2022-23 Offseason Thread (Cubs)

[Tim]

He shouldn’t have been determining any additions and certainly is just a guy but DFA’ing Rivas for the Kay guy…. we have to be adding some sort of 3B/1B guy, right? It’s Wisdom, Mervis (who we have no idea on), Higgins, Morel, Madrigal, Mckinstry/Rays guy for the corners. With obviously Bellinger able to play some 1B but then there’s OF problems.

 

Have to think Mancini, Belt, Aguilar or Hosmer is gonna happen. Which doesn’t block Mervis if he’s a thing since there’s the DH.

 

Weirdly I think the outfield is probably more shallow when you think about the likely 26 man roster. If Velazquez doesn't make the team, your primary backup OF is...Wisdom? Mastrobuoni/McKinstry?

Morel

[Post Count Padder]

Alright...adjusted offseason wishlist post-Varsho...Obvy not all but multiple would be nice:

 

FA:

 

Matt Moore LHRP

Shintaro Fujinami RHP

 

 

Trades:

 

Jesus Luzardo LHSP (w/ Joey Wendle LHH IF)

Leody Taveras CF

Nick Pratto 1B

Taylor Trammell CF

Josh Staumont RHRP

AJ Puk LHP

Will Benson OF/1B? - He and Fujinami are more personal favorites than like goooo get this guy but also they should anyway

MJ Melendez C/OF/IF

Jazz Chisholm 2B/IF - Maybe next year

 

:dontknow:

The Puk/Seth Brown and Luzardo/Wendle are two trades mentioned on this board that I like most because they fit obvious needs. If Madrigal isn't used in either I've wondered about a challenge trade with the Mariners for Kelenic.

[Bertz]

I know he had a pretty serious knee injury, but if he's even vaguely healthy Brandon Belt is a really really really perfect fit in this roster.

 

- He's generally a plus glove at 1B. The Cubs don't need their bat to be the primary 1B, but it would be ideal

- He's the #2 least groundball-y hitter in the league after Trout

- He has elite patience/plate discipline, which is a quality a bit lacking in the bottom half of the lineup

- Prior to this year he hasn't needed to be platooned. Ross could choose to do so as a load management tactic, but it's likely not a need

 

Even at his best the power is more good than great, and there's a good bit of swing-and-miss in his profile now that he's older. But as a complimentary guy rather than THE GUY the Giants always wanted/needed him to be that's fine. I'd strongly prefer him to Mancini, and vastly prefer him to every other option.

[Tim]

I know he had a pretty serious knee injury, but if he's even vaguely healthy Brandon Belt is a really really really perfect fit in this roster.

 

- He's generally a plus glove at 1B. The Cubs don't need their bat to be the primary 1B, but it would be ideal

- He's the #2 least groundball-y hitter in the league after Trout

- He has elite patience/plate discipline, which is a quality a bit lacking in the bottom half of the lineup

- Prior to this year he hasn't needed to be platooned. Ross could choose to do so as a load management tactic, but it's likely not a need

 

Even at his best the power is more good than great, and there's a good bit of swing-and-miss in his profile now that he's older. But as a complimentary guy rather than THE GUY the Giants always wanted/needed him to be that's fine. I'd strongly prefer him to Mancini, and vastly prefer him to every other option.

Yeah, I've been banging that drum for a while. I think he's the best option left out there if the medicals are even somewhat clear.

[Cubswin11]

I know he had a pretty serious knee injury, but if he's even vaguely healthy Brandon Belt is a really really really perfect fit in this roster.

 

- He's generally a plus glove at 1B. The Cubs don't need their bat to be the primary 1B, but it would be ideal

- He's the #2 least groundball-y hitter in the league after Trout

- He has elite patience/plate discipline, which is a quality a bit lacking in the bottom half of the lineup

- Prior to this year he hasn't needed to be platooned. Ross could choose to do so as a load management tactic, but it's likely not a need

 

Even at his best the power is more good than great, and there's a good bit of swing-and-miss in his profile now that he's older. But as a complimentary guy rather than THE GUY the Giants always wanted/needed him to be that's fine. I'd strongly prefer him to Mancini, and vastly prefer him to every other option.

I’ve always been a fan and like the profile, maybe now that he’s older it won’t happen, but I always thought there’d be a slight power increase getting out of SF too.

[The SABR Gamer]

I know he had a pretty serious knee injury, but if he's even vaguely healthy Brandon Belt is a really really really perfect fit in this roster.

 

- He's generally a plus glove at 1B. The Cubs don't need their bat to be the primary 1B, but it would be ideal

- He's the #2 least groundball-y hitter in the league after Trout

- He has elite patience/plate discipline, which is a quality a bit lacking in the bottom half of the lineup

- Prior to this year he hasn't needed to be platooned. Ross could choose to do so as a load management tactic, but it's likely not a need

 

Even at his best the power is more good than great, and there's a good bit of swing-and-miss in his profile now that he's older. But as a complimentary guy rather than THE GUY the Giants always wanted/needed him to be that's fine. I'd strongly prefer him to Mancini, and vastly prefer him to every other option.

