General Offseason Priorities

[Jason Ross]

I'm going to answer this question in a slightly different way and I know this is kind of cheating but whatever, I do what I want. 

I think the best thing the Cubs can do is stack WAR at singular player-roster spots. What I'd say remains the strength of the Cubs is that there are a lot of pretty good players all over the lineup, in the rotation and the BP. There are interesting prospects right on the cusp of the team who should be pretty good (one of the common complaints is that there isn't a star-type but they're all pretty good, you can feel how you want about that, I'm using it more for effect). But there comes a bit of a point where stacking good players has some limitations and the only way to build is to build up. 

How the Cubs want to answer this conundrum has a few ways. Obviously, there's the Juan Soto route. We can discuss how likely/unlikely they are, or he is, to be interested in this, but he's the type of stacked-WAR I'm talking about...part of Soto's value is that he's a 5+ win player and he takes up but a single roster spot. Soto isn't the only player the Cubs could target in this vein, though, once we get beyond Soto it's more likely to have to happen via a trade (which they have the ammo to complete). That could be a pitcher. It could be a bat. 

Overall, I do think the Cubs need to think vertical instead of horizontal, if that makes sense. I feel like they have a good foundation. They shouldn't be entirely ignorant of some smaller additions (a BP arm, or a decent catcher to share duties with Amaya) but that the priority for the team should be to not only identify, but then actually acquire players in that mold. Easier said than done, certainly. But it's my biggest priority, 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

At this point, Jed should be more than willing to trade major prospects and spend. If he's not, find someone else.

Yes, this is his put up or shut up year. Prospects will never be higher in value. They are all between ready now and 1.5 years from the majors. They have enough money to spend(especially if Belli opts out) and enough prospects to trade. No excuse to not be a very good team next year. He has to be fine if they are not. And he has to know that. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I'm going to answer this question in a slightly different way and I know this is kind of cheating but whatever, I do what I want. 

I think the best thing the Cubs can do is stack WAR at singular player-roster spots. What I'd say remains the strength of the Cubs is that there are a lot of pretty good players all over the lineup, in the rotation and the BP. There are interesting prospects right on the cusp of the team who should be pretty good (one of the common complaints is that there isn't a star-type but they're all pretty good, you can feel how you want about that, I'm using it more for effect). But there comes a bit of a point where stacking good players has some limitations and the only way to build is to build up. 

How the Cubs want to answer this conundrum has a few ways. Obviously, there's the Juan Soto route. We can discuss how likely/unlikely they are, or he is, to be interested in this, but he's the type of stacked-WAR I'm talking about...part of Soto's value is that he's a 5+ win player and he takes up but a single roster spot. Soto isn't the only player the Cubs could target in this vein, though, once we get beyond Soto it's more likely to have to happen via a trade (which they have the ammo to complete). That could be a pitcher. It could be a bat. 

Overall, I do think the Cubs need to think vertical instead of horizontal, if that makes sense. I feel like they have a good foundation. They shouldn't be entirely ignorant of some smaller additions (a BP arm, or a decent catcher to share duties with Amaya) but that the priority for the team should be to not only identify, but then actually acquire players in that mold. Easier said than done, certainly. But it's my biggest priority, 

So you want the star player. I understand that, but there just aren’t that many. Now if Bellinger opts out there is absolutely no excuse to not get Soto. TBH, even with Bellinger it has to be considered. Trade Busch and put Bellinger at 2stz I have to think Busch+ would bring back a very solid starting pitcher. One signing and one trade and you improve the team greatly. If they believe Busch and play second or even 3rd he doesn’t have to be traded. Paredes or Hoerner can be. But I think Busch brings the most back. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

7 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I think the best thing the Cubs can do is stack WAR at singular player-roster spots.

I could not agree more.  They are setup perfectly for that type of approach, with no glaring holes anywhere on the roster except the bullpen.  They have plenty of near-MLB cost-controlled talent to cheaply fill extra spots and allow them to spend big on one specific area of need.

