Winter Meetings thread

[jersey cubs fan]

3 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

If I had to posit a guess here, I'd guess this is a bit of a "Mexican Standoff" for a lack of a better term as the team's await Bregman and they both want this done on their terms. 

If Bregman choses the Yankees, then the Cubs deal headlined with Parades is probably the best looking on the table. If it's that he stays, I'd guess the Yankees offering Gil might be more attractive. Or I'd assume the Astros are framing it that way. 

So you have Houston demanding the premium to do it before the decision and the Cubs holding off from that and/or trying to suggest they'd lower their offer if he went to the Yankees. 

Idk. Just a guess here. 

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Cubs just added a bench player I'm guessing. 

https://x.com/M_Montemurro/status/1866926239497461765?t=k85R3bCOUVch3LfwnRtLjg&s=19

Hey Patrick Wisdom Jr!

Question is, if we trade Paredes who do we have for 3B?  Shaw, Cowles, this guy.  Is it enough?  Especially given Nico is questionable.  Huge risks.  I prefer Paredes but the Astros would love him.

Edited December 11, 2024 by Stratos

[JD94]

Yeah… I want Tucker as bad as anybody, but count me out on Seiya, Issac, and Smith/Shaw. That’s ridiculous. 

[Stratos]

1 minute ago, JD94 said:

Yeah… I want Tucker as bad as anybody, but count me out on Seiya, Issac, and Smith/Shaw. That’s ridiculous. 

Jed and Carter must be banging their heads on tables at this point trying to find a deal with some team  So many moving parts, I don't envy them right now.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Hey Patrick Wisdom Jr!

Question is, if we trade Paredes who do we have for 3B?  Shaw, Cowles, this guy.  Is it enough?  Especially given Nico is questionable.  Huge risks.  I prefer Paredes but the Astros would love him.

I think if they trade Paredes they probably have optimism that Shaw will be on a similar timeline to PCA last year, though hopefully with a faster learning curve at the plate.  So I think you could see a stop gap brought in, preferably one that is LHH and could play a little 2B, which would be a platoon hedge for Shaw and have a role off the bench spelling Nico.  Jorge Polanco and Josh Rojas are the two cleanest fits among free agents.  Today's Rule 5 pick Workman may also qualify, but an R5 pick with not much pedigree feels like a bridge too far when you're risking 2025 performance with Shaw to begin with.

[Rcal10]

28 minutes ago, Rex Buckingham said:

Trading both of Seiya and Paredes seems foolish, trading both AND a top prospect is a crazy overpay for a guy only under contract for this year

Yep, that is a pass for me. Parades, Alcantara and maybe Wicks is about as much as I would give up. If they want Smith instead of either Parades or Alcantara that works too. Not parting with Suzuki. 

[JD94]

 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, JD94 said:

 

Cheaters holding a grudge for being called cheaters. 

[Derwood]

Losing Seiya and Paredes would mean an offensive wash, plus they would need to add another bat at third (or hope Shaw can play above replacement level)

[ILMindState]

No thanks to trading Seiya, Shaw, or Smith for a 1 year rental. Tucker will end up signing with a big boy team, the Cubs aren't winning a bidding war to keep him.

[JD94]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

No thanks to trading Seiya, Shaw, or Smith for a 1 year rental. Tucker will end up signing with a big boy team, the Cubs aren't winning a bidding war to keep him.

1) Would be pretty shocked if Jed traded both Seiya and Parades. 
 

2) Would also be shocked if Jed did this while not being willing to do everything in his power to extend / re-sign him. He knows Kyle will be in that 400 range. If this trade happens, I would feel pretty confident Jed / Tom will be willing to finally pay up for a star player. 

[Rcal10]

Any chance Valdez is in the deal too. Smith, Suzuki and Parades, maybe Wicks too, for Tucker and Valdez. Because that ask is crazy for just Tucker. Wouldn’t do it if they added Pressley even. Might with Valdez added.

[Dfan25]

Nvm 
 

 

Edited December 11, 2024 by Dfan25

[Rcal10]

Love to have Tucker and want so much for Jed to finally hook the big fish. But not for what the Astros are asking. I think he needs to walk away and go back to looking into Bellinger+ for a pitcher and then maybe a prospect or two for Lowe. Puts Suzuki back in right field with no everyday DH. Not super exciting but still a solid team. Can’t make a team be real able. If the Astros are not reasonable they have to walk away. 

[Jason Ross]

If Rogers is saying there's building to a Bellinger-Yankees swap, it means Seiya isn't going to Houston, very likely. Or at least, Parades and Seiya wuoldn't be going. I think it's still Parades, but the Cubs aren't dealing three starters here. That'd be madness.

I truly think Heyman's reporting is bad here, ya'll. That's more than Soto got last year. And he's a better player. I think we're all worked up about bad reporting.

[Dfan25]

 

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

If Rogers is saying there's building to a Bellinger-Yankees swap, it means Seiya isn't going to Houston, very likely. Or at least, Parades and Seiya wuoldn't be going. I think it's still Parades, but the Cubs aren't dealing three starters here. That'd be madness.

I truly think Heyman's reporting is bad here, ya'll. That's more than Soto got last year. And he's a better player. I think we're all worked up about bad reporting.

Which is why I believe in the idea that Houston is using Heyman. 

[Jason Ross]

Joel Sherman - Yankees have cooled on Christian Walker

[Derwood]

Arenado is willing to waive his no-trade for the exact 6 teams you would guess (and not the Cubs)

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Joel Sherman - Yankees have cooled on Christian Walker

This probably means more good news on the Tucker trade. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

This probably means more good news on the Tucker trade. 

Help me connect the dots here? Why? Bellinger to the Yankees as well as Bregman? 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Help me connect the dots here? Why? Bellinger to the Yankees as well as Bregman? 

Bellinger would be why.

[We Got The Whole 9]

20 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

No thanks to trading Seiya, Shaw, or Smith for a 1 year rental. Tucker will end up signing with a big boy team, the Cubs aren't winning a bidding war to keep him.

They very well might get Smith. The Cubs can't protect everyone.

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Help me connect the dots here? Why? Bellinger to the Yankees as well as Bregman? 

Rogers was on ESPN 1000. Basically said that he think the Cubs have the inside track on Tucker over the Yankees. Also that Cody Bellinger to the Yankees was picking up steam. If the Yankees felt confident on Tucker, they'd not need Bellinger - who could play 1b or OF, depending on what they want to do. 

Bregman seems likely to choose shortly and industry believes Yankees are the team to beat here. 

If the Cubs trade Bellinger, I cannot imagine they'd be including both Parades and Suzuki to the Astros. They won't deal three starters. 

So end result I'm expecting these dominoes to fall reading the leaves: 

1. Bregman signs with NYY

2. Cubs trade Bellinger to NYY for...things. 

3. Cubs trade Parades or Suzuki to Astros, plus like one of Smith/Caisse/Alcantara and maybe some lower end prospects like Cole Mathis or something. They get Tucker.

Rogers also suggested these trades could get done in the next few days. I think it might be quicker and more rapid fire than even that.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

Bellinger would be why.

I get that means Bellinger to the Yankees. But Bellinger could play 1st base. Why would that make them out on Tucker? Why would that be a good sign of a Cubs trade to Houston?