Levine: Alex Bregman Open to Short-Term Deals, Cubs Have Talked to Scott Boras About It

[ToolDRT]

Here is Heymans interview. 

[ToolDRT]

I think I’m ready to become the Chicago Astros!

[NorthsideAvenger]

Well, I guess I'll need a new F5 button, tomorrow. 

[Jason Ross]

Greenfield has some sources it would seem. Might be a busy night. Buckle up?

[Bertz]

20 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Greenfield has some sources it would seem. Might be a busy night. Buckle up?

He was really on the Paredes stuff and a few other things.  Did not seem as on several other things (Bellinger I wanna say?)

But yeah this feels inevitable right now.  I'm just gonna focus on how well Bregman ties the lineup together and hope the specifics once I see them assauge my concerns.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Bertz said:

He was really on the Paredes stuff and a few other things.  Did not seem as on several other things (Bellinger I wanna say?)

But yeah this feels inevitable right now.  I'm just gonna focus on how well Bregman ties the lineup together and hope the specifics once I see them assauge my concerns.

Jed Hoyer rarely makes a trade I hate. So I'm hoping that we can kill two birds with one stone - we upgrade the lineup a bit and also find that SP we're hoping to get with two swift moves. No promises that it all turns out peaches, but that's my hope here. 

[Randall Simon]

23 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Greenfield has some sources it would seem. Might be a busy night. Buckle up?

I'd rather give Shaw a few months in Iowa to make sure he's ready, then deal Nico closer to the deadline when Matt is breaking down the door. 

Shaw has minimal at bats above AA and It's crazy to me how so many are gung ho about rolling him out there on opening day. Before the Tucker deal, no one had him making the OD roster, but since we're all worried about blocking him. I don't get it. 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Randall Simon said:

I'd rather give Shaw a few months in Iowa to make sure he's ready, then deal Nico closer to the deadline when Matt is breaking down the door. 

Shaw has minimal at bats above AA and It's crazy to me how so many are gung ho about rolling him out there on opening day. Before the Tucker deal, no one had him making the OD roster, but since we're all worried about blocking him. I don't get it. 

It feels like the Cubs are sincerely that high on Matt Shaw. And I guess I get it - if you're high on him you probably see him like ZiPS does - a near immediate 2-2.5 fWAR type with numbers good enough that he could legitimately win a RoY. There's plenty of outcomes there, positive and negative, but you'd assume if the Cubs further move Hoerner for something that the answer to how the Cubs view Shaw is "very close to how ZiPS does" which would explain their process.

I wouldn't mind the Cubs giving him a bit more time myself. But I also trust the Cubs internal modeling more than me.

[Post Count Padder]

51 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Worth pointing out...

You're killing me, Matt! 

He does have a Bluesky account, for people on that place.

[Randall Simon]

I guess, pending what they could fetch in a Nico deal...

King doesn't work because that'd require SD taking on more salary. Cease would work, but only save us a couple mil, and would Preller even take that deal? I doubt it. 

What other pitcher is out there, worth while, available, cheaper than Nico, with a club willing to take the larger salary in the swap? 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Randall Simon said:

I guess, pending what they could fetch in a Nico deal...

King doesn't work because that'd require SD taking on more salary. Cease would work, but only save us a couple mil, and would Preller even take that deal? I doubt it. 

What other pitcher is out there, worth while, available, cheaper than Nico, with a club willing to take the larger salary in the swap? 

While I don't know if it's a 1-1 swap or anything, the Yankees are a team that:

1. Could probably use  2b

2. Has pitching

3. The Cubs have recent trade history with over the last few years. More than once.

Clarke Schmidt could be a name? 

[Outshined_One]

1 minute ago, Randall Simon said:

I guess, pending what they could fetch in a Nico deal...

King doesn't work because that'd require SD taking on more salary. Cease would work, but only save us a couple mil, and would Preller even take that deal? I doubt it. 

