Random In-season Musings and Rumors

[Aaron_Kennelly]

We don't need another bat.

[We Got The Whole 9]

We don't need another bat.

Obviously let things play out, see if the recent surge from Russell can continue, or if Zo or Kyle come back stronger than ever, but as it stands, this team has 2 above average hitters and a rookie enjoying a lot of early success. The young guys have been so up and down. I'd love to have another 120+ wRC+ bat in the lineup.

 

For the sake of curiosity, what would you guys expect Maybin to cost?

[davell]

We don't need another bat.

Obviously let things play out, see if the recent surge from Russell can continue, or if Zo or Kyle come back stronger than ever, but as it stands, this team has 2 above average hitters and a rookie enjoying a lot of early success. The young guys have been so up and down. I'd love to have another 120+ wRC+ bat in the lineup.

 

For the sake of curiosity, what would you guys expect Maybin to cost?

 

He's a rental, so I'd guess you could get him with Zagunis, Caratini, or Candelario as a lead piece. That may be all it'd take actually. If not, add in a pitching prospect like Hudson, Moreno, or Assad.....Obviously a total guess, but a top 200 prospect and a guy in the 15-25 range of a system is my gut feeling.

 

That said, I don't truly see a need for him. If we get our group healthy and Schwarber comes back, we're going to have a rough enough time finding AB's for what we have.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Points for originality, but zero chance I'm trading a reliever that's producing well. 'Good enough' in the bullpen turns into a disaster in the blink of an eye. All it takes is CJ coming down with an arm injury and you're trying to win a title with Strop and Uehara as the back end of the pen, and that's a scary proposition.

 

If I'm doing something outside the box, I'm trying to trade for a failed starter that is a good candidate to boost the pen and hopefully help in future years. Like davell mentions, at the moment, next year's pen stalwarts are Edwards, Strop, and that's pretty much it. I had a hard time finding too an awesome candidate for this when I looked a week or two ago, but the nature of acquisitions like Strop or Montgomery is that the problem is as much mechanical as it is hidden peripheral success that a new org can bring forward.

 

Iglesias then it gets way less straight forward on who that guy could be. I've always liked Brandon Maurer's arm when he's pitching. The Reds are pretty rich with these guys depending on how you view Stephenson and Reed along with Iglesias and Lorenzon. Jharel Cotton has the arm to be an impactful pitcher and has always been a little HR prone as a SP. Mike Minor is putting up good numbers as a reliever with the Royals, but I almost fell asleep writing that sentence.

 

Most of those guys are already in the pen on their respective teams, heck Maurer has been the Padres closer since some time last year. Unless you're talking about one that has been actively bad(only Stephenson from that list), then you might as well try to trade for a good reliever regardless of their origin(which is fine, but not the point I was making). What I was getting at is finding the next guy like pre-2017 Minor, or even pre-Padres Mauer.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We don't need another bat.

Obviously let things play out, see if the recent surge from Russell can continue, or if Zo or Kyle come back stronger than ever, but as it stands, this team has 2 above average hitters and a rookie enjoying a lot of early success. The young guys have been so up and down. I'd love to have another 120+ wRC+ bat in the lineup.

 

I like Maybin, I campaigned for him as a buy-low candidate back when he was a Padre and then a Brave, but ZiPS only has him as a 105 wRC+ bat the rest of the year. Maybe that's pessimistic, but if you're making an acquisition in the name of offensive certainty, I don't think he's your guy. Backfilling because we sent Happ and Almora in a deal for Archer or something like that? Sure. But the Cubs currently have plenty of guys who are good bets to give you what Maybin is gonna provide with the bat.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Oh, then Luis Perdomo...Maybe Mejia on the Twins? I'm going to stop guessing on this now.

 

Perdomo is a decent option if the Padres are done with him as a starter. The deluxe option would be seeing if the Rangers want to give up on Martin Perez and turn him into another Wood/Montgomery.

 

Maybe Tom Koehler?

[davell]

 

Rosscup dealt to Rockies, for Matt Carasiti, a RHP that's not on the 40 man. Having a solid year in AAA, was out righted after a horrible major league call up in 2016.

[We Got The Whole 9]

 

Rosscup dealt to Rockies, for Matt Carasiti, a RHP that's not on the 40 man. Having a solid year in AAA, was out righted after a horrible major league call up in 2016.

Pretty nice numbers all over this year. Grounders, HR suppression, KBB all on point.

 

Hoping Zac gets an extended look at COL.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Hoping Zac gets an extended look at COL.

you're so nice. I didn't care about him with the Cubs, so he can horsefeathers off with the Rockies

[We Got The Whole 9]

Montero is a real issue. I don't think he should be behind the dish much anymore. I doubt they'd dump him this year and I value his glove/framing and mentorship of Contreras but he's borderline unplayable at the Catcher position.

[champaignchris]

Montero is a real issue. I don't think he should be behind the dish much anymore. I doubt they'd dump him this year and I value his glove/framing and mentorship of Contreras but he's borderline unplayable at the Catcher position.

 

He's a FA after this year. The Cubs will let him walk.

 

If Caratini isn't traded, he'll probably get a look this September and could be the backup next year. Or they'll sign a reasonably priced defense-first back up catcher free agent.

