Let’s talk Spring Training

[Stratos]

On 2/13/2025 at 2:53 PM, Bertz said:

This is a little different from the playoff odds that live on FG every day.  Dan Szymborski's system here actually does some accounting for depth, and it looks like that gave the Brewers a bit of a bump and accordingly knocked the Cubs down a peg.

86 wins?  Cubs are trash.  Maybe they sign 1 or 2 more bench/pen guys but a couple of 1 WAR players isn't going to move the needle.  What an underwhelming offseason.  1 year of Tucker for this trash team is a waste.  Every penny of Cody's salary savings is in Tom's pocket right now.

[Eeyore]

On 2/14/2025 at 2:07 PM, 17 Seconds said:

 

He ded

[CubinNY]

There was a Mooney article over the weekend saying that Counsell and Suzuki were working on "communication" in spring training. Reading between the lines (not always a good thing to do) suggests that Suzuki is not too happy with his role on the team. 

He shouldn't be too upset with the way he's played defense out there.  Anyway, I found it an interesting read.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6139136/2025/02/15/cubs-craig-counsell-seiya-suzuki-communication-issues/

[Bertz]

 

 

[JunkyardWalrus]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Didn't have that on my Cubs ST Bingo Card. 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2025 by JunkyardWalrus

[Bertz]

 

I assume this is like a Taxi Squad deal?

 

[Bertz]

Quote

Luke Little, the 6-8 lefty reliever who was shut down with a shoulder/lat injury last summer is on a slower ramp-up in spring training. Little has shown flashes of potential with his 96 mph fastball and extension that puts him in the 97th percentile of major-league pitchers, according to Statcast. Counsell, however, made it sound like Little probably won’t start the season on time: “There are scenarios that could happen that Luke might be involved in the Opening Day roster, but ideally we get a good foundation for Luke Little coming off that injury.”

From the Athletic this AM.

[Jason Ross]

I hadn't seen it posted elsewhere, but the Cubs agreed to an MiLB deal with Chris Flexen. 

I'd assume it's MiLB depth for the first bit of the season with Assad and Birdsell down. And while I haven't seen it reported, feels like the kind of deal that has one of those "use me or lose me" dates by, say,. Mid-May which would allow the Cubs coverage if they needed it, but allow Flexen to go elsewhere when the Cubs don't need him so much any more.

[Bertz]

Apparently several additional parks in Arizona added Statcast for this year.  So the Cubs will play in front of tracking for 10 of their games, a lot more than the last few years.

A few things that will be worth checking on IMO:

- After making it a point of emphasis this winter, has Taillon gotten any velo back?

- Do the guys who ended the year on the IL look right? 

- Anyone change their repertoires in a way we can tie back to Tyler Zombro?

[CubinNY]

Cubs are on MLB.tv today at 2 pm Central. 

I can't help but be fired up. 

[Dfan25]

Canario DFA , to clear a spot for Turner

Edited February 20, 2025 by Dfan25

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Canario DFA , to clear a spot for Turner

WOW, that is surprising. I would have thought he could be used in a trade. Maybe he will be. So who is the last guy on the bench? 

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

WOW, that is surprising. I would have thought he could be used in a trade. Maybe he will be. So who is the last guy on the bench? 

He will likely be traded like Arias was for some sort of low compensation (cash/PTBNL). I doubt many teams put much value in Canario as a trade target, and the Cubs seemingly haven't put much effort into forcing a spot for him either, so this feels like a fairly likely outcome. 

As for the bench, I would assume Workman has the inside track considering he's a "keep him or lose him" type. He's also LHH which gives the Cubs a different look. Brujan is probably his biggest competition and probably has a good chance to beat him out if the Cubs are not cool with a Berti/Tucker CF backup situation. 

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

He will likely be traded like Arias was for some sort of low compensation (cash/PTBNL). I doubt many teams put much value in Canario as a trade target, and the Cubs seemingly haven't put much effort into forcing a spot for him either, so this feels like a fairly likely outcome. 

As for the bench, I would assume Workman has the inside track considering he's a "keep him or lose him" type. He's also LHH which gives the Cubs a different look. Brujan is probably his biggest competition and probably has a good chance to beat him out if the Cubs are not cool with a Berti/Tucker CF backup situation. 

I know they can’t get much for Canario. I was thinking more along the line of a 3rd or even 4th piece in a Cease trade or something like that. Nothing more than that. But sure, more likely for a guy not on the 40 man. Workman hasn’t played above AA. I wouldn’t mind keeping him so maybe the Cubs made a small move that way. Maybe Canario to Detroit for Woekman? Not sure he makes the team but good to have at AAA. If the Cubs trade for Workman does he have to make the 40 man? 

[Bertz]

I feel like over the last 6 months there have been a lot of little breadcrumbs that make you think the team is *really* high on Alcantara.  This is the latest IMO.

[squally1313]

Talking about this in the Transaction threads, but if Tucker signs up to be the back up CF (and potentially take some starts against LHPs), then the last spot is Workman, if they need outfield help, it's Brujan. 

[squally1313]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I feel like over the last 6 months there have been a lot of little breadcrumbs that make you think the team is *really* high on Alcantara.  This is the latest IMO.

I can certainly see the reasoning. If I wanted to wade into the conspiracy/anti-FO waters, I'd be a little worried he becomes the guy they point to as the reason for not going full bore on a Tucker extension. But worrying about finding a spot for Alcantara seems very pre-mature. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

My takeaway is that Canario is a prospect who was on one trajectory before he exploded his leg, and another very different trajectory afterwards.  And we fans have been hopeful that he was still on the first trajectory or was a small step away from it, but in actuality he was not.  Too much swing and miss, too little overall productivity, and not enough defensive value/versatility.

[Stratos]

57 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

WOW, that is surprising. I would have thought he could be used in a trade. Maybe he will be. So who is the last guy on the bench? 

Gotta think he'll be traded.  He was out of options anyways and i believe needed to break camp with the team and stay there.

[JBears79]

Maybe just send him to the Tigers for the rights to Workman. 

[JBears79]

35 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I feel like over the last 6 months there have been a lot of little breadcrumbs that make you think the team is *really* high on Alcantara.  This is the latest IMO.

I get it. He has the highest ceiling of any player in our organization imo. Will he hit that ceiling tbd, but I would trade Cassie before I trade Alcantara. 

[Bertz]

Brett Bateman already had little power, he might be Nick Madrigal the first few months of the season now.

[WhyCantWeWin]

I still believe Canario will be successful somewhere. Kind of knew that Canario was lowly thought of by org when Counsell gave an interview early last year and was asked what progressions Canario had made to warrant a call up and Counsell plainly responded “nothing, we just needed a backup outfielder”

[KCCub]

 

[jersey cubs fan]

Read that as hardcore surgery at first, worrisome phrase