Cubs trade Eloy, Cease, others for Quintana

[The_Achiever]

There's a pretty good chance the Cubs just got the best pitcher to switch teams via free agency or trade or otherwise between now and trade deadline 2018. Barring a complete surprise, Darvish and Archer are the only two contenders, right? Or maybe you think Sonny Gray is on the same level as Quintana. Who else is there? Cueto? Teahran, if you trust him.

 

And when you take the contract into account, all qualification goes out the window.

 

And the Cubs didn't have to give up a player off their MLB roster. And the ~$15 million a year they save from '18-'20 because they don't have to spend that on a top-flight FA pitcher should allow them to sign free agents that will more than offset the prospects they had to give up.

 

I just don't see how anyone can't be thrilled with this trade.

 

This is where I am too. Liked the trade on its face, starting to really love it. I was excited for Eloy to become a prodigious dong-maker on the north side but getting Q on that contract really opens up a lot of options (on top of being a very good pitcher). As long as he stays relatively healthy I think we made out very well here.

[The_Achiever]

Any word yet on when he will be making his first start for the Cubs? My family is headed to Atlanta to see the Cubs Monday and Tuesday. Would love to see his debut.

 

Think I saw somewhere on twitter that he's in line to start Sunday.

[Flames24Rulz]

just curious, but does this move make Verlander slightly more intriguing or nah? Reason I say that is because obviously he won't cost you any real, legitimate prospects and the cost is just money. A rotation of Lester-Quintana-Hendricks-Arrieta-Verlander for the second half of this season would be rather decent. And you'd have one less part to worry about in the offseason, unless he actually is bad and/or his arm falls off.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

 

Your capitalization of specific words to make a point remind me of someone but I can't quite place it

 

I don't know what you're doing here.

 

OTHER USERS POSTING FROM THIS IP	POSTS
HendryWallet	                     10
PetermanRealityTour	              1

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

but I think he was referring to DJT

[CyHawk_Cub]

Figured there'd be a thumbs up consensus here. Glad to see I was right. Bleacher nation overall seems pretty well grounded as well, but w/ a few notable dumpster fires of terrible logic. The payroll flexibility this provides is really, really nice.

[Andy]

Any word yet on when he will be making his first start for the Cubs? My family is headed to Atlanta to see the Cubs Monday and Tuesday. Would love to see his debut.

 

Think I saw somewhere on twitter that he's in line to start Sunday.

I'm rooting for this just because I'll be at next Saturday and Sunday's games and this would line him up to start one of them.

[Brian707]

Figured there'd be a thumbs up consensus here. Glad to see I was right. Bleacher nation overall seems pretty well grounded as well, but w/ a few notable dumpster fires of terrible logic. The payroll flexibility this provides is really, really nice.

 

 

If you want to read about terrible logic from a Sox fan view, read some of the people upset at Rick Hahn. I don't know how if you were a Sox fan you could hate this deal either.

 

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=146828

[WrigleyField 22]

Figured there'd be a thumbs up consensus here. Glad to see I was right. Bleacher nation overall seems pretty well grounded as well, but w/ a few notable dumpster fires of terrible logic. The payroll flexibility this provides is really, really nice.

 

 

If you want to read about terrible logic from a Sox fan view, read some of the people upset at Rick Hahn. I don't know how if you were a Sox fan you could hate this deal either.

 

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=146828

I can understand if they don't like it, but what I find best are Sox fans that are only upset because it was a trade with the Cubs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That Brewerfan thread is delightful. They're so glad the Cubs traded prospects for a good player since that means the prospects can't be good players for the Cubs or be traded for a good player later. Some also seem to think Quintana-caliber pitchers are regularly reaching Free Agency.

[We Got The Whole 9]

I didn't live in Illinois long enough to develop any kind of hatred for the Sox. Frank Thomas was one of the greatest hitters I ever watched. I'm looking forward to seeing that team in a couple years

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This is the best one IMO:

 

Yeah this totally makes sense for the Cubs. That doesn't mean it isn't a deal that will hurt them long term though. I just look at it with Brewer colored glasses on.

