Cubs (Steele) vs Reds (TBD): 7/30/24, 6:10pm

[JD94]

35 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Paredes gonna be a bench guy next season 

What the horsefeathers is your problem with Paredes? Weird stance towards a guy with a 130 wRC+ and 3 fWAR. He’s been one of the best 3B in baseball over the last 2.5 years. 

[mfcubs22]

2 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Everything is really soft off his bat, this team needs more line drive power hitters. Interesting that Hoyer went in the opposite direction 

Weren’t people complaining that Morel swung too hard or something? Sheesh. 
 

You aren’t wrong about his exit velo numbers, though. 

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

They'll have Paredes as a major upgrade and 40M to either get a couple big upgrades or one superstar upgrade. 

Hopefully a better catcher.  They probably don't need to spend too much on the pen.  Maybe a cheap depth SP. 

Will be interesting where they spend that money.  Soto and Suzuki could split time between RF and DH.  Soto and a catcher like Jansen plus Paredes and Bellinger in CF would change this lineup a lot.  Not sure they afford Soto + Jansen though if they want to stay under the cap, but they could go under again in 2026 if they replace Nico with Shaw and 1 or 2 of Suzuki/Happ/Bellinger with Caissie+PCA.

Ballesteros can fit in the mix at DH or catcher though a year from now.  It sucks to keep waiting but this team looks to start peaking in 2026.  I really hope they can make the playoffs next year.

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Man Paredes is in a deeeeeeep funk

Then he is a perfect fit for a team in the middle of a season long funk.

My god the Cubs really do suck against the rest of the NL Central. 

[thawv]

12 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

They'll have Paredes as a major upgrade and 40M to either get a couple big upgrades or one superstar upgrade. 

It's a ton more than that.  Without adding in about 28 million for arb guys and 0-3 guys, they will be be 91 million under the CBT tax number.  That gives them 63 million under budget with arb and 0-3 guys.  If they can somehow shake Belli, they will have about 90 million to spend. 

[thawv]

7 hours ago, Stratos said:

Hopefully a better catcher.  They probably don't need to spend too much on the pen.  Maybe a cheap depth SP. 

Will be interesting where they spend that money.  Soto and Suzuki could split time between RF and DH.  Soto and a catcher like Jansen plus Paredes and Bellinger in CF would change this lineup a lot.  Not sure they afford Soto + Jansen though if they want to stay under the cap, but they could go under again in 2026 if they replace Nico with Shaw and 1 or 2 of Suzuki/Happ/Bellinger with Caissie+PCA.

Ballesteros can fit in the mix at DH or catcher though a year from now.  It sucks to keep waiting but this team looks to start peaking in 2026.  I really hope they can make the playoffs next year.

Why a cheap depth SP?  Why not Burnes while dropping everybody down a notch?  

[JD94]

1 hour ago, thawv said:

Why a cheap depth SP?  Why not Burnes while dropping everybody down a notch?  

Count me in for Burnes. I wonder what he gets though? He will be 30 in October. Same age as Snell when most of the league was like “you’re good, but we aren’t locking you up long term at 30 years old.” Snell settled for 2/64. 

[Derwood]

Guess the MLB blackout rules did me a solid this series

[CubinNY]

This team is a disaster. It's not a tweak here or there from a good team (I DGAF about being in the playoff mix). I don't know how Jed can run this group back out there next year with the same core and expect them to score any runs consistently. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

This team is a disaster. It's not a tweak here or there from a good team (I DGAF about being in the playoff mix). I don't know how Jed can run this group back out there next year with the same core and expect them to score any runs consistently. 

He can’t. They have to get a big bat and a league average catcher. Not really that hard to do with the money they can spend and/or with the prospects they can trade. The issue is….WILL THEY DO IT???? They are far from a disaster and, as I said, if the FO decides to be aggressive, they can absolutely be a very good team next year. Besides those additions to offense they can add another pitcher. Not sure if they would go pen or rotation. But IMO that is all they need to be a very good team. This is put up or shut up time for Hoyer, IMO. That is why I am hoping he puts up. 

[mul21]

I think Dansby's knee is still a problem and it wouldn't surprise me to see him have a scope a week or two after the season and see him come back his normal self next year.  That alone solves a bunch of the lineup problems.

[CubinNY]

2 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I think Dansby's knee is still a problem and it wouldn't surprise me to see him have a scope a week or two after the season and see him come back his normal self next year.  That alone solves a bunch of the lineup problems.

