Post Winter Meetings Free Agency thread

[PackLandVA]

3 hours ago, Bertz said:

The Cubs' lineup has 5 guys who had 3.5 or more WAR last year. plus PCA who paced north of that mark on a per 600 PAs basis.

I think it's pretty appropriate to approach 3B from a standpoint of raising the floor rather than chasing ceiling.

I would argue horrendous first halves by Happ, Hoerner, and Swanson, and the initial injuries to the starting rotation which had a trickle effect with the BO, followed by the closer being bad because of injury followed by being out because of injury all played much bigger roles in the Cubs first half struggles.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, PackLandVA said:

I would argue horrendous first halves by Happ, Hoerner, and Swanson, and the initial injuries to the starting rotation which had a trickle effect with the BO, followed by the closer being bad because of injury followed by being out because of injury all played much bigger roles in the Cubs first half struggles.

You could, but you would be wrong about Happ. He actually has better numbers prior to the all star break than after it. 

[LBiittner]

Solano is 37 and stands 5'8. How many choppers are beyond his limited reach? As well as his aged reflexes? Last year we experimented with stubby Madrigal. This season with possibly 4 lefty starters, bertz said 3rd will be an important fielding necessity. I'm hoping jed doesn't need to settle signing someone he can look squarely in the eye. 

[PackLandVA]

9 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

You could, but you would be wrong about Happ. He actually has better numbers prior to the all star break than after it. 

Happ was pretty bad in March/April and May. He was great in June. I’ll maintain that his lack of offensive output the first two months of the season played a bigger role in wins/losses than Morel’s lack of production.

[LBiittner]

2 minutes ago, PackLandVA said:

Happ was pretty bad in March/April and May. He was great in June. I’ll maintain that his lack of offensive output the first two months of the season played a bigger role in wins/losses than Morel’s lack of production.

Morels obp was what .189? He had no production lol

[Bertz]

1 minute ago, PackLandVA said:

Happ was pretty bad in March/April and May. He was great in June. I’ll maintain that his lack of offensive output the first two months of the season played a bigger role in wins/losses than Morel’s lack of production.

Not even close.  Ian Happ had 0.7 WAR on June 1st.  Chris Morel had -0.2 WAR the day he was traded.

Catcher and 3B were, by orders of magnitude, the biggest problems for the Cubs this year on the position player side.  Catcher got better in the second half but in the 1st half was basically the worst position for any team in MLB.

[PackLandVA]

I’m not specifically comparing Morel to Happ or anyone else. My point is more was expected from three everyday veterans for the first couple months of the season. And this attributed, IMO, greater to the Cubs lack of success than Morel’s woes. As did the pitching issues that seemed to be there all year.

[Stratos]

Imagine if they can't trade Bellinger so they trade Seiya instead.  That would be a terrible.

[Tank]

Just now, Stratos said:

Imagine if they can't trade Bellinger so they trade Seiya instead.  That would be a terrible.

I'll catch some heat for this and I don't know if its the glove or lack of positional versatility but I have never been able to fully fall in love with Seiya as a player.  

[Bull]

1 hour ago, Tank said:

I'll catch some heat for this and I don't know if its the glove or lack of positional versatility but I have never been able to fully fall in love with Seiya as a player.  

 

Edited December 17, 2024 by Bull

[Bull]

2 hours ago, Stratos said:

Imagine if they can't trade Bellinger so they trade Seiya instead.  That would be a terrible.

Gold glove caliber defense at every position. Busch to DH.

Edited December 17, 2024 by Bull

[LBiittner]

Moncada got hurt and pulled home from winter ball

[BKHoo]

Moncada gets hurt getting out of bed. 

[squally1313]

I honestly don't see a lot of difference between 2025 Matt Shaw and 2025 Yoan Moncada. Both are likely to struggle, but hold the promise of upside and cheap production, if they're both around I'm not sure you can really give either one a full roll of the dice. Give me 2023 Madrigal or just a glove first guy because that's probably where the biggest questions fall for Shaw, as long as they are cheap, and see what happens. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

I honestly don't see a lot of difference between 2025 Matt Shaw and 2025 Yoan Moncada. Both are likely to struggle, but hold the promise of upside and cheap production, if they're both around I'm not sure you can really give either one a full roll of the dice. Give me 2023 Madrigal or just a glove first guy because that's probably where the biggest questions fall for Shaw, as long as they are cheap, and see what happens. 

