Cubs offseason chit chat...

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, thawv said:

He has a 40 speed tool, and a 30 FV speed tool.  I don't think the Cubs care about Iowa, other than developing players.  The move to 1B would be because the Cubs have a need there.  I don't really see much of a path short term or long term for Caissie in the OF as it currently stands.  If not 1B, then DH.  His stick is big, and the OF is full in the majors and crowded in the minors.  We need a 1B and to me he seems like a logical choice.  Why would they wait?  The need is there today. 

Happ and Seiya are signed through 2026.  Caissie should be ready by 2025 some time, if not later next season if he continues to progress well.  He could DH, and Happ could possibly be traded before his contract is up if Caissie hits well and they want to unload some cash for other acquisitions or recoup prospects at the 2026 trade deadline.

I don't see them moving someone already below average defensively to a new and very different position on the infield in this situation, especially when they also have Mervis to give PA's next year in MLB.  At most I suppose they could give him a few innings here and there in Iowa next year at 1B just for the heck of it.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

Happ and Seiya are signed through 2026.  Caissie should be ready by 2025 some time, if not later next season if he continues to progress well.  He could DH, and Happ could possibly be traded before his contract is up if Caissie hits well and they want to unload some cash for other acquisitions or recoup prospects at the 2026 trade deadline.

I don't see them moving someone already below average defensively to a new and very different position on the infield in this situation, especially when they also have Mervis to give PA's next year in MLB.  At most I suppose they could give him a few innings here and there in Iowa next year at 1B just for the heck of it.

Cassie isn’t below average defensively in right. That said, he probably will end up at 1st at some point. But I feel people worry way too much about where a prospect will play if/when they come to the majors. Too much concern about blocking a prospect. If a guy is good he will have a spot. If he prices he is a major league player a trade can be made. A player can chance positions, etc. There is now a DH, so that adds a spot. Let hope the Cubs have a problem if too many great players coming up and no place to play them. 
As for Mervis at first, I have been on his side longer than most. But it does appear to me the Cubs do not have faith in him. So I wouldn’t worry about him playing first as a reason not to give Cassie reps there.

[Stratos]

46 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Cassie isn’t below average defensively in right. That said, he probably will end up at 1st at some point. But I feel people worry way too much about where a prospect will play if/when they come to the majors. Too much concern about blocking a prospect. If a guy is good he will have a spot. If he prices he is a major league player a trade can be made. A player can chance positions, etc. There is now a DH, so that adds a spot. Let hope the Cubs have a problem if too many great players coming up and no place to play them. 
As for Mervis at first, I have been on his side longer than most. But it does appear to me the Cubs do not have faith in him. So I wouldn’t worry about him playing first as a reason not to give Cassie reps there.

I don't think how Hoyer has treated Mervis is any different than any other prospect, except maybe a guy who can field well so you can live with a struggling bat for a bit.  I can't see the Cubs giving any prospect a starting job without showing they can play up to par.  I'm just saying they'll try Mervis again at 1B before Caissie so he doesn't have the clearest path there.

I've never seen any outlet rate Caissie at a 50 glove or above.  MLB.com has his glove at a 45.  You can play a guy at any position but it doesn't mean he's going to field it adequately.  If they have any plans for him at 1B in the future they better give him a lot of practice in Iowa next year because he hasn't fielded one grounder as a pro.  MLB isn't a good place to learn a new position unless you're already a good fielder and can handle about anything.

I'm not particularly worried about finding Caissie a spot, things can change in a year or 2 and he can DH.  We should be focused on filling 1B and other positions next year.

[Y2J]

14 hours ago, Cuzi said:

I would have probably already given the job to Mike Shildt if I were the Padres. Why the Cardinals fired Shildt is still a mystery to me. The guy took Mike Matheny's .500 win team and made them one of the best defensive teams in baseball and had a .594 winning percentage with them and did nothing but manage 90 win teams before they fired him. Now 2 years later they have Marmol and are last in the division.

“Philosophical differences” was the reason given. Rumor has it Shildt didn’t care much for computer analytics in the game. 

[chibears55]

Thinking about the Cubs bullpen today while watching the Counsell press conference..

We could probably ink these guys in off the bat..

Alzolay Merryweather Leiter Cuas and Assad

Then they have Little, Smily, Palencia, Thompson and Rucker to battle for a spot or two plus depth.

I think they need to go out and bring in at least 2 solid veteran relievers to strengthen the pen and help turn the bullpen into a big strength for the team.

[Tryptamine]

Why Cuas?

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Thinking about the Cubs bullpen today while watching the Counsell press conference..

We could probably ink these guys in off the bat..

Alzolay Merryweather Leiter Cuas and Assad

Then they have Little, Smily, Palencia, Thompson and Rucker to battle for a spot or two plus depth.

