Regular Season Rumors

[davell]

I kind of expect us to just add nominal pieces this year. A pen arm and a back end guy, to help with the back half. Since we don't have many days off.

[Cubswin11]

I kind of expect us to just add nominal pieces this year. A pen arm and a back end guy, to help with the back half. Since we don't have many days off.

Agree. I’d rather go quantity that quality. Orioles have those pieces too like Cashner + a bullpen arm (Brach, Givens, O’Day).

Edited June 1, 2018 by Cubswin11

[Tim]

I kind of expect us to just add nominal pieces this year. A pen arm and a back end guy, to help with the back half. Since we don't have many days off.

Agree. I’d rather go quantity that quality. Orioles have those pieces too like Chasner + a bullpen a

Hopefully that Chasner guy is a lot better than Cashner. I don't trust him at all.

[CubinNY]

I hope our Cobs can figure out a way to get Archer.

[Backtobanks]

I hope our Cobs can figure out a way to get Archer.

 

Hopefully his performance has lowered the price, but probably not.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hot take: Archer is not a very attractive trade target. He hasn’t had a sub-4 ERA since 2015, he turns 30 in September, and the Rays are naturally going to try to get value like they’re trading away an ace. You can get a 3ish win pitcher in much more attractive packages than Archer.

[Cubswin11]

I’m not an Archer fan. Especially for the cost.

[Post Count Padder]

I like Archer. I'm still made we traded him. At the same time, there are better fits vs. what we'd have to give up.

 

(On the other hand, the Rays traded Colome for much less than expected so who knows)

[Cubswin11]

I want Seth Lugo as a bullpen/swingman option. I also wouldn’t mind Gsellman but really like Lugo.

 

Lugo is controlled through 2023, I’d trade Adbert + for him. Lugo’s basically what we want Adbert to turn in to and he’s controlled plenty long, I’d trade off the little more control of Adbert and a little ceiling to lock in Lugo’s value and control right now.

[Regular Show]

I want Seth Lugo as a bullpen/swingman option. I also wouldn’t mind Gsellman but really like Lugo.

 

Lugo is controlled through 2023, I’d trade Adbert + for him. Lugo’s basically what we want Adbert to turn in to and he’s controlled plenty long, I’d trade off the little more control of Adbert and a little ceiling to lock in Lugo’s value and control right now.

 

I had the exact same thought! The Cubs were very interested in Lugo this offseason if I remember correctly. His curveball is very good with one of the highest RPMs among all pitchers. His stock has definitely increased and it'll be pretty hard to trade for him now.

[Post Count Padder]

I've liked Lugo for some time too, but for all those same reasons are probably why the Mets won't trade him for anything short of a good haul. They should do some rebuilding and he's controllable and effective.

[Tryptamine]

There was a speculation piece written a couple days ago that the Orioles might make Bundy available in a trade. He's sporting a 3.81ERA and his peripherals are just so so, but I wonder how much all of that is dragged down by one horrific start where he went 0IP 5H 7ER 2BB 4HR. Since then he's put up a line of 49IP 31H 9.55k/9 2.57bb/9 2.57ERA 4.02FIP 3.82xFIP.SIERA likes him quite a bit 3.58. I wonder if a Happ led package could get it done.

[Post Count Padder]

I like our rotation as is. Darvish comes back soon. Monty has been an incredible 6th man. I'd like to see Mills get a shot as a spot starter and Butler at some point should be back too. Wouldn't be bad to invest in another starter but I wouldn't give up what it would take to get Bundy, unless he gets added to a Machado deal and we're dead set on doing that for Russell/Happ and someone like Albertos.

[Cubswin11]

Yeah I don’t think a starter add is on the radar that costs real assets. I think it’s bullpen only right now. And that add could be a guy who could start (Richard, Lugo, Gsellemen, for example).

[Ding Dong Johnson]

maybe he could be a bullpen arm since Butler, Carl, and Morrow all died

[shnsajax]

Give me a well rested Stroman instead, please

 

I feel like Stroman and Willson could be best friends.

[davell]

Liam Hendriks just got DFA'd by the A's. With the current state of our pen, I'd like to see us give him a shot. He's been solid the past few seasons and evidently has gained his velo back after an early season injury.

[Guancous]

Baseball Prospectus article proposing Contreras and Happ for JT Realmuto: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40917/rubbing-mud-waiting-for-the-cubs-big-move/

[Derwood]

Baseball Prospectus article proposing Contreras and Happ for JT Realmuto: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40917/rubbing-mud-waiting-for-the-cubs-big-move/

 

It’s behind a paywall

[Cubswin11]

Baseball Prospectus article proposing Contreras and Happ for JT Realmuto: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40917/rubbing-mud-waiting-for-the-cubs-big-move/

That’s one of the dumbest trade ideas of all time

[Cubswin11]

Baseball Prospectus article proposing Contreras and Happ for JT Realmuto: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40917/rubbing-mud-waiting-for-the-cubs-big-move/

 

It’s behind a paywall

It should be buried under a wall

[Bertz]

Baseball Prospectus article proposing Contreras and Happ for JT Realmuto: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40917/rubbing-mud-waiting-for-the-cubs-big-move/

That’s one of the dumbest trade ideas of all time

 

Seriously. My memory was that Realmuto is basically Willson with the bat but with average framing and one less year of control. That's a better player, but certainly not by enough to give up Happ. I looked it up, and it's two years less of control AND he's a similarly poor framer. So there's just no justification at all.

[Sammy Sofa]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but homeboy looks like he might only be slightly better at best than Willson at pitch framing. Woof. What the hell do they think the upside would be for the Cubs? "Hey, this guy is a year older, is a FA sooner and has hit a handful more home runs than the guy you have. And be sure to toss in Happ, too."

[Cubswin11]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but homeboy looks like he might only be slightly better at best than Willson at pitch framing. Woof. What the hell do they think the upside would be for the Cubs? "Hey, this guy is a year older, is a FA sooner and has hit a handful more home runs than the guy you have. And be sure to toss in Happ, too."

It seriously makes no sense. Like it doesn’t even get accepted by the Willson/Happ owner in a fantasy league, let alone real life baseball where salary/control play a factor on top of just overall player value

[Tim]

Maybe they just think Theo is rage drunk.