Olney: Cubs absolute favorite to land Stanton if he's dealt

[RynoRules]

Some of what is written above is what went through my head when I was thinking whether I'd give up Baez, Soler, plus two single-A pieces. Ultimately I probably would not, but I would definitely think long and hard about it.

 

None of us here know for certain what Baez and Soler will be. Baez's K-rate will undoubtedly go down as he matures and sees more ML AB's, but does the fact that he's a MIF'er bridge the sizable gap between his and Stanton's production? Will Soler approach Stanton's production? Very doubtful as Stanton appears to be a Top 5 in his generation talent, but I honestly don't know.

 

Like I said, I probably would say "no" and offer one of the two of them (Soler and Baez) plus Almora and several other pieces. I doubt that would get it done, but that doesn't necessarily mean we should up the value.

[Guest]

Soler is totally off limits. He could very well be what Stanton is now only much much cheaper. If you're able to put Stanton and Soler in your OF that is called Doom and Death by a thousand Shining Dongs. Baez and pieces.

[Guest]

if we just look at the javy/jorge duo, wouldn't we all consider it a big success if one completely flames out and the other becomes as good as stanton? i'd take that immediately. obviously it's not that simple since the financial difference between the 2 packages greatly affects the value, but i'd still risk losing the 2 potentially cheap stars to lock in an mvp type player for the better part of the next decade.

 

That's not how trade value works.

 

I don't want to say I'd never ever ever trade both for Stanton, but it would require some very unlikely circumstances(Stanton agreeing to team friendly extension pre-trade, for example). There are zero teams that have both a Soler and a Baez to use in a trade for Stanton, and they certainly aren't the only assets of worth the Cubs have either.

[Guest]

if we just look at the javy/jorge duo, wouldn't we all consider it a big success if one completely flames out and the other becomes as good as stanton? i'd take that immediately. obviously it's not that simple since the financial difference between the 2 packages greatly affects the value, but i'd still risk losing the 2 potentially cheap stars to lock in an mvp type player for the better part of the next decade.

 

That's not how trade value works.

 

I don't want to say I'd never ever ever trade both for Stanton, but it would require some very unlikely circumstances(Stanton agreeing to team friendly extension pre-trade, for example). There are zero teams that have both a Soler and a Baez to use in a trade for Stanton, and they certainly aren't the only assets of worth the Cubs have either.

Yeah, if I'm trading EITHER for Stanton, I want an extension in place, though I wouldn't say it has to be team friendly, I think any extension for a 27 year old Stanton would be team friendly.

[sneakypower]

this might be an overpay when you consider how big stanton's contract is going to be, but i would honestly give them baez and soler if that's what it took. i love our top 4 as much as anybody else, but there's still the (small) chance that none of the 4 live up to expectations. the injuries with stanton do give me pause (especially since he wouldn't be able to move to 1B without needing to trade rizzo), but his bat is a sure thing. we'd lock in a monster bat for his prime, and we'd still have our top 2 guys.

the list of players i'd trade Soler for is about 1 name long

[Guest]

I'm curious how people who deem Soler untouchable(reasonable, IMO) reconcile that with Stanton playing the same position and Bryant potentially needing to as well. Do you just say Bryant stays at 3rd and that's that?

[Backtobanks]

I'm curious how people who deem Soler untouchable(reasonable, IMO) reconcile that with Stanton playing the same position and Bryant potentially needing to as well. Do you just say Bryant stays at 3rd and that's that?

 

If Bryant is as good as advertised, I think we can deal with him at 3rd. He has played 3rd all along, so I can't believe he's an absolute butcher at 3rd or someone would have moved (1B or LF) him a long time ago.

[davell]

Our defense is better with all 3 of Javy, Starlin, and Russell in it. And the offense that those 3 and Rizzo provide will make it one of the top producing infields offensively in the game as well. That puts KB and Soler on the corners, which very well may be as good as anyone can throw out there.

 

It leaves CF obviously, where offense would be nice to see, but certainly not a necessity for us, considering the rest. Alcantara has looked great out there, Almora is considered elite defensively at this point too. As dumb as it is to look for a top of the order type hitter, I think it's kind of the one spot on the field that kind of needs to produce it for us. A high OBP type that fits at the top of our order. Can it be one of those two guys? I feel fairly confident Alcantara can put up a .330+ OBP in time, Almora needs plenty of work to get there. But this is the only spot we need help at with the first 7 spots as far as I'm concerned. And it's not THAT big of an issue. But in an optimum lineup, Alcantara becomes our Zobrist type, I guess.