 

Next year we start to really break in the prospects, the year after they get stretched out to playing a full season, we hope to be competitive in 2020.

 

The Cubs as a team looks like it will start to fall apart starting in 2021 and full bore by 2022. They have money to fill in some blanks but that just gets out of hand fast. I think sometime in the competitive window for our current top prospects the Cubs will have fallen apart because they traded away all of their high end prospects in the past 2 seasons. Sure maybe they can replenish things that fast but there is a decent chance they don't too. They won't crash and burn or anything but by 2022 I don't think we will be thinking of them as a team with special talent anymore. What was scary in the middle of the season last year is they looked completely dominant and still had like 6 or 7 top prospects. The Cubs long term outlook is a lot weaker today than it was a year ago and that is a good thing for us.

 

Tough break everyone, 4-5 years from now the Cubs are screwed.

[UMFan83]

This is the best one IMO:

 

Yeah this totally makes sense for the Cubs. That doesn't mean it isn't a deal that will hurt them long term though. I just look at it with Brewer colored glasses on.

 

Next year we start to really break in the prospects, the year after they get stretched out to playing a full season, we hope to be competitive in 2020.

 

The Cubs as a team looks like it will start to fall apart starting in 2021 and full bore by 2022. They have money to fill in some blanks but that just gets out of hand fast. I think sometime in the competitive window for our current top prospects the Cubs will have fallen apart because they traded away all of their high end prospects in the past 2 seasons. Sure maybe they can replenish things that fast but there is a decent chance they don't too. They won't crash and burn or anything but by 2022 I don't think we will be thinking of them as a team with special talent anymore. What was scary in the middle of the season last year is they looked completely dominant and still had like 6 or 7 top prospects. The Cubs long term outlook is a lot weaker today than it was a year ago and that is a good thing for us.

 

Tough break everyone, 4-5 years from now the Cubs are screwed.

 

Plus if you think Theo is going to give up on player development and not exhaust every resource not tied to the major league club to rebuild the farm you are a moron

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This is the best one IMO:

 

Yeah this totally makes sense for the Cubs. That doesn't mean it isn't a deal that will hurt them long term though. I just look at it with Brewer colored glasses on.

 

Next year we start to really break in the prospects, the year after they get stretched out to playing a full season, we hope to be competitive in 2020.

 

The Cubs as a team looks like it will start to fall apart starting in 2021 and full bore by 2022. They have money to fill in some blanks but that just gets out of hand fast. I think sometime in the competitive window for our current top prospects the Cubs will have fallen apart because they traded away all of their high end prospects in the past 2 seasons. Sure maybe they can replenish things that fast but there is a decent chance they don't too. They won't crash and burn or anything but by 2022 I don't think we will be thinking of them as a team with special talent anymore. What was scary in the middle of the season last year is they looked completely dominant and still had like 6 or 7 top prospects. The Cubs long term outlook is a lot weaker today than it was a year ago and that is a good thing for us.

 

Tough break everyone, 4-5 years from now the Cubs are screwed.

 

Plus if you think Theo is going to give up on player development and not exhaust every resource not tied to the major league club to rebuild the farm you are a moron

 

All free agent contracts continue in perpetuity and the draft was disbanded, if you don't got the prospects now you might as well fold the franchise before The Rock's Inauguration.

[WrigleyField 22]

The weird and hilarious thing about it is that they're in first place and rationalizing how 2021 is the year. Like I'm sure to keep sane, many posters here circa 2011 many were plotting the Cardinals demise, but we were in last place. It was our only hope.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

That guy's right, though. By the time KB is a free agent, Josh Hader might be walking fewer than 8 per 9 innings. And Corey Ray might be out of A-ball and hitting over .215.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Any word yet on when he will be making his first start for the Cubs? My family is headed to Atlanta to see the Cubs Monday and Tuesday. Would love to see his debut.

