Samardzija trade rumors

[Hairyducked Idiot]

And the offense is still not very good. I think we forget how tough the transition from AAA to MLB has been, especially in the first year.

 

Rizzo went from 700 PAs of 1.050 OPS to .805.

[davell]

If we can get a .725, .750, and .800 OPS out of the 3 rookies, is that too much to ask? I think it's reasonable and if one falters, you've got Valbuena anyway.

 

SSR's point is very real though.

[Guest]

Which is why the conversation is around being in the wild card hunt and not running away with the division with the addition of multiple OPS-monsters.

 

They need to add 2 outfielders. You could get away with one(even in April), but you're putting too much pressure on those prospects that way, unless they really think that in 10 days Soler is going back to Tennessee to wreck shop and guarantee himself a roster spot, Bryant style.

[UK1679666180]

I might be in the minority here but...

 

I'm still in the boat of trading Shark by getting two top prospects and another player (similar to what MLBTR mentioned). play out next year and see what happens with FA the following season with Samardzija. Unlike most of the PTR regime... outbid all other teams to get him?

 

I would do likewise with Hammel (although not overpay).

[sneakypower]

a June '15 regular lineup of

 

CF Alcantara

3B Valbuena

1B Rizzo

SS Castro

RF Bryant

LF Lake

2B Baez

C Castillo

 

seems pretty cool

 

Alcantara should be up really soon where we can give him a few months to acclimate, Ruggiano can man the fort in right for a month or two, and it might still be worth trying to retain Bonifacio for another year or so as a versatile utility guy

 

back half is still pretty whiffy / streaky, but there's nobody you can leisurely groove a few FBs to with impunity, which'll be nice for a change

 

want to spend more money? buy the Cuban (Tomas) and install him in LF, and pursue Maeda with avarice

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If we can get a .725, .750, and .800 OPS out of the 3 rookies, is that too much to ask? I think it's reasonable and if one falters, you've got Valbuena anyway.

 

If I had to project that trio for 2015, which I fully and freely admit is really tricky and has a very wide range of outcomes, I'd take the under on hitting those marks. I trust Bryant to get the .800, I see Alcantara as a high-.600s rookie (which is still not too bad these days) and WTF knows what is going on with Baez.

[Little Slide Rooter]

a June '15 regular lineup of

 

CF Alcantara

3B Valbuena

1B Rizzo

SS Castro

RF Bryant

LF Lake

2B Baez

C Castillo

 

seems pretty cool

 

Alcantara should be up really soon where we can give him a few months to acclimate, Ruggiano can man the fort in right for a month or two, and it might still be worth trying to retain Bonifacio for another year or so as a versatile utility guy

 

back half is still pretty whiffy / streaky, but there's nobody you can leisurely groove a few FBs to with impunity, which'll be nice for a change

 

want to spend more money? buy the Cuban (Tomas) and install him in LF, and pursue Maeda with avarice

 

With Villanueva (5MM,) Veres (3.75 MM,) and our highest paid player, Yankees OF Alfonso Soriano (14MM) off the books, and a growing young core, there's no excuse not to be very active in pursuit of Scherzer or Lester. Or at least extend Samardzjia.

[rawaction]

If we can get a .725, .750, and .800 OPS out of the 3 rookies, is that too much to ask? I think it's reasonable and if one falters, you've got Valbuena anyway.

 

If I had to project that trio for 2015, which I fully and freely admit is really tricky and has a very wide range of outcomes, I'd take the under on hitting those marks. I trust Bryant to get the .800, I see Alcantara as a high-.600s rookie (which is still not too bad these days) and WTF knows what is going on with Baez.

 

Yeah, under across the board is most likely. But I expect them all to be above that maybe by year 2, definitely Bryant and Alcantara.

[sneakypower]

preseason ZiPS had Alcantara down for .712 OPS, and that was before he's had so far a career-best season in the highest level he's played at

 

anything's possible, but projections should be reasonably north of .700 for him

[Clem Fandango]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24597054/theyre-in-on-samarrdzija-hammel-but-dont-the-mariners-need-bats

 

Mariners people are said to be admirers of Samardzija, but with other needs and a hesitancy to part with top young pitchers Taijuan Walker (who just threw a shutout for Triple-A Tacoma) and James Paxton (who appears on his way back from a lat issue and is due for a bullpen session Friday), it would seem other teams might be more likely to land the Cubs' hirsute veteran righty. But word is the Mariners have been in fairly frequent contact with Chicago.

 

Zduriencik didn't specifically rule out a trade for Walker, the top prospect, but added: "He's going to be around for a number of years, and if you think he's the real deal ... we're not selling the farm. We're not doing anything foolish." Zduriencik mentioned the organization has done too much of that in the past to emphasize Walker and Paxton very likely aren't going anywhere.

 

Jon Heyman, so... take it fwiw

 

Also, Jack Z saying "We're not doing anything foolish" is rich

Edited June 25, 2014 by The Logan

[jersey cubs fan]

preseason ZiPS had Alcantara down for .712 OPS, and that was before he's had so far a career-best season in the highest level he's played at

 

anything's possible, but projections should be reasonably north of .700 for him

 

Is having your highest OPS in AAA really that much of a game changer?

