2016 Trade Deadline

[Cubswin11]

I would LOVE Miller. In fact, I may get laughed at, but I'd consider moving Torres for him. But it'd be an overpay and there's other options out there that are suitable and much cheaper. My gut tells me Miller stays put because the asking price is way too high.

 

Soler and Candelario is in the range of what I figure we'd offer.

I really like and want him too, but I'm not moving any of the top guys for him. 1 because he's a relief pitcher and owed good money and 2 because there are/should be pretty good 2nd, 3rd, and 4th options for less available. If he can't be had for 1-2 of the guys in the Jeimer, Zagunis, Happ, Caratini, McKinney, Vogelbach, etc. tier of guys I don't want him. Not that I don't think a Torres ask is out of bounds or a reasonable return, but it's just not worth using a guy like Torres to acquire a relief pitcher.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Cubswin11

[soccer10k]

Where do they put Miller? I'm all for redundancy in the bullpen, but I'd rather not pay a premium for it. Then again, Grimm hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year.

 

I don't like giving up hitters for relief pitchers, but whatever, I trust the brain trust.

 

You shoot Richard into the sun.

[UMFan83]

Where do they put Miller? I'm all for redundancy in the bullpen, but I'd rather not pay a premium for it. Then again, Grimm hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year.

 

I don't like giving up hitters for relief pitchers, but whatever, I trust the brain trust.

 

I'm pretty sure they find a place for what may be the best relief pitcher in baseball. At the very least top 5.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I would LOVE Miller. In fact, I may get laughed at, but I'd consider moving Torres for him. But it'd be an overpay and there's other options out there that are suitable and much cheaper. My gut tells me Miller stays put because the asking price is way too high.

 

Soler and Candelario is in the range of what I figure we'd offer.

 

Torres for Miller prooooobably is not outlandish given just how good Miller has been and that he's locked up through 2018, but probably there's other routes.

 

If we are including Torres we might as well get Miller and Chapman. Frame it like the Russell/Shark trade.

 

Torres+Happ+AAAA arm for Miller+Chapman

 

 

Arrieta

Lester

Lackey

Hammel

Hendricks

 

Wood

Warren

Grimm

Strop

Miller

Rondon

Chapman

 

Is that a good pitching staff you guys?

[Tim]

The news about Villanueva nearing a rehab assignment got me thinking about his position and someone in a similar position as him. He's going to have to either be put on the 25 man roster or taken off the 40 man once he's done with his rehab. I do wonder if they'll put him on the 25 man for at least a little bit. He was impressive in spring training until he got hurt and the Cubs could easily waive TFed to make room for him.

 

The comparison in my mind is to Szczur. With his time on the roster this year, Caesar has increased his value quite a bit. I have no idea how other teams would value him at this point. I'd imagine that he's gone from being viewed as a replacement level guy that most every team already has in their system to being a potentially valuable role player / short-side platoon player. I'm not sure what that is worth, but it isn't zero any longer.

 

I'm multitasking here, so this isn't as well fleshed out as I'd like. But I do wonder what the trade value of these guys is now and what it could be at the deadline if they produce in spot roles on the MLB roster.

[davell]

Billy is already in trade mode. Go get Doolittle from him now, instead of waiting the Yanks out until whenever they decide(if they even do decide) that they're sellers. Not to mention their likely outlandish asking prices. Doolittle is very good, has his velo back and I can't imagine Billy starting with Schwarber. Even though you could conceivably make some semblance of a case that he's got as much value as Miller does. Miller at 2-18 in 17/18 versus Doolittle at 2/6.95 and 2 options for 12.5 total. I get he's not as good as Miller, but the controlled years plus the low salaries, plus the fact he's very good......He'd make a big difference for us.

[Tim]

1) Trade for Doolittle and drop Richard. Now you've already got Strop / Doolittle / Rondon at the back end of the pen, which is downright nasty.

 

2) Ride it out with Grimm. His stuff is too good for him to be bad.

 

3) Add the winner of the Patton / Edwards / Nathan / Peralta sweepstakes and jettison...I have no idea. Everyone else is pretty decent. Cahill, maybe?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

1) Trade for Doolittle and drop Richard. Now you've already got Strop / Doolittle / Rondon at the back end of the pen, which is downright nasty.

