Bellinger to the IL, Canario Up

[KCCub]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

Well, the last two nights were fun. 

[squally1313]

Bellinger is like the 5th best player in this lineup so it's not really that big of a loss. Just hand the keys back to PCA and give me some cool web gems. 

I'm honestly mostly upset because it increases the chances that we're on the hook for 2/$52 after this year. 

[jersey cubs fan]

[WhyCantWeWin]

Probably means Mastroboner will be starting everyday because they refuse to give Canario any starts 

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Probably means Mastroboner will be starting everyday because they refuse to give Canario any starts 

And I am fine with that. Mastrobuoni settled down the defense at 3rd and now Mirel can DH. I couldn’t care less if Canario plays or not. He wasn’t even very good in Iowa. 

[Bertz]

Hopefully it's just a hairline deal like Hoerner's and he's back shortly after the ASB.

[KCCub]

13 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Tbf always a longshot anyway. Bellinger would struggle to beat that AAV in FA as an older FA coming off a worse year with a major injury history. He already had a pretty tepid FA this past offseason, probably not something he would look forward to doing again. FA is no haven when the whole league’s on the same page!

Ftr he’s fine unless this injury is a killer. I’d especially like it if they moved him to RF way more often. I’m pro Suzuki at DH esp since Counsell can pretty easily rotate the Bellinger/Busch/Suzuki trio

Yea I've been penciling in Bellinger on next years team, unless he's moved at the deadline. Before PCA's injury, it seemed like Belli in RF, PCA in CF, and Suzuki at DH against RHP was what the Cubs were going with. 

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Yea I've been penciling in Bellinger on next years team, unless he's moved at the deadline. Before PCA's injury, it seemed like Belli in RF, PCA in CF, and Suzuki at DH against RHP was what the Cubs were going with. 

If he is staying next year they might need to do something a little unusual. Move him to first and Busch to third. I think instantly Busch is better at third than Morel. Then sign Soto. Fill in whatever else is needed with trades. Happ/PCA/Soto/Suzuki fill OF and DH. 
Maybe Morel and some minor league assets gets them a nice TOR youngish, controlled starter. Maybe they can add either Brown, Wicks or Assad if they need to upgrade the starter. Maybe they move Taillon to free some salary if they get Soto. If that are adding a young solid controlled starter they can move Taillon. They can win, even if Bellinger stays. But they need to add a big bat. If not Soto, I hope they trade for Tucker or Vlad or even Robert. They need a star. If they for Blad then Bellinger can stay in the outfield. Busch still to third. If all else fails I would go with JD Martinez over Alonso. Just let him DH. That is the cheapest route. So probably the most likely for the Cubs. And with him Bellinger to 1st and Busch to 3rd. If they do trade Taillon, they ca  also probably sign Jansen if they want.

[KCCub]

Agree with Tom here. You’ve got a good thing going with Busch at 1b, no need to get cute there. Get an actual 3b next year.

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

How is Busch to 3B a thing still after this whole Morel affair?

I can’t understand the compulsion to relentlessly try and squeeze every drop of imaginary value out of everyone all the time (and inevitably turn on them since it’s never going to be enough).  Makes me feel as if I’m taking crazy pills 

Well I believe Busch did actually play 3rd a bit in the minors and with the Dodgers. He wasn’t a previous failed experiment. He was put at 1st because the Cubs had hole there. And if Bellinger is still in the team next year, how do the Cubs add a big bat what isn’t either an outfielder, a DH or a first baseman. If he is an outfielder or DH, Bellinger has to move to first. So Busch has to move to 2rd. If he is a 1st baseman, Busch has to move to 3rd. 
They can also look at Paredes as some have suggested. Maybe another bat that can play 3rd. But having to have the big bat a 3rd baseman does limit them. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Agree with Tom here. You’ve got a good thing going with Busch at 1b, no need to get cute there. Get an actual 3b next year.

Yes, probably the best scenario. But now, who? Who plays 3rd and is a big offensive force? 

[KCCub]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Yes, probably the best scenario. But now, who? Who plays 3rd and is a big offensive force? 

I’d much rather go with Chapman than trying to play musical chairs with our defense. What’s stopping Bellinger from just playing CF next year? Why force him to 1b? There’s a couple different ways they can approach next year (If Belli’s still on the team) - Go elite defense across the board with Happ/PCA/Belli with Suzuki at DH, Chapman at 3b and Jansen at catcher. Or go with more offense with Happ/Belli/Suzuki and your new bat at DH(or RF), and still sign/trade for a 3b and Jansen. PCA is your late inning base runner/defensive replacement. Still try like hell to land Soto and then move a guy afterwards if you are fortunate enough to land him. 

[CubinNY]

Busch was a failure at 3rd

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

And I am fine with that. Mastrobuoni settled down the defense at 3rd and now Mirel can DH. I couldn’t care less if Canario plays or not. He wasn’t even very good in Iowa. 

