Minor Cubs Deadline Trades

[muntjack]

Pretty shocked they dealt Effross. Seemed like a long term answer toward the back of the bullpen. They must be confident Wesneski is ready for a rotation spot.

 

2023: Stroman/Hendricks/Steele/Thompson/Wesneski ?

 

Not very sexy.

 

Not sure where Kilian slots in there, either.

[champaignchris]

Not sure where Kilian slots in there, either.

 

And Alzolay assuming he’s still a thing.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Pretty shocked they dealt Effross. Seemed like a long term answer toward the back of the bullpen. They must be confident Wesneski is ready for a rotation spot.

 

2023: Stroman/Hendricks/Steele/Thompson/Wesneski ?

 

Not very sexy.

 

Not sure where Kilian slots in there, either.

 

eh, the Cubs seem to have no issues developing a pen, but have a dearth of young controllable (and good) starters. I dont mind the trade

[sneakypower]

eh, the Cubs seem to have no issues developing a pen

..why does this narrative continue to prevail? 4.28 ERA last 3 years, all 3 seasons are 4+

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Honestly this isn't really a minor trade. I need to dig in more on Wesnenski but he's a very legit prospect and almost immediate SP depth.

 

I don't love losing Effross but selling high on relievers is usually smart business. This is interesting.

 

Agreed, this is a trade that deserves its own thread.

[minnesotacubsfan]

eh, the Cubs seem to have no issues developing a pen

..why does this narrative continue to prevail? 4.28 ERA last 3 years, all 3 seasons are 4+

 

yea, I'm off on that. But I still think starting pitching is a bigger need

[UMFan83]

I don’t mind the trade in a vacuum but not really the moves of a team that is “retooling”. But that has been obvious for awhile. Tough to lose a controllable reliever pitching so well but it’s the pen so meh

[Bertz]

Not sure where Kilian slots in there, either.

 

And Alzolay assuming he’s still a thing.

 

I think you go into next year with him slated as the long man and ask him to do the Keegan Thompson piggyback role from early in the year.

 

But yeah Jed needs to add someone to the front half of the rotation, but that's really it? Let's just say Rodon because it's the funnest:

 

Rodon

Stroman

Steele

Thompson

Hendricks

 

Alzolay in the 'pen. Kilian and Wesnenski at Iowa. Wicks and Herz at Tenn. That's legitimately enviable SP depth, something the org hasn't had in a very long time. Even in '15/'16 Montgomery was the only depth the front end guys were just durable enough for it to not matter.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Not sure where Kilian slots in there, either.

 

And Alzolay assuming he’s still a thing.

Some of these guys are going to need to transition to the bullpen. Alzolay might be a good candidate for that.

[Bertz]

eh, the Cubs seem to have no issues developing a pen

..why does this narrative continue to prevail? 4.28 ERA last 3 years, all 3 seasons are 4+

 

That's mostly garbage time innings. Cubs relievers are 2nd in WPA this year and were 4th through last year's deadline. 10th in 2020, and I'm not gonna spend the time slicing and dicing it but I bet it's top 5 after Kimbrel's horrific first couple weeks.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yes, Alzolay the starter is done, he's out of options, will be 28 on opening day, and can't stay healthy. He can take up the multi-inning mantle that Thompson was so good in at the start of the season.

 

 

Effross for Wesneski is fascinating, I guess I should apologize to that Blue Jays blogger for dreaming of getting him. You don't often see a team trading a younger reliever a year early and I think this is a great example. For as sustainable as Effross' profile looks right now, the odds are likely it either blows up, or it regresses to be a Chris Martin/Jesse Chavez profile, and that type of guy is basically free on the market every year. That said, they must really like something in Wesneski to take him on given his pedigree and roster status. It's not a bad return by any means even if you don't count on any developmental improvement, but there's nothing so revelatory about his trajectory so far that he'd be the guy you gravitate to considering Effross would have no shortage of suitors.

[Bertz]

Yes, Alzolay the starter is done, he's out of options, will be 28 on opening day, and can't stay healthy. He can take up the multi-inning mantle that Thompson was so good in at the start of the season.

 

 

Effross for Wesneski is fascinating, I guess I should apologize to that Blue Jays blogger for dreaming of getting him. You don't often see a team trading a younger reliever a year early and I think this is a great example. For as sustainable as Effross' profile looks right now, the odds are likely it either blows up, or it regresses to be a Chris Martin/Jesse Chavez profile, and that type of guy is basically free on the market every year. That said, they must really like something in Wesneski to take him on given his pedigree and roster status. It's not a bad return by any means even if you don't count on any developmental improvement, but there's nothing so revelatory about his trajectory so far that he'd be the guy you gravitate to considering Effross would have no shortage of suitors.

 

The timeline is moving a mile a minute right now so I don't know where I saw it, but apparently Breslow was Wesnenski's pitching coach when he was still in the Yankees org. He's definitely got ideas in mind for him, and I'm very interested to see what they are.

[ChiCubsFan]

MLB pipeline slots this guy into #8 on our prospect list, ahead of Caissie fwiw Edited August 1, 2022 by ChiCubsFan

[Tim]

Yes, Alzolay the starter is done, he's out of options, will be 28 on opening day, and can't stay healthy. He can take up the multi-inning mantle that Thompson was so good in at the start of the season.

 

 

Effross for Wesneski is fascinating, I guess I should apologize to that Blue Jays blogger for dreaming of getting him. You don't often see a team trading a younger reliever a year early and I think this is a great example. For as sustainable as Effross' profile looks right now, the odds are likely it either blows up, or it regresses to be a Chris Martin/Jesse Chavez profile, and that type of guy is basically free on the market every year. That said, they must really like something in Wesneski to take him on given his pedigree and roster status. It's not a bad return by any means even if you don't count on any developmental improvement, but there's nothing so revelatory about his trajectory so far that he'd be the guy you gravitate to considering Effross would have no shortage of suitors.

