The Pitchers we can trade for....

[StylesClash]

Eric Brynes, on MLB Network last night, threw out a rather bold trade idea. Baez, Castro and Strop to the Mets for Matt Harvey. Two years of Strop and the inconsistent Castro are obviously worth Harvey.

 

If you're Theo and are confident in Harvey's long term health I would think you'd be very tempted to pull the trigger on that deal. Russell is entrenched at Short, and La Stella or Coghlan could handle Second. Thoughts on Harvey's long term durability and who's worth dealing Baez for?

[rawaction]

Eric Brynes, on MLB Network last night, threw out a rather bold trade idea. Baez, Castro and Strop to the Mets for Matt Harvey. Two years of Strop and the inconsistent Castro are obviously worth Harvey.

 

If you're Theo and are confident in Harvey's long term health I would think you'd be very tempted to pull the trigger on that deal. Russell is entrenched at Short, and La Stella or Coghlan could handle Second. Thoughts on Harvey's long term durability and who's worth dealing Baez for?

 

I'd make that trade (don't think the Mets would) and go after Howie Kendrick. I'm not playing either LaStella or Coghlan (or Alcantara would be another bad option) at 2B on a good team.

[Felix Leiter]

I think Castro is the trade chip to get a SP. Both the WSox and Mets need a 2nd baseman and a shortstop. I would target Jose Quintana(WSox) or Steven Matz(NYM). I realize if we sign David Price and do this trade we'd be LH-heavy(Lester, Price and Quintana/Matz) but our rotation would be a killer-Lester, Price, Arrieta, Quintana/Matz and Hendricks.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

La Stella or Coghlan could handle Second

dear sweet jebus no

[Gilby]

I really wish Cashner had more than just one year of control left because he would make sense as a trade candidate.

 

I'm still hoping the Orioles go for a Baez-Gausman swap.

[Clem Fandango]

Eric Brynes, on MLB Network last night, threw out a rather bold trade idea. Baez, Castro and Strop to the Mets for Matt Harvey. Two years of Strop and the inconsistent Castro are obviously worth Harvey.

 

If you're Theo and are confident in Harvey's long term health I would think you'd be very tempted to pull the trigger on that deal. Russell is entrenched at Short, and La Stella or Coghlan could handle Second. Thoughts on Harvey's long term durability and who's worth dealing Baez for?

 

If the Cubs move Baez or Castro for pitching, I can't imagine they move them together in the same deal. Mets are losing Murphy, will probably trade Flores if the deadline was any indication, and they have Dilson Herrera set to take over one of those spots. They could move one of Castro or Baez around the field elsewhere, but I doubt they're looking at them as anything other than MI help. And if the Cubs intend to move Castro AND Baez they would probably get more bang for their buck using them in separate deals.

 

Also Harvey scares me now considering he threw more innings this year than any other pitcher coming off of a Tommy John surgery in history. His health and durability could very well be compromised. He'd be awesome at his full potential, but how long that will last worries me now. Flip side of that coin is the other pitchers who blew past 200IP after TJS did just fine (Wainwright, Lackey, Westbrook), but their average fastball velocities sat in the low 90's, not the mid-to-upper 90's like Harvey. So it's probably an either/or situation when it comes to how people feel about his future durability. Count me on the cautious side.

 

If we're gonna go after a Mets pitcher, I'd be curious to see if they'd have any interest in moving Steven Matz.

 

I'm with Gilby on the Baez for Gausman swap. I like Gausman a lot, and the Orioles are likely squandering his potential by yoyo-ing him between the rotation and the bullpen. Maybe expand the deal to include a reliever? Matusz/Brach/Givens?

 

EDIT: My preference is to keep Baez ultimately, but if he gets moved I can't say I'll be shocked, and if he does I like the Gausman route.

[mul21]

One positive on Harvey is that he had nearly a full year and a half between the surgery and pitching big innings again. I think the extended healing time has to help at least somewhat there, especially with my past experience with a shoulder surgery and how much of a difference more time made for me.

[rawaction]

I think Castro is the trade chip to get a SP. Both the WSox and Mets need a 2nd baseman and a shortstop. I would target Jose Quintana(WSox) or Steven Matz(NYM). I realize if we sign David Price and do this trade we'd be LH-heavy(Lester, Price and Quintana/Matz) but our rotation would be a killer-Lester, Price, Arrieta, Quintana/Matz and Hendricks.

