Cubs trade Straily/Valbuena for Dexter Fowler

[Guest]

Yes. They didn't forfeit their ceiling to add certainty. Alcantara, Baez, Bryant, and Soler are all still Cubs, and there's still a place in the lineup for all 4 even with Fowler if they all hit.

 

OK. So you're saying they added certainty, didn't lose any ceiling, but we're not sure if it made them better or not.

 

I'm not sure that math adds up.

 

They are better IMO, although how marginal the 50% improvement is depends on how you feel about like 6 different guys, so any 2 people agreeing on the exact magnitude is unlikely.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

I just wanted us to trade a prospect for someone Fowler-esque and keep Valbuena.

 

i feel like you would've rather they traded russell for fowler just for the sake of trading a prospect away

 

I'm not responsible for your dumb feelings.

[davell]

Passan brought up that if Fowler has a halfway decent year, he'll net us a comp pick.

 

It's cloooooose. $15m or whatever? I think he'd pass on that, maybe?

 

I think I'd like it if he did. Getting a 2nd season out of him would be just fine with me.

[KVS]

Fangraphs upgrades us to 84 wins after this. They mostly think Fowler kinda sucks, but they gave Bryant 150 more PAs of playing time and that bumped us a win.

 

(nvm, they changed it to 84)

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

Edited January 19, 2015 by KVS

[Guest]

Fowler seems pretty likely to get a QO to me, with the caveat that he's at least as good as his recent past.

[Guest]

The other thing about Fowler that I think Theo likes (judging by his comments on MLB radio) is that he's a "character" guy who can help the young players learn about the profession. I don't know how that translates to wins, but it likely factored into the equation too.

[apete6]

Fangraphs upgrades us to 84 wins after this. They mostly think Fowler kinda sucks, but they gave Bryant 150 more PAs of playing time and that bumped us a win.

 

(nvm, they changed it to 84)

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

 

If that plays out, Cubs would be @PIT for the Wild Card game. And would score the 2nd most runs in the NL. Fuuuuuuck YES!

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Fangraphs upgrades us to 84 wins after this. They mostly think Fowler kinda sucks, but they gave Bryant 150 more PAs of playing time and that bumped us a win.

 

(nvm, they changed it to 84)

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

 

If that plays out, Cubs would be @PIT for the Wild Card game. And would score the 2nd most runs in the NL. [expletive] YES!

 

Hell, I just noticed the Cardinals and Pirates are slipping. We're projected just two games out.

[davell]

We've got soooooo [expletive] many trade chips to use at the deadline. Our fun has begun.

[tfarks]

Fangraphs upgrades us to 84 wins after this. They mostly think Fowler kinda sucks, but they gave Bryant 150 more PAs of playing time and that bumped us a win.

 

(nvm, they changed it to 84)

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

 

If that plays out, Cubs would be @PIT for the Wild Card game. And would score the 2nd most runs in the NL. [expletive] YES!

 

3rd most? Behind Rockies and Nats?

[Fro]

Valbuena was going to get moved anyway once Bryant came up so I'm fine with this.

 

Fowler gives us a legit leadoff hitter with great OBP. I don't think his D will be horrible in Wrigley. He can always be shifted to LF and Alcantara move to CF.

 

I think he's someone who will really benefit from Joe Maddon.

 

We still kept all our core prospects... Valbuena only has a couple years of control and there's not room for the Straily experiment to continue.

Edited January 19, 2015 by Fro

[Cubswin11]

I really like this move, my 1 "complaint" is that we didn't do it sooner to have a chance to sign someone like Bonifacio or Callaspo (both guys signed cheap 1 year deals, iirc) to take Valbuena's spot for a little more insurance in case Bryant has to go to the OF and/or 1 or more of Javy/Alcantara/La Stella suck.

[Guest]

I really like this move, my 1 "complaint" is that we didn't do it sooner and to have a chance to sign someone like Bonifacio or Callaspo (both guys signed cheap 1 year deals, iirc) to take Valbuena's spot for a little more insurance in case Bryant has to go to the OF and/or 1 or more of Javy/Alcantara/La Stella suck.

