Minor League Discussion & Box, 4-4-24

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Game (Central Time):

Iowa vs. Toledo, 6:38 pm

[Bertz]

106 MPH and 407 ft according to Statcast

 

[chibears55]

Be interesting to see what they do with their outfielders next season as PCA, Caissie,  Canario,  and possibly Alcantara should all be ready to move up.

Bellinger has PO the next 2 yrs

Happ has 2 yrs left

Suzuki has 2 yrs left plus an Arb year, so 3 yrs of control. 

[JD94]

55 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Be interesting to see what they do with their outfielders next season as PCA, Caissie,  Canario,  and possibly Alcantara should all be ready to move up.

Bellinger has PO the next 2 yrs

Happ has 2 yrs left

Suzuki has 2 yrs left plus an Arb year, so 3 yrs of control. 

These things tend to work themselves out some how, some way. Trades will happen also. We are in a prime position to make a big move or 2 in the near future. It’s an excellent problem to have. 

[chibears55]

21 minutes ago, JD94 said:

These things tend to work themselves out some how, some way. Trades will happen also. We are in a prime position to make a big move or 2 in the near future. It’s an excellent problem to have. 

Yes, that why it's interesting..

Hate to lose any of these guys but having potentially 7 outfielders that can start everyday, likely 2 or 3 will be traded.

[Rex Buckingham]

I'd say we can always use the DH, but it appears that Morel should probably be DH only

edit: and only Suzuki and Bellinger seem to be on his level as a hitter

Edited April 5, 2024 by Rex Buckingham

[JD94]

 

[Cubs420psd]

5 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Be interesting to see what they do with their outfielders next season as PCA, Caissie,  Canario,  and possibly Alcantara should all be ready to move up.

Bellinger has PO the next 2 yrs

Happ has 2 yrs left

Suzuki has 2 yrs left plus an Arb year, so 3 yrs of control. 

Gotta think Alcantara is trade bait at this point.

 

The Cubs have one, maybe two, big trades in them and I think Alcantara would be the centerpiece.

[CubinNY]

5 hours ago, Cubs420psd said:

Gotta think Alcantara is trade bait at this point.

 

The Cubs have one, maybe two, big trades in them and I think Alcantara would be the centerpiece.

The problem with the Cubs farm system, if you want to call it a problem, is that they have a lot of good prospects, but aside from PCA, Horton, and maybe Shaw no great prospects. It's going to make it difficult for there to be a "big" trade unless they are going to unload a bunch of guys. 

Hoyer already gambled with Ferris and Hope for Busch. That's much more likely the type of trade that will happen. Although I like Busch, he's 26 already and has much to prove at the major league level. I'm not so sure I would have made that trade. 

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Yes, that why it's interesting..

Hate to lose any of these guys but having potentially 7 outfielders that can start everyday, likely 2 or 3 will be traded.

It is also likely a few won’t reach their full potential. 

[Bertz]

5 hours ago, Cubs420psd said:

Gotta think Alcantara is trade bait at this point.

 

The Cubs have one, maybe two, big trades in them and I think Alcantara would be the centerpiece.

I actually think because he's a year behind the others and right handed Alcantara is more likely to stay.  His minor league option status makes that not a slam dunk though.

But yeah attrition and trades will clear this up.  I expect Jed makes his big trade in July or this coming winter (Jesus Luzardo?) and clears out some of this inventory that way, and then of course others will inevitably fail. 

I also think because of this situation next winter Jed's in a good position to do a reverse of the Busch trade.  Trade one of these guys who looks blocked out for someone more talented but a few years away.  

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I mean this in the nicest way possible since I want them to succeed too: stop putting Canario in a class with PCA, Alcantara, and other current MLB starters.  He's a 4th OF, every org has a version of him.  Maybe he hits his 95th percentile outcome and becomes non-peak Marcell Ozuna, but when that's your 95th percentile outcome it kinda tells you what you need to know about their outlook.

