impressive

[Vinestal]

The more these guys rake the more I lament the possibility of trading them, but at this point if they're being moved, it's Stanton or bust. He's literally the only person (who is conceivably available for trade) that any of these guys should be moved for. If he's not available, then they need to keep all the big ticket guys. Pitching can be bought for the team and supplemented with what we have. But this offense, with or without Stanton, will be impressive

Im pretty sure I would poop my pants if we got Stanton

[Banedon]

Theo on The Score at 10:40.

[Little Slide Rooter]

What's wild is that at this moment, 22/25 of the players on the active roster are guys I could see as canditates for a role on the team in 2015 and beyond. The odd men out are Villanueva, who despite being great since moving to the pen full time would simply be an uneccessary expenditure beyond this year, Baker, who I suppose isn't much better or worse than any other back up catcher, and strikes me as a guy who could Koyie Hill around between Iowa and Chicago for a few years, and Valaika.

 

This beind said, when Theo was hired and wasted little time pulling the rug out from those expecting a spending spree, he stated that his goal was to acquire good, hound players by any and all means. So in terms of what we have at this time, let's take a look:

 

Player (age) How Acquired. Under Team Control Until. Future Role/duration.

 

1B Rizzo (24) Trade, very team friendly extension. 2021 ('20 & '21 team options.) Starting 1B, long term.

2B Baez (21) inherited. 2020. Starting IF (which spot?)long term.

SS Castro (24). Inherited, comically team friendly extension. 2020. Starting SS/3B, long term if not traded.

3B Valbuena (28) Minor league FA. 2017. Utility IF until traded or FA.

RF Soler (22) International FA. 2020. Starting RF, long term.

CF Mendy (22) Inherited prospect. 2020. Starting IF/CF/super sub. Long term.

LF Coghlan (29) Minor League FA. 2017. Possible (between him and Sweeney for spare LH OF/bat) Short term.

C Castillo (28) Inherited. 2018. Very likely. Starting C, depends if/when somebody comes for it.

OF Lake (24) inherited. Possible, depends on progress. 4th OF/Super Sub, TBD.

OF Ruggiano (32) Brian Bogucevic. 2016. 4th OF, short term.

IF Watkins (24) Inherited Prospect. 2020. UT, until a younger him comes along.

 

Rotation:

Arrieta (28) 3 months of Scott Feldman. 2018. Front end SP, long term.

Wood (27) 1 season of Shawn Marshall. 2017. 4-5 starter, until replaced.

Hendricks (24). 2 Months of Ryan Dempster. 2020. 3-5 starter, long term.

Wada (33) Minor League FA. 2020 (assuming the same rules apply.) 3-5 SP/swing man. Short term/trade candidate.

Turner (23) Waiver claim, a couple low levels. 2019. 1-5 SP/swingman, too hard to tell.

 

Pen:

Rondon (26) Rule 5. 2019. Back end BP, until he breaks.

Ramirez (25) Trade (Garza.) 2020. Back end BP, until he breaks.

Strop (29) Trade (2-3 months of Feldman.) 2018. Middle relief, until he breaks or is traded.

Grimm (26) Trade (Garza) 2020. Middle relief/swingman. Until he breaks/traded.

Wright (29) Free Agent. 2016. Middle relief/LOOGY. 0-2 years.

Fujikawa (34) Intnl. FA. Signed through 2015, not FA eligible until 2019,depending on how the rules apply. Back end BP if healthy. Possible for 2015, Doubtful beyond.

[bhogg]

An offseason of Lester, Hammels, and melky Cabrera would be awesome.

 

Plenty of pitching depth. Veteran hitter. Compete for the post season.

 

 

I'm patient, but they need to win ball games next year.

[Guest]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 2m

Jed Hoyer said on @KapandHaugh Show the #Cubs will likely use a six-man rotation in September.

[Guest]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/26955/theo-epstein-the-money-will-be-there-for-future-cubs-transactions

 

this is from that same interview that was posted about yesterday in the other thread, but who knew that jesse rogers would have the best grasp of this and explain it the best out of any of these mainstream beat guys?

 

Players in their first three years in the major leagues come at a good cost for the club. Their salary increases once they get to arbitration in years three through six and then can explode when they hit free agency.

 

The Cubs are in the midst of debuting a slew of young talent that won't command high salaries for several years. And the savings Epstein is referring to from last winter is related to their pursuit of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

 

The Cubs lost out on Tanaka but are on the record saying they were able to carry over that savings for upcoming offseason additions. It meant lesser talent on the roster for 2014, but it should mean better players for 2015 and beyond.

 

So the Cubs have money in the short term to add a pitcher via free agency if they wish. When players start to hit arbitration or agree to longer-term deals, Epstein is confident they'll have the money then, as well.

[Andy]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 2m

Jed Hoyer said on @KapandHaugh Show the #Cubs will likely use a six-man rotation in September.

Given what we're working with, would've been surprised if they didn't.

[SouthSideRyan]

Assuming Jackson doesn't come back to the rotation who is the odd man out? Strailly or Doubront? Neither one of them really do a ton for me, I guess I'd prefer Strailly get the work

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd almost rather see them go to 7 but use a series of piggybacking on 1-2 days a week.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ctcf]

Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat

Hoyer says they'll go to 6-man rotation. "We have guys like Turner and Doubront who we want to get a look at." #Cubs

 

Ahhhh there's that protected pick.

[Guest]

Ace of MLB Stats @AceballStats

Follow

#Cubs Javier Baez & Jorge Soler are the first players to each hit at least 3 HR through their first 3 career games during the same century.

9:49 PM - 29 Aug 2014

 

LMAOOO

[Guest]

Current 600 PA fWAR paces:

 

Rizzo: 4.4

Castro: 2.8

Castillo: 2.6

Alcantara: 3.0

Baez: 2.3

Soler: 30.0

Valbuena: 3.2

[Guest]

So Baez, in that same quote where he said his double was the best AB he's had in the majors so far, said he was just trying to make contact on the 2 strike pitch. lmao. he crushed a liner into the gap.

 

If that's his just make contact swing, please always do that and reserve the insanity for when you're ahead or early in the count

[CubInOK]

Current 600 PA fWAR paces:

 

Rizzo: 4.4

Castro: 2.8

Castillo: 2.6

Alcantara: 3.0

Baez: 2.3

Soler: 30.0

Valbuena: 3.2

Soler at .05 WAR/PA:

 

http://media.giphy.com/media/7tKEfRjktJ2MM/giphy.gif

[Deeg]

Sustainable.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Cubs are in line to draft 9th and on pace to avoid 90 losses.

[davell]

I've come to grips-we're not going to have a protected pick. I just hope we get Lester, so we don't lose it.

[Clem Fandango]

I've come to grips-we're not going to have a protected pick. I just hope we get Lester, so we don't lose it.

 

There's always Maeda, too.

[Guest]

Cubs are in line to draft 9th and on pace to avoid 90 losses.

it's not completely outrageous for them to win 80 games.

 

not likely, but high 70s is pretty doable

 

ugh so conflicted. i want them to win a totally arbitrary higher number of games but then eeking out of the protected picks would be so pointless and only bad.