Cubs offseason chit chat...

[LBiittner]

10 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

That deal isn’t nearly as one sided as you suggest. Bell has negative value with that salary and his ground ball rate. He sucks. I would rather play Mervis at 1st. Sure, Cabrera is decent, but he isn’t that valuable either. Maybe Killian doesn’t get the deal done with Mervis, but I wouldn’t give much more than him. Maybe Thompson. Marlins cut payroll. That is their motive. Cubs get Cabrera. That is their motive. As for Bell and Mervis, I think the Marlins get the better option and definitely get the better value. 

With all respect to you rcal. You are a Cub prospect hugger. 

Killian has next to no value in everywhere but your Cub love. And if you really think Mervis is the next coming, why are you banging the Hoskins drum on a daily basis? Keep in mind Hoskins isn't coming here to dh. He's coming to build up his value for his next big deal

And Cabrera? He has a good history thus far in his early career. And if he were already a Cub you'd consider him a solid 3

Edited January 9, 2024 by LBiittner

[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, LBiittner said:

That trade proposal makes no sense. Jed doesn't want a 16m Bell. And Killian and  Mervis are currently both turds based on current mlb performances and will remain turds until they prove otherwise. And for the Cubs to also gain Cabrera in this deal is laughably so one sided in the Cubs direction.

Using your definition of turds, let's trade the king of turds based on current mlb performances and trade PCA + for Luzardo.

 

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

With all respect to you rcal. You are a Cub prospect hugger. 

Killian has next to no value in everywhere but your Cub love. And if you really think Mervis is the next coming, why are you banging the Hoskins drum on a daily basis? Keep in mind Hoskins isn't coming here to dh. He's coming to build up his value for his next big deal

And Cabrera? He has a good history thus far in his early career. And if he were already a Cub you'd consider him a solid 3

Cabrera averages over 5 walks per 9 innings. His whip last year was over 1.44. Maybe he is a 3. That isn’t that valuable. And Bell sucks. With all due respect you tend to overvalue players who are not on the Cubs. 

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

Cabrera averages over 5 walks per 9 innings. His whip last year was over 1.44. Maybe he is a 3. That isn’t that valuable. And Bell sucks. With all due respect you tend to overvalue players who are not on the Cubs. 

Cabrera has tremendous stuff and upside, more so than any non Horton pitcher in the Cub organization. 

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Cabrera has tremendous stuff and upside, more so than any non Horton pitcher in the Cub organization. 

And he walked over 5 guys per 9 innings. He was not very good last year. Probably why the Marlins might consider trading him. If he were a Cub people would be complaining about how wild he was or how he can only go 5 innings because he throws so many pitches. Unless he could harness his control a little he will always be a guy with great stuff and average results. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, Backtobanks said:

Using your definition of turds, let's trade the king of turds based on current mlb performances and trade PCA + for Luzardo.

 

My bad 

Edited January 9, 2024 by We Got The Whole 9

[LBiittner]

44 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Cabrera averages over 5 walks per 9 innings. His whip last year was over 1.44. Maybe he is a 3. That isn’t that valuable. And Bell sucks. With all due respect you tend to overvalue players who are not on the Cubs. 

Never once said I liked bell. Go back and look for yourself. I said jed wouldn't pay for a 16m bell. I tend to rate good young pitchers on other teams at their worth.

[LBiittner]

34 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

And he walked over 5 guys per 9 innings. He was not very good last year. Probably why the Marlins might consider trading him. If he were a Cub people would be complaining about how wild he was or how he can only go 5 innings because he throws so many pitches. Unless he could harness his control a little he will always be a guy with great stuff and average results. 

He was hurt in 23.

[LBiittner]

57 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

Using your definition of turds, let's trade the king of turds based on current mlb performances and trade PCA + for Luzardo.

 

Killian is currently KING

LOL

[Jfoley89]

Hey! We signed a guy! Let's go Shota

[Jfoley89]

Has anyone else complained about the Dodgers deferring 8.5 million through 2039 on Hernandez? It's a 1 year deal

Edited January 10, 2024 by Jfoley89
Clarity

[Stratos]

My prediction for PCA is a guy who hits .250 AVG, .320 OBP, 15-20 HR, 30+ SB.  Glove and speed gets him to 4 WAR.

Caissie:  .230 AVG, .320 OBP, 30+ HR, below avg defense, 2.5 WAR.

[Bertz]

So at this point with Imanaga on board and indications being the team only wants to add one vet SP, it seems very unlikely that we trade Morel for a frontline guy a la Dylan Cease or Jesus Luzardo.  Knowing that, which of these do we think is the plan?  