Combine that with Alcantara being a year behind, Bellinger's potential opt out, and one or both of Caissie/Seiya probably being a DH in 2025+, it's a problem that will almost certainly resolve itself.

[Jason Ross]

38 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I mean this in the nicest way possible since I want them to succeed too: stop putting Canario in a class with PCA, Alcantara, and other current MLB starters.  He's a 4th OF, every org has a version of him.  Maybe he hits his 95th percentile outcome and becomes non-peak Marcell Ozuna, but when that's your 95th percentile outcome it kinda tells you what you need to know about their outlook.

Combine that with Alcantara being a year behind, Bellinger's potential opt out, and one or both of Caissie/Seiya probably being a DH in 2025+, it's a problem that will almost certainly resolve itself.

Entirely agree on the Canario thing. I think Canario has MLB upside, but he's a very long shot to be an MLB regular. I think he's in a vein of Patrick Wisdom to a degree: I think he's the type who can start for your second division teams, compile his way to 25-30 home runs, and go on terror runs of 10 days where he looks like a world beater. But consistent contact issues and the like will always hold him back as a reserve player on a better team where you need to deploy him in a thoughtful manner and curate his 200-250 PA's to maximize the power.

[Bertz]

In the very early going Cam Sanders is throwing 45.5% strikes after throwing 41.7% last year.  45.5% is still not a ton of strikes, but it's not bottom of the league mark like last year's number and might be more playable with his primo stuff.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Bertz said:

In the very early going Cam Sanders is throwing 45.5% strikes after throwing 41.7% last year.  45.5% is still not a ton of strikes, but it's not bottom of the league mark like last year's number and might be more playable with his primo stuff.

I so want Cam Sanders to be a thing. His mound presence is "evil villain" status of cockiness and watching him shoulder wiggle in mid-summer-heat after a nasty slider would be a blast. 

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I so want Cam Sanders to be a thing. His mound presence is "evil villain" status of cockiness and watching him shoulder wiggle in mid-summer-heat after a nasty slider would be a blast. 

Yeah he oozes swag.  I definitely believe he has what he needs between the ears to be a late inning guy.  He just needs to get up from 20 grade command to like 30 grade.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Bertz said:

Yeah he oozes swag.  I definitely believe he has what he needs between the ears to be a late inning guy.  He just needs to get up from 20 grade command to like 30 grade.

Entirely. His stuff is gross, and mentally, there's little reason to doubt him. It's that command that has just so badly escaped him consistently. He's a fun lottery ticket right now and if he can just be "not the absolute worst" at throwing strikes could be a useful depth arm to squeeze into the bullpen this summer if needs arise.

[sneakypower]

4 hours ago, CubinNY said:

Hoyer already gambled with Ferris and Hope for Busch. That's much more likely the type of trade that will happen. Although I like Busch, he's 26 already and has much to prove at the major league level. I'm not so sure I would have made that trade. 

had to double check the date on this, how could somebody gnash teeth about giving up DJ Herz Jr & a lump of clay for plug & play Matt Carpenter, ingrate lunacy, to me

[Rcal10]

41 minutes ago, sneakypower said:

had to double check the date on this, how could somebody gnash teeth about giving up DJ Herz Jr & a lump of clay for plug & play Matt Carpenter, ingrate lunacy, to me

They gave up Ferris for Busch. I think Hertz was traded for Candelario, but I am not sure. And while I don’t mind the trade and actually like it more than not, let’s not anoint Busch as prime Carpenter just yet. Aa I said, I am fine with the deal, but I do understand those who might have been high on Ferris. 

[sneakypower]

no i just meant that they're more or less the same "0.01% chance they turn into Blake Snell" brand of funky lefty

maybe he does and we'll groan but Busch is hitting ground running with a .400+ xwOBA anyway

Edited April 5, 2024 by sneakypower