 

The timeline is moving a mile a minute right now so I don't know where I saw it, but apparently Breslow was Wesnenski's pitching coach when he was still in the Yankees org. He's definitely got ideas in mind for him, and I'm very interested to see what they are.

Moskos, not Breslow.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Yes, Alzolay the starter is done, he's out of options, will be 28 on opening day, and can't stay healthy. He can take up the multi-inning mantle that Thompson was so good in at the start of the season.

 

 

Effross for Wesneski is fascinating, I guess I should apologize to that Blue Jays blogger for dreaming of getting him. You don't often see a team trading a younger reliever a year early and I think this is a great example. For as sustainable as Effross' profile looks right now, the odds are likely it either blows up, or it regresses to be a Chris Martin/Jesse Chavez profile, and that type of guy is basically free on the market every year. That said, they must really like something in Wesneski to take him on given his pedigree and roster status. It's not a bad return by any means even if you don't count on any developmental improvement, but there's nothing so revelatory about his trajectory so far that he'd be the guy you gravitate to considering Effross would have no shortage of suitors.

 

The timeline is moving a mile a minute right now so I don't know where I saw it, but apparently Breslow was Wesnenski's pitching coach when he was still in the Yankees org. He's definitely got ideas in mind for him, and I'm very interested to see what they are.

 

Is this what you’re thinking of?

 

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2022/08/01/what-the-cubs-are-trading-scott-effross-to-the-yankees/

 

UPDATE 3: Ah, yes. I forgot, but was reminded: Daniel Moskos, the Cubs’ assistant pitching coach, was poached from the Yankees over the offseason. With the Yankees, Moskos was the Double-A pitching coach and was seen as a big part of their pitching development infrastructure. At Double-A, he would have worked, personally, with Wesneski. Gonna guess that he’s a big fan and thinks there’s more to unlock.

[Bertz]

Yes, Alzolay the starter is done, he's out of options, will be 28 on opening day, and can't stay healthy. He can take up the multi-inning mantle that Thompson was so good in at the start of the season.

 

 

Effross for Wesneski is fascinating, I guess I should apologize to that Blue Jays blogger for dreaming of getting him. You don't often see a team trading a younger reliever a year early and I think this is a great example. For as sustainable as Effross' profile looks right now, the odds are likely it either blows up, or it regresses to be a Chris Martin/Jesse Chavez profile, and that type of guy is basically free on the market every year. That said, they must really like something in Wesneski to take him on given his pedigree and roster status. It's not a bad return by any means even if you don't count on any developmental improvement, but there's nothing so revelatory about his trajectory so far that he'd be the guy you gravitate to considering Effross would have no shortage of suitors.

 

The timeline is moving a mile a minute right now so I don't know where I saw it, but apparently Breslow was Wesnenski's pitching coach when he was still in the Yankees org. He's definitely got ideas in mind for him, and I'm very interested to see what they are.

Moskos, not Breslow.

 

Ah, that's right! Breslow came from the Sox. I get all these "remember some guys" type middle relievers who are now pitch design geniuses mixed up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Probably noteworthy that we're now 2 for 2 in minor deals that are bringing back expected 2023 contributors. Maybe less so in the Effross case since he would've been one otherwise, but last year you saw these minor deals mostly being for players further away. Joc for Ball, Tepera for Horn, Marisnick for Espinoza, the only exception was Chafin for Deichmann/Palencia.

[sneakypower]

eh, the Cubs seem to have no issues developing a pen

..why does this narrative continue to prevail? 4.28 ERA last 3 years, all 3 seasons are 4+

 

That's mostly garbage time innings. Cubs relievers are 2nd in WPA this year and were 4th through last year's deadline. 10th in 2020, and I'm not gonna spend the time slicing and dicing it but I bet it's top 5 after Kimbrel's horrific first couple weeks.

do you take out Kimbrel's otherworldly first half in '21 in this mental exercise? are the relievers getting bombed in garbage time innings not part of the 'pen?

[Post Count Padder]

[tweet]

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[mias_tisg]

Probably noteworthy that we're now 2 for 2 in minor deals that are bringing back expected 2023 contributors. Maybe less so in the Effross case since he would've been one otherwise, but last year you saw these minor deals mostly being for players further away. Joc for Ball, Tepera for Horn, Marisnick for Espinoza, the only exception was Chafin for Deichmann/Palencia.

Also there's an obvious target on pitching on this and the draft after going for mostly hitters last year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Prospects Live is a pretty big fan of Wesneski, combined with the pipeline ranking it makes the more tepid eval from Fangraphs(which even states that he's on an upward trajectory that could continue) seem like the outlier.

 

[mul21]

From MLB.com for what it's worth, but at least a little more details on the arsenal.

 

Wesneski featured some of the best sink in the 2019 Draft, and he since has boosted the velocity on his two-seam fastball to where it now sits at 92-94 mph. He's also added a four-seamer that can reach 98. He has upgraded his low-80s slider as well, adding more sweep that gets a lot of swings and misses by playing well off his sinker, which moves in the opposite direction. He can turn his slider into a harder cutter and is making progress with his fading low-80s changeup -- two pitches that could increase his effectiveness against left-handers.

 

Wesneski pounded the strike zone throughout his college career and has continued to do so in pro ball, even as his stuff has made a leap forward. He's deceptive, too, and hitters don't get good swings against him and struggle to lift the ball when they do make contact. His competitive demeanor is another asset and he could help Chicago in the big leagues in the near future.

[Old Style]

Holy hell

 

[Bertz]

[Bertz]