[Jason Ross]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So you want the star player. I understand that, but there just aren’t that many. Now if Bellinger opts out there is absolutely no excuse to not get Soto. TBH, even with Bellinger it has to be considered. Trade Busch and put Bellinger at 2stz I have to think Busch+ would bring back a very solid starting pitcher. One signing and one trade and you improve the team greatly. If they believe Busch and play second or even 3rd he doesn’t have to be traded. Paredes or Hoerner can be. But I think Busch brings the most back. 

So I think we should be careful. I didn't say a star, I said stacking WAR in single player positions. I avoided that language on purpose. I did use Juan Soto as an example, but because he's a stackable WAR piece on the FA market. But past him, I also avoided names for a reason, too. I just used him as an example, but I think there are plenty of players who the common person wouldn't call a "star" but fit into my answer as well.

What I'm suggesting is that the Cubs build vertically, not horizontally. That we're coming to a point where multiple 2 win players are probably going to do less than one four win player at the right spot. I also was very careful to add at the end that it's easier said than done. Will it be more costly? Yes. There's more cost benefit for a four win player over two two-win guys and teams and free agents know this. But I also think the Cubs are kind of at a point where this is the best way forward. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I could not agree more.  They are setup perfectly for that type of approach, with no glaring holes anywhere on the roster except the bullpen.  They have plenty of near-MLB cost-controlled talent to cheaply fill extra spots and allow them to spend big on one specific area of need.

So Soto? I agree. But I doubt they do it. That would be my preferred path as well. But I find if we are only happy if it is him, we won’t be happy.

[CubinNY]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So you want the star player. I understand that, but there just aren’t that many. Now if Bellinger opts out there is absolutely no excuse to not get Soto. TBH, even with Bellinger it has to be considered. Trade Busch and put Bellinger at 2stz I have to think Busch+ would bring back a very solid starting pitcher. One signing and one trade and you improve the team greatly. If they believe Busch and play second or even 3rd he doesn’t have to be traded. Paredes or Hoerner can be. But I think Busch brings the most back. 

Soto isn't leaving NY (Mets or Yankees, but Yankees) unless a team like the Cubs makes a Corleone offer that we know the Ricketts will have difficulty approving. I suppose stranger things have happened.

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Soto isn't leaving NY (Mets or Yankees, but Yankees) unless a team like the Cubs makes a Corleone offer that we know the Ricketts will have difficulty approving. I suppose stranger things have happened.

Sadly, I am pretty certain Soto won’t be a Cub. I am less certain he will stay in NY. But honestly, if he isn’t a Cub I couldn’t care less where he ended up. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

We are so perfectly setup to accelerate the Sacramento/Vegas build with a Godfather offer for Rooker. He, Vlad, and Soto are the only bats worth pursuing and Rooker will make so little we will still be able spend a ton on pitching.

[CubinNY]

8 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

We are so perfectly setup to accelerate the Sacramento/Vegas build with a Godfather offer for Rooker. He, Vlad, and Soto are the only bats worth pursuing and Rooker will make so little we will still be able spend a ton on pitching.

Just empty the farm? How about Rooker and Miller? One stop shopping. 

[squally1313]

1 minute ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

We are so perfectly setup to accelerate the Sacramento/Vegas build with a Godfather offer for Rooker. He, Vlad, and Soto are the only bats worth pursuing and Rooker will make so little we will still be able spend a ton on pitching.

I'd add Tucker to the list (and probably agree with everyone else that Soto isn't happening). Mostly agreed that the rest of the free agent bats don't do anything for me. Santander is another Happ/Suzuki, Alonso taking playing time away from Busch or Hoerner is dumb. I'd love to call a trade and extension for one of those guys as our big free agent deal but realistically I know Tucker or Vlad is going to hit free agency.

