2016 Trade Deadline

[sneakypower]

I think there are going to be options out there that don't cost as much. The media keeps focusing on the Yankees because, well, because NY. But there will be guys out there like Doolittle that should cost much less and add depth to the bullpen nearly as effectively.

 

Oh, also, if I haven't mentioned it yet, sign Greg Holland without giving up any talent to get him.

Doolittle is the dream because we know Beane seems to favor a quantity-over-quality approach to trades where we can surrender less star power and give up more player control to A's

 

is it crazy to think he might take Candelario, Clifton, Vogelbach? i don't think so

[Sammy Sofa]

I love Soler and I still think he can be an absolute monster, but I think if you can trade for one of the top 5 relievers in baseball, who is under contract for 2 more years after this one, and he happens to be lefty which is maybe our biggest weakness (LHP in the pen), you have to strongly consider it.

 

Good God, yes.

you know that if you had your druthers half the guys who donged yesterday wouldn't even be here

 

You know it, baby.

 

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/956/636/78c.gif

[Cubswin11]

I think there are going to be options out there that don't cost as much. The media keeps focusing on the Yankees because, well, because NY. But there will be guys out there like Doolittle that should cost much less and add depth to the bullpen nearly as effectively.

 

Oh, also, if I haven't mentioned it yet, sign Greg Holland without giving up any talent to get him.

Doolittle is the dream because we know Beane seems to favor a quantity-over-quality approach to trades where we can surrender less star power and give up more player control to A's

 

is it crazy to think he might take Candelario, Clifton, Vogelbach? i don't think so

I don't think it's crazy to think something roughly like that could get him. Maybe Happ instead of Jeimer if he likes him more. And maybe a ML piece like Szczur depending on how Almora looks and Soler/Fowler are back to full health since there's really nowhere to put Szczur if we want to keep Almora, Coghlan and 3 catchers.

[sneakypower]

Jeimer has a .800 OPS with great peripherals, in the last full year despite being super young...if he's a true 3B, that's probably a top 75-100 prospect in his own right for a FO that values players like ours does, and shits on the Nick Williamses of the world

[Tim]

btw - I'm willing to deal with Chapman being a dick for a few months if he comes cheap. It would be awfully fun to watch Strop/Rondon/Chapman at the end of games.

[Clem Fandango]

As much as I would love to see Miller in a Cubs uniform, I don't know if it's worth even giving up Torres or Happ for him. Yes, those guys are theoretically blocked in our organization for a little while (and they aren't close to the majors), but those are bullets that could be spent on something else when a bigger need arises.

 

And by that I'm focusing mainly on the rotation. You never want to plan on or assume injuries, but you also shouldn't plan on the health we've gotten out of our starters over the last year and a half, especially given the ages of some of them. With Warren looking shaky and our other swing relievers not doing a whole lot, our starting pitching gets pretty thin. Yeah, Torres might be a few years away, but if Torres can be a piece that gets us a top starter to replace an injured Arrieta/Lester/Lackey, or if Arrieta walks, I think we're better served making sure we can do that.

 

Plus, at the end of the day, I trust the front office to find a way to shore up the bullpen in a much cheaper way. They did it last year with Cahill and Rodney, and you can tell they're already trying with Matusz and Crow. They'll figure something out.

 

I don't think this is coincidence. There's a reason they've picked out the guys they have. I'd be willing to bet they've developed some sort of algorithm that's helping them focus on starting pitchers with a very low injury probability and damned if it's not working pretty well so far.

 

IIRC, when Theo & Co. first got here wasn't one of the things they said that was a market inefficiency that they were going to put lots of time, money, and research into was how to maintain healthy players and keep them off the DL as much as possible?

[Tim]

As much as I would love to see Miller in a Cubs uniform, I don't know if it's worth even giving up Torres or Happ for him. Yes, those guys are theoretically blocked in our organization for a little while (and they aren't close to the majors), but those are bullets that could be spent on something else when a bigger need arises.

 

And by that I'm focusing mainly on the rotation. You never want to plan on or assume injuries, but you also shouldn't plan on the health we've gotten out of our starters over the last year and a half, especially given the ages of some of them. With Warren looking shaky and our other swing relievers not doing a whole lot, our starting pitching gets pretty thin. Yeah, Torres might be a few years away, but if Torres can be a piece that gets us a top starter to replace an injured Arrieta/Lester/Lackey, or if Arrieta walks, I think we're better served making sure we can do that.

