Starting rotation options available now

[mul21]

Who can they get to shore things up today? Any guys who have those triggers in the minors with drop dead dates? 
 

Just having someone who can get through 6 innings even if they give up 4 runs is fine with this offense but the pen is going to implode if they keep going 4+ every day. 

[Derwood]

With the off day Thursday and next Monday, I think they can reasonably skip Brown's next start or two:

5/26 (COL) Taillon
5/27 (COL) Horton
5/28 (COL) Boyd
5/29 OFF
5/30 (CIN) Rea
5/31 (CIN) Taillon
6/1 (CIN) Horton
6/2 OFF
6/3 (@WSH) Boyd
6/4 (@WSH) Rea
6/5 (@WSH) Taillon

No days off from 6/3 to 6/15, so you'd need a 5th starter in that stretch

[imb]

our pitching rotation options

[Derwood]

Bobson Dugnutt will save us all

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I’m ready.

[Derwood]

Just now, Bobson Dugnutt said:

I’m ready.

Finally your time to shine

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

With the off day Thursday and next Monday, I think they can reasonably skip Brown's next start or two:

5/26 (COL) Taillon
5/27 (COL) Horton
5/28 (COL) Boyd
5/29 OFF
5/30 (CIN) Rea
5/31 (CIN) Taillon
6/1 (CIN) Horton
6/2 OFF
6/3 (@WSH) Boyd
6/4 (@WSH) Rea
6/5 (@WSH) Taillon

No days off from 6/3 to 6/15, so you'd need a 5th starter in that stretch

I don’t think Counsell will be in a hurry to skip spits in the rotation. I think he likes giving guys an extra day. I also think most of the guys in this rotation need the extra day. I don’t see them skipping a spot in the rotation. 

[Hunter]

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

Bobson Dugnutt will save us all

I'm more partial to Dwigt Rortugal. He has a better pedigree.

[Rcal10]

He might not be available right now, but if the Brewers start falling out of the WC race by the deadline maybe Peralta becomes available. He would be a great addition.

[Tryptamine]

Mackenzie Gore

Freddy Peralta

Nick Lodolo

Shane Smith 

 

Would all be guys I'd have varying interest in and think they could actually be available, unfortunately 2 of the 4 are in division. In a perfect world, somehow Michael King became available. 

[PackLandVA]

Sean Newcomb was DFA'd by Boston.  Could the Cubs take a flyer on him, at least for a short term patch? This year, he has a 25% K rate and 10% BB rate. As a starter, he never pitched past the 5th, but he was pretty solid as a reliever.

[NorthsideAvenger]

7 minutes ago, PackLandVA said:

Sean Newcomb was DFA'd by Boston.  Could the Cubs take a flyer on him, at least for a short term patch? This year, he has a 25% K rate and 10% BB rate. As a starter, he never pitched past the 5th, but he was pretty solid as a reliever.

Did the Cubs not take that flier on Newcomb in 2022? Worth a shot. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

Mackenzie Gore

Freddy Peralta

Nick Lodolo

Shane Smith 

 

Would all be guys I'd have varying interest in and think they could actually be available, unfortunately 2 of the 4 are in division. In a perfect world, somehow Michael King became available. 

Gore, Lodolo and Smith all have control left. No reason for a team to trade them. 

[PackLandVA]

1 hour ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Did the Cubs not take that flier on Newcomb in 2022? Worth a shot. 

They did, and he wasn't spectacular.  

[Ding Dong Johnson]

My god, he was horrendous.

[Tryptamine]

55 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Gore, Lodolo and Smith all have control left. No reason for a team to trade them. 

They're also on teams that are in need of talent infusions, especially close to MLB. The Cubs have that.

Edited May 26, 2025 by Tryptamine

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Gore, Lodolo and Smith all have control left. No reason for a team to trade them. 

Smith has 5 more years of control. The other two have 3 years. Unless it is a crazy overpay I don’t see it. 

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

Smith has 5 more years of control. The other two have 3 years. Unless it is a crazy overpay I don’t see it. 

The Cubs have the AAA assets to pull off a long term starter and they should consolidate those assets. 

[Rcal10]

22 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

The Cubs have the AAA assets to pull off a long term starter and they should consolidate those assets. 

I understand it from the Cubs perspective. But sometimes you have to think of the other team. Why would the Reds give up Lodolo now? I like Lodolo and Gore too. But to me it doesn’t make sense for either team to trade either of those guys. I have no opinion on Smith for the Cubs. But, again, don’t see why the Sox would trade him. I think the Cubs will be looking at Peralta(if Brewers continue to struggle) anyone from the Marlins, maybe Kikuchi, Eflin, N. Martinez, Keller, Heaney and I am sure a few others. 

Edited May 26, 2025 by Rcal10

[jersey cubs fan]

21 hours ago, imb said:

our pitching rotation options

 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

I understand it from the Cubs perspective. But sometimes you have to think of the other team. Why would the Reds give up Lodolo now? I like Lodolo and Gore too. But to me it doesn’t make sense for either team to trade either of those guys. I have no opinion on Smith for the Cubs. But, again, don’t see why the Sox would trade him. I think the Cubs will be looking at Peralta(if Brewers continue to struggle) anyone from the Marlins, maybe Kikuchi, Eflin, Keller, Heaney and I am sure a few others. 

Because teams like the Reds have multiple holes and they could use that one player to fill multiple holes with MLB ready players.

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Because teams like the Reds have multiple holes and they could use that one player to fill multiple holes with MLB ready players.

We are talking about something that probably has less than a 5% chance of even being discussed by the teams and even less of a chance of happening. I am fine agreeing to disagree. 

[chibears55]

Think you gotta check the remaining salaries that will be left on their contracts too, with the year ending payroll being a question mark for Rickettts. Hoyer may be forced to look for low cost arms who won't be owed much the last 2 + months. 

What is his actual cutoff for 2025?

 

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

We are talking about something that probably has less than a 5% chance of even being discussed by the teams and even less of a chance of happening. I am fine agreeing to disagree. 

Yea, I think for the Reds, Brewers, or even Cardinals to consider trading good pitchers with control left to the Cubs, the Cubs would have to offer an overpay in young talent.

[Stratos]

On 5/25/2025 at 8:36 PM, Rcal10 said:

I don’t think Counsell will be in a hurry to skip spits in the rotation. I think he likes giving guys an extra day. I also think most of the guys in this rotation need the extra day. I don’t see them skipping a spot in the rotation. 

Yeah they don't seem to like skipping off days.  I think they'll keep throwing Brown out there for now, not many options really.

Looking at his stats the K's, walks, and HR/9 are fine.  His FIP/xFIP are good.  In fact his stats really aren't much different than last year.  He has a .393 BABIP and given up a ton of hits so maybe some of it is bad luck.  The LOB% is pretty low too.  They've been hitting his FB hard both this year and last.

Hopefully its a location thing or they're just sitting on it due to the 2-pitch mix.

Edited May 27, 2025 by Stratos