I think they need to go out and bring in at least 2 solid veteran relievers to strengthen the pen and help turn the bullpen into a big strength for the team.

If your list of guys we should ink in is accurate I don’t see a spot to add anyone. I think Little and Smyly are as sure as the guys you mentioned. I also think Palencia is exactly the type of guy Counsell will love and will get a lot out of. I honestly can see a trade if Assad and maybe Wesnecki providing some space to add a pen arm. 

[ToolDRT]

 

Apparently he’s also interested in the Braves. Though, I don’t see that happening. 
 

How do I get the tweet to show up in my post?? Not the link. The actual tweet. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by ToolDRT

[Ding Dong Johnson]

10 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Mets don’t think that have a shot at Ohtani  

 

Apparently he’s also interested in the Braves. Though, I don’t see that happening. 
 

How do I get the tweet to show up in my post?? Not the link. The actual tweet. 

Don't use the x.com URL

[ToolDRT]

1 minute ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

Don't use the x.com URL

What do I use? I want to be proficient in this before the meetings start 🤣

[ToolDRT]

Cubs are the first Sunday night game on espn. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by ToolDRT

[Ding Dong Johnson]

1 minute ago, ToolDRT said:

What do I use? I want to be proficient in this before the meetings start 🤣

Just paste the twitter dot com link, and it should embed properly

 

[ToolDRT]

2 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

Just paste the twitter dot com link, and it should embed properly

 

Got it! Thank you. 

[Andy]

8 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Cubs are the first Sunday night game on espn. 

Opening night Thursday night, just to clarify.

[ToolDRT]

15 minutes ago, Andy said:

Opening night Thursday night, just to clarify.

Whoops. My bad. Saw opening night on espn and thought it meant their Sunday night game. Thank you! 

[Bertz]

58 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Thinking about the Cubs bullpen today while watching the Counsell press conference..

We could probably ink these guys in off the bat..

Alzolay Merryweather Leiter Cuas and Assad

Then they have Little, Smily, Palencia, Thompson and Rucker to battle for a spot or two plus depth.

I think they need to go out and bring in at least 2 solid veteran relievers to strengthen the pen and help turn the bullpen into a big strength for the team.

Smyly's written in pen, at least for opening day.  He was very good as a reliever last year, provides some emergency SP depth, and is owed almost $10M. 

Conversely I think both Leiter and Cuas are likely to make the roster but not total locks.

So then there's two questions: 1) how many resources do you allocate to the pen and 2) do you want to reserve a dedicated spot for the Iowa crew, or rely on them just as depth?

My preference would be one pretty certain late inning reliever, David Robertson being my favorite, and then leaving a dedicated spot for the youths.  Jed's recent comments at the GM's meetings make me think he might go the opposite direction.

[JHBulls]

Hopefully the Cubs are playing on the first night and the last night of the MLB season. :D

[Stratos]

8 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Thinking about the Cubs bullpen today while watching the Counsell press conference..

We could probably ink these guys in off the bat..

Alzolay Merryweather Leiter Cuas and Assad

Then they have Little, Smily, Palencia, Thompson and Rucker to battle for a spot or two plus depth.

I think they need to go out and bring in at least 2 solid veteran relievers to strengthen the pen and help turn the bullpen into a big strength for the team.

Hughes in the mix too as LHP, maybe battles with Little.  Smyly will make the team.

Wesneski needs to figure out his FB, could see him doing it in Iowa.  We need some vets who can get outs and provide leeadership, I don't see Rucker with much of a shot without injuries.  Palencia and Thompson and other guys in the mix.  I'm sure they sign some wildcard FAs to minor league deals like they do every offseason.

[JHBulls]

Just got through the press conference. You can really see the club is in a good place and have pulled the trigger on hiring one of best managers in the business at the right time. Well spoken with a good Baseball brain. Such exciting times ahead. 

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, Stratos said:

Hughes in the mix too as LHP, maybe battles with Little.  Smyly will make the team.

Wesneski needs to figure out his FB, could see him doing it in Iowa.  We need some vets who can get outs and provide leeadership, I don't see Rucker with much of a shot without injuries.  Palencia and Thompson and other guys in the mix.  I'm sure they sign some wildcard FAs to minor league deals like they do every offseason.

They have inhouse options but I still would like to see them add a couple of vets that been solid.

[chibears55]

Wonder if we'll see the Cubs making a trade or two here..

 

[gocubs218]

Would be a good time to find someone to take Madrigal or Wisdom off our hands. 

[mfcubs22]

Take off our hands?

[gocubs218]

Maybe a bad way to phrase it but yes, I don’t see both being on this team next year.

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, gocubs218 said:

Maybe a bad way to phrase it but yes, I don’t see both being on this team next year.

Neither one is under contract for next year so they dont need to find someone to take them off our hands.