Baez

[Guest]

That, and trading Hendricks.

 

I think people who think Castro has any real value in trades at this point are out of their [expletive] minds.

 

People with far worse track records than Castro have had real trade value recently. His contract mitigates this somewhat, but MLB players(even potentially failed ones) have never had more trade value since there's only like 2-3 teams that don't fancy themselves at least fringe contenders every April(thanks to the 2nd wild card). I mean we're like 9 months removed from Matt Kemp being the headliner(!) for Yasmani Grandal.

 

This is completely anecdotal and I fully admit it's nebulous and murky, but it never seemed like Kemp was viewed in the negative light Castro has been. I have no idea how reflective that sense that we have of Castro's reputation and the way people value is of the truth (hope that sentence makes sense), but he has always seemed to be undervalued by everyone. Fans, media, and I wouldn't be shocked if FO people felt similarly...and maybe some of the media stuff is at least partially a reflection of that.

 

Anyway, combine that already bad reputation and whatever it's worth, with the $40M owed over the next 4 years (which obviously isn't terrible if he salvages any value - which I admit is far from being out of the question), and the fact that he's had like an 85 wRC+ and been worth something like 2 fWAR over his last 1500 PA, and I just see that as a really hard sell to get anything of value in return.

 

I'm not saying I think he's worthless nor do I think he can't rebound (nor do I know that they should trade him). I just think that if they get rid of him, it's not going to be for much and be more about getting out of the salary if/while they can. I would love to be wrong about that.

I don't know how much FOs read into the media stuff. He's been praised as being a hard worker and a good mentor to younger players. It's not like he's some clubhouse cancer or something.

 

I'm not suggesting that the FOs read into media stuff. I'm suggesting that a lot of the media stuff might be a reflection of what scouts/front office people think.

[Sammy Sofa]

Kemp's had a LOT of criticism for his work ethic and attitude and ye olde "he's weak because he can't stay healthy" and the like over the years. Most of it is meatball overreaction, but he's definitely had plenty of shots taken at him along those lines.

[Guest]

Kemp's had a LOT of criticism for his work ethic and attitude and ye olde "he's weak because he can't stay healthy" and the like over the years. Most of it is meatball overreaction, but he's definitely had plenty of shots taken at him along those lines.

 

I do remember the injury prone stuff.

 

If only we could have gotten to preller before he turtled.

[sontensei]

I'd be the most eloquent, well-spoken drunk around then.

 

Speaking of drunks; did DiamondMind maybe finally pound a little too much Mad Dog? He suddenly vanished a few days ago.

 

Tweeted with him recently.

[davell]

It's not a complete gauge obviously, but we should find out within a day or so I'd think, if Starlin cleared waivers. If he DID, that can't help his value.

[d_money]

Why in a day or so? Wouldn't this already been known?

[davell]

Why in a day or so? Wouldn't this already been known?

 

I was just basing it on he's been put thru recently and figuring we'll hear soon.

[biittner77]

Teams put everybody through waivers and recall the people that get claimed that they want to keep. At least that's how it used to work. Clearing waivers would help his current value since it would make him available to any contender that wanted him as opposed to the first in line on the claim. Plus the level of desperation from the claiming team should also increase his value a little. Not that the Cubs would get anything great or even good but that's got little to do with whether or not he cleared waivers.

[ctcf]

Does anyone know what the average variance for K% change is going from AAA to the majors?

[davell]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

[Freyr]

Baez day tomorrow.. I predict he's our 3-hitter by seasons end.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

 

It's not a sign of anything. He's guaranteed $30,657,000 over the next 4 years (which was praiseworthy this time last year.) Not exactly a low risk.

[davell]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

 

It's not a sign of anything. He's guaranteed $30,657,000 over the next 4 years (which was praiseworthy this time last year.) Not exactly a low risk.

 

There was hope some team would be willing to take on the full deal. It could still happen in the offseason, but the fact he went thru waivers unclaimed, at least lends to the likelihood that that's not happening now.

[biittner77]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

 

It's not a sign of anything. He's guaranteed $30,657,000 over the next 4 years (which was praiseworthy this time last year.) Not exactly a low risk.

 

There was hope some team would be willing to take on the full deal. It could still happen in the offseason, but the fact he went thru waivers unclaimed, at least lends to the likelihood that that's not happening now.

 

It could also mean that they know the Cubs will pull him back so there's not really any point to claiming him. I'm sure that happens quite a bit.

[Guest]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

 

It's not a sign of anything. He's guaranteed $30,657,000 over the next 4 years (which was praiseworthy this time last year.) Not exactly a low risk.

 

There was hope some team would be willing to take on the full deal. It could still happen in the offseason, but the fact he went thru waivers unclaimed, at least lends to the likelihood that that's not happening now.

 

It could also mean that they know the Cubs will pull him back so there's not really any point to claiming him. I'm sure that happens quite a bit.

 

what would they have to lose by claiming him? that would be a silly way to operate.

[Guest]

Castro DID clear, by the way. Not a great sign.

 

It's not a sign of anything. He's guaranteed $30,657,000 over the next 4 years (which was praiseworthy this time last year.) Not exactly a low risk.

 

There was hope some team would be willing to take on the full deal. It could still happen in the offseason, but the fact he went thru waivers unclaimed, at least lends to the likelihood that that's not happening now.

 

It could also mean that they know the Cubs will pull him back so there's not really any point to claiming him. I'm sure that happens quite a bit.

 

what would they have to lose by claiming him? that would be a silly way to operate.

 

Courtesy. Clearing waivers is the default, claiming requires some semblance of intent/purpose.

[SouthSideRyan]

Unless you're Jim Bowden

[ctcf]

Baez is officially up

 

[tweet]

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[Cubswin11]

I believe I saw 2 40-man moves need to be made to make room for Cahil and Berry

[Outshined_One]

Baez is officially up

 

[tweet]

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http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oqzvvqpM--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/1410712204988008262.gif

[RammyFanny]

It's been hard to keep up so it may have been posted elsewhere, but there's been a few articles popping up he last few days noting that Baez does everything in life left-handed but play baseball. Pretty cool.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's been hard to keep up so it may have been posted elsewhere, but there's been a few articles popping up he last few days noting that Baez does everything in life left-handed but play baseball. Pretty cool.

that's fairly common

[biittner77]

In Field hockey everyone is required to play right handed. My daughter is left handed but after the initial adjustment has adapted so much that she putts left handed.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Field hockey is the devils work

[davell]

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/javier-baez-and-swinging-strike-rate/

 

I hate seeing an article like this. Javy still has the big swing fairly often before toning it down and I'd say that's what's probably unaccounted for here. But some of you are great at analyzing these things and I'd love a few opinions....

 

My take is he's always going to K a lot, but I'd think he's very valuable at 25-30% and I think that's doable with his current approach and the elimination of the leg kick at times. If he rids himself of it completely and continues to have power, then he's a stud.