2022-23 Offseason Thread (Cubs)

[Bertz]

 

He sounds very confident in the Conforto thing

[itisallpartoftheplan]

 

He sounds very confident in the Conforto thing

 

Weird wording. He says it then back tracks to a “guy like Conforto”.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I mentioned earlier that I had written off Conforto since he's probably taking a get-right deal and he wouldn't want to come to a full OF, but if he's a possibility he might be the one player I want them to get the most for the rest of the offseason.

[Cubswin11]

Okay, so how do we cobble this together with Swanson now to at least be a 85ish win team?

 

Segura/Turner/Drury for 3B and bump Wisdon/Morel to more roving RHH/utility guys?

 

Hosmer or Belt for 1B with Mervis lurking?

 

Some sort of catcher addition, seems like we whiffed on this to at least cobble some 2-3 war with Gomes + acquisition

 

Another vet FA RP

 

Another starter like Smyly or Kluber, maybe a bigger swing like a trade for Lopez or Rodgers from Miami?

 

All that seems doable, not sexy but close enough to being competitive in the division I suppose.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Cubs just made a pretty big statement that they want to get more flyball oriented hitters. I doubt they even kick the tires on Hosmer.

 

57% GB last year, 3 LA, diminishing EV. I don't see him as an option.

[muntjack]

The only teams that shouldn't be giving Mervis 500 PAs are those gunning for 100+ wins with superstars at 1B and DH.

[CubinNY]

I will like it a lot if the Cubs nab Conforto and Mancini. That would make successful offseason, IMO obviously.

[PackLandVA]

So I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere in this thread and/or other topics, but with the Smyly signing the 40-man currently sits at 39. Assuming the Cubs grab a LHH catcher, maybe a 3B and/or RP, who are the most likely candidates to be removed from the 40-man? It also seems like they have to make a deal or two, right?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere in this thread and/or other topics, but with the Smyly signing the 40-man currently sits at 39. Assuming the Cubs grab a LHH catcher, maybe a 3B and/or RP, who are the most likely candidates to be removed from the 40-man? It also seems like they have to make a deal or two, right?

 

They have a few players that could be removed without much pain. The most obvious is Rivas, but McKinstry, Uelmen, and Rucker could be possibilities too. Not sure if this is what you meant by trades, but they could also be using 40 man players to get those guys on your wishlist too, Madrigal probably being the most likely.

[PackLandVA]

So I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere in this thread and/or other topics, but with the Smyly signing the 40-man currently sits at 39. Assuming the Cubs grab a LHH catcher, maybe a 3B and/or RP, who are the most likely candidates to be removed from the 40-man? It also seems like they have to make a deal or two, right?

 

They have a few players that could be removed without much pain. The most obvious is Rivas, but McKinstry, Uelmen, and Rucker could be possibilities too. Not sure if this is what you meant by trades, but they could also be using 40 man players to get those guys on your wishlist too, Madrigal probably being the most likely.

 

Regarding Madrigal, I certainly wouldn't sanction this. But is there any possibility the Cubs would keep Madrigal over Hoerner given Hoerner's success last year. It seems like prior to 2022, not a lot on this board were ultra-high on the Lack-of-power/light-hitting infielder named Nico. Then his 2022 season happens. He's still under control; for a few years, seems to have tapped into his upside. has shown to have some pop in the bat and would most likely fetch much more in a trade than Madrigal coming off of his 2022 season. I think as a SS, Hoerner has way more value to the Cubs than Madrigal as a 2B. But now with Hoerner slated as a 2B, how much more value is there versus what he could get in a return/trade?

 

**edit/add**

The Cubs obviously like Nico as he was drafted by Jed. But they also like (or at least were very high on) Madrigal as he seemed to be the centerpiece in the Kimbrel trade. Does Jed give up after one season of Nick? Trying to trade him after consecutive injury seasons would really be selling low. Again, I'm not advocating this, just wondering if it's something anyone thinks the Cubs would consider.

[Bertz]

 

He was first with Swanson yesterday so I guess give it some credence.

[Derwood]

Gomes and Barnhart have been worth 4.5 fWAR combined over the past 3 seasons

[Tim]

Tucker's got a really solid reputation for working with pitchers and game mgmt. But the metrics hated him behind the plate this past year. It's interesting to see what the Cubs are emphasizing.

[Derwood]

Tucker's got a really solid reputation for working with pitchers and game mgmt. But the metrics hated him behind the plate this past year. It's interesting to see what the Cubs are emphasizing.

 

He's an absolute hole in the lineup offensively

 

His career high in wRC+ is 90 (2017)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Barnhart has been pretty consistently fine against RHP, save for last year where he was one of 30 hitters who cratered for the Tigers. He shouldn't ever face a lefty and with Gomes and the likelihood of his spot in the lineup(hitting 9th before some combination of Happ/Suzuki/Swanson) it shouldn't be hard to make that happen. Not my plan A or B but Gomes + Barnhart should keep the defensive bar high and be better than the sum of their parts.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Well, somebody has to bat 9th. There should be a lot of competition for that spot.

[Bertz]

I'm cool with Barnhart but you've gotta go harder at DH. No horsefeathering Trey Mancini. Bring me Conforto or Brantley. But like this is a real lineup:

 

2B - Hoerner (110 projected wRC+)

DH - Conforto (117)

LF - Happ (114)

RF - Suzuki (128)

CF - Bellinger (97)

SS - Swanson (104)

1B - Mervis (122)

3B - Morel (105)

C - Gomes (92)/Barnhart(77)

 

I'd take the under on Gomes' offensive projection while being the primary C, and the error bars are obviously quite wide around all three lefties. But that team projects quite well on both sides of the ball.

[Bertz]

 

Apparently Mooney threw out Casali and Roberto Perez as guys the Cubs are also looking at. Perez is the best easily by publicly available defensive stats. Casali is easily the best hitter. Barnhart is a switch hitter. All three guys have a lot of NL Central experience.

[Cubswin11]

I was actually looking at Casali today, I think I prefer him the most. Him or Barnhart are fine I guess, still think Narvaez made most sense to pair with Gomes (short of a Murphy trade).

[17 Seconds]

it sucks that hoyer is absolutely terrified of giving up prospects in trades

[17 Seconds]

Just before Swanson:

 

i don't get how we're going to add position players. we whiffed this year.

 

Yes, I see your plan and hope it works

 

----

 

Yeah, Casali seems fine, spent last year with SF and SEA. Perez was hurt last year after signing with the Pirates

 

we still kinda whiffed, the 3-4 win player we got is just a consolation prize

[17 Seconds]

i'm fine with swanson, but we had a chance to add a superstar. with our resources, i'm not congratulating them on finally paying a second tier guy.

[Cubswin11]

I wonder how available d'Arnaud is, with the Braves adding Murphy. He’s 34 and making ~$8 mil, Braves are kinda cheap. Wonder if we could get him for next to nothing if we take on most of the money. Was worth nearly 4 WAR last year, relative outlier, but has a lot of 2-3 win seasons. Him and Gomes (with Higgins and whoever else) likely lock you in to 2.5+ WAR at the position for the year, which is fine output. Edited December 18, 2022 by Cubswin11

[Tim]

i'm fine with swanson, but we had a chance to add a superstar. with our resources, i'm not congratulating them on finally paying a second tier guy.

I wanted Correa, too. He's not a superstar.

[17 Seconds]

i'm fine with swanson, but we had a chance to add a superstar. with our resources, i'm not congratulating them on finally paying a second tier guy.

I wanted Correa, too. He's not a superstar.

 

I think he is. also we were allowed to make judge an offer