Starting rotation options available now

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

But they're all better so why make the rotation worse?

 

Taillon being better is up to debate. But they can also just trade Kremer next off season. Or just start without Steele, who may not be ready in April and when Steele comes back you decide what to do. Injuries might make the decision simple. 

[Rcal10]

Predicting it now. Like it or not Cubs get either Cabrera or Alcantara before the Marlins leave Milwaukee on Sunday. Whichever one they get starts Tuesday in Milw. If I had to pick the second pitcher they end up with I would say Kelly. 

[PeanutPunch33]

Anybody that wants Edward Cabrera - I challenge you to pull up his baseball reference page, then pull up Javier Assad's, and see who's been the better player since 2023 when healthy.  Is that the guy you want to trade 3 great prospects for? 

 

Edited July 25, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

[JD94]

28 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Anybody that wants Edward Cabrera - I challenge you to pull up his baseball reference page, then pull up Javier Assad's, and see who's been the better player since 2023 when healthy.  Is that the guy you want to trade 3 great prospects for? 

 

So I did and Edward Cabrera has been better since 2023 lol. Also Edward is 27 and having his best season yet. He’s figuring it out. The stuff is really good. I’d love to get him into our organization and see what else we can unlock that Miami probably can’t. 

[Rcal10]

40 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Anybody that wants Edward Cabrera - I challenge you to pull up his baseball reference page, then pull up Javier Assad's, and see who's been the better player since 2023 when healthy.  Is that the guy you want to trade 3 great prospects for? 

 

Who are you considering 3 great prospects. If they truly had to give up 3 GREAT prospects, I would agree with you. But if it is one top 100 prospect and two others between 12-25 in the organization I would be fine getting  Cabrera. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

45 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Anybody that wants Edward Cabrera - I challenge you to pull up his baseball reference page, then pull up Javier Assad's, and see who's been the better player since 2023 when healthy.  Is that the guy you want to trade 3 great prospects for? 

 

Now compare their baseball Savant pages 

[PeanutPunch33]

1 hour ago, JD94 said:

So I did and Edward Cabrera has been better since 2023 lol. Also Edward is 27 and having his best season yet. He’s figuring it out. The stuff is really good. I’d love to get him into our organization and see what else we can unlock that Miami probably can’t. 

 Cabrera ERA+ since ‘23:  111, 87, 124

Assad: 140, 107 and a lost year from injury (although he was at 136 in 2022).

the WAR and FIP is mostly similar.  

it doesn’t feel like enough of an upgrade for me personally.  Great stuff but bad command. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

 Cabrera ERA+ since ‘23:  111, 87, 124

Assad: 140, 107 and a lost year from injury (although he was at 136 in 2022).

the WAR and FIP is mostly similar.  

it doesn’t feel like enough of an upgrade for me personally.  Great stuff but bad command. 

Why does Cabrera have to be an upgrade? He is, but even assuming you are right (you’re not), why can’t the Cubs have Cabrera and Assad? 

[gflore34]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Why does Cabrera have to be an upgrade? He is, but even assuming you are right (you’re not), why can’t the Cubs have Cabrera and Assad? 

Cabrera is a massive upgrade over Rea and certainly a better option than having to resort to an opener + Brown every 5th game.  I really like it if Brown was not used in a such a manner again this season, he's completely ineffective in such a role.

Edited July 26, 2025 by gflore34

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Cabrera is a massive upgrade over Rea and certainly a better option than having to resort to an opener + Brown every 5th game.

I know this. You probably should have responded to peanut, not me. He seems to think Cabrera isn’t an upgrade over Assad. Which he is. But if somehow Assad is as good as Cabrera it would be great to have two guys to turn to instead of Rea and a bullpen day. 

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

I know this. You probably should have responded to peanut, not me. He seems to think Cabrera isn’t an upgrade over Assad. Which he is. But if somehow Assad is as good as Cabrera it would be great to have two guys to turn to instead of Rea and a bullpen day. 

Yeah, my mistake, responded to the wrong post.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Yeah, my mistake, responded to the wrong post.

No problem. I think we both agree here. 

Edited July 26, 2025 by Rcal10

[Brian707]

When healthy* is not a small detail to leave out to prove a point 

[PeanutPunch33]

14 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Why does Cabrera have to be an upgrade? He is, but even assuming you are right (you’re not), why can’t the Cubs have Cabrera and Assad? 

It’s not about Cabrera vs Assad, it’s about Cabrera vs what else they can get for him with those assets.  I just used Javier as an example to show this isn’t some ace they would be getting.  
 

I personally wouldn’t want them to pay an ace’s price tag for a guy who I’m not sure will ever be an ace.  If anything I’d be more inclined to get Sandy. There’s a strong track record there and somebody will fix him.  And if it’s the Cubs that do, they have a top 10 pitcher in baseball for 2.5 years 

Edited July 26, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

It’s not about Cabrera vs Assad, it’s about Cabrera vs what else they can get for him with those assets.  I just used Javier as an example to show this isn’t some ace they would be getting.  
 