 

2) Ride it out with Grimm. His stuff is too good for him to be bad.

 

3) Add the winner of the Patton / Edwards / Nathan / Peralta sweepstakes and jettison...I have no idea. Everyone else is pretty decent. Cahill, maybe?

 

Add Doolittle and the bullpen is already looking good. I'm really only concerned with those last three guys. As far as it pertains to the rest of the guys, keep things copacetic unless one of those guys in the sweepstakes really forces your hand, or there's an injury or whatever. Then, just throw all of them out there in September and let them fight for the remaining playoff spots.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I am all in on Doolittle over Miller. Even if he doesn't get back to peak form he's death to LH hitters, and with that hope that he can regain closer-level dominance and a favorable contract(plus enough injury history to keep the return from being too exorbitant), he's a great target as long as they don't see him as an extreme health risk.

[Cubswin11]

I just think in general Zagunis is a good player and intriguing prospect, but he seems like a guy Beane would really value. I wonder how much more than him would have to be included to get Doolittle.

[davell]

I just think in general Zagunis is a good player and intriguing prospect, but he seems like a guy Beane would really value. I wonder how much more than him would have to be included to get Doolittle.

 

I think he'd want Torres. Doolittle is very good, cheap, and has 4 years of control. There's plenty of teams in need and its extremely early to make a deal. So my guess is it'd take giving him a SS to help make up for losing Addy, to get him now. And likely a Zagunis or Vogelbach to go with him.

 

I know that sounds high, but he's not going to come cheap at all.

[Cubswin11]

I just think in general Zagunis is a good player and intriguing prospect, but he seems like a guy Beane would really value. I wonder how much more than him would have to be included to get Doolittle.

 

I think he'd want Torres. Doolittle is very good, cheap, and has 4 years of control. There's plenty of teams in need and its extremely early to make a deal. So my guess is it'd take giving him a SS to help make up for losing Addy, to get him now. And likely a Zagunis or Vogelbach to go with him.

 

I know that sounds high, but he's not going to come cheap at all.

If Torres is involved in a deal with Oakland I want Gray involved

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I just think in general Zagunis is a good player and intriguing prospect, but he seems like a guy Beane would really value. I wonder how much more than him would have to be included to get Doolittle.

 

I think he'd want Torres. Doolittle is very good, cheap, and has 4 years of control. There's plenty of teams in need and its extremely early to make a deal. So my guess is it'd take giving him a SS to help make up for losing Addy, to get him now. And likely a Zagunis or Vogelbach to go with him.

 

I know that sounds high, but he's not going to come cheap at all.

 

I think that'll be a tough sell, I have a hard time seeing anyone being willing to give up that type of upside. What would make more sense to me, given the player and Beane's history, is more quantity of a slightly lesser player. So instead of 2-3 guys in the McKinney/Candelario/Zagunis/Underwood/Johnson/Caratini range, it'd take 3-4 to move quickly to nab him.

[davell]

I'm not sure if the Kimbrel trade is worth using or not, but Boston gave up Margot(top 25ish), Guerra(top 75ish), Asauje, and Allen(both top 30s in a solid system). Kimbrel was under a 3/37 deal, versus 4/19.45 for Doolittle. Kimbrel is better, without the injury history(I think).

 

Still, if you factor in Margot and Guerra, one year less control, and a much higher salary......I'd think Torres being included seems pretty reasonable, even with Kimbrel being the better pitcher.

 

But, as TT said, Beane does like quantity, so maybe you can nab him that way.

Edited June 16, 2016 by davell

[imb]

Sonny Gray's been 93-96 tonight and very aggressive with the fastball. 3 straight 96s to Profar just now in a 12 pitch PA, juuuuuuuust missed strike 3 with 95.

 

so he still has no put away pitch nice

[mhuber92211]

Brad Ziegler from AZ... Cheap and still effective

[cwood218]

Brad Ziegler from AZ... Cheap and still effective

 

No. looks like he is going the wrong way if you look at his fangraphs page.