 

Plus, at the end of the day, I trust the front office to find a way to shore up the bullpen in a much cheaper way. They did it last year with Cahill and Rodney, and you can tell they're already trying with Matusz and Crow. They'll figure something out.

 

I don't think this is coincidence. There's a reason they've picked out the guys they have. I'd be willing to bet they've developed some sort of algorithm that's helping them focus on starting pitchers with a very low injury probability and damned if it's not working pretty well so far.

 

IIRC, when Theo & Co. first got here wasn't one of the things they said that was a market inefficiency that they were going to put lots of time, money, and research into was how to maintain healthy players and keep them off the DL as much as possible?

I believe so, yes.

[davell]

As much as I would love to see Miller in a Cubs uniform, I don't know if it's worth even giving up Torres or Happ for him. Yes, those guys are theoretically blocked in our organization for a little while (and they aren't close to the majors), but those are bullets that could be spent on something else when a bigger need arises.

 

And by that I'm focusing mainly on the rotation. You never want to plan on or assume injuries, but you also shouldn't plan on the health we've gotten out of our starters over the last year and a half, especially given the ages of some of them. With Warren looking shaky and our other swing relievers not doing a whole lot, our starting pitching gets pretty thin. Yeah, Torres might be a few years away, but if Torres can be a piece that gets us a top starter to replace an injured Arrieta/Lester/Lackey, or if Arrieta walks, I think we're better served making sure we can do that.

 

Plus, at the end of the day, I trust the front office to find a way to shore up the bullpen in a much cheaper way. They did it last year with Cahill and Rodney, and you can tell they're already trying with Matusz and Crow. They'll figure something out.

 

I don't think this is coincidence. There's a reason they've picked out the guys they have. I'd be willing to bet they've developed some sort of algorithm that's helping them focus on starting pitchers with a very low injury probability and damned if it's not working pretty well so far.

 

IIRC, when Theo & Co. first got here wasn't one of the things they said that was a market inefficiency that they were going to put lots of time, money, and research into was how to maintain healthy players and keep them off the DL as much as possible?

 

Yeah, they mentioned that as where the next big advancement could go. They just have to put up with a bunch of gremlins in Soler's hammies.

Edited June 20, 2016 by davell

[squally1313]

I do remember them mentioning that....can't remember if they were talking specifically about pitching, or just in general. For what it's worth, according to the link below we've been around the middle of the pack in terms of DL days (probably inflated a bunch by Schwarbs), so it hasn't really been something they've been able to 'achieve' thus far, at least in terms of the overall roster.

 

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/disabled-list/

 

If Warren was pitching as advertised, that'd give us a little cushion. But right now depth starting pitching looks pretty ugly. Not saying we should trade Torres for a 6th starter, but if we lose one of the big guys for the year or a couple of Lackey/Hammel/Hendricks for 4-6 weeks, it'd be a bit of a concern.

[davell]

Miller, Chapman, Doolittle, Abad, McGhee, Smith......Are there any other lefties out there that are decent and seem likely to be moved? Edited June 20, 2016 by davell

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I do remember them mentioning that....can't remember if they were talking specifically about pitching, or just in general. For what it's worth, according to the link below we've been around the middle of the pack in terms of DL days (probably inflated a bunch by Schwarbs), so it hasn't really been something they've been able to 'achieve' thus far, at least in terms of the overall roster.

 

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/disabled-list/

 

If Warren was pitching as advertised, that'd give us a little cushion. But right now depth starting pitching looks pretty ugly. Not saying we should trade Torres for a 6th starter, but if we lose one of the big guys for the year or a couple of Lackey/Hammel/Hendricks for 4-6 weeks, it'd be a bit of a concern.

it looks to me like that list is inflated by other 40-man guys (Beeler, Brooks, Villanueva, Rosscup) because that's the only way I can get to 10

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm struggling to remember much in the way of arm injuries from Cubs SP in the last few years. Arrieta missed the start of 2014 with a biceps tweak IIRC, and Jackson may have gone to the DL at the very end of his time as a SP with an arm ailment(although that could've been made up), but like said above, I don't think that's a coincidence. I don't think that it's a lock to continue at the same rate(because screw pitchers), but the front office has clearly made some intentional decisions about keeping SP arms healthy and it's shown.

