What's your wish list for the trade deadline?

[Guest]

Perhaps a better question would be which players would you trade for that would command that type of return. Of the teams that are out of the race already, the pickings are pretty slim. There's Hamels, Gomez, Braun, Tulo, Shark, Cueto and ? Of those guys, Gomez is having an injury-filled, down year. Braun carries massive baggage and a bad contract. Tulo has huge injury concerns and is hitting very well, but not otherworldly this year. Shark is a rental and has had an up and down year. Cueto is a rental and is never viewed as one of the elite arms for some reason.

 

Unless some other teams fall out of the race in a hurry, I just don't see many players entering the trade market that would be worth giving up top talent.

[Andy]

I think there's a definite attitude, as Morosi said in his recent article, that the FO would like to go get a starting pitcher that will be around next year, which would serve as a this-year upgrade while also checking off an offseason item. The question is who that pitcher is, because as you say there aren't a ton of sellers right now.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't see why we need to get next year's starter taken care of now. If we're happy with our top 4 as is, why not get a rental and then swing our big market dong around and sign Price or Greinke?

 

I mean I know the answer is that we're not going to swing our big market dong around until 2020, but it's still what we should be doing.

[davell]

Even with the big money not happening until then, I fully expect us to add a Price/Zimmermann-TOR type in the offseason. We can do that and stay in the 120ish range.

[dew1679666265]

I think there's a definite attitude, as Morosi said in his recent article, that the FO would like to go get a starting pitcher that will be around next year, which would serve as a this-year upgrade while also checking off an offseason item. The question is who that pitcher is, because as you say there aren't a ton of sellers right now.

 

Depending on what he's asking for, I'd consider that pitcher to be Cueto. I'd love to get him and then give him an extension.

[apete6]

Even with the big money not happening until then, I fully expect us to add a Price/Zimmermann-TOR type in the offseason. We can do that and stay in the 120ish range.

 

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick?

 

Best case scenario is the Lester scenario where one of the top FA guys gets traded this summer, thereby losing the draft pick compensation attached to him, and the Cubs sign him for, literally, nothing besides a heaping mountain of cash.

 

This is probably the last year they can go berzerk with FA signings before they start to have some serious payroll issues after 2020 when they have to start really shelling out to keep their current young stars in FA (Bryant, Russell, etc..).

[Sammy Sofa]

Theo is saying he's not going to overpay, and if we can't make a serious run at the division, I'm fine with that.

 

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

 

They don't need to win the division to win the freakin' WS.

 

Would you rather her say '[expletive] it, let's splurge. Schwarber and Edwards for the earthly remains of Ichiro!' 'Is Chase Utley still alive? He is? You want Rubi Silva and Brian Schlitter? Well that just won't do. You'll take Pierce Johnson and I won't hear any more of it!'

 

 

GFD IT you are a GD moron.

 

This might have been one of his worst posts of all time.

 

Thank you for picking up the slack, gentleman. I think I blacked out reading his reply.

[SouthSideRyan]

Even with the big money not happening until then, I fully expect us to add a Price/Zimmermann-TOR type in the offseason. We can do that and stay in the 120ish range.

 

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick?

 

Luckily the next few years we'll have a 50-50 shot of winning the WS.

 

 

 

Best case scenario is the Lester scenario where one of the top FA guys gets traded this summer, thereby losing the draft pick compensation attached to him, and the Cubs sign him for, literally, nothing besides a heaping mountain of cash.

 

Let's all say a prayer that we don't have to lose the 22nd overall draft pick. Losing it could tank our farm system for years to come.

 

This is probably the last year they can go berzerk with FA signings before they start to have some serious payroll issues after 2020 when they have to start really shelling out to keep their current young stars in FA (Bryant, Russell, etc..).

 

I can't. I just can't. Don't spend money now because it might handicap us in 2021 is the new don't try now because then it might handicap us in 2017.

[Guest]

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick?

 

That's every season.

 

Literally. Every. Season.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Oh god, please not the "signing an fa for $150 million is fine, but damned if we are giving up the 20th pick" argument too.

[profisme]

My personal wish-list would be a controllable CF and good controllable arm rather than a rental. The two names which come to mind right now would be Charlie Blackmon and Tyson Ross. For those two guys, obviously some very good pieces would have to be dealt, but you have control of Ross through the end of 2017 and Blackmon through the end of 2018. Both the Rockies and Padres are not playing great ball and the Rockies may have already conceded the fact they won't be contending this year.

[apete6]

Even with the big money not happening until then, I fully expect us to add a Price/Zimmermann-TOR type in the offseason. We can do that and stay in the 120ish range.

 

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick?

