2016 Trade Deadline

[jersey cubs fan]

...or they could just promote the MLB-ready in-house alternative fresh off a .324/.419/.657 May; could go either way, really

 

By most/many/seemingly all accounts Contreras is not ready defensively. Trading for catching depth makes sense for both the short and long term seeing as there's no Cs under contract after 2017 on the ML roster right now.

Most accounts say he's not quite ready, but the most recent account, which cited the GM, said it was likely he would be called up this year. He's not getting the call to sit the bench tomorrow, but he can get a couple more months of development in the minors and be up by August/September if necessary.

[squally1313]

...or they could just promote the MLB-ready in-house alternative fresh off a .324/.419/.657 May; could go either way, really

 

By most/many/seemingly all accounts Contreras is not ready defensively. Trading for catching depth makes sense for both the short and long term seeing as there's no Cs under contract after 2017 on the ML roster right now.

 

I don't care how dumb it sounds, I'm holding on to the 'Schwarber is someone's personal catcher when he gets back to full health'. Between that, Contreras, and one of Lester's other hunting buddies, hopefully we'll be covered.

[davell]

They're not going to waste assets on a Catcher. There's plenty of offense on this team already and they can get by with a hole in the offense. Hoyer just said he doesn't foresee us looking for offense and this offense in the summer months will easily be able to sustain a .500 OPS out of the 8th spot in the lineup. And if it can't, they'll bring up the best catching prospect in the minors to fill it, instead of trading for something that depletes what they can spend on pitching.

[David]

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[KrisBryantisaBeast]

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The Sox info is surprising given what the Padres currently think of Shields.

[NOLA]

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I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I hope by "monitoring" they mean "looking to verify that he is, indeed, bad and injured."

[Tim]

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I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

I thought about doing the research, but figured it would take too long. It is incredibly rare for a team to get 30+ starts from five starters in a year. Someone will go down at some point.

 

Now, if you feel that Warren is ready and able to step in and contribute well, that's a different answer.

[David]

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I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

 

i guess because the only way to make this team any more super freakish is to replace one of our back end guys with a TORP.

 

or i guess you could put lucroy at C and/or braun in LF

[Tim]

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I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

 

i guess because the only way to make this team any more super freakish is to replace one of our back end guys with a TORP.

 

or i guess you could put lucroy at C and/or braun in LF

Hammel has been pretty lucky so far. Not only is he due for regression towards what is peripherals would predict, but a return of leg issues is very worrisome.

[davell]

Adding a TOR type arm does what for a playoff series odds? Does it move the bar enough to truly make it worthwhile?

[Tim]

Adding a TOR type arm does what for a playoff series odds? Does it move the bar enough to truly make it worthwhile?

Honestly, it doesn't do that much to the odds if we've got all our guys. If we're comparing having an additional TOR arm to having to start Warren or Wood?

 

Honestly, it probably still doesn't move the needle that much.

[NOLA]

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I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

I thought about doing the research, but figured it would take too long. It is incredibly rare for a team to get 30+ starts from five starters in a year. Someone will go down at some point.

 

Now, if you feel that Warren is ready and able to step in and contribute well, that's a different answer.

Sort of. More like I feel like between Jake, Lester, Lackey, Hendricks and even Hammel, this team can absorb having to spot start some guys and still win the division. Once they get to the playoffs, the rotation in place is more than sufficient.

In short, sure another starter would be great, but the need is not worth the assets required.

[Tim]

I just don't understand why starting pitching is such a need on this team. Get a lefty specialist and call it a day. Barring anything unforeseen, of course.

I thought about doing the research, but figured it would take too long. It is incredibly rare for a team to get 30+ starts from five starters in a year. Someone will go down at some point.

 

Now, if you feel that Warren is ready and able to step in and contribute well, that's a different answer.

Sort of. More like I feel like between Jake, Lester, Lackey, Hendricks and even Hammel, this team can absorb having to spot start some guys and still win the division. Once they get to the playoffs, the rotation in place is more than sufficient.

In short, sure another starter would be great, but the need is not worth the assets required.

If you feel about Javy the way that sneaky feels, then it is a great deal if you can use him as the primary piece in a deal for a starter.

[David]

Adding a TOR type arm does what for a playoff series odds? Does it move the bar enough to truly make it worthwhile?

 

absolutely nothing we do will move the needle, in reality.

[Tim]

Adding a TOR type arm does what for a playoff series odds? Does it move the bar enough to truly make it worthwhile?

 

absolutely nothing we do will move the needle, in reality.

I don't think it is about increasing the odds as much as it is risk mitigation, though.

[David]

but seriously, imagine

 

fowler, lucroy, rizzo, bryant, zobrist, braun, heyward, russell

 

even good heyward would deserve to hit 7th in that lineup

[Cubswin11]

but seriously, imagine

 

fowler, lucroy, rizzo, bryant, zobrist, braun, heyward, russell

 

even good heyward would deserve to hit 7th in that lineup

Who says no to Contreras, Torres, Jeimer and a McKinney/Zagunis level guy enough for Braun, Lucroy and Smith?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

but seriously, imagine

 

fowler, lucroy, rizzo, bryant, zobrist, braun, heyward, russell

 

even good heyward would deserve to hit 7th in that lineup

Who says no to Contreras, Torres, Jeimer and a McKinney/Zagunis level guy enough for Braun, Lucroy and Smith?

