September Call Ups/Transactions

[KingCubsFan]

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.

Chris Sale? Why would the White Sox trade him?

[Guest]

Because the Sox are in trouble and need lots of help, pitchers are transient commodities, and pitching is their position of strength. There were also small rumblings of him being available at the deadline. It's not terribly likely, but it's just an example. Replace him with your trade target pitcher of choice, maybe even his teammate Quintana or Santiago if that's your preference.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Sale's body/delivery would scare the crap out of me.

[Guest]

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.

The special agent Oso plan.

[jersey cubs fan]

Three special steps, that's all you need, three special steps and you'll succeed. Your special assignment is starting now and three special steps will show you how.

 

Step One:

 

Acquire some players!

 

Step Two:

 

Find some more players!

 

Step Three:

 

Get a few more players!

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That show is awful. We need some pirate baseball up in here. Every matey loves pirate baseball.

[Warpticon]

People talking about bullpen options, you don't think Rivero could work his way into that mix?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

People talking about bullpen options, you don't think Rivero could work his way into that mix?

 

I do. And I think he has a chance to be amazing.

[Guest]

Sorry, whiffed on him when I did my list. To be fair, I was on a conference call at the same time!

[Guest]

People talking about bullpen options, you don't think Rivero could work his way into that mix?

 

Definitely. He's already at AA and headed to the AFL.

[d_money]

I didn't see Baker mentioned as an option for pitching in the above posts...is he being written off?

[Clem Fandango]

Considering he's not signed for next year there's no guarantee he'll be back

[Guest]

And he can't strike out A ball hitters.

[davell]

I didn't see Baker mentioned as an option for pitching in the above posts...is he being written off?

Mooney had an article yesterday on him that sounded like he didn't know what was going on. Even though Sceum has already said we're sticking with our current starters. Can't say I blame our FO. With Baker having subpar velocity to date, Rusin and Arrieta both pitching well and being controllable.....Don't see why we'd give Baker a month long audition for other teams. I don't mind bringing him back, but considering how this year went, he shouldn't get more than a mill or so, with incentives. Let him fight it out with our other guys for the 5th spot and add a solid guy who's much better than Baker somehow.

[d_money]

I thought it was a 2 year deal but now realizing what a bad deal it was for the Cubs - $5.5m

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

And he can't strike out A ball hitters.

 

Some guys take a lot longer to recover from TJ.

[Guest]

Some guys take a lot longer to recover from TJ.

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v3lj4AFS1qk0mslo1_400.gif

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Some guys take a lot longer to recover from TJ.

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3v3lj4AFS1qk0mslo1_400.gif

 

I admit, that was good.

[Cubswin11]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

[Post Count Padder]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

At that point, I would rather let Arrieta/Hendricks/Grimm/Rusin/Cabrera/Villanueva battle it out. How many more offseasons are were going to go after a patchwork rotation?

[Cubswin11]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

At that point, I would rather let Arrieta/Hendricks/Grimm/Rusin/Cabrera/Villanueva battle it out. How many more offseasons are were going to go after a patchwork rotation?

Letting those guys battle it out isn't going with a patchwork rotation?

[Post Count Padder]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

At that point, I would rather let Arrieta/Hendricks/Grimm/Rusin/Cabrera/Villanueva battle it out. How many more offseasons are were going to go after a patchwork rotation?

Letting those guys battle it out isn't going with a patchwork rotation?

They all at least have a future in the organization and could probably perform similarly for a fraction of the cost. If Hughes were to sign cheaply, then I wouldn't be opposed. But I'd imagine we won't be the only team looking at him.

[jersey cubs fan]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

At that point, I would rather let Arrieta/Hendricks/Grimm/Rusin/Cabrera/Villanueva battle it out. How many more offseasons are were going to go after a patchwork rotation?

Letting those guys battle it out isn't going with a patchwork rotation?

They all at least have a future in the organization and could probably perform similarly for a fraction of the cost. If Hughes were to sign cheaply, then I wouldn't be opposed. But I'd imagine we won't be the only team looking at him.

 

To answer the original question, there will always be space for patchwork additions to the rotation. You need 5 guys just to field a team, 7 for much of the season and 8 or 9 in total over the course of a season, barring the rare 5 man 200 inning group. But those don't last even when they do happen.

 

Also, I'm not sure why "all those guys at least have a future in the organization" but a signed Hughes would not. Villanueva is 2 years older. Arrieta is the same age. Any of those guys could be out of baseball in 2 years.

[KingCubsFan]

Phil Hughes was just replaced in the Yankees rotation by David Huff. He probably won't be getting more than a 1 year contract in the offseason, both because of this year and also to re-establish value. I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal.

At that point, I would rather let Arrieta/Hendricks/Grimm/Rusin/Cabrera/Villanueva battle it out. How many more offseasons are were going to go after a patchwork rotation?

Letting those guys battle it out isn't going with a patchwork rotation?

They all at least have a future in the organization and could probably perform similarly for a fraction of the cost. If Hughes were to sign cheaply, then I wouldn't be opposed. But I'd imagine we won't be the only team looking at him.

 

To answer the original question, there will always be space for patchwork additions to the rotation. You need 5 guys just to field a team, 7 for much of the season and 8 or 9 in total over the course of a season, barring the rare 5 man 200 inning group. But those don't last even when they do happen.

 

Also, I'm not sure why "all those guys at least have a future in the organization" but a signed Hughes would not. Villanueva is 2 years older. Arrieta is the same age. Any of those guys could be out of baseball in 2 years.

Because Hughes would only be signed for one year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Because Hughes would only be signed for one year.

 

A) That doesn't negate an opportunity for having a future with the team.

B) That doesn't mean any of those others guys would have a future with the team.

 

And as an aside, you aren't going to field a team with 25 guys who have a future with that team. Nor should you necessarily try to do that.