I personally wouldn’t want them to pay an ace’s price tag for a guy who I’m not sure will ever be an ace.  If anything I’d be more inclined to get Sandy. There’s a strong track record there and somebody will fix him.  And if it’s the Cubs that do, they have a top 10 pitcher in baseball for 2.5 years 

But you did compare Cabrera to Assad. Maybe go to baseball savant and check the comparisons. Then tell me Assad is just as good. He isn’t close. Cabrera has then”potential” to be an ace. Assad has the potential to be a solid BOR starter. 
Now, I do agree with you that the Cubs shouldn’t trade 3 great prospects for Cabrera. That is the cost of guys like Gore or Ryan. Cabrera and Sandy should be less. But less might be one top 50-70 prospect and a couple of lower guys in the Cubs system. Remember, each has several years of control after this one. Neither is going to be cheap, but shouldn’t cost 3 “great” prospects, either. Any pitcher worth trading for who comes with a couple to 3 years of control left is going to cost a top 50-70 prospect. Keller might even cost that. Of Keller, Cabrera and Sandy, if cost is the same on all, Keller would be my 3rd choice. I think Cabrera and Sandy are high reward acquisition. But with that comes risk. 

[PeanutPunch33]

4 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

But you did compare Cabrera to Assad. Maybe go to baseball savant and check the comparisons. Then tell me Assad is just as good. He isn’t close. Cabrera has then”potential” to be an ace. Assad has the potential to be a solid BOR starter. 
Now, I do agree with you that the Cubs shouldn’t trade 3 great prospects for Cabrera. That is the cost of guys like Gore or Ryan. Cabrera and Sandy should be less. But less might be one top 50-70 prospect and a couple of lower guys in the Cubs system. Remember, each has several years of control after this one. Neither is going to be cheap, but shouldn’t cost 3 “great” prospects, either. Any pitcher worth trading for who comes with a couple to 3 years of control left is going to cost a top 50-70 prospect. Keller might even cost that. Of Keller, Cabrera and Sandy, if cost is the same on all, Keller would be my 3rd choice. I think Cabrera and Sandy are high reward acquisition. But with that comes risk. 

I'd get onboard with Cabrera pretty quickly but he's just not my #1 or even my #3 option.  I do recognize that he has elite stuff though and is still young enough to develop into something better than what he's shown to date.  As you mentioned, it'll come down to cost.  The last time I checked Owen was ranked between 50 and 60 as a top prospect and I personally wouldn't trade him for Cabrera, let alone adding any other piece.  And that's surely where that conversation begins for Miami.  Although, if they can make that deal for 2 guys that aren't Caissie and Wiggins, I'd have much more an appetite for Cabrera.  I view him as a bit of a project still. 

From my perspective, they need a guy that they'd feel comfortable giving the ball too in a game 3 on the road in a hostile environment.  Cabrera is a massive risk.  I can easily see a scenario where he throws 5 walks and leaves in the 4th inning in that game.  But like I said I recognize the upside is great.  

 

 

Edited July 26, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I'd get onboard with Cabrera pretty quickly but he's just not my #1 or even my #3 option.  I do recognize that he has elite stuff though and is still young enough to develop into something better than what he's shown to date.  As you mentioned, it'll come down to cost.  The last time I checked Owen was ranked between 50 and 60 as a top prospect and I personally wouldn't trade him for Cabrera, let alone adding any other piece.  And that's surely where that conversation begins for Miami.  Although, if they can make that deal for 2 guys that aren't Caissie and Wiggins, I'd have much more an appetite for Cabrera.  I view him as a bit of a project still. 

From my perspective, they need a guy that they'd feel comfortable giving the ball too in a game 3 on the road in a hostile environment.  Cabrera is a massive risk.  I can easily see a scenario where he throws 5 walks and leaves in the 4th inning in that game.  But like I said I recognize the upside is great.  

 

 

To be fair to Cabrera he hasn't walked more than three in any of his starts in 2025.

[Matt W]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

To be fair to Cabrera he hasn't walked more than three in any of his starts in 2025.

Would you prefer Cabrera to Alcantara taking everything into account(contract, injury risks, projectability)?

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, Matt W said:

Would you prefer Cabrera to Alcantara taking everything into account(contract, injury risks, projectability)?

You probably asked Jason. But I can also answer. I would want Cabrera. For one thing, he has one more year. He is also cheaper and he is pitching better now. 

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Matt W said:

Would you prefer Cabrera to Alcantara taking everything into account(contract, injury risks, projectability)?

Cabrera over Alcantara. He's is pitching better as is and has more control. It is also why he will cost more.

[Jason Ross]

The Royals just picked up Grichuck. While neither Grichuck or Frazier are expensive buys, they aren't really acting like a team who you'd guess was wanting to move Lugo.

[KCCub]

15 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

The Royals just picked up Grichuck. While neither Grichuck or Frazier are expensive buys, they aren't really acting like a team who you'd guess was wanting to move Lugo.

Yea I think they are only moving Lugo if they are blown away at this point. The recent chatter around town is that they may prefer to work out an extension with him and keep their starting staff together for 2026. Could just be “GM speak” but I wouldn’t be shocked if they hang onto him. 

[Tryptamine]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

Cabrera over Alcantara. He's is pitching better as is and has more control. It is also why he will cost more.

I'm starting to sell myself on Alcantara. Not in an everything equal kind of way, but more in a if he can be acquired without any of Caissie/Rojas/Ballesteros/Wiggins/Conrad then I think I'd pull the trigger.

[gflore34]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

The Royals just picked up Grichuck. While neither Grichuck or Frazier are expensive buys, they aren't really acting like a team who you'd guess was wanting to move Lugo.

Soroka it is, I know we like him, given his profile and the Cubs affinity for reclamation projects, he might be a realistic option.

[tartan222]

Latest update on The Athletic says we're "very interested" in Gore, but his cost is "currently viewed as sky-high" and it's unclear if their interim GM is even allowed to trade him