 

Me.

[David]

yeah i don't give up contreras to take on a little more than a rental of lucroy and $100M in obligation to 32 year old braun

[Cubswin11]

but seriously, imagine

 

fowler, lucroy, rizzo, bryant, zobrist, braun, heyward, russell

 

even good heyward would deserve to hit 7th in that lineup

Who says no to Contreras, Torres, Jeimer and a McKinney/Zagunis level guy enough for Braun, Lucroy and Smith?

 

Me.

I agree, but that's probably a fair trade if one were to be constructed. No?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Who says no to Contreras, Torres, Jeimer and a McKinney/Zagunis level guy enough for Braun, Lucroy and Smith?

 

Me.

I agree, but that's probably a fair trade if one were to be constructed. No?

 

Maybe, I don't really know. I just want no part of Braun and his contract, at his age, and with a steroid history and injury history. And I don't want to give up all those years of control of Contreras for an older catcher with little control, though a fantastic one at that. Also I don't really feel the need to upgrade at catcher as much as others. I think Montero will be fine. He's actually hit alright outside of that week before he went on the DL, while his back was acting up. He's been a little unlucky. For one, he's had three balls bounce off the top of the wall in a deep part of a cavernous stadium. He's also made a lot more contact this year, and his K-rate is somehow way higher than it should be. And he's also shown a discerning eye at the plate. His plate discipline is better than ever. And Ross has been great. With Contreras on the horizon, I'm perfectly secure with our catching forecast.

[sneakypower]

it's like the Matt Kemp trade where the names sound ok but it's complete highway robbery in all actuality

[Aaron_Kennelly]

And about the talk about moving the needle earlier. That's where I'm at. Like, sure, Lucroy is better than Montero. It might move the needle, if he hits a Carlton Fisk homer or something. But, maybe Montero just goes off in the playoffs, himself. Who the hell knows? The one thing that really could is a top-of-the-rotation arm. But then again, who knows? Maybe he makes one start and sucks. I think that's the one thing that has the best chance of moving the needle, though. But, hell, all of the top-of-rotation arms we've talked about are either now injured, not looking like top of the rotation arms, or aren't getting traded. I've kinda moved on from that idea.

 

I really don't care what we do. Upgrading the bullpen would be nice. But we could do that on the cheap like last year and look no worse for the wear. Like, singing Matusz and him being as competent against lefties as he's been in the past would be a nice start. Maybe Carl Edwards Jr. helps out. There, it's already better.

 

But, we're 7.5 games up in the division and are 36-15. Our run differential suggests we probably could be even better than that right now. We are loaded already. Let the young talent like Russell continue to develop. Wait for Rizzo to get out of his slump. Hope Heyward breaks out soon. It's all good. Smooth sailing from here.

 

And, call me crazy, I know it's a terrible idea to go assuming things in baseball. But, we're gonna be in the playoffs again next year. And probably quite a bit in the years to follow. I'm that confident in our talent. So my main concern right now is probably years of control and age. I don't want some old bastard taking up a spot for the next two years, and two years only. So if we are going to trade guys, make it the Candelarios of the world. They can still net you pieces to shore up some holes. If we are going to trade Willson Contreras, alright, but it better be in some huge Mike Trout deal or something. Not for Jonathan Lucroy.

[Thrilho]

So my main concern right now is probably years of control and age. I don't want some old bastard taking up a spot for the next two years, and two years only. So if we are going to trade guys, make it the Candelarios of the world. They can still net you pieces to shore up some holes. If we are going to trade Willson Contreras, alright, but it better be in some huge Mike Trout deal or something. Not for Jonathan Lucroy.

Totally. Only give up Contreras for Trout. The Cubs have most of their positions filled up with good young players. Schwarber hopefully ready to take back of the OF next year or Baez/Soler could become good. The only positional need the Cubs really have going forward is catcher, and hey look here's one of the best hitters in the minors playing catcher at AAA!

 

If they want to make a trade for a young pitcher for with a lot of years who could start ahead of Lakey it would be ok, but there's enough in the minors and in Jorge Soler to say no Contreras and still get most any pitcher. Would still definitely prefer not to trade Javy and it would take a seriously good young starter to make me want to do it. But no Contreras on any available pitcher for me. Even if he's Welington Castillo behind the plate.

 

But personally, I'd just rather keep the starting 5 we have, plus Wood and Warren. Save the chips in case a guy like Trout does come on the market. I've always liked Hammel, but figure even if he explodes they should weather it fine in the regular season and I'm all the way down with Hendricks in the playoff rotation.

 

Gray would be ok, but again no Contreras. I'd have to know a lot more than I do about why he sucks now before making Javy part of a huge deal involving him.

 

Lefty reliever? I'm down but don't think he has to be that good. I wouldn't want to give up the kind of package that would net Miller. There's Trout to think about and the post-2017 rotation.

 

But mostly just wanted to echo Duke's desire for youth and years. I don't want to sign up any Brauns for their twilight years or a rental like Lucroy when he'll cost us our Trout savings and perhaps not even out OPS the ageless David Ross.