 

Think I saw somewhere on twitter that he's in line to start Sunday.

I'm rooting for this just because I'll be at next Saturday and Sunday's games and this would line him up to start one of them.

 

Quintana confirmed for Sunday.

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[TMan92]

Talk me off the ledge guys

 

Harper will be our outfielder :)

[mul21]

That Brewerfan thread is delightful. They're so glad the Cubs traded prospects for a good player since that means the prospects can't be good players for the Cubs or be traded for a good player later. Some also seem to think Quintana-caliber pitchers are regularly reaching Free Agency.

 

Man, you ain't lyin!

 

So the Cubs have officially depleted their minor league system and no longer have any top 100 prospects. All for a guy they rented for a month (Chapman) and for a pitcher who is no more than their #3 on a struggling pitching staff. Talk about desperate. I would have been irate if we gave up Brinson and another top player for Quintana. He is over rated IMO. Please let me know how getting a #3 pitcher helps out their struggling offense and terrible defense. If we are giving up top prospects like this, it better be an Archer/Stroman type.

 

Looking at the Cubs, knowing they had Eloy Jimenez yet to come up made me upset and jealous. This will be a trade they will regret in a year or two. This guy will be a 40+ hr masher with a great BA and OPS. Thank you Theo for getting desperate. Eloy was destroying field light bulbs in the homer run derby and during games. some serious power.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

What should make him jealous way more than Eloy is the fact that we won the flipping World Series last year.

[TruffleShuffle]

i love how fans have no concept how to evaluate where starting pitchers rate.

 

reminds me of that one guy who kept insisting that dempster was at best a #4.

 

as for this trade, i really really liked eloy and it is a bummer to lose him, but realistically there was no way they were getting a pitcher like quintana without giving up eloy. it was pretty important to add a good team-controlled SP given that lackey is done, arrieta is gone in a few months, lester is getting older and the #5 starter has generally been a dud all year. nothing really on the way in the upper minors either.

[Gmoney08]

He is a good #3. The Cubs gave up at top 3 prospect in the game for a guy that has underwhelmed this season until recently. Watch him pitch and tell me he is an ace...its just not there. Who will argue that?

 

Lol I feel like im in a scene from moneyball.

 

HendrysWallet one of the oldschool scout calling Billy Beane and Theo idiots when all you have to do is watch Quintana pitch.

 

Theo - "well 5 years of statistics say..."

 

HendrysWallet - "quit it you nerd just watch him pitch"

[philosophizer75]

Oh hell yes, I get to see him debut as a Cub in Baltimore this Sunday.

[toonsterwu]

I understand the deal, appreciate the value assessment, but I don't particularly love the deal. It's not an issue of Quintana. Love the contract, like the pitcher enough. It's more an issue that I'm not sure this team was at an all-in move position to thin out the system this much. It's an uphill climb this year.

 

Still, Quintana was as much a buy for the next few years, allowing them to allocate financial resources with much more flexibility.

 

While there isn't much to really love about Flete, there's a little part of me that wonders if he might be Josh Harrison-ish and find himself a major league career as a late bloomer (granted, Harrison was never really a late bloomer in the way Flete was).

[Cubswin11]

I understand the deal, appreciate the value assessment, but I don't particularly love the deal. It's not an issue of Quintana. Love the contract, like the pitcher enough. It's more an issue that I'm not sure this team was at an all-in move position to thin out the system this much. It's an uphill climb this year.

 

Still, Quintana was as much a buy for the next few years, allowing them to allocate financial resources with much more flexibility.

 

While there isn't much to really love about Flete, there's a little part of me that wonders if he might be Josh Harrison-ish and find himself a major league career as a late bloomer (granted, Harrison was never really a late bloomer in the way Flete was).

I'm not going to lose sleep over losing a potential version of Josh horsefeathering Harrison