I’ve always been a fan and like the profile, maybe now that he’s older it won’t happen, but I always thought there’d be a slight power increase getting out of SF too.

 

One of the downsides will be potentially hearing let's go Brandon chanted extremely obnoxiously by some fans lol.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh Jesus, I was on board.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I know he had a pretty serious knee injury, but if he's even vaguely healthy Brandon Belt is a really really really perfect fit in this roster.

 

- He's generally a plus glove at 1B. The Cubs don't need their bat to be the primary 1B, but it would be ideal

- He's the #2 least groundball-y hitter in the league after Trout

- He has elite patience/plate discipline, which is a quality a bit lacking in the bottom half of the lineup

- Prior to this year he hasn't needed to be platooned. Ross could choose to do so as a load management tactic, but it's likely not a need

 

Even at his best the power is more good than great, and there's a good bit of swing-and-miss in his profile now that he's older. But as a complimentary guy rather than THE GUY the Giants always wanted/needed him to be that's fine. I'd strongly prefer him to Mancini, and vastly prefer him to every other option.

I’ve always been a fan and like the profile, maybe now that he’s older it won’t happen, but I always thought there’d be a slight power increase getting out of SF too.

 

One of the downsides will be potentially hearing let's go Brandon chanted extremely obnoxiously by some fans lol.

[Bertz]

 

I had internalized that the Cubs had gotten fairly fast and were likely to be a pretty good basestealing team too, but this caught me off guard.

 

I hope that the team adds two bats from here, a lefty and a righty. But if they only add one I wouldn't hate having that Deluzio dude as a speed/defense goof in the last bench spot.

[Backtobanks]

I’d like to think the Segura signing by the Marlins further opens the door for that Luzardo + Wendle trade the Cubs should make

 

Are you willing to give up Morel or PCA?

[mul21]

This seems like a weird move and even weirder timing unless something else is about to break we haven't heard about yet.

 

[Cubswin11]

So our catching depth is Gomes/Barnhart and then Amaya maybe by July? Seems not ideal

[Bertz]

Saw someone mention that a lot of 40 man rosters are full right now, so it is a really good time to sneak dudes through waivers. I bet they think they can keep him.

 

If not I'd still not be too torn up. It's great that he has experience and rapport with a lot of the guys in the org, but he's not a particularly good hitter or defender.

[Bertz]

 

This is an interesting idea. While the overall offensive production has waned Sanchez still has pretty elite power numbers. You do have to wonder if dropping catching either mostly or entirely could do quite a bit for his bat. He's also a guy who might get a benefit from the shift ban. I believe he's a guy that gets the full 3 guys o. the left side treatment.

 

Depends what else Jed does whether I'd be down for something so speculative, but it's interesting.

[Gilby]

Padres reportedly open to trading Kim. Since the remaining FA bat options are all shity anyway, get him to play 3B and make the defense comically good.

[PackLandVA]

Tommy LaStella DFA’d by the Giants. LHH, can play 3B and 1B (sort of). Any interest?

[Cubswin11]

Tommy LaStella DFA’d by the Giants. LHH, can play 3B and 1B (sort of). Any interest?

No

[Cubswin11]

[Tim]

We still get a prospect from the Padres along with Hosmer, right?

[17 Seconds]

all that money to spend and the best bat we're going to come away with is swanson

[Gilby]

I think Hosmer is probably still useful and will be an upgrade over last year's 1B production. But cmon Jed, can't we get a little bit more creative here. Trade some of that prospect depth, man.

[17 Seconds]

I think Hosmer is probably still useful and will be an upgrade over last year's 1B production. But cmon Jed, can't we get a little bit more creative here. Trade some of that prospect depth, man.

 

i think jed's wet dream is to compete with homegrown players and he's just buying time until 2024-25 when that's possible

[CubinNY]

I think Hosmer is probably still useful and will be an upgrade over last year's 1B production. But cmon Jed, can't we get a little bit more creative here. Trade some of that prospect depth, man.

 

i think jed's wet dream is to compete with homegrown players and he's just buying time until 2024-25 when that's possible

Yes, Tommy Boy picked the right guy to run his small market franchise. Problem is, they have too many good prospects and no great ones. I have high hopes for Alcantara though. He would be my only “untouchable”.

[Bertz]

I think Hosmer is probably still useful and will be an upgrade over last year's 1B production. But cmon Jed, can't we get a little bit more creative here. Trade some of that prospect depth, man.

 

Yeah. I get not wanting to gut the farm, but you've brought up Seth Brown and he could probably be had for like Madrigal and one or two guys at the back of the top 30 prospects? It's not overly onerous.

 

Hosmer is probably going to draw more heat than he deserves. His contract is lol-worthy,bad. that's AJ Preller's problem. Hosmer is solid against righties and with his heavy groundball rates is probably near the top of the list of guys who will benefit from the shift ban. For league minimum that's not bad.

[Backtobanks]

 

No surprise there because he's basically free.