[sneakypower]

his most recent performance is his best, so it stands to reason his projection would be noticeably improved

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24597054/theyre-in-on-samarrdzija-hammel-but-dont-the-mariners-need-bats

 

to land the Cubs' hirsute veteran righty.

 

WTF? He has long hair on his head but isn't that word meant to described hairy chest/back types? Why try to get so cute there?

[mul21]

preseason ZiPS had Alcantara down for .712 OPS, and that was before he's had so far a career-best season in the highest level he's played at

 

anything's possible, but projections should be reasonably north of .700 for him

 

Is having your highest OPS in AAA really that much of a game changer?

 

I would think so, especially when you combine it with the fact that Javy is struggling at the same level facing the same pitchers after destroying A and AA last year.

[davell]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/06/jeff-samardzija-wants-stay-cubs.php#.U6yKVDy9LCQ

 

Interview with Shark.

[jersey cubs fan]

preseason ZiPS had Alcantara down for .712 OPS, and that was before he's had so far a career-best season in the highest level he's played at

 

anything's possible, but projections should be reasonably north of .700 for him

 

Is having your highest OPS in AAA really that much of a game changer?

 

I would think so, especially when you combine it with the fact that Javy is struggling at the same level facing the same pitchers after destroying A and AA last year.

 

I don't really think Javy's situation applies. He's struggling due to his own personal flaws that everybody knew long ago. He's a huge swing and miss guy. But guys produce in AAA. Josh Vitters had a boost in his numbers the first time he went to AAA after a high 700s OPS in AA. It's not an across the board thing, but the league average OPS in the PCL this year is 767, while the league average OPS in AA last year was 683. Having your career best numbers in the PCL doesn't strike me as all that meaningful.

[mul21]

preseason ZiPS had Alcantara down for .712 OPS, and that was before he's had so far a career-best season in the highest level he's played at

 

anything's possible, but projections should be reasonably north of .700 for him

 

Is having your highest OPS in AAA really that much of a game changer?

 

I would think so, especially when you combine it with the fact that Javy is struggling at the same level facing the same pitchers after destroying A and AA last year.

 

I don't really think Javy's situation applies. He's struggling due to his own personal flaws that everybody knew long ago. He's a huge swing and miss guy. But guys produce in AAA. Josh Vitters had a boost in his numbers the first time he went to AAA after a high 700s OPS in AA. It's not an across the board thing, but the league average OPS in the PCL this year is 767, while the league average OPS in AA last year was 683. Having your career best numbers in the PCL doesn't strike me as all that meaningful.

 

Right, but it's comparable to Javy in that they both started out pretty terribly and Alcantara has improved each month, indicating he's figuring things out, especially when you look at the K/BB numbers.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@ESPNChiCubs: June a different story for Samardzija http://t.co/uLyEbu4Jbz

 

When did Jesse Rogers turn into Rosenthal Light?

[Neuby]

◆ Cubs fans never warmed to Matt Garza, who did little to dispel the notion that he was both fragile and a goof, so there wasn’t much outrage when he was swapped to Texas last year for Justin Grimm and prospects. Jeff Samardzija, by contrast, is beloved here, but the Cubs will be fortunate to get as much for him. Garza, like Samardzija, was 29 when he was dealt, and a more accomplished big-league pitcher with 63 wins, 1,098 innings and five postseason starts. Samardzija has 31 big-league wins and one postseason inning.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/28384051-761/hey-theo-epstein-cubs-fans-are-still-waiting.html

 

:shock: :shock:

Edited June 30, 2014 by Neuby

[mul21]

Well, geez, I guess he should hit more homers and will the Cubs to the playoffs so he can rack up meaningless cliches on his resume like Garza. Moron.

[SouthSideRyan]

Samardzija has also logged 0 innings in the AL East

[Guest]

By Rick Telander

 

/closes tab

[Banedon]

◆ Cubs fans never warmed to Matt Garza, who did little to dispel the notion that he was both fragile and a goof, so there wasn’t much outrage when he was swapped to Texas last year for Justin Grimm and prospects. Jeff Samardzija, by contrast, is beloved here, but the Cubs will be fortunate to get as much for him. Garza, like Samardzija, was 29 when he was dealt, and a more accomplished big-league pitcher with 63 wins, 1,098 innings and five postseason starts. Samardzija has 31 big-league wins and one postseason inning.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/28384051-761/hey-theo-epstein-cubs-fans-are-still-waiting.html

 

:shock: :shock:

 

Me: "Oh geez, that Wittenmeyer is terrib....oh, it's Telander. That fits too."

[Guest]

Telander is actually probably the worst and considerably worse than anybody else locally. Very out of touch and very dumb. Almost everything he writes at this point reads like a parody article.

[jersey cubs fan]

Telander is actually probably the worst and considerably worse than anybody else locally. Very out of touch and very dumb. Almost everything he writes at this point reads like a parody article.

 

He's Rick Reilly without the awards. I feel like he was out of touch 25 years ago.