Morel sucks

[Stratos]

Jays just put Kevin Kiermeier on waivers.   Having a bad year at the plate.  Owed 4.5m for the rest of the season if picked up by somebody. Probably better with PCA/Canario and using the cash on a trade if we're buyers.

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, KCCub said:

I’d much rather go with Chapman than trying to play musical chairs with our defense. What’s stopping Bellinger from just playing CF next year? Why force him to 1b? There’s a couple different ways they can approach next year (If Belli’s still on the team) - Go elite defense across the board with Happ/PCA/Belli with Suzuki at DH, Chapman at 3b and Jansen at catcher. Or go with more offense with Happ/Belli/Suzuki and your new bat at DH(or RF), and still sign/trade for a 3b and Jansen. PCA is your late inning base runner/defensive replacement. Still try like hell to land Soto and then move a guy afterwards if you are fortunate enough to land him. 

Let me be clear, I am not married to the idea of Busch at 3rd. Just looking to see how they add offense if Bellinger stays. Sure they can go total defense. Chapman would be the FA to sign if they did that. But that doesn’t do much for the offense. And if Bellinger stayed the only way they can aim extremely big and go after Soto is if they either traded one of the other outfielders or moved Bellinger to first. And if they did the Bellinger move to first they would have to move Busch. And I want Soto. To me the least likely of my scenario is them actually getting Soto, not Busch playing 3rd. 
Other options for 3rd alone would be Parades and maybe McMahon. I think Parades would cost a lot. McMahon wouldn’t be cheap either.

[Stratos]

46 minutes ago, KCCub said:

I’d much rather go with Chapman than trying to play musical chairs with our defense. What’s stopping Bellinger from just playing CF next year? Why force him to 1b? There’s a couple different ways they can approach next year (If Belli’s still on the team) - Go elite defense across the board with Happ/PCA/Belli with Suzuki at DH, Chapman at 3b and Jansen at catcher. Or go with more offense with Happ/Belli/Suzuki and your new bat at DH(or RF), and still sign/trade for a 3b and Jansen. PCA is your late inning base runner/defensive replacement. Still try like hell to land Soto and then move a guy afterwards if you are fortunate enough to land him. 

Chapman will be 32 next year at the end of April.  I'm passing on him unless it's a 1 yr deal because he'll want several years.

I'd be fine trying Busch at 3b later this year if we look out of the race.   If he looks adequate I'd go with him at 3b and Bellinger at 1b until Shaw or maybe Triantos is ready possibly mid season next year and can take over 3b, then move Busch back to 1b permanently.

I like Jansen at C, or find a C in a trade.  I don't think Ballesteros ends up a good C, he's more a DH/1b, his movements behind the plate are reportedly not quick/agile and he's had trouble throwing out runners because of it according to mlb.com prospect write up.

If Soto is nabbed he can play a corner OF and trade one of Happ/Suzuki with PCA in CF.  Ideally PCA is still in Iowa right now instead of wasting his service time when he's clearly still very green but whatevs  Trade Soto around age 30 if possible.  Trade Taillon this deadline if we're sellers and replace him in FA this winter.

[LBiittner]

3 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Oooh and this should throw open the door to ponying up for Robert Jr. Crow-Armstrong’s defense is fun but this team doesn’t need less raw and game power rn. Even if Bellinger isn’t The One who will lead the offense, there’s still a 4+ MPH drop in avg EV and a big drop in max with a higher GB rate

Goooo get ‘em 

Window’s open to have the position group in a great position for the offseason with not so much effort or cost:

C - Once Realmuto comes back, either one of Stubbs (wildly popular in Philly) or  Marchan (25 YO former Top Prospect) makes for a good, opportunistic TDL get. Neither is a starter starter now if ever but would make for an odd bat moving forward and step up 

1B - Busch, Bellinger

2B - Hoerner. I’m looking to add an infielder to backup the 2024+ MIF - including SS - and work in at 3B. My top choice is Taylor Walls, who hit .263/.352/.425 v LHP last year and is one of the better more versatile infield gloves in the league. makes for a good Mastrobuoni partner second half 2024

SS - Swanson, Hoerner

3B - No starter available, pretty confident they can mix and match adding someone like Walls. I’m confident a starter’s in the org and everyone needs the cup check of seeing some bros move on 

LF - Happ, Christian Frankin? Similar to 3B, I like the starters on the whole enough to not feel pressured here 

CF - Robert Jr., Bellinger, Franklin?

RF - Bellinger, Suzuki

DH - Suzuki, Busch, Robert Jr.

The holes aren’t immense, the strengths are stronger, the lineup more powerful, the defense maintained or improved, offensive approach improves…

Nicely stated. We'll thought