Cubs option Cuas to Triple-A, Corresponding Move Pending

[Jason Ross]

 

[Stratos]

Wesneski or Thompson?

[Jason Ross]

9 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Wesneski or Thompson?

Thompson is a disaster waiting to happen. I've got an article in the can talking about him. His velocity is down. His stuff isn't moving as much. And he's been hit hard even when he hasn't given up runs. I'm really hopeful it isn't. 

[Stratos]

21 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Thompson is a disaster waiting to happen. I've got an article in the can talking about him. His velocity is down. His stuff isn't moving as much. And he's been hit hard even when he hasn't given up runs. I'm really hopeful it isn't. 

Maybe they waiver Thompson.

[Jason Ross]

41 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Maybe they waiver Thompson.

Thompson would be among the top of my DFA candidates right now. I don't think they will. I'd guess either:

1. Merriweather is 60-IL'd and Edwards/Pannone/McWilliams is added. 

2. The Cubs go with the easy call and go Wesneski or Thompson. But I'd expect Wesneski. McWilliams is looking good stuff wise and Kohl was just brought up. Feels like this is Wes territory. 

3. They go to Porter Hodge. Hodge has increased his strike rate to 68%, is on thr 40 and has awesome stuff. It'd be a huge jump but Ben Brown was a big jump and he's been mostly successful. Counsell does things a bit different and I could see him liking the stuff there. I find this unlikely right now...but it feels "on the table" as an off the radar thing. 

[Stratos]

36 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Thompson would be among the top of my DFA candidates right now. I don't think they will. I'd guess either:

1. Merriweather is 60-IL'd and Edwards/Pannone/McWilliams is added. 

2. The Cubs go with the easy call and go Wesneski or Thompson. But I'd expect Wesneski. McWilliams is looking good stuff wise and Kohl was just brought up. Feels like this is Wes territory. 

3. They go to Porter Hodge. Hodge has increased his strike rate to 68%, is on thr 40 and has awesome stuff. It'd be a huge jump but Ben Brown was a big jump and he's been mostly successful. Counsell does things a bit different and I could see him liking the stuff there. I find this unlikely right now...but it feels "on the table" as an off the radar thing. 

All our options sound JAG-tastic!  Might be a long year watching this team pitch....

Edited April 12, 2024 by Stratos

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

Wesneski or Thompson?

Riley Thompson most likely 

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Riley Thompson most likely 

Is he in the 40 man? I think Keegan is. But I doubt it is him. 

[Jason Ross]

6 hours ago, Stratos said:

All our options sound JAG-tastic!  Might be a long year watching this team pitch....

Well, I think we have to remember that we have a handful of injuries right now, and it's early in the season when it comes to MiLB players. With Merryweather on the IL. Asad in the rotation, Brown in the rotation...we are on our 4th best replacement BP arm. Before guys like Horton and Arias could realistically be MLB options. 

I do think you're under selling someone like Hodge though. In 2022 Hodge had a 3.44 xFIP at High-A as a 21 year old. Was borderline pitcher of the year in the minors. Last year he was moved to the pen to fix command and it never got better. This year he's 23 and throwing a lot more strikes. It's early but he's looking like a useful talent. I'm not sure I'd go to him yet...but I wasn't sure I'd go to Brown either. 

[squally1313]

I just like the concept that there's any team in baseball that has some stud relief pitcher in AAA as like, the 11th guy on the bullpen depth chart. Like what are we expecting here

[Rcal10]

29 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I just like the concept that there's any team in baseball that has some stud relief pitcher in AAA as like, the 11th guy on the bullpen depth chart. Like what are we expecting here

You beat me to it. I was going to say the same thing. 

[Bertz]

I'd guess Wesneski

- The pen could clearly use another guy who can give them length

- Cuas going down means there's room for someone who is (intended to be at least) death on righties.  Particularly this weekend against Seattle whose best hitters are primarily righties 

- Speaking of opponent specific minutiae, Seattle and Miami have been the 26th and 30th ranked teams in the league vs. the slider in the early going

- Taillon in Iowa on rehab means there's not immediate need to have someone down there keeping warm in case of injury

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wesneski's also very well rested, having not pitched since the 6th.

[Jason Ross]

Yep. I'd handicap it at:

70% Wesneski

15% Thompson 

12% McWilliams/Pannone/Edwards group

3% Hodge 

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Yep. I'd handicap it at:

70% Wesneski

15% Thompson 

12% McWilliams/Pannone/Edwards group

3% Hodge 

Just to be clear, 15% Thompson is Keegan, correct? Not Riley. 
I think the K Thompson ship has sailed. I think he will be a DFA soon enough. But he is on the 40 man, so if not now, probably never. And I am leaning never. 

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Just to be clear, 15% Thompson is Keegan, correct? Not Riley. 
I think the K Thompson ship has sailed. I think he will be a DFA soon enough. But he is on the 40 man, so if not now, probably never. And I am leaning never. 

Yeah, Keegan. I'd add Riley into the 12% would with the other "non-40-man" group. Keegan is on the 40-man, and you could make the argument that he'd come up, eat a few innings this weekend and then immediately get DFA'd opening up another 40-man for like an Edwards after if you really wanted to keep Wesneski down in Triple-A to stay stretched out. 

But I think Keegan is toasted right now. Wrote about him in an article on the front page. Velo is down. Spin is down. He's fixed his release point issues which I think caused his walk problems, but the stuff is just so down. Whether it's an injury or decline, not entirely sure, but I don't trust him at all right now.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Yeah, Keegan. I'd add Riley into the 12% would with the other "non-40-man" group. Keegan is on the 40-man, and you could make the argument that he'd come up, eat a few innings this weekend and then immediately get DFA'd opening up another 40-man for like an Edwards after if you really wanted to keep Wesneski down in Triple-A to stay stretched out. 

But I think Keegan is toasted right now. Wrote about him in an article on the front page. Velo is down. Spin is down. He's fixed his release point issues which I think caused his walk problems, but the stuff is just so down. Whether it's an injury or decline, not entirely sure, but I don't trust him at all right now.

Agreed. I think it will be Hayden. Then if the decide Palencia needs to go down or if Wesneski sucks and has to go down, I would expect a dfa coming for Thompson to add someone to thrn40 man. No idea who. Pannone has done real well as a starter, at least statistically. But I know nothing else about him. 

[Derwood]

WELP

 

[LBiittner]

So much for the deep thinking analysis.

[KCCub]

Is this a last chance before DFA situation for Keegan?

[LBiittner]

I'm more curious about Brennen Davis suiting up with SouthBend.

Good chance his place on the 40 hangs in the balance 

[Bull]

34 minutes ago, Derwood said:

WELP

 

Season saved.

[WhyCantWeWin]

They probably want to keep Wesneski stretched out in case of another injury in the rotation 

[Bertz]

9 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

They probably want to keep Wesneski stretched out in case of another injury in the rotation 

Yeah I'm guessing it's this.  Even though I was thinking with Taillon there they don't need to hold Hayden in reserve but they probably disagree.  So Thompson can give you a little length in a blowout or extras over the next few days and then you've got an obvious person to send down when Taillon’s ready on Wednesday or Thursday.

I also think this is an indication Brown stays up and moves to long relief when Taillon’s back next week, which is fun.

[Jason Ross]

Well...if you didn't see my article today on his struggles...it's prescient now 😆

 

But for real, I hope he does well. He's had some struggles and I'd love to see him succeed.