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[Tryptamine]

From a new Fangraphs article with trades put together for fun

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-makes-some-deadline-trades-2025-edition/

Quote

The Chicago Cubs acquire P Nathan Eovaldi from the Texas Rangers for OF Owen Caissie and SS Cristian Hernandez

Giving up Owen Caissie is tough to swallow, as both ZiPS and I feel pretty confident that he will be a legit dude at the major league level (and I like Caissie more than ZiPS does). You don’t get real pitchers for free, however, and there just aren’t many good ones available. Nathan Eovaldi isn’t a short-term rental, and the Cubs are deep in bats. Chicago has an elite lineup “supported” by a questionable rotation; failing to get the best starter possible would be borderline malpractice. As a groundball-heavy pitcher, Eovaldi is a good fit on a team that has Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson on the middle infield.

Because of my love for Caissie and the fact that I’m also having the Cubs pick up the $59 million or so remaining on Eovaldi’s deal, I’m not inclined to add too much else to this package, which may cause Rangers fans to unfriend me (or at least, they would if I had any influence over the organization). Cristian Hernandez is pretty far down Chicago’s minor league pecking order, but he’s a solid defensive player, he’s fast, and he has a frame that seems like he could add some power as he develops. With Marcus Semien in decline and Corey Seager good for an IL stint seemingly every year, it would be useful for the Rangers to have another hedge or two for Sebastian Walcott. I would not, however, offer Moisés Ballesteros in addition to Caissie.

Eovaldi is under control for 2 more years at 25M a year, but he's also old as hell(35) so I'm not sure how much you really want his age 36 and 37 season. On the other hand, he's been as good as just about anyone in the league this year. Unfortunately the previous two years he was more good than great. This has the making of one that could be a disaster, but Eovaldi unquestionably makes the rotation this year much much stronger.

[squally1313]

23 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

From a new Fangraphs article with trades put together for fun

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-makes-some-deadline-trades-2025-edition/

Eovaldi is under control for 2 more years at 25M a year, but he's also old as hell(35) so I'm not sure how much you really want his age 36 and 37 season. On the other hand, he's been as good as just about anyone in the league this year. Unfortunately the previous two years he was more good than great. This has the making of one that could be a disaster, but Eovaldi unquestionably makes the rotation this year much much stronger.

I thought about linking this and then I read into the comments and most of the top ones are like 'the Rangers are in the playoffs right now' and the author basically admitted it didn't make a ton of sense. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

Did i see that Caissie is involved in talks for Mitch Keller? What the fucks?

[Tryptamine]

17 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Did i see that Caissie is involved in talks for Mitch Keller? What the fucks?

Yes and I would hate it.

[cubfansince77]

4 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

From a new Fangraphs article with trades put together for fun

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-makes-some-deadline-trades-2025-edition/

Eovaldi is under control for 2 more years at 25M a year, but he's also old as hell(35) so I'm not sure how much you really want his age 36 and 37 season. On the other hand, he's been as good as just about anyone in the league this year. Unfortunately the previous two years he was more good than great. This has the making of one that could be a disaster, but Eovaldi unquestionably makes the rotation this year much much stronger.

He's an injury waiting to happen IMHO....hard pass

[KCCub]

28 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Did i see that Caissie is involved in talks for Mitch Keller? What the fucks?

Matthew has a good article here talking about the three big SP targets and costs associated with each. Gives a good idea of why Keller is being discussed.
 

 

[PeanutPunch33]

So Bubic is injured for the rest of the year, the Royals also extended Lugo and Clase under investigation.. can't help but thinking that the price tag on the remaining guys has gone up significantly.  Way too many buyers and not enough sellers.. 

Edited July 28, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

So Bubic is injured for the rest of the year, the Royals also extended Lugo and Clase under investigation.. can't help but thinking that the price tag on the remaining guys has gone up significantly.  Way too many buyers and not enough sellers.. 

this is a problem. I agree. And that is why probably Thursday is when everything will happen. Trams won’t keep guys just to keep them. So prices will go down and guys will be traded. Might still be artificially inflated prices, but not what they are now. 

[Jason Ross]

32 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

So Bubic is injured for the rest of the year, the Royals also extended Lugo and Clase under investigation.. can't help but thinking that the price tag on the remaining guys has gone up significantly.  Way too many buyers and not enough sellers.. 

It probably doesn't change much math. Bubic wasn't going anywhere once the Royals decided to keep Lugo. The Royals had already pulled Lugo and Bubic off the market for all intents and purposes. Clase is a reliever and while it may force a team or two to shift their decision to go into the RP or the SP market, it's different enough that his availability probably doesn't change how the Twins feel about Joe Ryan, Washington about Gore or even Arizona really handles like a Kelly or Gallen. It might move the needle a little, but I doubt much. Clase was going to be very expensive for a reliever and I would be surprised if teams who were going to pay handsomely for Clase are suddenly going to jump the price on guys like Soroka, Morton, Houser...

[Rcal10]

My concern is the Cubs want a controllable pitcher. With those the team trying to dump can just decide not to do it if the Xubs don’t match the price and try trading that pitcher next year. It isn’t like a rental. If Az doesn’t negotiate with a team trying to buy either Gallen or Kelly they lose that guy for nothing next year. Same with any rental. So in that case something is better than nothing. So they may lower the cost. If the Marlins want Cassie for Cabrera they could take a lesser package from the Cubs or just keep Cabrera and have him next year. So they don’t have to lessen their price. I am just using Kelly, Gallen and Cabrera as examples. This goes for all rentals versus controlled pitchers. 