If that's the case he might as well do it now.

[Tryptamine]

I know this team is supremely disappointing now, but even without Soto they could put out a strong team next year. Let's say they went out and grabbed O'neill for RF in FA for around 4/90, Cody stayed in CF, You go out and throw a big prospect package at a rebuilding LAA team for O'hoppe, something like Caissie+Triantos+. Then you have still have enough powder to grab a SP upgrade. A line up of 

C- O'hoppe(121 wRC+)

1B- Busch(125)

2B- Nico(92)

SS- Dansby(80)

3B- Paredes(128)

RF- O'Neill(141)

CF- Bellinger(111)

LF- Happ(117)

DH- Seiya(129) 

 

Is super deep even without the elite level masher. If Nico/Dansby return to normal career levels then we're talking a top 10 offense.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

I know this team is supremely disappointing now, but even without Soto they could put out a strong team next year. Let's say they went out and grabbed O'neill for RF in FA for around 4/90, Cody stayed in CF, You go out and throw a big prospect package at a rebuilding LAA team for O'hoppe, something like Caissie+Triantos+. Then you have still have enough powder to grab a SP upgrade. A line up of 

C- O'hoppe(121 wRC+)

1B- Busch(125)

2B- Nico(92)

SS- Dansby(80)

3B- Paredes(128)

RF- O'Neill(141)

CF- Bellinger(111)

LF- Happ(117)

DH- Seiya(129) 

 

Is super deep even without the elite level masher. If Nico/Dansby return to normal career levels then we're talking a top 10 offense.

Teoscar Hernandez is another option if not O’Neil. But if they did that I would hope they would spend big on a front line starting pitcher. Bring in Burnes. They have the money. That said, I still want Soto. They can do it. They have the money. With Soto they won’t be able to have Burnes. I am fine with that. 
One other option is Alonso. Depending on what he cost and how long they would have to sign him for, he could work too. 

Edited July 31, 2024 by Rcal10

[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

I know this team is supremely disappointing now, but even without Soto they could put out a strong team next year. Let's say they went out and grabbed O'neill for RF in FA for around 4/90, Cody stayed in CF, You go out and throw a big prospect package at a rebuilding LAA team for O'hoppe, something like Caissie+Triantos+. Then you have still have enough powder to grab a SP upgrade. A line up of 

C- O'hoppe(121 wRC+)

1B- Busch(125)

2B- Nico(92)

SS- Dansby(80)

3B- Paredes(128)

RF- O'Neill(141)

CF- Bellinger(111)

LF- Happ(117)

DH- Seiya(129) 

 

Is super deep even without the elite level masher. If Nico/Dansby return to normal career levels then we're talking a top 10 offense.

You're treading in deep water by removing our future star CF.  I do agree that it would be great to put some offensive players on the field though.

 

[Tryptamine]

I wonder what it takes for Cody to opt out. He's at a 111 wRC+ right now so I imagine that's not going to do it, but if he gets to 120 is that enough? He has player options in 2025 for 27.5(2.5M buyout) and in 2026 for 25M(5M) buyout. If he finishes at 120 someone would probably give him like 4/85-90, right? Add the 2.5M buyout on top of that, it's probably enough, right? 

[CubinNY]

16 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I wonder what it takes for Cody to opt out. He's at a 111 wRC+ right now so I imagine that's not going to do it, but if he gets to 120 is that enough? He has player options in 2025 for 27.5(2.5M buyout) and in 2026 for 25M(5M) buyout. If he finishes at 120 someone would probably give him like 4/85-90, right? Add the 2.5M buyout on top of that, it's probably enough, right? 

He's in a tough spot, I think most GMs are like Jed and don't mind higher AAV on shorter deals and Cody wants a long-term contract. I think that ship has sailed over the horizon. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

16 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I wonder what it takes for Cody to opt out. He's at a 111 wRC+ right now so I imagine that's not going to do it, but if he gets to 120 is that enough? He has player options in 2025 for 27.5(2.5M buyout) and in 2026 for 25M(5M) buyout. If he finishes at 120 someone would probably give him like 4/85-90, right? Add the 2.5M buyout on top of that, it's probably enough, right? 

He's still 29 and would no longer be burdened by the QO, I have to think that even if he stayed healthy and his line stayed static the rest of the year that somebody is likely to give him a more lucrative deal than what he's on.  Whether he has the appetite to go through FA again for marginal reward or if he wants to aim to crush it next year and get 9 figures after 2025 is harder to say.