 

Luckily the next few years we'll have a 50-50 shot of winning the WS.

 

 

 

Best case scenario is the Lester scenario where one of the top FA guys gets traded this summer, thereby losing the draft pick compensation attached to him, and the Cubs sign him for, literally, nothing besides a heaping mountain of cash.

 

Let's all say a prayer that we don't have to lose the 22nd overall draft pick. Losing it could tank our farm system for years to come.

 

This is probably the last year they can go berzerk with FA signings before they start to have some serious payroll issues after 2020 when they have to start really shelling out to keep their current young stars in FA (Bryant, Russell, etc..).

 

I can't. I just can't. Don't spend money now because it might handicap us in 2021 is the new don't try now because then it might handicap us in 2017.

 

So, you think that the odds to win the WS are the same coming from a 1 game playoff as they are having home field advantage in the Division Series? The Royals and Giants pull one out of their collective asses last year and statistical probability goes out the window? Good to know.

 

If you think that Jed & Theo don't factor/value the 22nd overall pick, you're wrong. For all we know, that's an extra few million they're willing to go to sign a guy. It won't make or break their offseason decision making, but if they had the choice, I'm sure they'd rather sign a guy who doesn't require giving up a pick (and the associated draft pool money) in a year when they will have basically no big international signings than a guy who does require giving up the pick.

 

And if you don't think #PoorTomRicketts will have anything to do with their offseason spending plans, then I don't know what to tell you. They could have had James Shields last year but wouldn't go the extra few million to sign him. Instead we get the TWood/Wada/Roach/Richard [expletive] show every 5 days and this trade deadline talk that goes along with it.

 

Also, I said "best case scenario" not "only way they'll sign a big pitcher". If I had to guess, they'll sign Price this offseason, draft pick and $$$ be damned, instead of giving up what it would take to get Hamels or even Cueto. After that possible Price signing, though, how many more 9-figure contracts you think they'll give out before they have to shell out for Bryant and/or Russell and/or Rizzo's next extension? And that's assuming Arrietta doesn't join that club, which he easily could given his recent trajectory.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The odds of winning the World Series are a helluva lot better in the Wild Card game than watching the entire playoffs from the outside, as Jed has every year of his GM career and Theo has for the last five in a row.

[jersey cubs fan]

playoffs from the outside, as Jed has every year of his GM career and Theo has for the last five in a row.

 

HOW DARE YOU!

[davell]

I just want it to be clear:I want to add now, even if its a rental. If it costs McKinney, for instance, to get Kazmir.....Sign me up.

 

We've got plenty to trade from right now and most of our key guys are up already as it is. I don't think anyone is saying trade away our entire top 10 for a rental....I truly think all anyone is saying is [expletive], we've got a shot this year, we need to improve our chances now.

[Smack]

Can Gerardo Parra play center? If so, yes please. I'd love to see him take Fowler's ABs from the left side.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Can Gerardo Parra play center? If so, yes please. I'd love to see him take Fowler's ABs from the left side.

 

Or we can just let Fowler take Coghlan's ABs from the right.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Perhaps a better question would be which players would you trade for that would command that type of return. Of the teams that are out of the race already, the pickings are pretty slim. There's Hamels, Gomez, Braun, Tulo, Shark, Cueto and ? Of those guys, Gomez is having an injury-filled, down year. Braun carries massive baggage and a bad contract. Tulo has huge injury concerns and is hitting very well, but not otherworldly this year. Shark is a rental and has had an up and down year. Cueto is a rental and is never viewed as one of the elite arms for some reason.

 

Really? I thought he was considered very elite; just very injury prone.

[Little Slide Rooter]

In his last 30 games, Carlos Gonzalez is .280/.301./.551 with 7 HR. Just sayin.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't think anyone had to be sold on Carlos Gomez.

[abohnhoff]

In his last 30 games, Carlos Gonzalez is .280/.301./.551 with 7 HR. Just sayin.

 

Roughly $45 million left on his contract for 2.5 years...NO THANKS. Just sayin.

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, look at that.

 

Nevermind the guy has blown that cost out of the water or anything.

[Vanilla Ice]

In his last 30 games, Carlos Gonzalez is .280/.301./.551 with 7 HR. Just sayin.

 

I don't think anyone had to be sold on Carlos Gomez.

 

Try again.

[Sammy Sofa]

Ewwwww. Wishful thinking on my part. Guess I should have realized it would be weird as hell for Carlos Gomez to be making, like, $18 million a year right now.

[KingCubsFan]

Ewwwww. Wishful thinking on my part. Guess I should have realized it would be weird as hell for Carlos Gomez to be making, like, $18 million a year right now.

Getting Carlos Gomez would be pretty great.