2022 Trade Deadline

[Tim]

sounds like they botched it

I think so too. I like the immediate result, but only if the Cubs are serious about trying to resign Contreras, which I don't think they are. This feels more like a misplay by Hoyer. Combined with some of his other recent contract decisions, I have no confidence that he is capable of building a contending team.

such as?

[Irrelevant Dude]

sounds like they botched it

I think so too. I like the immediate result, but only if the Cubs are serious about trying to resign Contreras, which I don't think they are. This feels more like a misplay by Hoyer. Combined with some of his other recent contract decisions, I have no confidence that he is capable of building a contending team.

such as?

Villar and Simmons mostly. Not exactly crippling long term deals, but they were unforced mistakes that were completely unnecessary. The Cubs wasted $10 Million when they could have got the same or better performance from guys on minimum salaries. Everyone misses on occasion, but those signings in particular were seemingly obvious overpays from the start and lead me to question Hoyer's ability to target and sign the right players going forward.

[Tim]

I think so too. I like the immediate result, but only if the Cubs are serious about trying to resign Contreras, which I don't think they are. This feels more like a misplay by Hoyer. Combined with some of his other recent contract decisions, I have no confidence that he is capable of building a contending team.

such as?

Villar and Simmons mostly. Not exactly crippling long term deals, but they were unforced mistakes that were completely unnecessary. The Cubs wasted $10 Million when they could have got the same or better performance from guys on minimum salaries. Everyone misses on occasion, but those signings in particular were seemingly obvious overpays from the start and lead me to question Hoyer's ability to target and sign the right players going forward.

I thought the Villar deal was fine - he's been a productive player up until now. Simmons was an overpaid hedge. To be fair, the McKinstry acquisition looks like a direct response to that so that he hopefully doesn't have to do those types of contacts for the next few years.

[Bertz]

 

It still doesn't pass the sniff test for me, but interesting that the Rangers held onto Martin Perez and give a lot of the same reasons.

[UMFan83]

Now this looks like a guy who is thrilled to not be traded:

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

I really love the Robertson deal. That was just an excellent scoop and flip. Brown is intriguing as hell and I'm excited to see what he looks like in a couple years.

[CoolHandLuke]

Does it count as botching it if there wasn't a worthwhile offer? I'd be more upset with a crap ass, underwhelming return. At least now they'll either get to extend him, try trading him again next year, or choose exactly which prospect they want in the draft.

[Backtobanks]

Does it count as botching it if there wasn't a worthwhile offer? I'd be more upset with a crap ass, underwhelming return. At least now they'll either get to extend him, try trading him again next year, or choose exactly which prospect they want in the draft.

 

I think there were decent offers early on, but after everybody traded top prospects in other deals there wasn't as much to offer.

[CubinNY]

Does it count as botching it if there wasn't a worthwhile offer? I'd be more upset with a crap ass, underwhelming return. At least now they'll either get to extend him, try trading him again next year, or choose exactly which prospect they want in the draft.

 

I agree with this. Desipio on Twitter is raging Jed pretty good. But I think a lot of people would be doing it one way or the other if the prospects were mediocre. Jed's fundamental error was not extending him before the season.

 

I think the industry has a frame for certain positions that doesn't always work. The frame for a catcher is defense uber ales, but pretty much mostly interchangeable on all other categories. I think they value Wilson in that frame. He was probably not going to draw the prospects Jed thought he would due to the industry and the Cubs.

 

Also, not a lot of starting catchers get traded in season for "chemistry" reasons or something.

[champaignchris]

What would have been the reaction if the Cubs had traded Contreras for the package the Red Sox got for Vázquez?

 

Emmanuel Valdez looks like someone who could have vied for playing time at 2B immediately.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What would have been the reaction if the Cubs had traded Contreras for the package the Red Sox got for Vázquez?

 

Emmanuel Valdez looks like someone who could have vied for playing time at 2B immediately.

 

I'd personally rather have the comp pick. Valdez in particular is a below average defender and doesn't have any real prospect pedigree, in terms of immediate help he's redundant with McKinstry, who is the better player.

 

One thing that is interesting to me is how *unique* Willson's situation was in terms of the QO impacting his value. I quickly looked at the list of deadline deals and I don't think a single player who is likely to get a QO got traded. The closest were maybe Vazquez or Benintendi which feel like big stretches. Now there weren't a ton of players who are likely to get a QO in total and no others that I can see on true sellers either. Rodon and Bogaerts both stayed with their teams too, though neither Boston or SF seemed interested in making themselves actively worse given their WC odds.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I just hope Jed somehow manages to resign him...he's one of the best catchers in the league and worth keeping around even with Amaya looking better at AA. If they could have Amaya come up and share catching duties while using Contraras as DH on off days, it just seems like the best of all worlds

[mias_tisg]

I just hope Jed somehow manages to resign him...he's one of the best catchers in the league and worth keeping around even with Amaya looking better at AA. If they could have Amaya come up and share catching duties while using Contraras as DH on off days, it just seems like the best of all worlds

He's 31 years old next May. By the time the Cubs are good again, he's already going to be past his prime years. Yadier Molina had his last great year at age 30. Yes, there's still a DH but it's pretty clear other teams aren't valuing Contreras that high even at his peak for a half year rental.

