Cubs close to a deal with Steven Souza

[Banedon]

[UMFan83]

Interesting...was really good in 2018, not so good in 2019

[Cubswin11]

[Cubswin11]

Interesting...was really good in 2018, not so good in 2019

His last full healthy season (2017) he was nearly a 4 win player.

[UMFan83]

Interesting...was really good in 2018, not so good in 2019

His last full healthy season (2017) he was nearly a 4 win player.

 

Ahh crap I didnt even realize he was out all of 2019. You're right, 2017 really good, not so good in 2018 and then injured

[UMFan83]

In case anyone was wondering

 

[Cubswin11]

[Post Count Padder]

I liked Souza as a buy-low candidate and he has a nice power-speed combo and passable defense. I guess this means no on Castellanos.

[Post Count Padder]

And in case you were wondering how he'll fit on the 40 man:

 

The Cubs have outrighted southpaw CD Pelham after he cleared waivers, the team announced and MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian was among those to tweet.

[squally1313]

Bringing in a platoon partner for Heyward is a good idea. Bringing in someone that also has a chance to be a valuable full time player is a better idea. Good work. However, the defense is going to look pretty questionable when you're running out Schwarber/Happ/Souza, and my concern is that the remedy to that 'problem' is essentially putting Almora/Happ into the same platoon, and then you've basically just moved the problem you were trying to solve.

[Brian]

your move Rockies!

[The_Achiever]

I wish he played CF but this seems decent.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Probably gonna be some unhappy people when he ends up taking more at bats away from Schwarber than Heyward, but that's a future problem. Smart addition.

[Regular Show]

In case anyone was wondering

 

 

Over/under on this being the only major league deal the Cubs sign this offseason lol?

 

I guess I should state over/under on the Cubs signing 1.5 major league deals this offseason. I think this will be the only one.

[Omar]

He will put up a better OPS and fWAR than Heyward.

[Cubswin11]

I'm liking this move more and more, completes the OF puzzle while likely not really negatively impacting any possible major moves. I really like the matchup and situational depth in the OF for 2020, and that it's less dependent on Bryant, but it is one starless bunch:

 

Schwarber/Souza/Happ/Almora

Happ/Heyward/Almora/Bryant

Heyward/Souza/Bryant

 

OTOH the IF is one player away from having an All Pro or whatever they'll be calling it at every spot and that guy might be available

Weren’t you against a move just like this like 2 days ago and all offseason? Regardless, welcome aboard! Agree on the IF comment.

[squally1313]

I'm liking this move more and more, completes the OF puzzle while likely not really negatively impacting any possible major moves. I really like the matchup and situational depth in the OF for 2020, and that it's less dependent on Bryant, but it is one starless bunch:

 

Schwarber/Souza/Happ/Almora

Happ/Heyward/Almora/Bryant

Heyward/Souza/Bryant

 

OTOH the IF is one player away from having an All Pro or whatever they'll be calling it at every spot and that guy might be available

 

It's not a traditional way to do it, but the hope is that you get top 5 production from 3B, SS, 1B, and catcher to make up for middle of the pack/slightly above average production in the rest of the line up (and these small additions hopefully minimize the chance of negative production). Combine that with your 3 #2 starters, and then whatever Lester and ??? can give you...

[Bertz]

I like this a lot. I'd love an upgrade from Descalso as well to really put the bench in a healthy place but that may depend on what specific avenue the FO takes to cut salary.

 

Speaking of that, I wonder if the fact that the wallet has finally been opened means the FO knows what specifically they're going to do to cut salary, or if Souza's salary is nominal enough that he makes sense in any scenario.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I guess this means no on Castellanos.

 

I’m still holding out hope that he’ll come trotting on to field on the 1st day of ST.

[Cubswin11]

Weren’t you against a move just like this like 2 days ago and all offseason? Regardless, welcome aboard! Agree on the IF comment.

 

Bullying Kevin Pillar by leveraging the league's collusion tactics into forcing a pay cut and demotion in January is not the same as giving Souza a ML deal in January

 

I was also probably the first to mention Souza as a FA option at all back when the hope was Cole and Lindor, still got Lindor. Souza's been a skilled player throughout the pros, just came up a little older than most and got hurt

Got it. I forgot you laid out all the reasons Pillar isn’t good but also think he’s due some big payday and guaranteed full time starter role.

 

But yeah, I like this move as much as you can like a move like this. Good call on him early on. I didn’t get on him until we were first linked to him in December or so.

[Deeg]

Interesting...was really good in 2018, not so good in 2019

 

Or any other season.

 

Only the sort of move you make if you've basically given up. Not a good baseball player and has the same flaws our roster was already riddled with.

[Bear Cub]

Souza could be on rehab all year because of the awful knee injury he suffered.

[Cubswin11]

Souza could be on rehab all year because of the awful knee injury he suffered.

From December when we were first linked he’s allegedly healthy..

 

[Sammy Sofa]

"100% intensity" sounds great...until we find out 100% intensity from a guy with a ravaged knee is like, 43% normal intensity.

[Guancous]

This is the Todd Hollandsworth signing.