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

[WhyCantWeWin]

14 hours ago, mfcubs22 said:

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

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

His bat speed is elite, the company hes in regards to that is nutty. Hes going to put it together sooner or later. 

[Tryptamine]

28 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

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

Benintendi's contract is actually surprisingly gross and I have no idea how he got it in the first place. The bad part is if the Cubs took his contract on, they would almost certainly give him ABs and not just immediately DFA him which is the right move for a guy who has put up -1.7 fWAR this year.

He's still owed 16.5M in '25, 16.5M in '26 and 14.5M in '27

[Bobson Dugnutt]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Benintendi's contract is actually surprisingly gross and I have no idea how he got it in the first place. The bad part is if the Cubs took his contract on, they would almost certainly give him ABs and not just immediately DFA him which is the right move for a guy who has put up -1.7 fWAR this year.

He's still owed 16.5M in '25, 16.5M in '26 and 14.5M in '27

Oh I was definitely being tongue-in-cheek there but I guess the illustrative point I would make from the rumor that they were basically trying to use their best trade chip to rid themselves of Benintendi’s contract rather than maximize prospect return is that the White Sox’ priority in trades is not the same as any other team’s. They’re a very dysfunctional organization.

Combined with the prospect hugging that occurred this deadline, if and when they do trade Crochet, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s light relative to expectations. Two back half of their trading partner’s top ten and some lottery tickets, maybe?

 

Long way of saying I completely agree with you that we wouldn’t have to touch the top guys in our system if Jed wanted to make a run at him.

[Backtobanks]

3 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

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. 

Defensive replacement and pinch running won't give him the reps he needs if he's going to ever develop into a hitter.  If they get one of those players, you mentioned, he won't be getting many ABs.

[Stratos]

6 hours 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. 

What's wild is the Cubs went from 3rd most runs in the NL in 2023 to 3rd fewest runs this year with the same team plus Busch added.

[LBiittner]

6 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.

Tryp, I love your lineup ideas.

The only diff: Soto has to be the rightfielder

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Backtobanks said:

Defensive replacement and pinch running won't give him the reps he needs if he's going to ever develop into a hitter.  If they get one of those players, you mentioned, he won't be getting many ABs.

I disagree. But if he is hitting like he is this year, he probably won’t get many AB. But if he can hit at league average he will see plenty of AB. I think you are assuming he won’t ever hit because he hasn’t done much in the majors. Basically giving up on him. I haven’t. If he is league average he will get in a lot of games.  Basically if any of the regulars takes a day off he can play. With Bellinger able to play 1st, Busch able to play 2nd and maybe even 3rd, Hoerner able to play 2nd or SS, if anyone is out PCA can go in and other guys can move around. On top of that there are injuries. Even adding one big bat I can see PCA still getting 350-400AB next year. And if he is good, even more. 

[thawv]

20 hours ago, CubinNY said:

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

I agree, but looking at Jed's inability to trade some guys that should have been moved, he's still trying for a WC spot. 

[Tank]

19 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

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. 

I can't envision a change coming to the infield next year with the emergence of Busch at first. Unpopular opinion, but Suzuki has always been my preference to upgrade. A dream scenario for me is both Soto and O'Neill. 

C- Amaya

1B- Busch

2B- Hoerner

3B- Paredes

SS- Swanson

LF- Happ

CF- Bellinger

RF- Soto

DH- O'Neill 

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, Tank said:

I can't envision a change coming to the infield next year with the emergence of Busch at first. Unpopular opinion, but Suzuki has always been my preference to upgrade. A dream scenario for me is both Soto and O'Neill. 

C- Amaya

1B- Busch

2B- Hoerner

3B- Paredes

SS- Swanson

LF- Happ

CF- Bellinger

RF- Soto

DH- O'Neill 

Who is the Suzuki upgrade? O’Neil? I don’t see him as an upgrade. And he will cost as much. Why not just add Soto? And if that means PCA doesn’t have a spot then trade him for a high end pitcher. I still believe PCA will be very good. I wouldn’t deal him. To me he would be on the team and the Cubs would have basically 10 starters. But if the Cubs don’t think so they can move him for a pitcher. I just think trading Suzuki is a terrible idea. I am not sure why people do not value his bat. He is a very solid hitter. Best on the team. 

[Tank]

9 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Who is the Suzuki upgrade? O’Neil? I don’t see him as an upgrade. And he will cost as much. Why not just add Soto? And if that means PCA doesn’t have a spot then trade him for a high end pitcher. I still believe PCA will be very good. I wouldn’t deal him. To me he would be on the team and the Cubs would have basically 10 starters. But if the Cubs don’t think so they can move him for a pitcher. I just think trading Suzuki is a terrible idea. I am not sure why people do not value his bat. He is a very solid hitter. Best on the team. 

O'Neill is strictly a preference. I love lineup versatility. Similar if not slightly better bat than Seiya and a better defender and baserunner. Suzuki's peripherals are admittedly better than I initially thought. 

I wouldn't deal PCA either.  

[Rcal10]

59 minutes ago, Tank said:

O'Neill is strictly a preference. I love lineup versatility. Similar if not slightly better bat than Seiya and a better defender and baserunner. Suzuki's peripherals are admittedly better than I initially thought. 

I wouldn't deal PCA either.  

But he isn’t a better or a similar bat. He strikes out way more often but has more power. In the end his career ops+ is lower than Suzuki’s. Suzuki is a 125 guy while O’Neil is closer to 115. He has a much lower floor than Suzuki, which can be seen by looking at his yearly numbers. I don’t dislike O’Neil, I just don’t view him better than Suzuki. 
I also would not deal PCA. 

Edited August 1, 2024 by Rcal10