Who do we trade and what do we expect in return?

[Clem Fandango]

Soooooooo with Braun getting suspended for Biogenesis, and A-Rod seemingly next in line, that means others could be on their way out as well. Following notable players tied to them:

 

Nelson Cruz OF, TEX

Bartolo Colon SP, OAK

Jhonny Peralta SS, DET

Everth Cabrera SS, SD

Melky Cabrera OF, TOR

Yasmani Grandal C, SD

Jesus Montero C, SEA

Francisco Cervelli C, NYY

 

This could be very good for the Cubs trading chips, yes?

[Soul]

With Derek Jeter’s every-day status less than certain the rest of the year and Alex Rodriguez’s MRI exam Sunday showing a strained quad sure to be suspended for the rest of the season, the Yankees’ interest could get serious quickly. They have scouts following the Cubs on this trip.

 

Updated 7/22/2013 6:55pm

Edited July 22, 2013 by Soul

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Soooooooo with Braun getting suspended for Biogenesis, and A-Rod seemingly next in line, that means others could be on their way out as well. Following notable players tied to them:

 

Nelson Cruz OF, TEX

Bartolo Colon SP, OAK

Jhonny Peralta SS, DET

Everth Cabrera SS, SD

Melky Cabrera OF, TOR

Yasmani Grandal C, SD

Jesus Montero C, SEA

Francisco Cervelli C, NYY

 

This could be very good for the Cubs trading chips, yes?

 

Not sure. Some of these guys on teams in races might decide not to admit to anything and take the suspension starting next season when the teams have a whole offseason to replace them.

[XZero771679666304]

Soooooooo with Braun getting suspended for Biogenesis, and A-Rod seemingly next in line, that means others could be on their way out as well. Following notable players tied to them:

 

Nelson Cruz OF, TEX

Bartolo Colon SP, OAK

Jhonny Peralta SS, DET

Everth Cabrera SS, SD

Melky Cabrera OF, TOR

Yasmani Grandal C, SD

Jesus Montero C, SEA

Francisco Cervelli C, NYY

 

This could be very good for the Cubs trading chips, yes?

 

Not sure. Some of these guys on teams in races might decide not to admit to anything and take the suspension starting next season when the teams have a whole offseason to replace them.

 

They may not admit to anything now, but teams are definitely going to take possible suspensions into account before they make a deal.

[davell]

So, what now? Surely one of Soriano, DeJesus, or Schierholtz is dealt, if not two of them, right? Lake looks like he may push his way into a fulltime audition for the rest of the season anyway. Does Olt come up soon for a 60ish game audition at 3B, which could make Valbuena expendable, or Barney, if Valbuena moves to 2B.....Any chance now that it looks like 2015 is the target for us being good again, we'd see what Shark could get us from Arizona or Pittsburgh? Gregg will be gone, likely Russell too.....This next week or so could be nuts.

[mul21]

So, what now? Surely one of Soriano, DeJesus, or Schierholtz is dealt, if not two of them, right? Lake looks like he may push his way into a fulltime audition for the rest of the season anyway. Does Olt come up soon for a 60ish game audition at 3B, which could make Valbuena expendable, or Barney, if Valbuena moves to 2B.....Any chance now that it looks like 2015 is the target for us being good again, we'd see what Shark could get us from Arizona or Pittsburgh? Gregg will be gone, likely Russell too.....This next week or so could be nuts.

 

Why is 2015 the target now? They've acquired near ready ML pieces, which makes it look to me like they're planning on making a couple key moves for next year to field a pretty competitive team.

[jersey cubs fan]

So, what now? Surely one of Soriano, DeJesus, or Schierholtz is dealt, if not two of them, right?

I would guess one of them gets dealt, with an outside shot at 2. Just a guess.

 

Lake looks like he may push his way into a fulltime audition for the rest of the season anyway.

 

Yeah, well, a nice start may give him some leeway. He's probably going to be moved around the diamond a bit. He has the talent but he's probably going to be somewhat easily exploited, which will lead to plenty of days off.

 

Does Olt come up soon for a 60ish game audition at 3B, which could make Valbuena expendable, or Barney, if Valbuena moves to 2B.....

 

I don't see much of a good reason to do that soon. I don't see any player bringing back value. September should be fine.

 

Any chance now that it looks like 2015 is the target for us being good again, we'd see what Shark could get us from Arizona or Pittsburgh?

 

WHAT THE WHAT?!? Is this cycle just never going to end? Please let this cycle end.

 

Gregg will be gone, likely Russell too.....This next week or so could be nuts.

 

Nuts, moderately entertaining, probably a little letdown when it all settles out.

 

2015? Seriously?

[davell]

Its not me saying 2015 now, its Theo coming out and saying the renovations setback are going to keep payroll from moving up as well. He basically aaid not to expect any big signings again this offseason.