 

I think Baez has more value to both teams than Castro. White Sox were tied for 4th fewest HRs in the majors last year. And they could really use some RH power to go along with Abreu. Mets didn't have any shortage of power this year, but they could definitely use some from the RH side next year as they'll probably lose Cespedes and have Duda, Granderson and Confronto as LH power. If Castro had any kind of advantage in OBP or defense, his ability to put the ball in play more might be more valuable. But if those teams are giving up Quintana or Matz, I'd guess they'd much rather get the RH power potential and better defense.

[Tryptamine]

The Mets already have a very good prospect in Dilson Herrera who will be taking over 2B. He doesn't have Baez's ceiling, but he still a very good prospect and I doubt they're looking to upgrade from prospect, they're probably looking for a more sure thing.

[Guest]

dilson herrera sounds like a dude i would've traded money for in baseball mogul in 1998

[davell]

Most think the Mets will go after Desmond. If they've got the money, that's what I'd do and just hold onto their pitching.

[Cubswin11]

La Stella or Coghlan could handle Second.

http://i.imgur.com/FMYuXfw.gif

[Banedon]

Hoyer expects to be asked about the Cubs‘ position player depth in possible trades for pitching. While the Cubs like their everyday and bench roster, “you can never say never,” the GM said. “If something makes sense where we would trade out some surplus on the position-playing side for some pitching depth, that’s something we have to explore.”

 

- MLBTR

 

Epstein:

 

“We may be faced with a situation where the right move is to take away somewhat from [the team’s] position-player group in order to add impact pitching,” Epstein said.

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1039118/expect-arms-race-cubs-hunt-octobers

 

http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/7-18-2015/Bvuj_t.gif

[davell]

Theo HUGE moves: “If we want to do two things we have to get pretty creative. Even if we do one really big thing we have to get creative.”

 

Hmm, the art of saying nothing......Theo has it down. I'll take this to mean trading off the Coghlan, Hammel, Wood types, I guess?

[davell]

At the GM meetings last year, Theo ruled out the idea of #Cubs signing two players to nine-figure contracts that winter...

[davell]

Theo: "You can pretty much apply that one going forward, at least until we get a TV deal." #Cubs

[Guest]

Theo: "You can pretty much apply that one going forward, at least until we get a TV deal." #Cubs

God, I hope he is lying.

[Backtobanks]

Saw a couple of stories that mentioned the Hoyer and Hahn both said that they would be willing to trade with each other if it improved their team. Also, one story mentioned the WS might listen to offers on Eaton. Time for the blockbuster deal that I've mentioned a few times - Baez/Castro + Almora/McKinney + Vogelbach + ???? for Quintana + Eaton.

[Guest]

Saw a couple of stories that mentioned the Hoyer and Hahn both said that they would be willing to trade with each other if it improved their team. Also, one story mentioned the WS might listen to offers on Eaton. Time for the blockbuster deal that I've mentioned a few times - Baez/Castro + Almora/McKinney + Vogelbach + ???? for Quintana + Eaton.

Eaton has gone from being underrated to overrated. He's a negative defender in a small field for the Sox. He's undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason. The Cubs would have to have a lot of confidence in both the medicals as well as their scouting to give up assets for him.

 

Now, if that trade is Castro + McKinney + Vogelbach...then I'd be very excited.

[Felix Leiter]

I'll pass on Eaton. His defense was terrible and he seems to make bad decisions on the field. I also wonder if he's not the best clubhouse person for a team. He comes across in interviews as a bit of a 'me guy'.

[Clem Fandango]

I'll pass on Eaton. His defense was terrible and he seems to make bad decisions on the field. I also wonder if he's not the best clubhouse person for a team. He comes across in interviews as a bit of a 'me guy'.

 

More like Adam Meaton amirite?

 

I'll show myself out

[davell]

You have to think the Braves could be talked out of Shelby Miller at this point.....

[rawaction]

You have to think the Braves could be talked out of Shelby Miller at this point.....

 

They are doing the weirdest rebuild ever. I'd probably still rather have Teheran though, it's close.

[Guest]

He was more of an option for a 6th starter in my mind(and even then maybe only as part of a larger deal), but it looks like Hellickson is going to the Phillies.

 

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[Cubswin11]

The Padres are shopping Ross, according to Rosenthal