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

You're treading in deep water by removing our future star CF.  I do agree that it would be great to put some offensive players on the field though.

 

I, for one, am not removing him. There is enough games and innings for 10 players to fill 9 spots. PCA would get his chances. If they got one of Soto, O’Neil, Hernandez or Alonso and Bellinger did not opt out, there would still be a place for PCA to get enough playing time, even if no one got hurt all year.(and we know that isn’t happening) Between days off, defensive replacement, pinch running and playing due to an injury he would still be very useful. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

He's still 29 and would no longer be burdened by the QO, I have to think that even if he stayed healthy and his line stayed static the rest of the year that somebody is likely to give him a more lucrative deal than what he's on.  Whether he has the appetite to go through FA again for marginal reward or if he wants to aim to crush it next year and get 9 figures after 2025 is harder to say.

I’m not sure about that. Does he get something like 4/$90M He might leave for that. But I am not sure he gets that, tbh. Might be more like 4/$77-$80. And I think if that’s what what he thinks he will get, he won’t leave. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

I’m not sure about that. Does he get something like 4/$90M He might leave for that. But I am not sure he gets that, tbh. Might be more like 4/$77-$80. And I think if that’s what what he thinks he will get, he won’t leave. 

He got 3/80 with multiple opt outs last year while having the QO attached.  He doesn't have to come particularly close to repeating last year to get offers that would exceed that, though he might value the ability to have opt outs again that drive it down a bit.  There are probably more than a dozen teams that would give Cody 4/80 today if they could, which means that the actual contract would be higher than that.

[We Got The Whole 9]

I think he's firmly in the IDK what to expect outta this guy tier and will be looking at 2-3 year deals. You're still talking about a guy that has eclipsed 2 fwar once in the last 5 years, who is getting up there in age and whose tertiary skills are not as prominent as they once were. 

 

2020-2022 + 2024 (Projected ROS) will possibly barely equal what he did in 2023. He is a major, major gamble IMO. The floor is not all that sexy. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

3 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I know this team is supremely disappointing now, but even without Soto they could put out a strong team next year. Let's say they went out and grabbed O'neill for RF in FA for around 4/90, Cody stayed in CF, You go out and throw a big prospect package at a rebuilding LAA team for O'hoppe, something like Caissie+Triantos+. Then you have still have enough powder to grab a SP upgrade. A line up of 

C- O'hoppe(121 wRC+)

1B- Busch(125)

2B- Nico(92)

SS- Dansby(80)

3B- Paredes(128)

RF- O'Neill(141)

CF- Bellinger(111)

LF- Happ(117)

DH- Seiya(129) 

 

Is super deep even without the elite level masher. If Nico/Dansby return to normal career levels then we're talking a top 10 offense.

Yeah, I like that the Cubs have a deep and well regarded farm system, but unlike the farm system of 2012-2015, there’s not a single specific prospect I’m particularly attached to. Earlier this year I’d have said Horton until he reminded me TINSTAAPP. I’d love to see them make a prospect trade or two to address any of C, power bat, TOR SP, etc.

[Tryptamine]

9 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Yeah, I like that the Cubs have a deep and well regarded farm system, but unlike the farm system of 2012-2015, there’s not a single specific prospect I’m particularly attached to. Earlier this year I’d have said Horton until he reminded me TINSTAAPP. I’d love to see them make a prospect trade or two to address any of C, power bat, TOR SP, etc.

I still think if you can add Crochet and not lose any of Horton/Shaw/Ballesteros you pull the trigger, maybe even with Ballesteros. I'm sure you could get something done between Caissie/Alcantara/Rojas/Triantos. Thankfully the WSox want bats and the Cubs have those in the minors.

Steele/Shota/Crochet is about a legit a top 3 as any team in the league has. 

That leaves you with tons of money to address C/RF, though there's really no one in FA at C to throw big money at. 

 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I still think if you can add Crochet and not lose any of Horton/Shaw/Ballesteros you pull the trigger, maybe even with Ballesteros. I'm sure you could get something done between Caissie/Alcantara/Rojas/Triantos. Thankfully the WSox want bats and the Cubs have those in the minors.

Steele/Shota/Crochet is about a legit a top 3 as any team in the league has. 

That leaves you with tons of money to address C/RF, though there's really no one in FA at C to throw big money at. 

 

Yeah, I mean, it’s Jerry we’re talking about here. Just take on Benintendi’s salary and offer them Brennen Davis.