[UMFan83]

Cubs have done a decent job of spreading their top prospects throughout the minors. Most of the elite talent is still in the lower stages, but its getting better.

 

AAA:

Lake (currently majors)

Olt

Vizcaino (when healthy)

 

AA

Baez

Alcantra

 

A+

Soler

Johnson

Edwards

 

A

Almora

Vogelbach

 

AZL

Bryant

[Guest]

Its not me saying 2015 now, its Theo coming out and saying the renovations setback are going to keep payroll from moving up as well. He basically aaid not to expect any big signings again this offseason.

 

 

Not the same thing.

 

And is Jackson not a big signing? Would Sanchez not have been? Not sure why you used the word "again."

[Warpticon]

The Cubs don't necessarily have to increase payroll to improve, since they won't be paying Marmol, Garza, Hairston, Feldman, or whoever else they end up trading (I don't know how to count Soriano for this purpose if/when he's traded). Of course, some of this will be affected by pay raises, arbitration, etc., but the point stands. They probably won't go on a huge spending spree, but there should be enough currency in budget and prospects to get a difference maker or two and make this team more competitive next year.

[bukie]

I could see Ransom being dealt, either over the next week or during the waiver process in August. Seems exactly like the buy low, cash in lottery ticket that this organization has taken advantage of the past couple years. Plus with both Vitters and Olt in AAA, one could feasibly handle the RH part of the 3B platoon for a couple months.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Ostensible insider "Assman22" on BleacherNation said this morning that the Cubs are talking to multiple teams (including the Indians and Yankees) about Valbuena, FWIW.

[mul21]

Ostensible insider "Assman22" on BleacherNation said this morning that the Cubs are talking to multiple teams (including the Indians and Yankees) about Valbuena, FWIW.

 

Isn't Cleveland where he came from? That would be an interesting turn of events. I'd much rather deal Barney (with value as a SS) than Valbuena if he really can play a solid 2B.

[davell]

That dude is on PSD and has taken Marlin's or ABTY's info to other places in the past. It may be good info honestly, but its not his.

[ctcf]

Ah, that wily Assman.

[EhDubya]

Any chance can target a catcher through some of these trades? Anyone looking expendable in any of our possible trade partners?

[Illini Iceman]

I don't see any way that another team would give enough value for Valbuena that it would be worth moving him. He seems like a useful piece off the bench going forward even if he loses his starting spot.

 

Barney is damaged goods with the way he is hitting so it would be selling low which again seems pointless right now.

[KingCubsFan]

I don't see any way that another team would give enough value for Valbuena that it would be worth moving him. He seems like a useful piece off the bench going forward even if he loses his starting spot.

 

Barney is damaged goods with the way he is hitting so it would be selling low which again seems pointless right now.

Agreed. I think Valbuena would be a great bench player. Having both him and Sweeney on the bench next year would be ideal.

[Neuby]

Interested to see what Theo and Hoyer are able to get from the next bunch to go. Still plenty of useful pieces for a contender.

 

Gregg

Soriano

Nate

Barney

Russell

Navarro

DeJesus

Ransom

[Sammy Sofa]

Helly hell, they DO have to field a team next year.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Helly hell, they DO have to field a team next year.

Does it have to be a decent one?

[Sammy Sofa]

IDEALLY.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Helly hell, they DO have to field a team next year.

Does it have to be a decent one?

 

I think it has a chance to be. I was banging the drum pretty hard in May and June that the 2014 pitching needed to be addressed at the deadline and in the offseason, and they've begun to do that.

 

They haven't added any impact pieces, but we desperately needed MLB-quality, replacement-level-or-slightly-better pitching to fill out some holes.

 

If we were filling out a pitching staff for 2014 right now, we'd have something like:

 

Samardzija/Jackson/Wood/Villanueva/Arrieta

 

Russell/Strop/Hendricks/Vizcaino/Hendricks/Cabrera (and apparently maybe Neil Ramirez?)

 

You could rearrange them or argue for a different usage pattern, but that's the basic state of the union. It's not good, but for heading into an offseason, it's not terrible.

 

I know I've seen some people theorize that we will be buying 2 or 3 $6m pitchers to put in the rotation and then flip every year between now and eternity, but my guess is that we do let Grimm/Arrieta/Vizcaino/Hendricks/Villanueva/Cabrera fight it out for the fifth spot in the rotation and only add one starting pitcher in the offseason and a couple of relievers.

 

The result would be a high-upside adequate pitching staff, a bit worse in the rotation than this year's but better in the bullpen, with the bulk of our offseason cash being able to be focused on offensive upgrades.

 

I have trouble seeing us become some sort of amazing world-beating team, but I think the path to an 84-win projection without needing to go crazy on free agents is there for the taking if we've scouted these pitchers well and get something out of most of them.

[Clem Fandango]

Also, I suppose it's notable to mention that the Cubs are acquiring a lot of useful pieces to make a splash in the offseason with a David Price type trade, are they not?