I keep leaving myself with this weird problem of like 'well, we need to spend this money somewhere' like I'm Oscar trying to explain the budget surplus to Michael. The non-Soto free agent bats are just whatever, and the pitching options range from old to very old. Someone like Tucker or Vlad would take up a chunk just from arbitration, but most of the pitching trade targets (attractively) come with a bunch of team control. I liked that Luis Castillo idea?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I am very wary of Rooker, or at least what to expect given his likely cost.  I think there's a lot of Nathaniel Lowe risk, in that they are pop up successes, have one aberrant BABIP year and they can't return to that level again.  2023 Rooker is a player worth having too, but I'm not keen to pay through the nose to get the 30 year old arb years of Rooker when there are other options(Joc, Teoscar, Santander) I have similar expectations for that are  available for fewer resources.

[Tim]

3 hours ago, Backtobanks said:

Go all out for Vlad in a trade and use Busch as super utility.  If the asking price on Robert has come down, I would love to swing a mega deal for Crochett and Robert as DH.

Good lord, why are you still trying to trade real assets for Robert? If he's a throw-in as a salary dump along with Crochet to lower the prospect cost, great.

Are you thinking he's been coming around lately? Is it his September line of .269/.316/.327 with no home runs, and one stolen base in three attempts that is swaying you? Or his .218/.233/.297 line in August with a 1.9% walk rate and a .231 wOBA?

Great stuff.

[squally1313]

9 minutes ago, Tim said:

Good lord, why are you still trying to trade real assets for Robert? If he's a throw-in as a salary dump along with Crochet to lower the prospect cost, great.

Are you thinking he's been coming around lately? Is it his September line of .269/.316/.327 with no home runs, and one stolen base in three attempts that is swaying you? Or his .218/.233/.297 line in August with a 1.9% walk rate and a .231 wOBA?

Great stuff.

Out of curiosity, would you take under 105 wRC next year?

[Tim]

37 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Out of curiosity, would you take under 105 wRC next year?

Yep. I'd also take the under on 110 games.

[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, Tim said:

Good lord, why are you still trying to trade real assets for Robert? If he's a throw-in as a salary dump along with Crochet to lower the prospect cost, great.

Are you thinking he's been coming around lately? Is it his September line of .269/.316/.327 with no home runs, and one stolen base in three attempts that is swaying you? Or his .218/.233/.297 line in August with a 1.9% walk rate and a .231 wOBA?

Great stuff.

I think he's playing through an injury in addition to the psychological effect of playing on the worst team in MLB history.  I think he's the perfect candidate for a bounce back, change-of-scenery player.  26 years old with career slash of .269/.317/.478/.795 with 31 HR and 86 RBI and 118 OPS.  The last 26-year-old that had similar stats that came off of 2 horrendous seasons plagued by injuries has worked out great for us

[chibears55]

Yes they can use a big bat or two but with a few prospects about ready and everyone in the regular lineup all under contract/control, they don't have any openings unless they make trades.

I chose pitching because that where they need the most attention.

They need a closer, and probably a couple solid bullpen arms, especially one from the left side.

The rotation could use a solid TOR guy to go with Imanaga and Steele.

[Tim]

46 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I think he's playing through an injury in addition to the psychological effect of playing on the worst team in MLB history.  I think he's the perfect candidate for a bounce back, change-of-scenery player.  26 years old with career slash of .269/.317/.478/.795 with 31 HR and 86 RBI and 118 OPS.  The last 26-year-old that had similar stats that came off of 2 horrendous seasons plagued by injuries has worked out great for us

He's already 27, btw. Also, part of the big knock on him is durability. He's only cracked 110 games once and he won't do it this year, either. And if he lacks the professionalism to play his best through the sucking, that's not great, either.

In all seriousness, the Sox would have to be pretty dumb to trade him at this point. They'd be far better off giving him the first half to re-establish value before doing something at the deadline. Unless they get a godfather offer during the offseason, I think they only move him if they think he's going to continue to lose value next year.

