Offseason Rumors & Transactions Thread

[Deeg]

The equation for Castro and position movement doesn't hinge on all three of Baez, Russell and Bryant being better infield defenders. It hinges on Bryant' ability to play third. It's pretty much a given that Russell and Baez are better defenders, long-term. If Bryant can handle third and you're moving him to LF to accommodate Castro, you're diluting some of Bryant's value (and Castro's too, by moving him off SS). Alcantara is a wild-card - he offers insurance in case Baez or Russell flame out or Bryant can't play 3B, which makes the risk in trading Castro more acceptable. And I certainly don't think it's a lock he won't be a better offensive player, long-term.

 

None of this means you must trade Castro. But it does mean you can, with a reasonably low amount of risk. It's a matter of whether his value as a shortstop is enough to fetch the right pieces in a trade. If you can get the maximum value out of everyone playing their maximum value defensive position, that's ideal. But if not, you can move guys around when the right deal isn't there.

[Guest]

The Phillies are one of three to four teams interested in Welington Castillo according to Bruce Levine. And the Cubs might be able to include Castillo in a deal for pitching or an outfielder if they are able to sign Russell Martin.

[Guest]

I'm not all that gung ho about signing Martin(not so different than my feelings on Lester really), but the idea of what we could potentially get for Castillo is intriguing. Wonder who else would be interested aside from Philadelphia though. Pittsburgh I suppose? White Sox?

[Guest]

I wonder if you can package Castillo in a trade for a young pitcher. Tyson Ross is my favorite target but San Diego obviously doesn't need catching.

[Guest]

Castillo for Carl Crawford and money?

[Sammy Sofa]

http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/hhn.gif

[Clem Fandango]

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that the Phillies "are looking for at least three top prospects" in trade talks for Cole Hamels.

Salisbury adds that, of the three, the Phils want "two that can play right now and another that isn’t far away." It's no surprise, of course, that their asking price is sky-high. Hamels is one of the elite starters in the game and the $96 million he's owed over the next four seasons is pretty reasonable for an ace. The Cubs and Red Sox have been connected to Hamels in the past and have both the prospects and payroll to make something work. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported last month that Hamels is updating his no-trade list this winter.

 

Blow it out your ass, Amaro

[Guest]

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that the Phillies "are looking for at least three top prospects" in trade talks for Cole Hamels.

Salisbury adds that, of the three, the Phils want "two that can play right now and another that isn’t far away." It's no surprise, of course, that their asking price is sky-high. Hamels is one of the elite starters in the game and the $96 million he's owed over the next four seasons is pretty reasonable for an ace. The Cubs and Red Sox have been connected to Hamels in the past and have both the prospects and payroll to make something work. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported last month that Hamels is updating his no-trade list this winter.

 

Blow it out your ass, Amaro

Alcantara, Szczur, and Castillo for them.

[Backtobanks]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

[Guest]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

 

Kris Bryant spending three weeks in AAA next year has what exactly to do with your belief that Addison Russell is at least a year away?

[Guest]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

 

Kris Bryant spending three weeks in AAA next year has what exactly to do with your belief that Addison Russell is at least a year away?

I believe he's inferring that Bryant was ready for the majors the whole year and the Cubs kept him down anyway, so they'll do the same thing with Russell.

 

Of course, the situations are completely different from one another and absolutely nothing can be inferred in how they'll handle Russell based on what they did with Bryant.

[Guest]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

 

You are shockingly bad at concern trolling.

[Guest]

Also, meant to come back to this.

 

It's pretty much a given that Russell and Baez are better defenders, long-term.

 

It is very, very far from a given that both Russell and Baez will be better defenders. Possible? Absolutely. Probable? One or the other most likely will be. But there's been more than a few concerns about both Baez and Russell as defenders that they've been suggested as potential 3B, and there's also the SNTS that we don't know much about them as defenders aside from scouting reports, which notoriously skew positive.

[Backtobanks]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

 

Kris Bryant spending three weeks in AAA next year has what exactly to do with your belief that Addison Russell is at least a year away?

I believe he's inferring that Bryant was ready for the majors the whole year and the Cubs kept him down anyway, so they'll do the same thing with Russell.

 

Of course, the situations are completely different from one another and absolutely nothing can be inferred in how they'll handle Russell based on what they did with Bryant.

 

You're right Tim, but Theo has often said that he believes prospects need a certain amount of time and ABs in the ml before bringing them up to the ML.

[Sammy Sofa]

That's obviously not a hard and fast rule across the board; different prospects will merit a quicker rise to the majors than others. Bryant would have been up this year if it hadn't been a lost season. If Russell is kicking ass next year and the Cubs are in the hunt there's a VERY good chance you'll see him up regardless of what it means in terms of cost-effective years of team control.