1. Sign two bats for 1B/DH, e.g. Bellinger and Hoskins, and Morel's only guaranteed path to everyday playing time comes via playing an adequate 3B.  A bit of a high risk high reward proposition 

2. Only sign one bat for 1B/DH, Morel will play everyday at one of those spots depending on which bat we end up with.  It's a waste of his athleticism but you *know* you can get his bat into the lineup every day 

3. Still trade Morel.  Instead of being a part of a big time trade, do something more in the challenge trade mold like to the Mariners for Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo.  Even if Jed's shopping list has changed Morel's lack of fit on the roster hasn't

[SOFNR]

47 minutes ago, Bertz said:

So at this point with Imanaga on board and indications being the team only wants to add one vet SP, it seems very unlikely that we trade Morel for a frontline guy a la Dylan Cease or Jesus Luzardo.  Knowing that, which of these do we think is the plan?  

1. Sign two bats for 1B/DH, e.g. Bellinger and Hoskins, and Morel's only guaranteed path to everyday playing time comes via playing an adequate 3B.  A bit of a high risk high reward proposition 

2. Only sign one bat for 1B/DH, Morel will play everyday at one of those spots depending on which bat we end up with.  It's a waste of his athleticism but you *know* you can get his bat into the lineup every day 

3. Still trade Morel.  Instead of being a part of a big time trade, do something more in the challenge trade mold like to the Mariners for Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo.  Even if Jed's shopping list has changed Morel's lack of fit on the roster hasn't

I think the most realistic scenario is Bellinger/Hoskins for CF/1B. Morel would have a shot at 3B and DH.

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, SOFNR said:

I think the most realistic scenario is Bellinger/Hoskins for CF/1B. Morel would have a shot at 3B and DH.

I think the safest scenario Is sign Bellinger and Chapman. That allows 1st and DH to be figured out with Morel taking one of the spots. It also allows for either Mervis or PCA to earn a spot. They would just need one of them to force their way into a line up. If PCA earns time in center they move Bellinger to first. If Mervis has a good spring and they decide he deserves another chance he plays 1st. If neither gets it done Morel can play first or Bellinger can play 1st and Tauchman play center. Morel back to DH. 

[CubinNY]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think the safest scenario Is sign Bellinger and Chapman. That allows 1st and DH to be figured out with Morel taking one of the spots. It also allows for either Mervis or PCA to earn a spot. They would just need one of them to force their way into a line up. If PCA earns time in center they move Bellinger to first. If Mervis has a good spring and they decide he deserves another chance he plays 1st. If neither gets it done Morel can play first or Bellinger can play 1st and Tauchman play center. Morel back to DH. 

Bellinger/Champan is an either-or situation. They are not spending that kind of money short or long term.

[Rcal10]

31 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Bellinger/Champan is an either-or situation. They are not spending that kind of money short or long term.

Probably right. And if that is right, I doubt they get Chapman. Hoskins is a nice option, but for it to work best with him, Morel needs to play 3rd. That would then allow either PCA or Mervis a spot in the line up if either deserved it. And most here assume he won’t play 3rd. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The money isn't the reason that Bellinger + Chapman isn't a realistic possibility, it's the draft capital.

[Bertz]

30 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Bellinger/Champan is an either-or situation. They are not spending that kind of money short or long term.

Yeah based on when I looked at future payroll, I expect that over the next three offseasons Jed is only going to make 2-3 more long term contracts of substance.  He is absolutely not going to use two of those limited bullets right away this offseason.

Smart money for the rest of this winter is one of Bellinger/Chapman, a 1B/DH of the opposite handedness (lets say Hoskins and Belt respectively), and two setup caliber relievers.  Maybe another pre-FA SP like is being discussed in the other thread or some fiddling with the bench.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Yeah based on when I looked at future payroll, I expect that over the next three offseasons Jed is only going to make 2-3 more long term contracts of substance.  He is absolutely not going to use two of those limited bullets right away this offseason.

Smart money for the rest of this winter is one of Bellinger/Chapman, a 1B/DH of the opposite handedness (lets say Hoskins and Belt respectively), and two setup caliber relievers.  Maybe another pre-FA SP like is being discussed in the other thread or some fiddling with the bench.

Agreed. I think the only other thing that could play in is a trade. Maybe for Naylor. But if they fill with free agents, agree with you. 

[Stratos]

11 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Agreed. I think the only other thing that could play in is a trade. Maybe for Naylor. But if they fill with free agents, agree with you. 

Naylor is a nice player but I think they need more HR power in the lineup and especially out of 1b/dh

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Naylor is a nice player but I think they need more HR power in the lineup and especially out of 1b/dh

He did slug .489. Not home runs, so much. But that is a very solid slugging percentage. I wouldn’t complain if they did trade for him. Not a 30+ home run guy. But in 600AB he could hit 25. 

[Jason Ross]

Bowden in his mailbag today says the Cubs remain engaged with Montgomery, Bellinger, Chapman and Hoskins. Believe they will get one or two of them.

[We Got The Whole 9]

18 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Naylor is a nice player but I think they need more HR power in the lineup and especially out of 1b/dh

A bunch of 120 hitters would be great, whether they get there by HR or not 

[Bertz]

Again keep in mind that Heyman is usually quite plugged in with Boras