Cubs trading for Michael Busch & Yency Almonte (for Ferris & Hope)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

How the Cubs view Busch defensively is a big question to determine where they go from here.

If they see him as a 3B (which seems doubtful based on other comments here), then Hoskins is in play.

If they see him as a 1B, then Hoskins is out but they may be focusing on Chapman instead.

In either event, Morel is probably still a trade candidate, but for who?

I strongly suspect that this doesn't really eliminate any of the FA options, but gives them options to have a reasonable mix regardless of who they're able to sign on their terms.  I also think that this is part of why you pay Craig Counsell record money, to be able to take an imperfect group and make it better than the sum of their parts, so I think we should be careful to assume that any one player has a particular position locked down when it comes to 1B, 3B, DH, or even CF.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Is there anything interesting about Almonte?  He has one more arbitration year left in 2025 and then will be a free agent.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

Is there anything interesting about Almonte?  He has one more arbitration year left in 2025 and then will be a free agent.

He's amazing every other year and this is the good every other year.

ERA by year

2018: 1.84

2019: 5.56

2020: 2.93

2021: 7.55

2022: 1.02

2023: 5.06

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I think we should be careful to assume that any one player has a particular position locked down when it comes to 1B, 3B, DH, or even CF.

I agree, but also you can only have so many 1B/glove-limited guys on the roster.  Flexibility is a good thing, but it isn't extremely helpful on below average defenders.

[PeanutPunch33]

I would be upset if they trade Morel. He’s just a kid that makes things happen in big moments, like Baez or Trea Turner 

[CubinNY]

You know that Farris is going to win a Cy Young in LA. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

I agree, but also you can only have so many 1B/glove-limited guys on the roster.  Flexibility is a good thing, but it isn't extremely helpful on below average defenders.

Depends on the specifics.  As Rob mentioned, you can probably get away with sacrificing some defense for offense in the infield when Imanaga or Taillon are on the mound, maybe Wesneski or Smyly too if they end up starting any games.  We're also talking about literally half the lineup so you do need redundancy for rest and insurance against injury or underperformance.  Do I think they'll sign Bellinger and Hoskins and keep Morel?  I wouldn't put money on it.  But I also don't see it being crossed off in pen.

[SOFNR]

Yah, that's a high price. I liked Ferris. I gotta think they really believe Busch can lock down 1B. Hopefully that's the case. Better not mean Jed is cheaping out on the offseason. But if he believes in Busch this allows him a little more flexibility. Hoskins, Bellinger, and Chapman could still make sense. I think Mervis is as good as gone.

[Bertz]

6 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Is there anything interesting about Almonte?  He has one more arbitration year left in 2025 and then will be a free agent.

Among 410 pitchers with 40+ IP last year, he was 55th in Stuff+ per Fangraphs.  Command is pretty iffy but he's a guy, and that's before any pitch lab tweaks the team might have cooked up.  If he's clearly the lesser of two RPs we acquire I feel pretty good about him.

[CubbyBlue2008]

Passan saying the hope is he plays 3B. I wonder if that’s him guessing or if it’s sourced.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, CubbyBlue2008 said:

Passan saying the hope is he plays 3B. I wonder if that’s him guessing or if it’s sourced.

If the Cubs turn Busch into a passable 3B, then the guy who did it should get a lifetime contract after doing that for both Madrigal and then Busch.

[ILMindState]

13 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

You know that Farris is going to win a Cy Young in LA. 

He'll turn into the next Kershaw in LA

[CubinNY]

8 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

He'll turn into the next Kershaw in LA

This trade could look pretty lopsided in three years, and not in a good way for the Cubs. But I trust them. Busch's defensive problems are way overblown, so whatever. 

Edit: The smoldering shell of twitter with ads from the Epoch Times sandwiched between Passsan tweets is really something, well done, Elon.

Edited January 11, 2024 by CubinNY

[Jfoley89]

Passan seems fairly convinced he's a 3B. If the Cubs buy/bought that, then Belli/Hoskins and call it a day. 

[ILMindState]

 

 

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

 

If Busch opens the season with the Cubs and is in the top 3 of ROY do the Cubs get rewarded with an extra draft pick. I have seen him ranked 44th best last time I looked. Has to be consensus top 100, right? 

Edited January 11, 2024 by Rcal10

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

44thbrheblast

You can say that again.

[sneakypower]

when i saw Almonte rumors earlier i had to try to suppress the annoying urge to daydream on Busch's inclusion but Jed went ahead and did it for me

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

You can say that again.

Fixed!

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

If Busch opens the season with the Cubs and is in the top 3 of ROY do the Cubs get rewarded with an extra draft pick. I have seen him ranked 44thbrheblast time I looked. Has to be consensus top 100, right? 

I thought it was 2 of the big 3 had to have him in the top 100, maybe I'm wrong.

[ILMindState]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Busch opens the season with the Cubs and is in the top 3 of ROY do the Cubs get rewarded with an extra draft pick. I have seen him ranked 44thbrheblast time I looked. Has to be consensus top 100, right? 

We need to get you one of these buddy

[Petrey10]

They just don’t think Mervis is a real player. I just see Busch as a Mervis replacement. I don’t see him playing 3B

[Transmogrified Tiger]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Busch opens the season with the Cubs and is in the top 3 of ROY do the Cubs get rewarded with an extra draft pick. I have seen him ranked 44thbrheblast time I looked. Has to be consensus top 100, right? 

They need to be Top 100 in 2 out of 3 of MLB, BA, and ESPN's Top 100 to be eligible for that incentive.  Last year Busch was 54 in both MLB & BA and just outside ESPN's Top 100, and right now MLB Pipeline shows him as #44, so I think there's a pretty good chance.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I thought it was 2 of the big 3 had to have him in the top 100, maybe I'm wrong.

I think so too. But do 2 of 3 have him top 100? I would think so. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

4 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

They need to be Top 100 in 2 out of 3 of MLB, BA, and ESPN's Top 100 to be eligible for that incentive.  Last year Busch was 54 in both MLB & BA and just outside ESPN's Top 100, and right now MLB Pipeline shows him as #44, so I think there's a pretty good chance.

When would he age out of those lists?  Does he still qualify for 2024?