[Backtobanks]

oh, god. i thought it had finally stopped, but there it is again.

 

Kris Bryant says "Hi".

 

You are shockingly bad at concern trolling.

 

I find it interesting that you accuse me of trolling when the discussion was about Russell being ready for the ML now and I pointed out that Theo believes prospects need a certain amount of time and ABs in the ml before being ready for the ML.

[Sammy Sofa]

So you think there's a set number of PA's offensive prospects have to hit before the FO is willing to bring them up?

[Deeg]

Also, meant to come back to this.

 

It's pretty much a given that Russell and Baez are better defenders, long-term.

 

It is very, very far from a given that both Russell and Baez will be better defenders. Possible? Absolutely. Probable? One or the other most likely will be. But there's been more than a few concerns about both Baez and Russell as defenders that they've been suggested as potential 3B, and there's also the SNTS that we don't know much about them as defenders aside from scouting reports, which notoriously skew positive.

 

I haven't seen a single informed opinion that Russell is anything but the best SS of the three, going away. If you want to make the argument with Baez, that's at least feasible - but again, I think the overwhelming consensus (and we have visual observation at the ML lever here too) is that he has better defensive tools at SS than Castro. But given how good Russell is there, that's actually not a crucial point in its own terms.

[Sammy Sofa]

The only thing I've seen come up in regards to Baez being better is him potentially having better range. Castro arguably has the best arm of the three and Russell might literally grow out of the position.

[Backtobanks]

So you think there's a set number of PA's offensive prospects have to hit before the FO is willing to bring them up?

 

If I remember right, that was what the FO was saying when Baez and Soler were tearing up the minor leagues and Cub fans wanted them up immediately.

[Sammy Sofa]

So you think there's a set number of PA's offensive prospects have to hit before the FO is willing to bring them up?

 

If I remember right, that was what the FO was saying when Baez and Soler were tearing up the minor leagues and Cub fans wanted them up immediately.

 

Soler only had 621 PA.

 

Baez had 1350.

 

This might be more relative to each player on a case-by-case basis than you're willing to admit.

[Deeg]

The only thing I've seen come up in regards to Baez being better is him potentially having better range. Castro arguably has the best arm of the three and Russell might literally grow out of the position.

 

Actually Baez has the best arm of the three, which is the only reason why it's kind of a shame to use him at 2B. But the scouting on Russell's defense over the last year has been basically unanimous - clearly the best SS defender of the three right now, never mind when he's Castro's age. You'd really only move him of SS if you didn't want to move the established player (which I think would be a major mistake).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The only thing I've seen come up in regards to Baez being better is him potentially having better range. Castro arguably has the best arm of the three and Russell might literally grow out of the position.

 

Actually Baez has the best arm of the three, which is the only reason why it's kind of a shame to use him at 2B. But the scouting on Russell's defense over the last year has been basically unanimous - clearly the best SS defender of the three right now, never mind when he's Castro's age. You'd really only move him of SS if you didn't want to move the established player (which I think would be a major mistake).

 

Are you sure you've seen any actual scouting reports and not breathless third-hand reports from the Arguellos of the world?

[Guest]

The only thing I've seen come up in regards to Baez being better is him potentially having better range. Castro arguably has the best arm of the three and Russell might literally grow out of the position.

 

Actually Baez has the best arm of the three, which is the only reason why it's kind of a shame to use him at 2B. But the scouting on Russell's defense over the last year has been basically unanimous - clearly the best SS defender of the three right now, never mind when he's Castro's age. You'd really only move him of SS if you didn't want to move the established player (which I think would be a major mistake).

 

Russell may end up being a very good defensive SS, but it's hardly been unanimous that he's the supreme defender there. BA's Southern League list talked about him 'sticking' at SS rather than being a particular defensive asset. Kiley McDaniel wondered aloud if his throwing motion won't be better suited elsewhere as he matures. And of course there's his history with his weight that leave some minor doubts about his ability to be a long term SS.

[Deeg]

This is BA on Russell's defense in their own words:

 

Russell tried bulking up in high school to become more of a power hitter, but the extra muscle did little more than relegate him to third base with Team USA. As a result, he refocused his efforts on making sure he could stay at shortstop, and few question his defensive future now. Russell has solid fundamentals and takes good angles to balls. His lower half works well, and he has the range and athleticism to make plenty of highlight-quality plays. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but it’s strong enough for the position and plays up thanks to his quick transfer and accuracy.

 

If that's skepticism, I'd hate to see glowing.

 

One doesn't need to rely on gibbering morons like Arguello to find consensus on Russell's defense. And really, the argument against dealing Castro based on defense is based on all three of Russell, Baez and Alcantara being unable to play SS on the major league level. I'm no believer that there's any such thing as a can't-miss prospect, but the odds of that are pretty low.