Article: The Three Levels of Possible Guardians-Cubs Trades That Could Be in Play

[DK1230]

IMHO, if you don't have a playoff roster, and the Cubs do not currently have that, unless you're acquiring difference makers, none of these trades make a great deal of sense.  It could be aruged that Bieber may "make a difference" though with regressing stuff I'm not sure I'd be willing to pinpoint him as a true needle mover.  The rest of the given options are merely hole-filling and wouldn't make this team playoff-competitive and thus I wouldn't imagine any of them are actually necessary deals to consider.

[Brock Beauchamp]

15 minutes ago, DK1230 said:

IMHO, if you don't have a playoff roster, and the Cubs do not currently have that, unless you're acquiring difference makers, none of these trades make a great deal of sense.  It could be aruged that Bieber may "make a difference" though with regressing stuff I'm not sure I'd be willing to pinpoint him as a true needle mover.  The rest of the given options are merely hole-filling and wouldn't make this team playoff-competitive and thus I wouldn't imagine any of them are actually necessary deals to consider.

Welcome to NSBB!

I think the assumption is that these trades are not a replacement for signing free agents but a supplement to additional moves. If the Cubs get Bieber and then Chapman or Bellinger, then follow up with a lesser free agent for 1B/3B, they're in decent shape.

That's a lot of tasks to accomplish, though.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I doubt it's the most *likely* option, but I half wonder if there's a 3 team deal to be had there, where Bieber and a bat from a 3rd team comes to the Cubs, a 'bigger than Bieber's value' prospect goes from the Cubs to the Guardians, and the Guardians make up the difference across to the third team.  If they don't agree on Naylor's value but are pretty interested in getting Bieber over the line that would match up on motivations, though I'm not certain who a great partner is since some potential 3rd teams are divisional rivals of either team that don't trade often(Twins, Reds).

[We Got The Whole 9]

46 minutes ago, DK1230 said:

IMHO, if you don't have a playoff roster, and the Cubs do not currently have that, unless you're acquiring difference makers, none of these trades make a great deal of sense.  It could be aruged that Bieber may "make a difference" though with regressing stuff I'm not sure I'd be willing to pinpoint him as a true needle mover.  The rest of the given options are merely hole-filling and wouldn't make this team playoff-competitive and thus I wouldn't imagine any of them are actually necessary deals to consider.

I think if the Cubs add guys who project to combine for 8-10 war they will absolutely have a playoff-competitive team. It's pretty clear though that Hoyer is willing to slow-play their ascension and see what the young players produce this year as well. But you get a guy like Clase at the back of your pen and suddenly you have Alzolay as a lockdown setup guy and Counsell to play the matchups (and use Luke Little) - that alone, IMO, could provide a significant swing in the competiveness of the team. Naylor as a 125 bat who wouldn't need a platoon and puts the ball in play, that would be a difference-maker for the offense. It's ok to add great pieces as you go, and not just wait until you think the team is ready to compete. 

[Bertz]

Not the most detailed look but appears that ZiPS still loves Bieber

 

[Backtobanks]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

Not the most detailed look but appears that ZiPS still loves Bieber

And not very impressed with Naylor.

 

 

[17 Seconds]

what's going on with cleveland's tv deal? could that be holding anything up?

[mul21]

28 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

what's going on with cleveland's tv deal? could that be holding anything up?

If it's anything like what's happening in STL, it sounds like status quo for the 2024 season and Amazon may get involved to stabilize things and make games available on a streaming platform.  The Bally's app is just absolute hot garbage.  You have to log in (with varying levels of success based on personal experience) every single time you open the app on a Firestick or other device and it constantly cuts out and is difficult to use.

[mul21]

38 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

what's going on with cleveland's tv deal? could that be holding anything up?

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39146754/mlb-free-agency-2023-24-rsn-tv-diamond-sports

The important part if you don't have a log in:

There will be at least three -- the Padres and D-backs once again and, sources said, the Colorado Rockies, who have been left without a TV deal now that Warner Bros. Discovery has essentially left the regional sports business. The Minnesota Twins, whose Bally Sports contract expired at season's end, could also join MLB for the 2024 season. So might the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians, two teams Diamond will likely shed this offseason.

Based on what's being said here, it sounds like revenues will be impacted (estimated 20% of team revenues come from local TV rights) but MLB will make sure games continue to be aired in local markets, whether it's a cable channel or in network streaming through MLBTV, which is what they did last year in AZ and SD.

[Bertz]

22 minutes ago, mul21 said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39146754/mlb-free-agency-2023-24-rsn-tv-diamond-sports

The important part if you don't have a log in:

There will be at least three -- the Padres and D-backs once again and, sources said, the Colorado Rockies, who have been left without a TV deal now that Warner Bros. Discovery has essentially left the regional sports business. The Minnesota Twins, whose Bally Sports contract expired at season's end, could also join MLB for the 2024 season. So might the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians, two teams Diamond will likely shed this offseason.

Based on what's being said here, it sounds like revenues will be impacted (estimated 20% of team revenues come from local TV rights) but MLB will make sure games continue to be aired in local markets, whether it's a cable channel or in network streaming through MLBTV, which is what they did last year in AZ and SD.

That's a really good article.  Nice find.

I think what I saw from a Cleveland specific writer last week when that court date got pushed, and is backed up by this from ESPN, is that things are actually looking pretty decent for 2024.  Diamond's going to pay most of their rights for 2024 and then dissolve.  So it's afterwards where there's massive uncertainty. 

For us hoping to pick all the fat off of Cleveland's roster it probably doesn't change much, since Bieber is only on a one year deal and Naylor doesn't have guaranteed money for '25.  It's more for anyone hoping that e.g. the Rangers or Angels keep away from Jordan Montgomery that it might be a very big deal.