2016 roster

[seattlecub]

I know it's way too early to look ahead this far, but I'm curious to see what other people think on this. Assuming every player in the Cubs organization hit their reasonable high-level projections, what would you want the team to look like to start 2016? Who would you have start where, and who would you trade and for what? I ask because I find myself vacillating between numerous possibilities regarding the construction of the team — keep Castro? trade Olt and put Bryant at 3b? does alcantara get moved? What do y'all think?

[Clem Fandango]

C Castillo

1B Rizzo

2B Alcantara

SS Baez

3B Olt

LF Bryant

CF Almora

RF Soler

 

I think Castro gets dealt for pitching, and I think the difference in value between Castro/Alcantara will be negligible so his loss will not be missed while Baez is putting up bigger numbers.

 

I'm not even going to predict pitching other than saying that CJ Edwards will be part of the rotation. It's such a crapshoot with the FO desire to acquire better pitching and no guarantee they'll lock down Samardzija that at the moment there's no reasonable assumption to be made that far in advance, IMO. But the only person I expect to be in the rotation at that point is Edwards. I'd add Wood to that equation, but who knows who the Cubs will acquire by then. He might be expendable at that point. The future rotation is cloudy.

 

EDIT: If I am to predict a big trade for a position player, I genuinely think the Cubs would make a move for Stanton and as a result the lineup would look something more like

 

C Castillo

1B Rizzo

2B Baez

SS Castro

3B Villanueva

LF Bryant

CF Almora

RF Stanton

 

I know others discussed Almora as a likely candidate in a move for someone like Stanton, but I just don't see the FO being that interested in moving him given all the love they've given him. He seems like their pride and joy.

[A New Era]

Way too early to tell. We have a lot of talent that could be great. We have a huge pool of guys to either stick with at certain positions or trade for some quality talent to fill our holes.

 

Rizzo, Castro, Shark, Wood, Arrieta, Vizciano, Baez, Bryant, Alcantara, Almora, Olt, Villanueva, Soler, Vogelbach, CJ Edwards, Johnson and more that could be guys up in 2016 or used in packages to bring in some elite talent where we need it (guessing high end pitching).

[treebird]

this is fun i guess, but if the cardinals play this same game and assume everyone hits their high-level projections, they win like 125 games in 2016

[Derwood]

If the Cubs enter the 2016 season without a single FA addition I'll injection heroin into Treymon's forehead

[jersey cubs fan]

Assuming every player in the Cubs organization hit their reasonable high-level projections,

 

The assumption itself is not reasonable.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't know if this thread or the whole "Peanut Tillman was better than Urlacher" tangent is the kookiest thing posted here today.

[Guest]

I don't know if this thread or the whole "Peanut Tillman was better than Urlacher" tangent is the kookiest thing posted here today.

Tie

[Post Count Padder]

C Jake Fox

1B Brian Dopirak

2B Bobby Hill

SS Lou Montanez

3B David Kelton

OF Corey Patterson

OF Felix Pie

OF Nic Jackson

 

 

Yeah, I don't think they all hit their ceilings. The original lineup posted is the dream but I bet the actual lineup looks nothing like that. One of the "core four" is going to be traded or make like one of the above guys I listed.

[illiniguy]

C Jake Fox

1B Brian Dopirak

2B Bobby Hill

SS Lou Montanez

3B David Kelton

OF Corey Patterson

OF Felix Pie

OF Nic Jackson

 

 

Yeah, I don't think they all hit their ceilings. The original lineup posted is the dream but I bet the actual lineup looks nothing like that. One of the "core four" is going to be traded or make like one of the above guys I listed.

Corey Patterson is the only one in that group hyped as much as the core four. I don't think any of the other guys made the top 30 like these guys have.

[WrigleyField 22]

C Jake Fox

1B Brian Dopirak

2B Bobby Hill

SS Lou Montanez

3B David Kelton

OF Corey Patterson

OF Felix Pie

OF Nic Jackson

 

 

Yeah, I don't think they all hit their ceilings. The original lineup posted is the dream but I bet the actual lineup looks nothing like that. One of the "core four" is going to be traded or make like one of the above guys I listed.

Corey Patterson is the only one in that group hyped as much as the core four. I don't think any of the other guys made the top 30 like these guys have.

No but the point kind of remains. Sure, we're not gonna go 0-fer with this group but we'll need some FA help and even a slight delay on a couple guys can push back their timetable

[Sammy Sofa]

C Jake Fox

1B Brian Dopirak

2B Bobby Hill

SS Lou Montanez

3B David Kelton

OF Corey Patterson

OF Felix Pie

OF Nic Jackson

 

 

Yeah, I don't think they all hit their ceilings. The original lineup posted is the dream but I bet the actual lineup looks nothing like that. One of the "core four" is going to be traded or make like one of the above guys I listed.

