Angels (Canning) vs Cubs (Steele): 7/5/24, 1:20pm

[WhyCantWeWin]

1 hour ago, Chicago Al said:

C’mon now, you know the Cubs are due for their long awaited winning streaks. Can’t trade Happer now. Even if they don’t start winning, I think Happ is here to stay.

Yeah hes probably the least likely to be traded, but i think they will be pretty itchy to get under the luxury tax line this deadline. Someone is headed out the door, Happ is one of the easiest to offload if he waives his NTC

[Eeyore]

3 hours ago, LBiittner said:

Sure is quiet in here when cubs are winning the game 

I was at work and then a wake.

[PeanutPunch33]

It really sucks that the Cubs haven't positioned themselves to be buyers this year because there are so many intruiging names that could be traded.  Guerrero/Bichette, Crochet/Robert, Arozarena, Jazz Chisolm.  All fairly young and could be difference makers for years to come..

[JHBulls]

I guess I was so focused on watching the Portugal/France match and only paying enough attention to the Cubs game, outside of watching the runs coming around to score and the result, that I only just found out (12 hours after the game) that Justin Steele pitched a complete game. WTF? 😳 

[thawv]

10 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Maybe add Lopez and Miller to that list, or, just keep Neris away from any high leverage situations.

Also, keep Neris away from 60 appearances.  He will opt in to his 9 million dollar deal next season.  Less than 60 appearances, it's the Cubs option. 

[thawv]

10 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Yeah hes probably the least likely to be traded, but i think they will be pretty itchy to get under the luxury tax line this deadline. Someone is headed out the door, Happ is one of the easiest to offload if he waives his NTC

They are already under the CBT by a little over 4 million. 

[Cuzi]

11 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Yeah hes probably the least likely to be traded, but i think they will be pretty itchy to get under the luxury tax line this deadline. Someone is headed out the door, Happ is one of the easiest to offload if he waives his NTC

Happ is one of the last players on the roster this team will move.

Pushing Bellinger on someone like the Yankees should be priority #1. He's turned into a lesser, left handed, version of Isaac Paredes. His power is all to the pull field and his quality of contact is in the dumpster. Last year he still had opposite field power, but leaned heavily to the pull side. This year is purely pull field with nothing coming close opposite field. At this point, I'm not convinced he opts out, especially with a slip defensively. He's not playing like someone who can take over CF this year. Just eat his remaining 2024 salary and get back something somewhat decent and get out from under that uncertainty.

Edited July 6, 2024 by Cuzi

[mfcubs22]

1 hour ago, thawv said:

Also, keep Neris away from 60 appearances.  He will opt in to his 9 million dollar deal next season.  Less than 60 appearances, it's the Cubs option. 

I’m sure they will make certain of that. He’ll get DFA’d in September before they allow that to happen 

[squally1313]

15 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Happ up to a 131 wRC+, IMO now is the time to trade him before he goes on one of his month long cold streaks. I think it should be clear what direction the club is heading. 

The continued calls to trade our best outfielder that is signed for 2 more years after this are so insane. He’s good! 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, mfcubs22 said:

I’m sure they will make certain of that. He’ll get DFA’d in September before they allow that to happen 

I hope so. I didn’t understand Neris closing out a game the other day. Why give him another appearance. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

5 hours ago, thawv said:

They are already under the CBT by a little over 4 million. 

Im not 100% positive but i remember reading that with bonuses and other benefits they would exceed the CBT. 

Edited July 6, 2024 by WhyCantWeWin
Fixed my crappy english

[Bertz]

37 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Im not 100% positive but i remember reading that with bonuses and other benefits they would exceed the CBT. 

Yeah this is my understanding as well.  Especially with how much IL time they've got they're over.  They probably need to move a salary to stay under, that said it shouldn't take a huge one.  If they moved like Smyly that'd be plenty.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Roster Resource has the best public accounting of LT status I've seen, and they have them 3+ million under: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/cubs

Bonuses, extra IL stints, etc will impact that final number and we can't be 100% certain either way given how close they are.  

I do agree though that if they set out to get under the LT/be certain they stay under the LT, it won't be difficult to do so, and wouldn't impact the direction they choose to go with deadline moves.

[Rcal10]

26 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Roster Resource has the best public accounting of LT status I've seen, and they have them 3+ million under: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/cubs

Bonuses, extra IL stints, etc will impact that final number and we can't be 100% certain either way given how close they are.  

I do agree though that if they set out to get under the LT/be certain they stay under the LT, it won't be difficult to do so, and wouldn't impact the direction they choose to go with deadline moves.

Yeah, not really worried about them getting under, if they are over. Trade Bellinger and you are under. TBH, I don’t really care what they get for him either. Trade him, maybe Hendricks (if anyone will have him) and any pen arm in their last year of a deal. Maybe trade Tauchman if he comes back. All of those guys would be more a salary relief trade with the possible exception of Bellinger. But I am not expecting much for him either. That is all I would trade. Keep the guys who have more years. 

Edited July 6, 2024 by Rcal10

[CubinNY]

Not gonna make it to three in a row

[thawv]

19 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Im not 100% positive but i remember reading that with bonuses and other benefits they would exceed the CBT. 

This is already with player benefits it the amount.  It's not with bonuses.  I don't see any player with any real performance bonus in his contract.