Regular Season Rumors

[Transmogrified Tiger]

oh did Trueblood start out thinking himself with his thinkiness again

[Aaron_Kennelly]

http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/06/02/thinking-probabilistically-about-sonny-gray-stephen-piscotty-kris-bryant-and-kyle-hendricks/

 

Bryant has been better; there’s no disputing that. Some trend lines favor Piscotty, though. For instance, he’s been the better hitter, which is by far the aspect of a player’s value on which we have the best handle at this point in the unfurling of a career. Bryant’s positional advantage (he’s played the majority of the time at third base so far in the big leagues, while Piscotty has been a corner outfielder almost exclusively) might be eroding

 

Given the information I have right now, I’m inclined toward Bryant’s future over Piscotty’s, but would peg the probability of Bryant being better no higher than about 65 percent (for example). I’d even err a little lower, because Piscotty has only begun to tap into his power over the last year and a half, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he showcases more of that power over the next two years or so—and that might put his offensive edge over Bryant on ice. So give me 62 percent Bryant shares, and 38 percent Piscotty.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

That's the way to succeed in business. Buy high and sell low. Also: Buy into all small sample sizes.

[Tim]

Bowden posted an article on the Athletic that listed six trades contenders should make. He listed this one for the Cubs:

 

5. Chicago Cubs obtain J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays for Justin Steele and Thomas Hatch

 

The Chicago Cubs gave Yu Darvish a six-year, $126 million contract in the offseason, and so far it has been a disaster. Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA and on the disabled list with a triceps injury, with no timetable for his return.

 

Chicago’s other big offseason expenditure was Tyler Chatwood, and that hasn’t worked out either. He leads the NL with 63 walks, which explains his disgraceful 1.727 WHIP. If he doesn’t rediscover his control and command soon, he might need to be replaced too.

 

The answer to the part of the Cubs’ problems might be Blue Jays southpaw J.A. Happ, who is 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA. He will be a free agent at season’s end, so the prospect cost might be somewhat affordable for a team trying to out-pace the Brewers and the Cardinals in the NL Central.

 

What if Chicago offered up pitching prospects Justin Steele and Thomas Hatch? The former was the team’s fifth-round selection in the June 2014 Amateur Draft. He’s pitching this summer for Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League, where he is 6-7 with an impressive 2.92 ERA after 20 games. Hatch, a year older at 23, was the Cubs’ third-round pick in June 2016. He is at Tennessee in the Southern League with a 5-4 record and a 3.84 ERA after 14 games.

 

Wherever they turn, the Cubs can hardly afford any more pitching missteps.

The problem with the underlined? It's from last year. Steele has been injured and hasn't pitched since last July.

 

However, if that's all it takes, sign me up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm gonna have to spend July ranting about just leaving Montgomery in the rotation instead of making some half-baked trade, aren't I

[Tim]

I'm gonna have to spend July ranting about just leaving Montgomery in the rotation instead of making some half-baked trade, aren't I

I'm not anxious to do that either at this point, but to bring in Happ at only the cost of Steele & Hatch? Yes, please. I don't care if we turn around and flip him to someone else for a reasonable cost, really. It's more a response to Bowden's stupidity than any real drive to get another SP.

[Bear Cub]

Happ, being from LaSalle Peru would probably be a happy camper to join the Cubs.

[ConstableRabbit]

Happ, being from LaSalle Peru would probably be a happy camper to join the Cubs.

Northwestern guy, too.

[Sammy Sofa]

There's a more than 100% chance that Happ would end up wearing nu-Happ's face.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I'm gonna have to spend July ranting about just leaving Montgomery in the rotation instead of making some half-baked trade, aren't I

 

With injuries, etc., I think there is a chance we need both.

[Sammy Sofa]

Montgomery is going to end up being their second best starter this season, and that is a horsefeathering nightmare.

[toonsterwu]

I'm with Tim on this one ... if it's some sort of Hatch and a Steele-level arm for Happ, I think you take it and run (btw, that's awfully bad writing for the Athletic to allow Jim Bowden to post a trade and not have an editor look it over to see if there are any glaring issues). Happ might be one of the better arms on the market, and I'm just not all that keen on Hatch as developing into anything more than an end of the rotation arm. I'd take lower ceiling guys like Duncan Robinson, or bigger unknowns, like Matt Swarmer, over him, tbh.

 

All that said, I'd be surprised if that's all it took. I can't figure out that many arms that are far better than Happ that are definitely going to be available. I'm more inclined to think that the Cubs may end up bolstering the bullpen early, perhaps with someone with a different style/look (I keep thinking Darren O'Day, as that last year and 8 million isn't THAT bad), and letting Darvish/Montgomery/Chatwood figure it out. Closer to the deadline, perhaps they peek in to see what's available, but I just have a hard time seeing them jump hard on the SP market.

[Bertz]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm pretty sure if you read that out loud you'll actually cast a spell that tears open a portal to another dimension.

[Banedon]

I'm pretty sure if you read that out loud you'll actually cast a spell that tears open a portal to another dimension.

 

http://78.media.tumblr.com/46fd1abecb83bbd89eeb3fa1611f7334/tumblr_p5ou9j5ps71tovmb9o1_540.gif

[squally1313]

Montgomery is going to end up being their second best starter this season, and that is a horsefeathering nightmare.

 

Depending on how much you buy into FIP/the metrics...who's going to be the best, if not him?

[Sammy Sofa]

Montgomery is going to end up being their second best starter this season, and that is a horsefeathering nightmare.

 

Depending on how much you buy into FIP/the metrics...who's going to be the best, if not him?

 

I was giving Lucky Lester the benefit of the doubt, but now you've just made me feel even more terrified!

[Sammy Sofa]

Sure sounds like deGrom is fed up with the Mets; are they likely to finally be sellers with their pitchers since the team is damned for the foreseeable future? Do the Cubs line up at all trying to pry one of them away? Or would it likely entail taking back one of the Mets' terrible contracts as well?

[Cubswin11]

Sure sounds like deGrom is fed up with the Mets; are they likely to finally be sellers with their pitchers since the team is damned for the foreseeable future? Do the Cubs line up at all trying to pry one of them away? Or would it likely entail taking back one of the Mets' terrible contracts as well?

I don’t think we line up well for DeGrom or Syndergaard, it would take 2 if Happ, Javy and Willy probably. They should wait until the offseason to trade them though, imo and probably should hold on to them. I like Lugo and Gsellemen as matches for us if they do blow it up.

[Cubswin11]

Hopefully it’s a trade

 

[UMFan83]

#hugwatch

[Cubswin11]

He’s not in the dugout (probably is a call up, but please be a trade).

 

[sweetpeteman]

Hopefully it’s a trade

 

 

Come on down Zach Britton or Brad Hand amirite

 

 

Brad Hand = yes

 

Zach Britton = hell no.

 

 

Britton hasn't shown anything yet this season coming back from injury, wasn't all that good last year, and would only be a rental. While I don't think Caratini is a top shelf trade piece, trading him for Britton would be a waste of one of the few pieces the Cubs have.

 

That being said Caratini alone probably won't get Hand.

[Cubswin11]

I’d pay for Caritini’s travel expenses to Baltimore if he’s the only piece it takes for Britton

[Cubswin11]

False alarm