September Call Ups/Transactions

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Pretty happy to see Rosscup get his chance.

 

Yay, and no more Dave Sappelt.

[jersey cubs fan]

Sappelt DFA'd.

 

OK, maybe he's not just as good as Soriano.

 

Will the universe ever stop taking from you kyle?

[Guest]

Per Twitter, Michael Bowden DFAed. Chang-Yong Lim called up (and presumably added to the 40-man).

[Guest]

@BruceMiles2112: Lim on what he knows about #Cubs: ”Obviously The curse and 100 years”

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

lol

[Thed Hoyerstein]

@CSNMooney 8m

Cubs claim Daniel Bard off waivers from Red Sox and DFA Cole Gillespie.

 

 

Very intriguing, and probably a pretty smart gamble.

[Clem Fandango]

@CSNMooney 8m

Cubs claim Daniel Bard off waivers from Red Sox and DFA Cole Gillespie.

 

http://i.imgur.com/pZaUjNK.gif

[davell]

Damn, love both moves. Side armed righty that throws 95? If he can stay healthy, Lim is a definite contributor next year. Bard? Change of scenery is needed obviously. It's possible we won't even need to add more bullpen help in the offseason. This has been one damn good makeover. Could be a big strength heading into next year.

[Cubswin11]

I'm assuming Bard is strictly a reliever moving forward and the SP experiment is over? Not that, that's a bad thing. Definitely worth the "flier"

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Damn, love both moves. Side armed righty that throws 95? If he can stay healthy, Lim is a definite contributor next year. Bard? Change of scenery is needed obviously. It's possible we won't even need to add more bullpen help in the offseason. This has been one damn good makeover. Could be a big strength heading into next year.

 

I hate to say it, but we barely need to add anything this offseason. We have a ton of pieces that need playing time to maximize their value.

[davell]

Damn, love both moves. Side armed righty that throws 95? If he can stay healthy, Lim is a definite contributor next year. Bard? Change of scenery is needed obviously. It's possible we won't even need to add more bullpen help in the offseason. This has been one damn good makeover. Could be a big strength heading into next year.

 

I hate to say it, but we barely need to add anything this offseason. We have a ton of pieces that need playing time to maximize their value.

You talking pen or overall?

[SouthSideRyan]

Damn, love both moves. Side armed righty that throws 95? If he can stay healthy, Lim is a definite contributor next year. Bard? Change of scenery is needed obviously. It's possible we won't even need to add more bullpen help in the offseason. This has been one damn good makeover. Could be a big strength heading into next year.

 

I hate to say it, but we barely need to add anything this offseason. We have a ton of pieces that need playing time to maximize their value.

 

We barely need to add anything if we're content to be a 70 win team next season.

[SouthSideRyan]

And yeah, it's just Gillespie, so the move is worth it, but if we're working on Ebeneezer Rickett's budget is it really worth it to drop 1.5M on Bard next year even if he stops having a K/BB below 1? I'd have to think he's non-tendered (with an attempt to re-sign more cheaply) next year unless he does a complete 180. the next 25 games. (And even then you're dealing with a sample size of what, 12 innings?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We barely need to add anything if we're content to be a 70 win team next season.

 

We'll be better than that if a lot of these interesting, talented players take steps forward or bounce back from disappointing years.

 

If they don't, well, we'll just call it part of the plan.

[Guest]

Damn, love both moves. Side armed righty that throws 95? If he can stay healthy, Lim is a definite contributor next year. Bard? Change of scenery is needed obviously. It's possible we won't even need to add more bullpen help in the offseason. This has been one damn good makeover. Could be a big strength heading into next year.

 

I hate to say it, but we barely need to add anything this offseason. We have a ton of pieces that need playing time to maximize their value.

 

We barely need to add anything if we're content to be a 70 win team next season.

Position Players:

 

C: Castillo / ???

1B: Rizzo

2B: Barney/Valbuena/Alcantara(later)/Baez(later)

3B: Valbuena/Olt/Baez(later)/Villanueva(later)

SS: Castro/Alcantara(later)/Baez(later)

OF: Schierholtz/Lake/Sweeney/Bogusevic

 

We'll need a backup C. It would be great if Navarro would come back, but he'll probably get a starting gig somewhere after this season.

 

I'm for letting 2B & 3B play out internally. Unless I'm forgetting someone, I don't think any FA other than Cano would really be an upgrade.

 

The OF is where it would be really natural to look for an upgrade from the outside. Unless that happens, this could be the weakest group in MLB.

 

 

Starting Pitching:

 

Samardzija

Wood

Jackson

 

Villanueva

 

Arrieta

Grimm

Rusin

Hendricks

Ramirez

 

This group needs a lot more strength at the top of the rotation. Nobody in that list below Jackson is likely to provide it unless Ramirez gets fixed in a hurry. Lots of options at the bottom, though.