 

Catcher? I just want a defensive guy back there, unless Schwarber sticks. Otherwise, this guy is going to hit 8th and offense isn't required.

 

But for me, I think we're going to have the best lineup in the game by 2016 without trading for Stanton and our defense will be very solid as well because of the multiple SS we've got playing elsewhere.

 

It saves money for our actual need-pitching, and it doesn't take any chips away either that we may need to trade to acquire it. Stanton is a luxury, not a necessity. I'm perfectly fine putting our group of kids out there, with a possibly addition in CF and/or C for the longterm and expect to contend with them.

 

But I want each of Starlin, Rizzo, KB, Soler, Javy, and Russell here for the next decade and I expect us to win with that group.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I'm curious how people who deem Soler untouchable(reasonable, IMO) reconcile that with Stanton playing the same position and Bryant potentially needing to as well. Do you just say Bryant stays at 3rd and that's that?

 

Didn't Bryant play some CF in college? This is the "pray Stanton makes it to free agency or we trade for him somehow with other assets/unrealistic video game lineup":

 

SS Russell

3B Castro

1B Rizzo

LF Stanton

CF Bryant

RF Soler

2B Baez

C Schwarber

 

:wink:

[RynoRules]

Soler is totally off limits. He could very well be what Stanton is now only much much cheaper. If you're able to put Stanton and Soler in your OF that is called Doom and Death by a thousand Shining Dongs. Baez and pieces.

 

I love Jorge, but I don't think we can possibly know at this juncture whether he will be Stanton. Its certainly possible, but do how can you be sure?

 

BTW, I agree Javy before Jorge. If they will take Baez, Almora, Vogelbach and two more lower-level pieces, you do it.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

As dumb as it is to look for a top of the order type hitter, I think it's kind of the one spot on the field that kind of needs to produce it for us. A high OBP type that fits at the top of our order. Can it be one of those two guys? I feel fairly confident Alcantara can put up a .330+ OBP in time, Almora needs plenty of work to get there. But this is the only spot we need help at with the first 7 spots as far as I'm concerned. And it's not THAT big of an issue. But in an optimum lineup, Alcantara becomes our Zobrist type, I guess.

 

 

I think between Russell, Castro and Soler we will have guys who will get on base in the 1 and 2 spots. If Alcantara grows in to it it would be all the better with his speed and switch hitting, but I'm not as confident with him getting more ABs than I would be with the 3 guys listed above

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I love Stanton and would like to get him.

 

I could be ok with a package that includes one of Russell, Soler, or Baez. There's no way I'm including two of that group in a package. The Marlins won't be able to get 2 players of that quality from anyone else simply because I can't think of too many systems that have 2 players of that caliber to offer. I'd play chicken with them if that's what they are asking. If they are motivated to trade, they will take the best offer and an offer of one of those plus some combination of Almora, Torrez, Jiminez, Vogleback, and McKinney (Not all of that, just 2 of those names) will be better than anyone else can offer.

[Tryptamine]

If a deal can get done involving only 1 of the Soler/Baez/Bryant/Russell I'm game. Although, Baez would be the only headliner where I'd even consider using Alcantara as a secondary piece. The rest would have to come with a lesser 2nd piece.

[rawaction]

If a deal can get done involving only 1 of the Soler/Baez/Bryant/Russell I'm game. Although, Baez would be the only headliner where I'd even consider using Alcantara as a secondary piece. The rest would have to come with a lesser 2nd piece.

 

Bryant is potentially too good to trade. I don't see any scenario the Cubs trade him. Baez seems most likely based on him not being handpicked by this front office. Russell doesn't have as much time invested in him by this FO. Soler may be the most attractive to Miami for nationality reasons. Definitely have to include one of those 3. I'd imagine having a big time star at SS would be most ideal.

[Tryptamine]

If a deal can get done involving only 1 of the Soler/Baez/Bryant/Russell I'm game. Although, Baez would be the only headliner where I'd even consider using Alcantara as a secondary piece. The rest would have to come with a lesser 2nd piece.

 

Bryant is potentially too good to trade. I don't see any scenario the Cubs trade him. Baez seems most likely based on him not being handpicked by this front office. Russell doesn't have as much time invested in him by this FO. Soler may be the most attractive to Miami for nationality reasons. Definitely have to include one of those 3. I'd imagine having a big time star at SS would be most ideal.

 

It's really just preference for me. I personally like Russell and Soler slightly more than Bryant. It's not that I dislike Bryant, but now and then I question how well things are going to translate once he gets promoted and to be honest I'm pretty nervous.