[squally1313]

Yeah I'm sure they've made it a priority and they've been very good at keeping their starters healthy the last few years (I can't think of anyone either). But especially given the way they've all been pitching this year, there's a steep drop-off between those five and anyone else currently in the organization. Granted, I could take over the 5th spot for Hammel or Lackey the rest of the year and we'd still win the division, but there's a decent chance in a couple of years it's going to be, for the players currently in our system, 34 year Jon Lester, Hendricks, and then whoever has made it up from the lower levels of the minors.

 

They have the pieces to acquire a front line starter that's could be in the rotation for 4-6 years, but they don't have the need to make that trade yet. If and when the need arises, I'm hoping those pieces are still around, and not playing in New York so I had to hate myself for cheering for Chapman for 4 months.

[squally1313]

I doubt it would happen for a few different reasons, but Chris Sale's 2 option years in 2018 and 2019 would make for a pretty good Arrieta replacement if the White Sox ever figured out they need to blow the team up and that Sale probably has no interest in signing there long term.

[Banedon]

The Cubs have trade chips, but Javier Baez is not one of them

[UMFan83]

I'm struggling to remember much in the way of arm injuries from Cubs SP in the last few years. Arrieta missed the start of 2014 with a biceps tweak IIRC, and Jackson may have gone to the DL at the very end of his time as a SP with an arm ailment(although that could've been made up), but like said above, I don't think that's a coincidence. I don't think that it's a lock to continue at the same rate(because screw pitchers), but the front office has clearly made some intentional decisions about keeping SP arms healthy and it's shown.

 

Wada went on the DL a couple of times because of arm injuries when he was starting, but yeah your premise seems true overall.

[Tim]

Does Pierce Johnson count?

[sneakypower]

The Cubs have trade chips, but Javier Baez is not one of them

Willson Contreras, 24, fits into the same category as the team's catcher of the future, and even Albert Almora Jr., 22, might border on untouchable -- he figures to be the center fielder next season if Dexter Fowler departs as a free agent.

 

well i'll be damned

[Vinestal]

The Cubs have trade chips, but Javier Baez is not one of them

Willson Contreras, 24, fits into the same category as the team's catcher of the future, and even Albert Almora Jr., 22, might border on untouchable -- he figures to be the center fielder next season if Dexter Fowler departs as a free agent.

 

well i'll be damned

This news is really going to disappoint Tom.

[davell]

With trade deadline looming, would Cubs affect culture with certain additions? I asked Theo. https://t.co/fDUMzXm3pY

 

I guess I've read my 5 articles, anything of note in this?

[UMFan83]

With trade deadline looming, would Cubs affect culture with certain additions? I asked Theo. https://t.co/fDUMzXm3pY

 

I guess I've read my 5 articles, anything of note in this?

 

Either open the article in an incognito browser, or clear your Athletic cookies and the number of articles read will reset.

[David]

i've actually sort of passively boycotted that site in my incredulity at their awful business model/idea and the delusion that accompanies it. don't even want to give them the clicks when the articles are free. THANKS DAVELL FOR NOT WARNING ME. jk i don't actually care that much but that site is a stupid ass idea.

[Banedon]

i've actually sort of passively boycotted that site in my incredulity at their awful business model/idea and the delusion that accompanies it. don't even want to give them the clicks when the articles are free. THANKS DAVELL FOR NOT WARNING ME. jk i don't actually care that much but that site is a stupid ass idea.

 

Yeah, I'm with you on the boycott. Fortunately, for inexplicable reasons, the site is blocked at work, so I'm safe.

[CubinNY]

With trade deadline looming, would Cubs affect culture with certain additions? I asked Theo. https://t.co/fDUMzXm3pY

 

I guess I've read my 5 articles, anything of note in this?

 

Either open the article in an incognito browser, or clear your Athletic cookies and the number of articles read will reset.

Don't bother. It was terrible.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Actually there were some interesting quotes from Theo about acquiring players that are perceived as bad humans(a la Chapman). He also zings the press, and I'm just going to assume it was a direct attack at Greenberg, who wrote the article.