CF Options

[Tim]

We have a thread for pitching options, but I thought I'd start one for the realistic CF options. In free agency, there's:

 

Rajai Davis (35)

Dexter Fowler (30)

Chris Heisey (31)

Jason Heyward (26)

Austin Jackson (29)

Justin Maxwell (32)

Colby Rasmus (29)

Shane Robinson (30)

Justin Ruggiano (34)

Denard Span (32)

Drew Stubbs (31)

 

The names that are probably available via trade are:

 

Marcell Ozuna

Cameron Maybin

Ben Revere

 

Are there any other options out there?

[Guest]

- Parra

- One of the Arizona outfielders(Inciarte or Pollock)

- Bourjos is probably getting non-tendered

- Leonys Martin seems likely to be traded after he quit in the playoffs

- The Rockies could try selling high on Blackmon

- Puig is probably on the block and could at least fake it in CF

- Itoi might get posted and can probably fake it in CF

[biittner77]

I saw Ben Revere and thought of Ben Grieve.

[Cubswin11]

Puig would be really interesting, if he's truly available. Though him in CF flanked by some combination of Schwarber/Coghlan/Soler would likely lead to a pretty bad OF defense if I had to guess. I also wonder how high, or low, the asking price would be? I would also think if you traded for him you'd have to sign someone like Jackson or Bourjous or trade for Maybin or Martin for late inning defense.

[davell]

Martin is headed to the Mariners.

[jersey cubs fan]

Martin is headed to the Mariners.

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Guest]

We have a thread for pitching options, but I thought I'd start one for the realistic CF options. In free agency, there's:

 

Rajai Davis (35)

Dexter Fowler (30)

Chris Heisey (31)

Jason Heyward (26)

Austin Jackson (29)

Justin Maxwell (32)

Colby Rasmus (29)

Shane Robinson (30)

Justin Ruggiano (34)

Denard Span (32)

Drew Stubbs (31)

 

The names that are probably available via trade are:

 

Marcell Ozuna

Cameron Maybin

Ben Revere

 

Are there any other options out there?

 

Jackie Bradley Jr?

[Some Guy]

The answer is Heyward, if we don't trade Soler. Heyward needs to be our first priority this offseason.

 

Yes his specialty is RF, and perhaps he could move back there for us in 2017 if Almora emerges and we trade an even more valuable Soler at that time. But for 2016, I don't see why he wouldn't be an upgrade over what we had last year.

 

Fowler was ok. But Heyward is just as fast, but far superior in his jumps, his arm, his concentration and his wall reads.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

HEYWARD.

 

Im kind of certain that he is going to keep getting better.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I mean, it wouldnt really matter how you fill out the lineup card. Get some glove-first OF depth for the late innings after we've donged ourselves to a 7 run lead or whatever. Profit.

 

1B Rizzo

2B Castro/La Stella

3B Bryant/Baez

SS Russell/Baez

LF Schwarber/Bryant

CF Heyward

RF Soler/Heyward

C Montero/Schwarber

[rawaction]

If Puig and Heyward count as CF.....why doesn't Cespedes?

[minnesotacubsfan]

Yes.

[Tryptamine]

If Puig and Heyward count as CF.....why doesn't Cespedes?

 

I hope there's very limited to no interest there. Guy has been a 3fWAR player who happened to put up a monster 6.7fWAR in his walk year. He's going to get way too much money for the type of player he has been 3 of the last 4 seasons.

[Tryptamine]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

[CubsFan84]

I'm torn, I like Heyward, but I think we need pitching a little more, given that there are other options for CF. Parra seems like a pesky type that might fit well in the 2 spot, not sure what he would cost. Maybin is another player I've always liked but his bat seems to be a bit underwhelming and might not be worth giving up a lot. Not sure what JBJ would cost but he would be next in line. None are major impact guys so I would expect the $$ to be spent on pitching at that point. Blackmon and Ozuna are interesting names but I don't know enough about them to really form an opinion one way or the other.