I am souring on Moncada a bit. He just can’t stay healthy. But I am not that down on him to want Madrigal. I want a guy who can also play 1st base every now and then when they site Busch. Madrigal wouldn’t be that guy. Maybe it will be Tucker and they add a righty  at to the line up elsewhere. DH or right field. 

[squally1313]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

I am souring on Moncada a bit. He just can’t stay healthy. But I am not that down on him to want Madrigal. I want a guy who can also play 1st base every now and then when they site Busch. Madrigal wouldn’t be that guy. Maybe it will be Tucker and they add a righty  at to the line up elsewhere. DH or right field. 

Eh. 2023 Madrigal gave you 1.2 fWAR in 290 PAs, very good defense somehow, and an 85 wRC with an 8% K rate. It may not be replicable, and it almost certainly isn't 2025 Madrigal. But glove/contact is plenty sufficient for me. 

[mul21]

28 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I honestly don't see a lot of difference between 2025 Matt Shaw and 2025 Yoan Moncada. Both are likely to struggle, but hold the promise of upside and cheap production, if they're both around I'm not sure you can really give either one a full roll of the dice. Give me 2023 Madrigal or just a glove first guy because that's probably where the biggest questions fall for Shaw, as long as they are cheap, and see what happens. 

The reduced playing time may help with the injury part and I do like the fact that he can be a handcuff for both 1B and 3B with his ability to switch hit.  You can play him against tough RHP and give Shaw a day off and play him against tough LHP and give Busch a day off, plus he becomes the top bench bat.  He gets 2-3 starts a week depending on matchups and he's injury/failure insurance. 

[Tryptamine]

Sometimes I wonder if you actually have to know anything about sports to be a sports writer. I read an article last night that suggested the Cubs might sweeten the deal with the Yankees sending Nico with Bellinger and getting back Stroman and Warren. That is just so absurdly lopsided, you wouldn't even find nonsense like that on a fantasy baseball message board. 

[Backtobanks]

I saw another name that would be a cheap option at 3B/back up IF - Paul DeJong.

[Rcal10]

13 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I saw another name that would be a cheap option at 3B/back up IF - Paul DeJong.

Honestly, he would work too, IMO. We are not looking for a star or even an everyday player. Just someone as insurance for Shaw. He does have some power too. Considering we are talking about strictly a bench bat/insurance for Shaw, I think a lot of guys would fit. 

Edited December 17, 2024 by Rcal10

[CubinNY]

21 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Sometimes I wonder if you actually have to know anything about sports to be a sports writer. I read an article last night that suggested the Cubs might sweeten the deal with the Yankees sending Nico with Bellinger and getting back Stroman and Warren. That is just so absurdly lopsided, you wouldn't even find nonsense like that on a fantasy baseball message board. 

Probably a NY sportswriter. It's hard to tell the difference between meatball callers/online trolls/clickbait and journalists these days

[Bertz]

 

 

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, squally1313 said:

I honestly don't see a lot of difference between 2025 Matt Shaw and 2025 Yoan Moncada. Both are likely to struggle, but hold the promise of upside and cheap production, if they're both around I'm not sure you can really give either one a full roll of the dice. Give me 2023 Madrigal or just a glove first guy because that's probably where the biggest questions fall for Shaw, as long as they are cheap, and see what happens. 

Shaw is likely going to get the opportunity at 3B going into ST with Mastrobuoni being the just in case for 2B if Hoerner isn't ready for OD.

I think the money they have left to spend whether they trade Bellinger or not, will be towards pitching.

[Rcal10]

27 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Shaw is likely going to get the opportunity at 3B going into ST with Mastrobuoni being the just in case for 2B if Hoerner isn't ready for OD.

I think the money they have left to spend whether they trade Bellinger or not, will be towards pitching.

On who? If they trade for Luzardo and then trade Bellinger and save even $17M who are they paying all this money to? They are at 215 now. Save $17M on Bellinger brings them down to $198. The line is $241. So let’s assume they only want to go to $231. That leaves them $33M to work with. Luzardo cost $6M. So they have $27M. You don’t think they will add a bat with that kind of money left? If they don’t it would be a huge mismanagement of funds. As it is it is ridiculous they only go to $233. But that is Tom’s choice. Who are they spending $27M on? And remember, whoever it is will probably be a short term deal. If they want any chance at retaining Tucker they can’t have a pen arm making $15M a year the next few years. Even if they went with Yates and Minter that would probably cost them $15M, maybe. They still have $12M. Do you really want them to just pocket that money? Wouldn’t a good bench bat help? 

[Bertz]

Jed just shut down Michael Busch to 3B talk.  He leaves himself outs in most answers but that was pretty definitive.