The only trade proposal required: the Cubpocalypse must start paying off

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just now, mul21 said:

The batting average conversation is way out in left field but I think the larger point of "The Cubs should try to buy roster cornerstones with their excess of prospects regardless of playoff hopes this year" is a salient point.  The likelihood of that happening is near zero because they don't have any high end prospects they aren't counting on in the near term and other teams who are actually in contention will be willing to pay more.  If Jed were to pull something like that off, tip of the cap, but I don't think he has the vision or creativity to make it happen.

What they could really stand to do is to make a trade reminiscent of those that supplemented the 2016 roster, which wasn't really about paying through the nose for very good players(this tended to not work out, notably with Quintana) but about trading for players who found or re-found their level with the Cubs.  Arrieta is the shining example, but guys like Fowler and Montero fit in this bucket too.  That type of player is very much able to be found at the deadline even in a selling year(see Arrieta), and while it'd be foolish to bank on any trade acquisition becoming a Cy Young/MVP candidate as the linchpin of their success, it's the type of move that hasn't really happened in a bit while they've been at least okay at developing players and in signing FAs.  The roster is close enough that one bit of good scouting/development/luck can really transform their fortunes, both as a hedge against bad luck/injuries and by allowing them to be more aggressive in plugging remaining holes.

[Tryptamine]

I know we're busy hating Madrigal, but in the time since his return from AAA he put up a .328/.409/.466 SLG good for a 144 wRC+. Obviously I do not expect him to suddenly be a slugger, but it's very possible he figured something out. The quality of contact certainly improved.

Before he was sent to AAA

23.8 SOFT%, 56.0 MED%, 20.2 HARD%, 18.1 LD%, 66.3 GB%, 15.7 FB%, 85.3 EV

After return from AAA

 11.1 SOFT%, 66.7 MED%, 22.2 HARD%, 17.6 LD%, 51 GB%, 31.4 FB%, 87.6 EV

[Javy Is Still A Cub]

You look at Madrigal's '20 and '21 seasons, and his pedigree, and his second stint this year, and it seems really unlikely that was all a mirage. 

Is he Arenado? No. Can he be the best #9 hitter in MLB? Yes. Is that something the Cubs can use? Yes, especially because the rules of the game require a #9 hitter. 

If we can get a top SLG 3b for a package that includes Madrigal - go ahead.

But if the brass doesn't do something about the 1b black hole we can't possibly be a "if we get in the playoff we've got a shot at a ring" team. That approach would really be reliant on Mervis coming in and being close to the "Rookie of the Year: 2nd half edition", which is very pie in the sky. 

Or we could spend 3-5 of the #52 prospects to get a long-term solution at 1b instead. That'd be better. And is the plan to wait for Heuer to get healthy until we get a top closer? If so, why did we give out those contracts? I gotta believe the brass is going to make a move, and one which doesn't prioritise ticket sales down on the farm. 

Edited July 18, 2023 by Javy Is Still A Cub

[chibears55]

On 7/17/2023 at 9:45 PM, Javy Is Still A Cub said:

You look at Madrigal's '20 and '21 seasons, and his pedigree, and his second stint this year, and it seems really unlikely that was all a mirage. 

Is he Arenado? No. Can he be the best #9 hitter in MLB? Yes. Is that something the Cubs can use? Yes, especially because the rules of the game require a #9 hitter. 

If we can get a top SLG 3b for a package that includes Madrigal - go ahead.

But if the brass doesn't do something about the 1b black hole we can't possibly be a "if we get in the playoff we've got a shot at a ring" team. That approach would really be reliant on Mervis coming in and being close to the "Rookie of the Year: 2nd half edition", which is very pie in the sky. 

Or we could spend 3-5 of the #52 prospects to get a long-term solution at 1b instead. That'd be better. And is the plan to wait for Heuer to get healthy until we get a top closer? If so, why did we give out those contracts? I gotta believe the brass is going to make a move, and one which doesn't prioritise ticket sales down on the farm. 

Sorry but Madrigal is just a guy you play on a team that just going through the motions of rebuilding, or you keep him in AAA as depth, he not a piece that you need on a contending team.

Only significant contracts they gave out were to Swanson and Taillon,  which both were bad and stupid because they truly have nobody to build off of going forward on this roster and obviously those two aren't guys you wanna start building a contending team with. 

This team has nothing going right now and are basically stuck in the mud as far as having a legit plan or direction they're taking.