Passan: Bellinger (finally) to the Yankees

[LBiittner]

Sorry squally, moncado hurt his wrist. Agent is keeping mum on severity. Plus I think he'd probably want a fresh start out of these city limits and probably go to marlins or rockies or anywhere other than chitown to try for an everyday job rather than a benching

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I don't see any need to give Canario a roster spot unless you run out of money doing other things (and even then, if we suddenly needed an outfield starter, he's probably third on my list of non-Happ/PCA/Tucker/Suzuki options).

A Luzardo trade leaves you with a complete, but very injury prone starting 5. Probably two of Assad/Wicks/Brown are your long guys/6th starters, Hodge/Miller/Pearson are locks, three spots for Keegan/Morgan/Little/Merryweather/Palencia/Roberts/almost assuredly a free agent, maybe two. AAA rotation of Wicks (to pick a name from above)/Horton/Birdsell/Poteet/Kilian/whatever is good starting depth. This is basically me trying to decide between 2 relievers and a bench guy or 1 reliever and 2 bench guys. I think you aim high for a Tanner Scott or as close as you can to that. If you get him, then it's Moncada/Canario call it a day. If you have to settle for a lesser reliever, go get two solid bench bats?

That’s fair. But I don’t think it will be Scott. I doubt it will be anyone with several years of high dollars. If they are going to make a play for Tucker I doubt that they want $15M tied up yearly for 4 or 5 years. I can see Yates for 1 or 2. He would cost a decent amount. But I doubt Scott. Honestly if they dealt Canario and then went with Moncada(or any other guy from a long list of options to insure against Shaw struggling), Grichik added to Kelly and /Cowles/Mastrobouni or Workman, that would be a fine bench. And maybe they still might have enough for Yates AND Minter. If they don’t I would rather keep Canario and get 2 pen arms over dealing Canario and signing Grichik but then only have enough money for one pen arm. . 

[Bertz]

Given how much money the Bellinger trade freed up I'd be shocked if two bench bats aren't brought in.  Then Kelly obviously has a spot and I would guess one bench spot is left available to be won for the various kids and NRIs.  Canario/Workman/Mastro/etc.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Sorry squally, moncado hurt his wrist. Agent is keeping mum on severity. Plus I think he'd probably want a fresh start out of these city limits and probably go to marlins or rockies or anywhere other than chitown to try for an everyday job rather than a benching

I read he may have left because he was being careful about his injury(nothing serious) because they suspected he would be signing shortly. But I do understand not giving him the benefit of the doubt. 

[Bertz]

 

 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Bertz said:

Given how much money the Bellinger trade freed up I'd be shocked if two bench bats aren't brought in.  Then Kelly obviously has a spot and I would guess one bench spot is left available to be won for the various kids and NRIs.  Canario/Workman/Mastro/etc.

Ideal scenario is two bench bats and 2 pen aems(Yates and Minter) 

[LBiittner]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

I read he may have left because he was being careful about his injury(nothing serious) because they suspected he would be signing shortly. But I do understand not giving him the benefit of the doubt. 

Why would moncado come to the Cubs? He's going to try and establish a path to his next $. He wont do this by backing up shaw. He would need the opportunity of playing every inning of every game possible. He's going to be 30 in 2025. 

[squally1313]

1 minute ago, LBiittner said:

Why would moncado come to the Cubs? He's going to try and establish a path to his next $. He wont do this by backing up shaw. He would need the opportunity of playing every inning of every game possible. He's going to be 30 in 2025. 

Who is going to give 30 year old Yoan Moncada an automatic starting job?

[imb]

2 hours ago, The_Achiever said:

I haven't kept up on this but I wish they'd keep Bellinger for one more year.  I'm not sold on Busch being a long-term answer at 1B, and Cody was one of the better hitters on the team.  

if the cubs are going to be remotely decent offensively in 25 it literally requires Busch to be good. Pondering whether he actually is or isn't good is meaningless. If he doesn't hit next year, we suck, Bellinger on the roster or not. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Why would moncado come to the Cubs? He's going to try and establish a path to his next $. He wont do this by backing up shaw. He would need the opportunity of playing every inning of every game possible. He's going to be 30 in 2025. 