What other pitcher is out there, worth while, available, cheaper than Nico, with a club willing to take the larger salary in the swap? 

Seattle has been the speculated trade destination for months. They have surplus young pitching and room in the MIF for Nico.

[JunkyardWalrus]

What teams need a SS?

And isn't Seattle out with signing Polanco?

[Post Count Padder]

1 minute ago, Outshined_One said:

Seattle has been the speculated trade destination for months. They have surplus young pitching and room in the MIF for Nico.

But they re-upped Polanco, meaning they don't need to add an infielder.

The Yankees are interesting. They have some intriguing guys ready to go in Cabrera and Peraza but don't seem inclined to let either take 2B/3B. Maybe Nico for Gil or Schmidt plus a prospect? Not my favorite idea but I can see the logic.

[KCCub]

6 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

While I don't know if it's a 1-1 swap or anything, the Yankees are a team that:

1. Could probably use  2b

2. Has pitching

3. The Cubs have recent trade history with over the last few years. More than once.

Clarke Schmidt could be a name? 

Yankees keep coming to mind for me as well. As you said, Schmidt, Gil, etc.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

But they re-upped Polanco, meaning they don't need to add an infielder.

The Yankees are interesting. They have some intriguing guys ready to go in Cabrera and Peraza but don't seem inclined to let either take 2B/3B. Maybe Nico for Gil or Schmidt plus a prospect? Not my favorite idea but I can see the logic.

If the Cubs got Gil or Schmidt there wouldn’t be a prospect coming from the Yankees. I don’t mind Nico for Schmidt, however. I don’t want to lose Nico but a team with Bregman in the line up and Schmidt in the rotation is better than Nico and Rea.

[Rcal10]

Just now, KCCub said:

Yankees keep coming to mind for me as well. As you said, Schmidt, Gil, etc.

Do the Phillies need Nico? Sanchez? Or Suarez? 

[Bertz]

Dylan Moore is ideally a high quality utility guy, so I think if the Mariners have the desire Nico is still a fit

I'll throw out the Red Sox and Guardians as possible fits too.

[Post Count Padder]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

Do the Phillies need Nico? Sanchez? Or Suarez? 

Bohm and Turner and Stott with Aidan Miller a year or two away. And Schwarber occupying a DH spot. So, unlikely.

[Rcal10]

Just now, Bertz said:

Dylan Moore is ideally a high quality utility guy, so I think if the Mariners have the desire Nico is still a fit

I'll throw out the Red Sox and Guardians as possible fits too.

But they don’t want to add payroll and Cubs can’t. And he isn’t a fit for either Kirby or Gilbert. Cubs would have to add a high end prospect. 

[Rcal10]

Just now, Post Count Padder said:

Bohm and Turner and Stott with Aidan Miller a year or two away. And Schwarber occupying a DH spot. So, unlikely.

Maybe if they moved Bohm, like they appear to want to do. 🤷

[WhyCantWeWin]

I like where this is going, load up for 2025 and worry about 2026 next year

[Post Count Padder]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Maybe if they moved Bohm, like they appear to want to do. 🤷

That's possible, though I'm not sure what they'd want (I live in Philly and also root for them, when they're not playing the Cubs). I suppose they deal him for a proper CFer but them signing Kepler complicated things there. Their rotation is solid and pen should hold up (plus you're not trading Bohm for a reliever).

[Post Count Padder]

Another interesting point, if the Cubs get Bregman and keep Nico, do they have the best defensive team in the league? Gold Gloves at 3B, SS, 2B, LF, RF. CF is a sure-fire future GG. Busch played adequately at 1B and the catching tandem should be decent.

[KCCub]

6 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Dylan Moore is ideally a high quality utility guy, so I think if the Mariners have the desire Nico is still a fit

I'll throw out the Red Sox and Guardians as possible fits too.

Red Sox could use a 2b. They do have Campbell though, who would be similar to Shaw. I just don’t understand why they won’t sign Bregman themselves instead of trying to make Arenado work.