Update: Passan confirms trade done. Tucker to Cubs for Paredes, Cam Smith, Wesneski

[Stratos]

5 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

No there is not. He's played 637 innings at 3B, including college, with 17 errors and a .910 fielding percentage. Put the playstation controller down. He's not making a move off of 1B for 2B and for damn sure not 3B. He'd still be on the Dodgers if he could.

Why you so crusty?

[Cuzi]

2 minutes ago, profisme said:

But, his speed is so elite that if you added that skill to his toolbox he would be so much more valuable.  Butler is the single best bunter since I've been born.

Dont care what his speed is. You think Bobby Witt Jr. is out there laying down bunts? Become a better hitter.

[Bertz]

18 minutes ago, Stratos said:

There's a world, probably not option #1, where Busch is playing 3B and somebody else is at 1b.  At least he gives us flexibility to find either a 3b or 1b to replace Paredes.

Bellinger can play 1b but he's likely gone, so then we have Ballesteros, Mervis internally, maybe Long especially later in the year?  They can acquire an MLB corner guy via trade or FA too.

Shaw now seems the #1 option at 3B and Triantos at 2b moving forward when Nico leaves.  I like the floor on Triantos but not a high celling.

They didn't give him a single inning there last year even as 3B weighed the team down.  I know there was some talk from Craig about being more willing to move Busch around now that he's comfortable at 1B, but I'd be shocked if he starts more than 15 games somewhere besides 1B or DH.  The over/under is still probably a number you can count on your fingers.

[Cuzi]

If you just want a cheap, defense first 3B to buy time til Shaw is ready, assuming its not opening day, then just grab Josh Rojas who the Mariners non-tendered for some reason.

[BobbyD3]

I know his arm is not ideal, but is there a world where Gleyber Torres can come in on a one-year, prove-it contract and reestablish his value as our third baseman?  Just asking for a friend, of course.   

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, BobbyD3 said:

I know his arm is not ideal, but is there a world where Gleyber Torres can come in on a one-year, prove-it contract and reestablish his value as our third baseman?  Just asking for a friend, of course.   

Pretty sure he has publicly said he's not going to move off 2B.

[Randall Simon]

7 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

The Penguin. 

Where is Vance Law when you need him?  

[BigbadB]

6 hours ago, Randall Simon said:

Where is Vance Law when you need him?  

Vance Law is probably in my top 10 of guys who do not look like major league baseball players.

[NorthsideAvenger]

9 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

Vance Law is probably in my top 10 of guys who do not look like major league baseball players.

Vance Law always felt like one of those ambulance chasing lawyers to me.

[thawv]

14 hours ago, Stratos said:

If he's going to hit 35 HR in Minute Maid then WTF did we include Cam Smith for?

Probably because it required Smith for the trade to happen.

[Outshined_One]

16 minutes ago, thawv said:

Probably because it required Smith for the trade to happen.

Smith has the RH power and the tools to be a plus hitter at 1B or at a corner OF spot, particularly at Minute Maid.

[JunkyardWalrus]

7 hours ago, Randall Simon said:

Where is Vance Law when you need him?  

Still my mom's favorite Cub!

[Randall Simon]

The Tucker trade will be a disappointment if the Cubs don't do at least one of these things this season:

A) improve the roster around him

B) sign Tucker long term, or

C) reach a World Series

[Bull]

10 hours ago, Stratos said:

There's a world, probably not option #1, where Busch is playing 3B and somebody else is at 1b.  At least he gives us flexibility to find either a 3b or 1b to replace Paredes.

Bellinger can play 1b but he's likely gone, so then we have Ballesteros, Mervis internally, maybe Long especially later in the year?  They can acquire an MLB corner guy via trade or FA too.

Shaw now seems the #1 option at 3B and Triantos at 2b moving forward when Nico leaves.  I like the floor on Triantos but not a high celling.

I like bringing in an old first baseman/DH who is mostly a bench guy, starting with Busch at first and Shaw at third. If the experiment fails or there’s an injury, I want the old first baseman to be able to provide a solid floor at first and use Busch’s positional flexibility.

but Susuki/Goldschmidt/Busch/Shaw at DH, 1B, 3B, bench might be nice.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Bull said:

I like bringing in an old first baseman/DH who is mostly a bench guy, starting with Busch at first and Shaw at third. If the experiment fails or there’s an injury, I want the old first baseman to be able to provide a solid floor at first and use Busch’s positional flexibility.

but Susuki/Goldschmidt/Busch/Shaw at DH, 1B, 3B, bench might be nice.

Goldy probably wants too much. And they do need someone who can also play 3rd. 

[17 Seconds]

there are so many people out there doing the "why are the cubs doing this? they're not one piece away" thing, and it's so weird to me.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

there are so many people out there doing the "why are the cubs doing this? they're not one piece away" thing, and it's so weird to me.

Because people are never happy. If he didn’t do this people would complain he doesn’t do anything. 

[Bertz]

4 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

there are so many people out there doing the "why are the cubs doing this? they're not one piece away" thing, and it's so weird to me.

This is so funny to me because a team projected in the mid-80's is pretty objectively where adding a star gives you the most bang for your buck.

There's also the fact that these are usually the exact same people in a different year pissed when like a 72 win team doesn't sign the top FA on the market.

[CubinNY]

3 hours ago, Outshined_One said:

Smith has the RH power and the tools to be a plus hitter at 1B or at a corner OF spot, particularly at Minute Maid.

Yes, he’s going to be really good. 

[jersey cubs fan]

45 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

there are so many people out there doing the "why are the cubs doing this? they're not one piece away" thing, and it's so weird to me.

They don’t realize that one piece away doesn’t exist in real life.

ABA

Always Be Adding

[Tryptamine]

49 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Because people are never happy. If he didn’t do this people would complain he doesn’t do anything. 

I would say if the Cubs just sat on their hands the rest of the offseason, I could kind of see this. With that said, I don't expect Jed to stop now and if they get a SP to slot in front of Taillon, a set up man and a bench bat, they are not only a division favorite, but a legit depth playoff run team.

[thawv]

4 hours ago, Outshined_One said:

Smith has the RH power and the tools to be a plus hitter at 1B or at a corner OF spot, particularly at Minute Maid.

I agree.  But he had to be traded to get Tucker. 

[thawv]

32 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I would say if the Cubs just sat on their hands the rest of the offseason, I could kind of see this. With that said, I don't expect Jed to stop now and if they get a SP to slot in front of Taillon, a set up man and a bench bat, they are not only a division favorite, but a legit depth playoff run team.

They are even money as of right now.  Milwaukee is 5-2.

[UMFan83]

Some of the info here might be outdated as this was written at the end of May...but then again maybe it isn't because it explains how Tucker suddenly went from a consistent 5 WAR player to one that was on pace for closer to 9 last year, albeit pace is doing heavy lifting since he missed half the season with injury.  But there were some changes to his game last year that help explain the rise in his performance from already star level to superstar level:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tuck-on-roll-the-astros-have-a-new-best-player/

 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, 17 Seconds said:

there are so many people out there doing the "why are the cubs doing this? they're not one piece away" thing, and it's so weird to me.

This is what I was saying the other day about commenting on the Yankees sub.  Their fans had no idea why the Cubs would be trying to get Tucker since in their minds the Cubs aren't currently trying to win.  That's the perception a lot of baseball fandoms seem to have of the Cubs.