[Bertz]

A bearish take on Keller.  Though I think you have to consider that there's potentially some untapped pitch-design work to be done given that some pretty smart pitching teams are so hot after him.

[Dfan25]

Just saw a short video of Jesse Rogers in which he said the Dbacks are in play for the Cubs . Thinks a Suarez / Kelly deal is still possible . Outside of that mentioned Adrian Houser and Shane Bieber .

 

Isnt sure that Gore will be available to them . Said he thinks it’s going to be more quantity than quality for the Cubs . 

[Dfan25]

Bieber today at  AA  / 4 IP / 1 R / 7 k’s . Touched 94 with his FB .

Edited July 29, 2025 by Dfan25

[KCCub]

6 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Just saw a short video of Jesse Rogers in which he said the Dbacks are in play for the Cubs . Thinks a Suarez / Kelly deal is still possible . Outside of that mentioned Adrian Houser and Shane Bieber .

 

Isnt sure that Gore will be available to them . Said he thinks it’s going to be more quantity than quality for the Cubs . 

I wouldn't hate a Kelly/Suarez/Bieber/BP help deadline if that meant keeping the main pieces of the farm intact. 

[cubfansince77]

5 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Bieber today at  AA  / 4 IP / 1 R / 7 k’s . Touched 94 with his FB .

Hmmmm.....very interesting indeed. As for Suarez and Kelly, they are both rentals correct? I hate the idea of giving up top prospects for two guys probably won't re-sign for '26

[ILMindState]

9 minutes ago, KCCub said:

I wouldn't hate a Kelly/Suarez/Bieber/BP help deadline if that meant keeping the main pieces of the farm intact. 

 

I'd rather do that than give up a top prospect for Keller

[KCCub]

3 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

I'd rather do that than give up a top prospect for Keller

That's where I'm at. Keller is fine in a vacuum, but when you have to stomach trading Caissie and paying him $15.4m aav (More in actual dollars), he becomes a no from me. The idea of Cabrera with a higher upside and the financial freedom he gives you next year to use elsewhere is just much more appealing to me (Yes, at a higher prospect cost). Otherwise just go the rental route that helps you this season and keep Caissie and do with him accordingly in the off-season once you know if Tucker is here or not. 

[Rcal10]

21 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

I'd rather do that than give up a top prospect for Keller

Dbacks are asking for 2 top 100 prospects for Suarez on his own. What makes you think the Cubs won’t have to give up Cassie+ for Suarez and Kelly? I would rather get Keller and Castro if thr price was the same. At least they have Keller after this season. 

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, KCCub said:

That's where I'm at. Keller is fine in a vacuum, but when you have to stomach trading Caissie and paying him $15.4m aav (More in actual dollars), he becomes a no from me. The idea of Cabrera with a higher upside and the financial freedom he gives you next year to use elsewhere is just much more appealing to me (Yes, at a higher prospect cost). Otherwise just go the rental route that helps you this season and keep Caissie and do with him accordingly in the off-season once you know if Tucker is here or not. 

I am also fine with just rentals, as long as none cost a top 100 prospect. I also like Cabrera more than Keller, but it depends on prospect costs. 

Edited July 29, 2025 by Rcal10

[JunkyardWalrus]

48 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Just saw a short video of Jesse Rogers in which he said the Dbacks are in play for the Cubs . Thinks a Suarez / Kelly deal is still possible . Outside of that mentioned Adrian Houser and Shane Bieber .

Isnt sure that Gore will be available to them . Said he thinks it’s going to be more quantity than quality for the Cubs . 

The only thing bold about the prediction is the font.

[Bertz]

If you read what Trueblood just posted, plus what has been out there in the Athletic and ESPN, it really sounds like the team wants 3 pitchers:

- An impact type, ideally under control for a few years.  A legitimate core piece

- Another solid pitcher, ideally not too prospect expensive

- An opportunistic buy to help lengthen the staff.  Opportunistic could be a salary dump or an injury risk or someone that needs to be pitch-labbed, but this guy won't cost a ton of prospects

I think it's pretty clear the above should be two SPs and a RP, though I don't know if the team is dead set on that.  I would hope that reflects optimism around the health of Taillon/Assad?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 hour ago, Dfan25 said:

Bieber today at  AA  / 4 IP / 1 R / 7 k’s . Touched 94 with his FB .

This is good, I'm pretty sure Bieber was always a 93-95 guy.

[Tryptamine]

Well, we're officially at the 48 hour mark, any time now would be great.

[We Got The Whole 9]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Well, we're officially at the 48 hour mark, any time now would be great.

All these trades going down, I cant believe Jed is just sitting on his hands again 

[We Got The Whole 9]

24 minutes ago, Bertz said:

If you read what Trueblood just posted, plus what has been out there in the Athletic and ESPN, it really sounds like the team wants 3 pitchers:

- An impact type, ideally under control for a few years.  A legitimate core piece

- Another solid pitcher, ideally not too prospect expensive

- An opportunistic buy to help lengthen the staff.  Opportunistic could be a salary dump or an injury risk or someone that needs to be pitch-labbed, but this guy won't cost a ton of prospects

I think it's pretty clear the above should be two SPs and a RP, though I don't know if the team is dead set on that.  I would hope that reflects optimism around the health of Taillon/Assad?

Cabrera, Bieber/Morton, and a power (30% K) RP  would be phenomenal. Ill also be very happy if we can pry Eovaldi instead.