[Cubswin11]

What about David Phelps from the Marlins? He's moved to a full-time relief pitcher this year and his stuff seems to be playing up quite a bit. Striking out 10.25 per 9, his FB average is up around 3 MPH and his cutter average a little over 2 MPH (he throws those pitches about 91% of the time). He's also topped out an nearly 97 MPH on his FB and has hit 95 on his cutter. He's olderish, 29, and is in arbitration. I can't imagine the Marlins would be too stuck on keeping him, seems like he could be had for maybe only 1 player like a McKinney and maybe a wild card pick like a Black or Rivero, etc.

[Post Count Padder]

What about David Phelps from the Marlins? He's moved to a full-time relief pitcher this year and his stuff seems to be playing up quite a bit. Striking out 10.25 per 9, his FB average is up around 3 MPH and his cutter average a little over 2 MPH (he throws those pitches about 91% of the time). He's also topped out an nearly 97 MPH on his FB and has hit 95 on his cutter. He's olderish, 29, and is in arbitration. I can't imagine the Marlins would be too stuck on keeping him, seems like he could be had for maybe only 1 player like a McKinney and maybe a wild card pick like a Black or Rivero, etc.

Marlins are an odd team to deal with. I could see them not wanting to part with him bc he is still under team control. Also, we have a former Yankee starter-turned-reliever in Warren.

[sneakypower]

are we only allowed 1

[MarkR]

Maybe this is me being greedy, but this team, as constructed, is the best Cubs team I've seen in my life. They have a noticeable weakness in the bullpen while still boasting a ton of desirable assets for any team. Get players who are going to be far and away an upgrade over the current status quo. If there's some pieces that have to be mortgaged from the future, then so be it. This team is not going to be hurting for position talent anytime soon. The entire current starting roster, sans Fowler, is going to be here next year. There's enough depth to go out and get an elite difference maker in the bullpen.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

It just so awesome that here we are approaching the trade deadline, looking at realistic ways to improve the team and everyone is pretty much in agreement that the only real move that needs to be made is to get a 7th/8th inning type arm.

[raw]

Maybe this is me being greedy, but this team, as constructed, is the best Cubs team I've seen in my life. They have a noticeable weakness in the bullpen while still boasting a ton of desirable assets for any team. Get players who are going to be far and away an upgrade over the current status quo. If there's some pieces that have to be mortgaged from the future, then so be it. This team is not going to be hurting for position talent anytime soon. The entire current starting roster, sans Fowler, is going to be here next year. There's enough depth to go out and get an elite difference maker in the bullpen.

 

This is where I'm starting to lean. I understand that everything doesn't work out perfectly and the Cubs are successful now because of tons of resources and waves of young talent.....but now that Contreras and Almora are up, I have a hard time arguing that any current minor leaguer is untouchable. Even if it means you have to give up slightly more than you'd like, obviously it'd be worth it if the Cubs win it all. The top prospects the Cubs have are Torres, Happ, McKinney, and Eloy among others. All 4 of these guys are either 3 levels away or in McKinney's case, has diminished a bit. And as much as it is a gamble, I'd bank on the guys that are up staying productive and healthy for at least a couple years to basically block any prospect that might come up in the near future.

 

I'd have 0 problem giving up Torres and a package that resembles a typical deadline trade for a top hitter/pitcher for Andrew Miller. He's really good, under control for 2.5 more years at a modest 9M per, and has a 16.6K/9 rate, while walking less than 1 per 9.

[philosophizer75]

I haven't been following torres for as long as most of you (so less of a bias towards keeping him I suppose), but I would trade him and vogelbach for miller in a heartbeat. There's no place for vogelbach on the team, and torres is 2-3 years away from impacting the major league roster, if he does at all.

 

If those two are what it takes to replace Clayton Richard with Andrew Miller on this year's team, count me in.

[cwood218]

It just so awesome that here we are approaching the trade deadline, looking at realistic ways to improve the team and everyone is pretty much in agreement that the only real move that needs to be made is to get a 7th/8th inning type arm.

 

 

Justin Wilson (2.5 years of Arby left)

FanGraphs page

 

Wonder what it would take for him if Detroit fell out of the race?

Would have to be less than Miller right?