 

Don't really think that's a position of concern.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Montero is a real issue. I don't think he should be behind the dish much anymore. I doubt they'd dump him this year and I value his glove/framing and mentorship of Contreras but he's borderline unplayable at the Catcher position.

 

He's a FA after this year. The Cubs will let him walk.

 

If Caratini isn't traded, he'll probably get a look this September and could be the backup next year. Or they'll sign a reasonably priced defense-first back up catcher free agent.

 

Don't really think that's a position of concern.

I had forgotten where I posted that

 

But anyway I was basically wondering if they should DFA him. But I didn't really expect them to do it.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

does this basically take Caratini out of the mix in any trade talks, or would they roll with a Baker/Federowicz hump off the scrap heap as a backup?

[Post Count Padder]

Derek Norris just got released. Any chance we pick him up to go to Iowa now? Seems like they'd want to add another catcher to the mix at least.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Derek Norris just got released. Any chance we pick him up to go to Iowa now? Seems like they'd want to add another catcher to the mix at least.

 

Derek Norris got released in no small part because of a domestic violence allegation.

 

I wouldn't think that this takes Caratini off the table because I bet they'll still look to add another catcher of some sort, but Caratini's value isn't so high that it probably doesn't make a huge difference either way.

[David]

Derek Norris just got released. Any chance we pick him up to go to Iowa now? Seems like they'd want to add another catcher to the mix at least.

 

domestic violence accusations

[Post Count Padder]

I can''t believe I forgot about those. Ok, leave that trash out on the curb then. Still though, would think we'd be in the market for another catcher.

[Cubswin11]

Some catchers on teams who could be had for not much/should be available....... how do people feel about Martin Maldonado, Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Flowers, or Mike Zunino?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Some catchers on teams who could be had for not much/should be available....... how do people feel about Martin Maldonado, Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Flowers, or Mike Zunino?

 

isn't Flowers considered pretty strong in terms of pitch framing? i could get behind a flowers deal depending on what we'd have to send out.

[davell]

Morosi mentioned Avila.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Some catchers on teams who could be had for not much/should be available....... how do people feel about Martin Maldonado, Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Flowers, or Mike Zunino?

 

isn't Flowers considered pretty strong in terms of pitch framing? i could get behind a flowers deal depending on what we'd have to send out.

 

Yeah, he's been a good framer, although he's almost Montero bad with the arm since going to Atlanta. 10 CS out of 99 attempts, 19% this year.

 

Maldonado has both going for him and is having a career year offensively, but with the Angels hanging in the playoff race and no real catching alternative, it's probably unlikely they'll move him.

[Liam Neeson]

[tweet]

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I guess we are looking for a veteran back up catcher.

 

He is not good at pitch framing but is having a nice offensive year.

[UMFan83]

I'm so conflicted on the concept of pitch framing. Does it make such a sizable different that it makes sense to go after someone like Avila? If it does make a big deal, does acquiring a TOR pitcher and starting them instead of a guy like Lackey or Butler mitigate that to a large degree (beyond the obvious discrepancy in talent)?

[Regular Show]

I'm so conflicted on the concept of pitch framing. Does it make such a sizable different that it makes sense to go after someone like Avila? If it does make a big deal, does acquiring a TOR pitcher and starting them instead of a guy like Lackey or Butler mitigate that to a large degree (beyond the obvious discrepancy in talent)?

 

Yeah I hate this relatively new concept of "Pitch framing" or "Disceiving Umps" or "Stealing Strikes" -- whatever you want to call it. It's dumb and makes fans angry when it happens against your favorite team.

 

Some fans actually like this and claim it's part of the "human element" of the game, but again that's a dumb argument. You wouldn't argue for a system like that in society where you can fool a cop or judge some of the time.

 

Get a horsefeathering Automated Strike Zone and I don't really care what technology you use if it's accurate and reliable. It's going to be better than human Umps, will reduce the game length because managers and players will complain less about the strike zone, and will benefit players (like Rizzo and Zobrist) who know their strike zones really well.

 

Oh, and the last thing is we won't have arguments about acquiring crappy backup catchers and debating whether they're good at "pitch framing" or not.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I'm so conflicted on the concept of pitch framing. Does it make such a sizable different that it makes sense to go after someone like Avila? If it does make a big deal, does acquiring a TOR pitcher and starting them instead of a guy like Lackey or Butler mitigate that to a large degree (beyond the obvious discrepancy in talent)?

 

Yeah I hate this relatively new concept of "Pitch framing" or "Disceiving Umps" or "Stealing Strikes" -- whatever you want to call it. It's dumb and makes fans angry when it happens against your favorite team.

 

Some fans actually like this and claim it's part of the "human element" of the game, but again that's a dumb argument. You wouldn't argue for a system like that in society where you can fool a cop or judge some of the time.

 

Get a horsefeathering Automated Strike Zone and I don't really care what technology you use if it's accurate and reliable. It's going to be better than human Umps, will reduce the game length because managers and players will complain less about the strike zone, and will benefit players (like Rizzo and Zobrist) who know their strike zones really well.

 

Oh, and the last thing is we won't have arguments about acquiring crappy backup catchers and debating whether they're good at "pitch framing" or not.

 

I dont know what I'd do with the extra 4 minutes of my life though