2015/16 offseason

[jersey cubs fan]

Your time to shine Theo and Jed. Make this team better please.

[Old Style]

Maybe we should get some more starting pitching. Just a thought.

[minnesotacubsfan]

What we need is big time power bat screw pitchers

 

 

Oh nvm

[KingCubsFan]

There's nobody left on the farm I particularly care about trading. Hopefully Theo and Jed feel the same way.

[Schwarber Fan]

My thoughts by position:

 

C: I'd really like to groom Schwarber here since I don't think we can live with him in LF (especially evident in the Mets series) and the N.L. isn't adopting the DH anytime soon. Despite Montero's god-awful postseason, we can't really just kick him to the curb. I'm sure Ross is back so I doubt much changes here.

 

1B: Rizzo

 

2B: I think it's Starlin's job to lose. Javy is probably still trade bait after his less than spectacular NLCS performance. Do we risk his value plummeting? It might be as high as it's going to be.

 

SS: Rusell

 

3B: Bryant... I know a lot of people are going to suggest putting him in the OF but I like him as the long term third baseman.

 

LF: FREE AGENT. Sure, bring Coghlan back if he wants to, but he'll probably see if he can get a starting job somewhere else. This is the most obvious positional upgrade.

 

CF: Fowler - I want him back. Someone might out-bid us but perhaps he'll take a hometown discount? He seems to like playing here.

 

RF: Soler - Breakout year in 2016? I think it's trending that way. Defense has to improve.

 

Bench: anyone's guess + Ross?

 

Rotation:

 

Arrieta

Lester

FREE AGENT

FREE AGENT

Hendricks

 

Can't rely on Hammel. Wood might have earned another shot - be we need either a top of the line guy or 2 really solid ones.

 

Bullpen:

 

Rondon

Strop

Grimm

Edwards

Ramirez?

Wood?

[BigSlick]

Get me 2 starting pitchers and a good defensive centerfielder that can hit (easier said then done)

[jersey cubs fan]

C: I'd really like to groom Schwarber here since I don't think we can live with him in LF (especially evident in the Mets series) and the N.L. isn't adopting the DH anytime soon. Despite Montero's god-awful postseason, we can't really just kick him to the curb. I'm sure Ross is back so I doubt much changes here.

 

Ross had a couple brain bruises this year and I could easily see him walking away. I think Montero/Schwarber has real potential.

[imb]

Yeah I have to imagine Ross is gone.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Schwarber at C scares me, I'd prefer to keep teaching him OF

[minnesotacubsfan]

To clarify: he's a big guy and not that great a C, his knees will wear out by the time he gets it figured out.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Dbl post

[biittner77]

Schwarber at C scares me, I'd prefer to keep teaching him OF

 

More to the point, guys like Schwarber usually get moved away from Catcher to get their bat in the lineup at a less demanding position. Why not just fast forward to the part where he plays LF and hopefully out hits his mistakes?

[minnesotacubsfan]

Would switching Soler to LG and Schwarbs RF make any sense?

[minnesotacubsfan]

It seems like a lot of Schwarbs issues in the field are judgement mistakes. Get someone in to teach him how to read a fly ball, stay in front of line drives and grounders and you may end up with an average defender with Babe Ruth's bat

[jersey cubs fan]

Would switching Soler to LG and Schwarbs RF make any sense?

I can't see those two in the same outfield. You'd have to get some sort of superhero in center.

[minnesotacubsfan]

JIM EDMONDS

[Guest]

Would switching Soler to LG and Schwarbs RF make any sense?

If they switch Soler to left gurad, Schwarbs has to slide into the center postion.

[Guest]

One of Javy/Castro is dealt for someone some on NSBB will really like and some will really hate.

 

Bold prediction, I know.

Edited October 22, 2015 by CubinNY

[Backtobanks]

Schwarber at C scares me, I'd prefer to keep teaching him OF

 

More to the point, guys like Schwarber usually get moved away from Catcher to get their bat in the lineup at a less demanding position. Why not just fast forward to the part where he plays LF and hopefully out hits his mistakes?

 

As long as he drives in 2-3 runs a game to balance out the 1-2 runs he gives up on defense.

[Tracer Bullet]

Would switching Soler to LG and Schwarbs RF make any sense?

I can't see those two in the same outfield. You'd have to get some sort of superhero in center.

 

Kris Bryant

[Bryants Disco Ball]

LF: FREE AGENT. Sure, bring Coghlan back if he wants to, but he'll probably see if he can get a starting job somewhere else. This is the most obvious positional upgrade.

 

Just a heads up, Coghlan is controlled for one more season.

[UMFan83]

LF: FREE AGENT. Sure, bring Coghlan back if he wants to, but he'll probably see if he can get a starting job somewhere else. This is the most obvious positional upgrade.

 

Just a heads up, Coghlan is controlled for one more season.

 

I'd think he could be trade bait maybe. How much does a 2.5 win player go for in his final arb year? Probably too much for someone who will be a bat off the bench. Not saying we'd get a ton for him but financially it makes sense.

 

Fake edit: MLBTR has Coghlan projected to make $3.9m next year

Edited October 22, 2015 by UMFan83

[Gilby]

He kind of embarrassed himself in the nlcs, but I didn't think Schwarber was that bad in the outfield this season.

[Cubswin11]

He kind of embarrassed himself in the nlcs, but I didn't think Schwarber was that bad in the outfield this season.

I would agree, NLCS aside, he looked okay out there most of the year for a guy essentially learning on the job and seemed to look decent enough that with practice he won't be a complete liability out there in the future.

[BigSlick]

For the record: It's mostly a myth that playing Catcher hurts a player's bat and accelerates their aging on offense

 

I'm totally on board with having Schwarber play part-time catcher next year filling in for Montero and see how he handles it