Corey Patterson is the only one in that group hyped as much as the core four. I don't think any of the other guys made the top 30 like these guys have.

 

Sadly, it wouldn't be unusual if any number of the Core Four didn't pan out.

[Guest]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

 

Our prior history with prospects and this FO's history couldn't be any more night and day different.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

 

Our prior history with prospects and this FO's history couldn't be any more night and day different.

 

I'd be incredibly disappointed, but given the nature of the game it wouldn't shock me; I don't think it's too likely that all four simply go bust, but a combination of busts (or hell, simply being "OK") and injuries would level that playing field pretty damn fast and not really be all that unusual.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Patterson was more hyped than any of the four except maybe tied with Baez.

 

Pie was probably even with Soler/Almora.

[davell]

If you could choose between 2 boxes, one guaranteeing that each of the 4 becomes a .750 OPS guy(but not more than that either)beginning in 2016 and the other box having them develop as they are currently....Which box do you take?

[treebird]

the 750 ops box, then trade bryant and soler for someone who can rake while enjoying almora and baez's solid if unspectacular production at premium positions

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

That's crazy.

 

 

Soler already looks like much less than a lock.

[hawkeyecub]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

That's crazy.

 

 

Soler already looks like much less than a lock.

 

I read it that way too but I think he meant he'd be beyond shocked if all 4 were busts.

[XZero771679666304]

At this point it would be easy to see Soler never really developing, Almora getting bogged down with injuries, Baez becoming good MLB regular who never fulfills his potential due to his aggressiveness and Bryant as a 30 HR guy with strikeout issues as a realistic scenario. Certainly more likely than all four coming near their ceilings.

 

I'm a little more optimistic than that, but no so much as to expect all four to become first division players.

[SABR Gamer]

If you could choose between 2 boxes, one guaranteeing that each of the 4 becomes a .750 OPS guy(but not more than that either)beginning in 2016 and the other box having them develop as they are currently....Which box do you take?

 

Current development. I'd much rather take the chance of a high reward.

[Guest]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

That's crazy.

 

 

Soler already looks like much less than a lock.

 

I read it that way too but I think he meant he'd be beyond shocked if all 4 were busts.

 

Yup.

[XZero771679666304]

I'd be beyond shocked if all 4 didn't pan out.

That's crazy.

 

 

Soler already looks like much less than a lock.

 

I read it that way too but I think he meant he'd be beyond shocked if all 4 were busts.

 

Yup.

 

That's more than reasonable, I think it's unlikely in the absolute extreme that all four bust.

[Clem Fandango]

Everyone seems mostly concerned with Almora and Soler's ability to stay on the field. So let's see here. Almora broke his hamate bone (unlucky, but not uncommon). Came back and had a hamstring issue (common among highly athletic players). Then was sidelined with hemorrhoid issues (WTF), and then got shut down late in the season with a groin injury (not muscle related, bruised groin bone [insert joke here]). They weren't recurring nagging injuries, they were mostly unfortunate.

 

Soler played through a stress fracture on his tibia that he didn't even know he had for a couple of months that put him out of commission for a few months afterwards. And it was his first time playing baseball in what, 2 years? And he still put up a .800+ OPS with a stress fracture?

 

They've both been healthy since the 2013 season ended as evidenced by the AFL and ST. These injuries in their first full pro year aren't enough for me to start worrying that they'll be the next J.D. Drew.

 

I'm not concerned about either of them. Not yet, anyways.

[XZero771679666304]

Everyone seems mostly concerned with Almora and Soler's ability to stay on the field. So let's see here. Almora broke his hamate bone (unlucky, but not uncommon). Came back and had a hamstring issue (common among highly athletic players). Then was sidelined with hemorrhoid issues (WTF), and then got shut down late in the season with a groin injury (not muscle related, bruised groin bone [insert joke here]). They weren't recurring nagging injuries, they were mostly unfortunate.

 

Soler played through a stress fracture on his tibia that he didn't even know he had for a couple of months that put him out of commission for a few months afterwards. And it was his first time playing baseball in what, 2 years? And he still put up a .800+ OPS with a stress fracture?

 

They've both been healthy since the 2013 season ended as evidenced by the AFL and ST. These injuries in their first full pro year aren't enough for me to start worrying that they'll be the next J.D. Drew.

 

I'm not concerned about either of them. Not yet, anyways.

 

I'm not concerned with Soler's ability to stay on the field, I'm just not as sold on his ability to perform as the other three. He's got all the tools, but that's a guarantee of nothing. I have high hopes for him, but if I had to point at one of these guys as the biggest bust risk, it's him.

 

That's not to say I'm down on him, though, I just like the chances of the other three better. But I think Soler could be a monster.