 

***my views are in no way statistically based, just observations from what I remember of players.

[jumbo]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

 

Sign Heyward

Trade Baez+ for Ross

Sign Cuban Sierra

Post for Maeda

 

Rizzo/Castro/Russell/Bryant/LaStella/Another IF

Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Coghlan/RH CF Backup Type

Montero/Ross

Arrieta/Lester/Ross/Hendricks/Hammel/Sierra/Maeda/Rich Hill Type

[Guest]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

 

Sign Heyward

Trade Baez+ for Ross

Sign Cuban Sierra

Post for Maeda

 

Rizzo/Castro/Russell/Bryant/LaStella/Another IF

Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Coghlan/RH CF Backup Type

Montero/Ross

Arrieta/Lester/Ross/Hendricks/Hammel/Sierra/Maeda/Rich Hill Type

I'd much rather sign Shark and keep Javy.

[Tryptamine]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

 

Sign Heyward

Trade Baez+ for Ross

Sign Cuban Sierra

Post for Maeda

 

Rizzo/Castro/Russell/Bryant/LaStella/Another IF

Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Coghlan/RH CF Backup Type

Montero/Ross

Arrieta/Lester/Ross/Hendricks/Hammel/Sierra/Maeda/Rich Hill Type

 

While I very much would like Sierra or Maeda, I'd prefer someone with a history of getting it done in the MLB.

[jumbo]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

 

Sign Heyward

Trade Baez+ for Ross

Sign Cuban Sierra

Post for Maeda

 

Rizzo/Castro/Russell/Bryant/LaStella/Another IF

Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Coghlan/RH CF Backup Type

Montero/Ross

Arrieta/Lester/Ross/Hendricks/Hammel/Sierra/Maeda/Rich Hill Type

I'd much rather sign Shark and keep Javy.

 

I'd agree, but I was trying to illustrate that there are plenty of ways to fill out the pitching staff without signing big contracts after Heyward.

[Guest]

Heyward would be option #1 for me if I could come up with a realistic option that still allowed the Cubs to add 2 pitchers. After Heyward I'm not even sure they could afford to go out and grab the Kennedy and Kazmirs of FA.

 

Sign Heyward

Trade Baez+ for Ross

Sign Cuban Sierra

Post for Maeda

 

Rizzo/Castro/Russell/Bryant/LaStella/Another IF

Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Coghlan/RH CF Backup Type

Montero/Ross

Arrieta/Lester/Ross/Hendricks/Hammel/Sierra/Maeda/Rich Hill Type

I'd much rather sign Shark and keep Javy.

 

I'd agree, but I was trying to illustrate that there are plenty of ways to fill out the pitching staff without signing big contracts after Heyward.

Ah, gotcha

[StylesClash]

Is Choo capable of playing anything close to a tolerable Center Field at this stage of his career? Choo would also be able to take over for Fowler at the top of the lineup. I suppose the question is do the Rangers want to dump the remaining 100 million left on his contract. And if so how much would they be willing to eat.

[Guest]

Is Choo capable of playing anything close to a tolerable Center Field at this stage of his career? Choo would also be able to take over for Fowler at the top of the lineup. I suppose the question is do the Rangers want to dump the remaining 100 million left on his contract. And if so how much would they be willing to eat.

I don't want anywhere near the 100M remaining on his contract.

[StylesClash]

Is Choo capable of playing anything close to a tolerable Center Field at this stage of his career? Choo would also be able to take over for Fowler at the top of the lineup. I suppose the question is do the Rangers want to dump the remaining 100 million left on his contract. And if so how much would they be willing to eat.

I don't want anywhere near the 100M remaining on his contract.

 

If he were a few years younger would you feel differently? Three of the past four years Choo has played at a level that would be worth close to 20 million. Its just a question of how much his production will drop as he ages. But since Choo's key attribute is taking Walks, I see him aging better than most players.

[Guest]

Is Choo capable of playing anything close to a tolerable Center Field at this stage of his career? Choo would also be able to take over for Fowler at the top of the lineup. I suppose the question is do the Rangers want to dump the remaining 100 million left on his contract. And if so how much would they be willing to eat.

I don't want anywhere near the 100M remaining on his contract.

 

If he were a few years younger would you feel differently? Three of the past four years Choo has played at a level that would be worth close to 20 million. Its just a question of how much his production will drop as he ages. But since Choo's key attribute is taking Walks, I see him aging better than most players.

He's been horrendous defensively for years. You'd seriously be better off putting Schwarber in CF. His walk rate is nice, but not otherworldly other than his one year in Cincy. I was opposed to getting him two years ago and feel the same way today.

[Felix Leiter]

What would it take to get Charlie Blackmon from the Rox? Hendricks, Alcantra and 2 minor league pitchers seems doable.