 

Personally, I like Sweeney better than those guys. There's enough positional flexibility with the rest of the position players that I'll take his bat over the IF/OF ability of a Bonifacio or Callaspo. Once Bryant comes up you have a bench of Ross, LaStella, Alcantara, Denorfia, Sweeney, with I guess a slight chance that Olt or another RH(Castillo? Valaika?) could play his way into a roster spot in Sweeney's stead.

[KVS]

I really like this move, my 1 "complaint" is that we didn't do it sooner and to have a chance to sign someone like Bonifacio or Callaspo (both guys signed cheap 1 year deals, iirc) to take Valbuena's spot for a little more insurance in case Bryant has to go to the OF and/or 1 or more of Javy/Alcantara/La Stella suck.

 

Personally, I like Sweeney better than those guys. There's enough positional flexibility with the rest of the position players that I'll take his bat over the IF/OF ability of a Bonifacio or Callaspo. Once Bryant comes up you have a bench of Ross, LaStella, Alcantara, Denorfia, Sweeney, with I guess a slight chance that Olt or another RH(Castillo? Valaika?) could play his way into a roster spot in Sweeney's stead.

 

I think Fowler in left and Alcantara in center is more likely than Alcantara on the bench. We'll see though

[Elrhino]

Pretty happy about this trade because I have had some irrational man-love for Dexter Fowler, and we're going to see Bryant up very, very soon into the season. Maybe Maddon's positioning can help mask some of Fowler's defense.

[Cubswin11]

Yeah, I'm just being nit picky and I agree our depth/flexibility should be fine (especially when Bryant comes up). Just wouldn't have minded a little more IF insurance.

 

So opening night starters will likely be (assuming no more moves)

 

C- Montero

1B- Rizzo

2B- Javy

SS- Castro

3B- Alcantara/La Stella

LF- Coghlan

CF- Fowler

RF- Soler

P- Lester

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

ew javy

[Deeg]

The other thing about Fowler that I think Theo likes (judging by his comments on MLB radio) is that he's a "character" guy who can help the young players learn about the profession. I don't know how that translates to wins, but it likely factored into the equation too.

 

He does have a great clubhouse rep, and given Theo's repeated comments about getting an everyday player who can be a "leader" I'm sure it was a small factor in his thinking. But the main issue is what Fowler gives you between the lines.

 

The other factor is what the Cubs do when Coghlan likely reverts to being a marginal player. Maybe Alcantara shows enough that he can slide into an everyday OF role, with either he or Fowler in LF. But if the Cubs are in the hunt, they've done nothing to delete their inventory of prospect trade chips to make a midseason acquisition for an impact bat in LF, where it's easiest (though not easy) to find one.

[Rob]

Fowler seems pretty likely to get a QO to me, with the caveat that he's at least as good as his recent past.

 

Yeah, I didn't think about the QO. Fowler could definitely get one. No chance Valbuena would have.

[Guest]

Seems pretty close talent wise but we get more versatility since Alcantara isn't tied down to CF as much. I like this.

[UMFan83]

Kind of cool that we are now making trades where we give up guys with years of arbitration control for a guy who is on his last year of arby. Another sign the Cubs ready to go for it this year instead of hoping this year goes well and targeting 2016 for real contention.

 

Of course that could change if the Cubs struggle out of the gate and are sitting 10 games under in July, but for now its looking good.

[Post Count Padder]

I like the deal. Liked Fowler for years, wanted to get him from the Rockies. Bummed about giving up Valbuena but that we didn't give up any prospects for a solid centerfielder is a win. This also gives us flexibility with Alcantara, as others have mentioned.

[imb]

holy [expletive] this is colby rasmus

 

making me love fowler even more

 

http://i.imgur.com/tPycaCm.jpg

[UMFan83]

As much as it sucks to lose Valbuena, I'm happy that we were able to essentially pick him off the scrap heap 3 years ago and build enough value to be the key piece in this trade from the Cubs side. He's come a long way from being that douchebag that hit a bunch of HRs against us in that one series in 2009.

[Post Count Padder]

holy [expletive] this is colby rasmus

 

making me love fowler even more

 

http://i.imgur.com/tPycaCm.jpg

Well dodged that bullet.