Could be several reasons. First, he may really like Chicago. Second, there is an opening at 3rd for the Cubs. Next, the Cubs should contend next year. As an athlete so you t really think he doesn’t think he could beat out Shaw for the job. Is there another team in baseball that is a contender who can offer him a better opportunity. And finally, the last reason. The Cubs make him the best offer.

[squally1313]

10 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

That’s fair. But I don’t think it will be Scott. I doubt it will be anyone with several years of high dollars. If they are going to make a play for Tucker I doubt that they want $15M tied up yearly for 4 or 5 years. I can see Yates for 1 or 2. He would cost a decent amount. But I doubt Scott. Honestly if they dealt Canario and then went with Moncada(or any other guy from a long list of options to insure against Shaw struggling), Grichik added to Kelly and /Cowles/Mastrobouni or Workman, that would be a fine bench. And maybe they still might have enough for Yates AND Minter. If they don’t I would rather keep Canario and get 2 pen arms over dealing Canario and signing Grichik but then only have enough money for one pen arm. . 

FG has Scott at 3/36. For a 30 year old reliever that seems pretty reasonable, but A. pitching has been going for above market pretty consistently, and B. in a Luzardo world, maybe they're a little concerned by making their top pen guy a lefty. 

I'm realizing you probably have Canario penciled in because he's out of options, but honestly....he could be gone tomorrow and I wouldn't think about him again. Too many Ks. For me you've got 6 spots to fill (3 bench, 3 pen). At least one on each side will be filled internally. I think there are three signings, and they should stay flexible on what becomes available. A top reliever is the biggest needle mover, so that should be priority A, but a big bat off the bench is a fun luxury to have. 

[LBiittner]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Could be several reasons. First, he may really like Chicago. Second, there is an opening at 3rd for the Cubs. Next, the Cubs should contend next year. As an athlete so you t really think he doesn’t think he could beat out Shaw for the job. Is there another team in baseball that is a contender who can offer him a better opportunity. And finally, the last reason. The Cubs make him the best offer.

All makes sense. Keep in mind today's presser. Jed said they fully expect Shaw to be our 3b. Straight from the horses mouth. 🐎 

[LBiittner]

Who backs up dansby? Keep in mind nico couldn't in 24 because of arm issues. No clear idea if he'll have arm strength returning in 25

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, LBiittner said:

Who backs up dansby? Keep in mind nico couldn't in 24 because of arm issues. No clear idea if he'll have arm strength returning in 25

Nico did back up Dansby in 2024.  He's likely to in 2025 as well as long as he's on the roster, but if Shaw or Workman make the team then they would be options.

[Bertz]

ZiPS is weirdly feeling Poteet.  A 99 ERA+ as a SP is a lot more than I was expecting from the big ol' pile of meh I got from initially perusing his Fangraphs page.

I'm assuming Assad + a bat for Luzardo.  Poteet opening the year as the long reliever until one of Wicks/Brown/Horton prove they're healthy and the rust is gone down at Iowa.

[LBiittner]

A little Yankee trivia:

Cody Bellinger's wife is Giancarlo Stanton's ex. 

[imb]

9 hours ago, LBiittner said:

A little Yankee trivia:

Cody Bellinger's wife is Giancarlo Stanton's ex. 

"damn bro my b i thought u were mike stanton lol"

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, imb said:

"damn bro my b i thought u were mike stanton lol"

 

TWIST: Giancaro Stantion went by Mike Stanton when he first started playing pro ball

[imb]

5 minutes ago, Derwood said:

 

TWIST: Giancaro Stantion went by Mike Stanton when he first started playing pro ball

[Derwood]

I mean, there was also lefty reliever Mike Stanton who oh never mind

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

[David]

4 hours ago, Derwood said:

 

TWIST: Giancaro Stantion went by Mike Stanton when he first started playing pro ball

no horsefeathers way what

[Bertz]

You would think this would indicate another move being not far behind if they set a deadline of yesterday

[Tim]

2 minutes ago, Bertz said:

You would think this would indicate another move being not far behind if they set a deadline of yesterday

Sometimes you just don't want to let a buyer off the hook, too. 

[Sosa21MVP]

Obviously a deal made to free up cash to upgrade the bullpen or whatever. I'm okay with it.