 

Relief Pitching:

 

Villanueva

Russell

Rosscup

Lim

Strop

Parker

Bard

Rivero

Rondon

Cabrera

Fujikawa (later)

 

If there's a Grilli type option available this offseason, it would be a great investment. However, I'm content to roll the dice with this group.

 

 

All told, if the money is there (and the contracts not TOO outrageous) I'd love to see the Cubs add Ellsbury or Choo, a top half of the rotation starter and a high quality reliever. Adding those three pieces should put the Cubs in the mix in the NL if we get expected growth/bounce backs from Rizzo & Castro. Especially with a possible second half arrival from Baez.

 

But I really don't see the need at this point to add anything beyond that unless they want to go nuts and add two top end SP's.

[mul21]

LF Choo/Ellsbury

SS Castro

1B Rizzo

3B Baez

RF Schierholtz/Lake

C Castillo

CF Sweeney/Bogusevic/Lake

2B Valbuena

 

That's not bad at all if you get decent bounce backs from Castro and Rizzo.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

There's barely any top starting pitchers available this offseason.

 

Sure, we'd *like* a lot of things. But given the lack of strength of the FA class, all we really need is an outfielder and a starting pitcher.

[Guest]

There's barely any top starting pitchers available this offseason.

 

Sure, we'd *like* a lot of things. But given the lack of strength of the FA class, all we really need is an outfielder and a starting pitcher.

I'm assuming we'd have to trade for the pitcher(s) unless we can get Tanaka.

 

I wonder what the Cards are going to do with Beltran this offseason. I don't hear his name mentioned much with the FA class this offseason, but he could be a more reasonably priced option. I just wouldn't want to sign him if the Cards give him a QO.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He seems like a guy who would want to go to a contender.

 

That's going to be part of our problem again. The high-end, high-price, low-year-commitment guys we really want will want to go to better teams.

[Guest]

And yeah, it's just Gillespie, so the move is worth it, but if we're working on Ebeneezer Rickett's budget is it really worth it to drop 1.5M on Bard next year even if he stops having a K/BB below 1? I'd have to think he's non-tendered (with an attempt to re-sign more cheaply) next year unless he does a complete 180. the next 25 games. (And even then you're dealing with a sample size of what, 12 innings?

 

I have to think there's little chance he's not non-tendered, and claiming him here plus their past relationship is enough to entice him to stay if he shows well.

[mul21]

There's barely any top starting pitchers available this offseason.

 

Sure, we'd *like* a lot of things. But given the lack of strength of the FA class, all we really need is an outfielder and a starting pitcher.

I'm assuming we'd have to trade for the pitcher(s) unless we can get Tanaka.

 

I wonder what the Cards are going to do with Beltran this offseason. I don't hear his name mentioned much with the FA class this offseason, but he could be a more reasonably priced option. I just wouldn't want to sign him if the Cards give him a QO.

 

I'd be shocked if they did. They've already got a logjam of guys at the corner OF and 1B without him in the picture. Between Adams, Craig, and Tavares, they've got 3 guys to play 2 positions.

[Guest]

As for next year, I agree that OF and SP will be the two big points of interest.

 

Between Strop, Parker, Russell, Lim, Rosscup, Rusin, Vizcaino, Arrieta/Villanueva, Cabrera, and Bard, that's a 10 deep of options ranging from good to intriguing, and it doesn't touch guys like Fujikawa and Ramirez who might force their way into consideration next year. They may consider adding a bullpen arm for stability's sake(Hochevar is my favorite target at the moment), but it's hard to see a match given the other moving pieces.

 

Similarly, since Castillo, Rizzo, and Castro aren't going anywhere, I think they'll be okay with casting their lot with the best of Valbuena, Barney, Olt, and Baez next year for 2B/3B, which means no changes on the infield.

 

SP(Shark/Wood/Jackson/Villanueva/Arrieta) and the OF(Lake/Sweeney/Schierholtz) have the "luxury" of having at least passable options throughout, but it's the most obvious place to find an upgrade. Ideally, they'd make large strides in both by spending big dollars for one and players for another. So something like Tanaka and Stanton, Ellsbury and Sale, etc, pick your favorite FA and trade target to match. It's a high bar, but if they could pull that off they'd be in a pretty good spot as long as the young position players develop as expected.

[Cubswin11]

What kind of contract do you think Headley will get? He's had injuries now in 2 of the last 3 years that has seen him miss a good chunk of games.

[Guest]

What kind of contract do you think Headley will get? He's had injuries now in 2 of the last 3 years that has seen him miss a good chunk of games.

I think the Cubs would be nuts to sign a third baseman. Between Bryant, Baez, Villanueva, Olt, Valbuena and even Vitters, the Cubs are deeper at 3B than any team in baseball.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@CSNMooney 8m

Cubs claim Daniel Bard off waivers from Red Sox and DFA Cole Gillespie.

 

http://i.imgur.com/pZaUjNK.gif

 

Huge reward that we likely won't receive, but minimal if any risk.