[RynoRules]

In terms of potential headline prospects to trade for Stanton, here's how I'd rank them (from least to most untouchable):

 

1) Baez

2) Schwarber (hasn't been mentioned as a headliner, but he deserves to be, IMO. Guy is simply killing it.)

3) Russell

4) Soler

5) Bryant

[Guest]

Schwarber cannot be traded until June.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

In terms of potential headline prospects to trade for Stanton, here's how I'd rank them (from least to most untouchable):

 

1) Baez

2) Schwarber (hasn't been mentioned as a headliner, but he deserves to be, IMO. Guy is simply killing it.)

3) Russell

4) Soler

5) Bryant

 

If Schwarber truly can be a catcher for us, he moves to 4 on my list. Middle of the order bats at C and 3B would be a luxury no one else has and a way for us to gain an edge over the AL teams and their high paid DHs.

[Guest]

if we just look at the javy/jorge duo, wouldn't we all consider it a big success if one completely flames out and the other becomes as good as stanton? i'd take that immediately. obviously it's not that simple since the financial difference between the 2 packages greatly affects the value, but i'd still risk losing the 2 potentially cheap stars to lock in an mvp type player for the better part of the next decade.

 

That's not how trade value works.

 

I don't want to say I'd never ever ever trade both for Stanton, but it would require some very unlikely circumstances(Stanton agreeing to team friendly extension pre-trade, for example). There are zero teams that have both a Soler and a Baez to use in a trade for Stanton, and they certainly aren't the only assets of worth the Cubs have either.

 

i never said i'd start negotiations anywhere near that, or that i wouldn't be disappointed if we couldn't get a deal done only giving up one of them. i'm just saying that if it came down to it, i'd do it.

[Guest]

this might be an overpay when you consider how big stanton's contract is going to be, but i would honestly give them baez and soler if that's what it took. i love our top 4 as much as anybody else, but there's still the (small) chance that none of the 4 live up to expectations. the injuries with stanton do give me pause (especially since he wouldn't be able to move to 1B without needing to trade rizzo), but his bat is a sure thing. we'd lock in a monster bat for his prime, and we'd still have our top 2 guys.

the list of players i'd trade Soler for is about 1 name long

 

not even bryce?

[JennieGarthAlgar]

this might be an overpay when you consider how big stanton's contract is going to be, but i would honestly give them baez and soler if that's what it took. i love our top 4 as much as anybody else, but there's still the (small) chance that none of the 4 live up to expectations. the injuries with stanton do give me pause (especially since he wouldn't be able to move to 1B without needing to trade rizzo), but his bat is a sure thing. we'd lock in a monster bat for his prime, and we'd still have our top 2 guys.

the list of players i'd trade Soler for is about 1 name long

 

not even bryce?

 

That's a clown question, bro.

[XZero771679666304]

this might be an overpay when you consider how big stanton's contract is going to be, but i would honestly give them baez and soler if that's what it took. i love our top 4 as much as anybody else, but there's still the (small) chance that none of the 4 live up to expectations. the injuries with stanton do give me pause (especially since he wouldn't be able to move to 1B without needing to trade rizzo), but his bat is a sure thing. we'd lock in a monster bat for his prime, and we'd still have our top 2 guys.

the list of players i'd trade Soler for is about 1 name long

 

not even bryce?

 

He's still young, but his stock isn't nearly what it was a couple years ago.

[Guest]

If a deal can get done involving only 1 of the Soler/Baez/Bryant/Russell I'm game. Although, Baez would be the only headliner where I'd even consider using Alcantara as a secondary piece. The rest would have to come with a lesser 2nd piece.

 

Bryant is potentially too good to trade. I don't see any scenario the Cubs trade him. Baez seems most likely based on him not being handpicked by this front office. Russell doesn't have as much time invested in him by this FO. Soler may be the most attractive to Miami for nationality reasons. Definitely have to include one of those 3. I'd imagine having a big time star at SS would be most ideal.

 

It's really just preference for me. I personally like Russell and Soler slightly more than Bryant. It's not that I dislike Bryant, but now and then I question how well things are going to translate once he gets promoted and to be honest I'm pretty nervous.

 

It's one thing to question how well some things will translate, but "pretty nervous"? Dunno about that one.

[d_money]

I'd start with Baez + Schwarber and throw in 2 of the other young utility guys that have been getting MLB experience this year (Watkins, Valaika, etc).

[Guest]

Schwarber cannot be traded until June.