 

[Tim]

44 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Yes they can use a big bat or two but with a few prospects about ready and everyone in the regular lineup all under contract/control, they don't have any openings unless they make trades.

I chose pitching because that where they need the most attention.

They need a closer, and probably a couple solid bullpen arms, especially one from the left side.

The rotation could use a solid TOR guy to go with Imanaga and Steele.

They don't necessarily need a trade. If they have 9 players for 8 spots (excluding catcher) and give playing time equally, everyone gets to play 87.5% of the time. So they could sign a big bat and work one of the young guys into the lineup at the same time. 

[Rcal10]

11 minutes ago, Tim said:

They don't necessarily need a trade. If they have 9 players for 8 spots (excluding catcher) and give playing time equally, everyone gets to play 87.5% of the time. So they could sign a big bat and work one of the young guys into the lineup at the same time. 

If Bellinger stays they already have all spots filled. If they sign or trade for a big bat that gives them 9 bats for 8 positions. I am not oppose to this. But I am not sure how they also work a young guy into the line up. And as much as I am pretty sure Shaw would be a much better utility back up, bench guy than Mastrobuoni, I am not sure they would want him wasting away in the bench all season. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

Yes they can use a big bat or two but with a few prospects about ready and everyone in the regular lineup all under contract/control, they don't have any openings unless they make trades.

I chose pitching because that where they need the most attention.

They need a closer, and probably a couple solid bullpen arms, especially one from the left side.

The rotation could use a solid TOR guy to go with Imanaga and Steele.

Who is a solid sure fire bullpen arm? I keep reading how they need to add bullpen arms. But sadly there is just no sure things in a pen. Most solid pen arms are guys who pop up with a good year. Throwing money at the pen or throwing prospects in trades for pen arms is just not the answer IMO. At least it isn’t a sure answer. Someone in the team now that people are discounting might be a stud next year. Someone everyone wants this year can very easily suck next year. So when it is said they need to add pen arms, it isn’t as easy as it is made to sound. They do need a lefty however. I completely agree with that. And is even if Little fills one of the spots. 

[Tim]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Bellinger stays they already have all spots filled. If they sign or trade for a big bat that gives them 9 bats for 8 positions. I am not oppose to this. But I am not sure how they also work a young guy into the line up. And as much as I am pretty sure Shaw would be a much better utility back up, bench guy than Mastrobuoni, I am not sure they would want him wasting away in the bench all season. 

I should have said "if Bellinger leaves" on the second part of that post.

[chibears55]

23 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Who is a solid sure fire bullpen arm? I keep reading how they need to add bullpen arms. But sadly there is just no sure things in a pen. Most solid pen arms are guys who pop up with a good year. Throwing money at the pen or throwing prospects in trades for pen arms is just not the answer IMO. At least it isn’t a sure answer. Someone in the team now that people are discounting might be a stud next year. Someone everyone wants this year can very easily suck next year. So when it is said they need to add pen arms, it isn’t as easy as it is made to sound. They do need a lefty however. I completely agree with that. And is even if Little fills one of the spots. 

I agree it not an easy fine but we've seen them go with guys in house and add arms on the cheap and it hasn't worked out well for a whole season. 

They definitely need a closer,  not sure if that guy is in house.

Maybe Hodge but I like him more as a  setup guy,  I don't know how they find a closer and a solid lefty, just know that a priority for them this offseason 

[chibears55]

I think the two prospects of the top 4 position players they'll likely trade may be Alcantara and Ballesteros.

 

Caissie and Shaw are likely their guys they want as everyday players, when thatll start is the question.

 

Why if they are looking to add a big bat or two in offseason for the lineup,  somebody gotta go, especially if Bellinger returns.

[Tryptamine]

It saddens me a lot, but yeah Alcantara is the most likely of the top guys to get dealt. If it were it would be Caissie, but it definitely doesn't feel like the Cubs view it that way.