[pitchcs]

Why is Jed the only one being mentioned and not Carter Hawkins?

[Tryptamine]

I do believe, at least from the Mets, that they weren't offered anything worth taking. We had already heard Alvarez, Baty, Ramirez, Mauricio and Vientos weren't on the table, but that group also included supposedly included Ziegler, Allan and Hamel. So basically the Mets were making no one worth having available, which is why they got almost nothing done at the deadline.

[Bertz]

Contreras already faced one handicap on the open market as a catcher entering his Age 31 season. Catchers in their 30s do not always age well. Recent long-term deals for J.T. Realmuto (five years, $115.5 million), Salvador Perez (four years, $82 million) and Yasmani Grandal (four years, $73 million) all look problematic.

 

Perhaps even more alarming: The seeming lack of demand for Contreras at the deadline, even though his hard-hit percentage and maximum velocity are in the top 3 percent of the sport. The universal DH enables Contreras to serve multiple roles, but incorporating a new catcher is not easy for a team in the middle of a pennant race, particularly when the catcher’s defensive reputation is not the best to begin with.

 

An executive from one team with interest in Contreras expressed concern about the way he works with pitchers. He is not regarded as an elite pitch framer or game caller. And while he works hard, some question his willingness to accept criticism.

 

All of these questions are likely to resurface when he hits the free-agent market.

 

I still doubt that Jed couldn't get more than the draft pick, but man the league does not like Willson, at least as a catcher.

[sneakypower]

good, then he should be easy to re-sign

[Transmogrified Tiger]

good, then he should be easy to re-sign

 

Yeah, I really think this is the primary takeaway, that compared to last year the league had a much different valuation on Contreras than last year's QO'able rentals. It might be the new playoff format that pushed urgency(and therefore offers) down below the benefit of the QO, and it might be that the league hates Contreras so the best option is actively trying to keep him and tacking a QO on his value helps to that end. Probably at least some combination of the two, but given that Willson's bat plays at any position I tend to think it's more of the league's view of him as a catcher.

[CubinNY]

I do believe, at least from the Mets, that they weren't offered anything worth taking. We had already heard Alvarez, Baty, Ramirez, Mauricio and Vientos weren't on the table, but that group also included supposedly included Ziegler, Allan and Hamel. So basically the Mets were making no one worth having available, which is why they got almost nothing done at the deadline.

They clearly think they have the team in place to win. They might if deGrom can stay healthy.

Edited August 3, 2022 by CubinNY

[Tryptamine]

I do believe, at least from the Mets, that they weren't offered anything worth taking. We had already heard Alvarez, Baty, Ramirez, Mauricio and Vientos weren't on the table, but that group also included supposedly included Ziegler, Allan and Hamel. So basically the Mets were making no one worth having available, which is why they got almost nothing done at the deadline.

They clearly thing they have the team in place to win. They might if deGrom can stay healthy.

 

From the catcher position this year they have .2 fWAR with a 53 wRC+. Even if it wasn't Contreras, they needed to do something.

[SouthSideRyan]

Why is Jed the only one being mentioned and not Carter Hawkins?

 

The same reason nobody talked about Jed when Theo was around. Nobody cares what the assistant GM does no matter what title they claim.

[CubinNY]

I want to go on record in saying that I think the Nationals won this trade. The only caveat is that it will be even if the Padres win the WS before Soto walks to FA.

[Tryptamine]

I want to go on record in saying that I think the Nationals won this trade. The only caveat is that it will be even if the Padres win the WS before Soto walks to FA.

 

I think you're right. Abrams, Hassell and Wood are all guys I could see individually putting up 4+ fWAR year in and year out with upside for substantially more. Jarlin has some mega helium too. I'm honestly kind of shocked they got as much as they did given how quickly this came to fruition and how the Nats didn't have a ton of leverage.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why is Jed the only one being mentioned and not Carter Hawkins?

 

The same reason nobody talked about Jed when Theo was around. Nobody cares what the assistant GM does no matter what title they claim.

Also, Jed is the one doing interviews and otherwise talking about the situation.

[PriorFighter]

Listening to the reaction today, the Wrigleyville Nation guys HATE the Cubs' deadline moves/non-moves. I like the moves they did make, but really don't see much of a plan. The failure to trade WC was massive in my opinion. I think you absolutely have to take whatever the best offer is there. Why not move Wisdom/Ortega? What I fear is that it's because they know we are on a 3, 4, 5 year timeline to be competitive instead of 1-2.