Cubs Likely to Add Another Starting Pitcher

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Cuzi said:

I see what is painfully obvious. You choose to ignore the obvious to fit your best case.

The Mariners want to reduce payroll because they have a budget of $15-16M to find an upgrade at 2B, 3B, and BP. They aren't taking on more payroll to fill 1B while opening up a spot they have to fill in the rotation. Even the Bellinger rumors include Hoerner in the deal. The only place people are talking about Bellinger for Castillo straight up is here.

I challenge you to go read that MLBTR article that name drops Bellinger as a Mariners target and then get back to me with how realistic it is. The whole article is based on a Seattle times reporter writing about how the team is looking for a platoon option to pair with Raley, how Bellinger's contract is a big problem for what the Mariners are trying to accomplish this offseason, how they "covet" Nico Hoerner, and how trading from the rotation is "plan Z" according to Dipoto.

Don't know about you, but Bellinger really strikes me as the guy to get Dipoto to act on plan Z, instead of the player they "covet."

So you see Mariners interested in Bellinger but because it doesn’t make sense to you it can’t happen. Is that how it works? Seattle has been named several times as a team interested in Bellinger. One of the articles I read specifically mentions how the only way Seattle would realistically consider it is if they got rid of salary in the deal. It even mentions Castillo. I fully acknowledge the Mariners would want Hoerner more than Bellinger. But I also believe the Cubs would much rather deal Bellinger than Hoeener IF Castillo is in the deal. So if the Cubs won’t give Hoerner for Castillo (which I hope they wouldn’t) talks either break down or they change the pieces in the trade. If it isn’t the Cubs doing Bellinger for Castillo and Garver then maybe it is the Cubs doing Hoerner for Woo/Miller/Kirby/Gilbert. Obviously more would need to be added from the Cubs and very possibly Garver would also have to be added. If Garver is added the Cubs don’t have to give up as much. 
Look. I  agree with you the Mariners like Hoerner. I just don’t agree that the Cubs would take back Castillo for him. And I am not sure Woo or Miller would qualify as an established rotation arm. I think there are a lot of scenarios that could work with Seattle and the Cubs. But there are also several problems with any option. 

[Cuzi]

Link the article that completely refutes Dipoto's statements and a Mariners insider.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Cuzi said:

Link the article that completely refutes Dipoto's statements and a Mariners insider.

I am not going to discuss this any further. I agree with you that the Mariners are interested in Hoerner. But I also believe numerous reports that list Bellinger as an option for Seattle. I guess soon enough we will find out if either players goes to Seattle, and for who. 

[Tim]

1 hour ago, TomtheBombadil said:

I just find the logic of Cubs fans on this place to be wiiiiildly inconsistent with their usual (edit: approaching decades, plural, of) handwringing over $/WAR and age 

You do understand that there are multiple people on here with differing logic, right?

[Tryptamine]

[Tryptamine]

They can go get horsefeathered if they want PCA

[KCCub]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

13 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

 

Man, This one is fun. There's a lot of options. 

[KCCub]

Haven't followed this account before, seems to have been correct the past couple of days. Don't know if he's been piggybacking off of others or has legit info. TIFWIW

 

 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, KCCub said:

Haven't followed this account before, seems to have been correct the past couple of days. Don't know if he's been piggybacking off of others or has legit info. TIFWIW

 

 

Doesn't have any notable followers. I'll assume guessing.

[Post Count Padder]

21 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

 

screaming crying throwing up

[Jason Ross]

 

[Rcal10]

Just now, 1908_Cubs said:

 

Castillo isn’t super exciting. Nice get, but shouldn’t cost major assets.

[Post Count Padder]

Gawd what would the cost be to get Alcantara and Andrew Nardi? 

[Cuzi]

Things can change, but the Marlins told Alcantara he was not going to be traded a while ago.

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Cuzi

[Jason Ross]

Maybe a Bellinger/Castillo swap now that the Yankees are playing hard?

[Michael Busch Light]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Maybe a Bellinger/Castillo swap now that the Yankees are playing hard?

The Cubs would have to pay a lot of money since the Mariners ownership is awful.  

[Cuzi]

11 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Maybe a Bellinger/Castillo swap now that the Yankees are playing hard?

Mentioned "two bats." The Hoerner horsefeathers is dead, imo. Shaw cant play both 2B and 3B.

[SOFNR]

I had been interested in Castillo but I hadn't looked at his contract. They'd be taking on 3/75 with a vesting option for a 4th year. 32 years old and K/9 was down last year. I'm not sure at that price he's a better fit then the mid FA options. I guess if it's a straight up swap for Bellinger.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I think they’re aiming higher than Castillo.

[Cuzi]

9 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

I had been interested in Castillo but I hadn't looked at his contract. They'd be taking on 3/75 with a vesting option for a 4th year. 32 years old and K/9 was down last year. I'm not sure at that price he's a better fit then the mid FA options. I guess if it's a straight up swap for Bellinger.

The Mariners can get bent, imo.

Over the last 3 years, Castillo is pretty comparable to guys like Jordan Montgomery when he hit FA and Nathan Eovaldi. Montgomery ended up with a 2 year deal at just under $24M. Eovaldi just got $25M. Castillo is owed $24M for 3 years with a potential 4th year at $25M. He gives you more innings than Eovaldi so maybe he gets slightly more, but he's not worth the $27M that Fried got. So how much is Castillo saving you vs the market? $1.5-2M/yr? I'm not giving up anything worth a horsefeathers for that and the Mariners are asking for a haul because its "plan Z."

[Dfan25]

Nightendale says they are showing interest in Jesús Luzardo 

[SOFNR]

35 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

The Mariners can get bent, imo.

Over the last 3 years, Castillo is pretty comparable to guys like Jordan Montgomery when he hit FA and Nathan Eovaldi. Montgomery ended up with a 2 year deal at just under $24M. Eovaldi just got $25M. Castillo is owed $24M for 3 years with a potential 4th year at $25M. He gives you more innings than Eovaldi so maybe he gets slightly more, but he's not worth the $27M that Fried got. So how much is Castillo saving you vs the market? $1.5-2M/yr? I'm not giving up anything worth a horsefeathers for that and the Mariners are asking for a haul because its "plan Z."

Agreed. If they're sending out prospects I'm aiming for a better pitcher or a cheaper pitcher. Preferably both.

[SOFNR]

10 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Nightendale says they are showing interest in Jesús Luzardo 

Is Luzardo healthy? He was hurt most of last year and not all that good when he did pitch. If we hadn't already grabbed Boyd it would be an interesting gamble, but I'm kinda hoping for more of a sure thing for the 2nd pitcher addition.

[Tryptamine]

10 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Nightendale says they are showing interest in Jesús Luzardo 

Not enthralled with Luzardo, but he's a good mid rotation guy. If they're willing to do something like Caissie or Alcantara with a couple guys further down the list, sure I guess. Not someone I'd be throwing multiple guys out of the top 7 or 8 prospects, especially coming off injury.