Cubs trade Straily/Valbuena for Dexter Fowler

[cbbryan]

I'm good with this. Any thoughts on who the Cubs send back? I would think Wellington is part of it, maybe one of the extra arms that can start.

[ctcf]

Oh jeez this is looking more and more lovely

[Guest]

So, we got Russell, McKinney and Fowler for Shark?

 

Okay then.

[Guest]

So here's some food for thought on Fowler's defense. He's rated pretty bad in CF by both UZR(-14) and DRS(-12), and if UZR is any indication, it's largely due to range(although his arm isn't super either). At the extreme opposite end of the spectrum is Juan Lagares, heir to the 'Death to Flying Things' mantle that Franklin Gutierrez forged. Lagares is adored by UZR(+29!) and DRS(+38!!), again largely due to amazing range.

 

The interesting thing I noticed the other day, was when we look at Fangraphs' Inside Edge Fielding numbers, which categories plays by their difficulty and how frequently the player makes the play. Here's the two for their career in CF:

 

              Impossible   Remote   Unlikely   Even   Likely   Routine
Fowler           0%         11%       38%       57%     88%     99.4%
Lagares          0%          4%       38%       57%     88%     99.8%

 

It's an uncanny match, and if anything Fowler gets a slight edge for making an extra two plays in that remote category. I'm not sure why the UZR/DRS discrepancy is so large, Fowler has rated poorly in multiple ballparks across 6 different seasons so it seems unlikely to be any external factor on his side. Maybe it's more evidence of Lagares being overrated than anything, but if there's something to this where Fowler is actually not a terrible CF, then this could be a really, really good acquisition. Even more so when you consider Wrigley has one of the smaller CF areas in the game.

[ctcf]

Not gonna lie, I had kinda forgotten that Straily was even there...

[Guest]

kind of a goofy stat but

 

Ace of MLB Stats

@AceballStats

#Astros Dexter Fowler had 133 plate appearances with nobody on and none out in 2014, he batted .388/.466/.681.

[Guest]

Brett Taylor ‏@BleacherNation 18s18 seconds ago

Wanna read something that'll make you heart Fowler? Could have best strike zone judgement in baseball: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-most-disciplined-mlb-batters/ …

[UMFan83]

Fowler, CF

Castro, SS

Rizzo, 1B

Bryant, LF

Soler, RF

Valbuena, 3B

Baez, 2B

Montero, C

 

Alcantara, super sub

 

Wow that is a freaking solid lineup

Edited January 19, 2015 by UMFan83

[Guest]

Fowler, CF

Castro, SS

Rizzo, 1B

Bryant, LF

Soler, RF

Valbuena, 3B

Baez, 2B

Montero, C

 

Wow that is a freaking solid lineup

 

Don't you ever disrespect Soler like that again.

[ctcf]

Fowler, CF

Castro, SS

Rizzo, 1B

Bryant, LF

Soler, RF

Valbuena, 3B

Baez, 2B

Montero, C

 

Alcantara, super sub

 

Wow that is a freaking solid lineup

 

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[UMFan83]

Valbuena going to hosuton.....like a lot less

 

Jeff Passan

@JeffPassan

Source: Luis Valbuena going to Astros along with Dan Straily in deal for Dexter Fowler.

Edited January 19, 2015 by UMFan83

[ctcf]

OH NO VALBUENA IS GOING

[Banedon]

Valbuena going with Straily per Jeff Passan.

[ctcf]

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan

Source: Luis Valbuena going to Astros along with Dan Straily in deal for Dexter Fowler.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo

[ScrubMD]

Brett Taylor ‏@BleacherNation 18s18 seconds ago

Wanna read something that'll make you heart Fowler? Could have best strike zone judgement in baseball: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-most-disciplined-mlb-batters/ …

 

Dammit Brett, saying you "heart" something is what girls said when I was in college 10 years ago.

[Guest]

Or put Bryant at 3B and the gang of outfielders in LF. Make Baez beat out Valbuena for second base.

 

The bench is getting much stronger, too.

 

-------------

 

or, with Valbuena going, what I said above, but make Baez beat out Alcontara for second base.

[ctcf]

Or put Bryant at 3B and the gang of outfielders in LF. Make Baez beat out Valbuena for second base.

 

The bench is getting much stronger, too.

 

Baez's job just got a lot easier

[ScrubMD]

Sending Valbuena makes this seem like kind of a lateral move.

[Guest]

I now obviously completely change my expectation of where they plan to play Bryant (for now)

[Guest]

Sending Valbuena makes this seem like kind of a lateral move.

We had an overload of IF's, but needed strength in the OF.

[ScrubMD]

So I guess they're serious about Bryant at 3B.

[Guest]

I now obviously completely change my expectation of where they plan to play Bryant (for now)

Yeah, I think this is a pretty good sign for Bryant coming up as a 3B.

[UMFan83]

Sending Valbuena makes this seem like kind of a lateral move.

 

Maybe, but the Cubs probably believe in Alcantara as a super sub and don't want Bryant to move to OF?

 

Now I guess Bryant will play 3rd, and Coughlan will start with Alcantara still a super sub

[ctcf]

Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat

Source confirms #Cubs to get Fowler from Astros for Valbuena and Straily

 

Now we KNOW it's for real

[Guest]

i will miss you and your fly out bat flips luis v :(