Cubs (Rea) vs Astros (McCullers Jr.): 6/28/25, 6:15pm

[PeanutPunch33]

I hope Busch can figure it out someday vs lefties and never be taken out of the lineup.  Because he is really special.  

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I think it is a huge difference. I also think if Ricketts didn’t intend on being aggressive with Tucker to retain him he wouldn’t have okayed the trade. That said. I would say the Cubs have maybe a 35 to 40% chance of keeping him. Which is pretty good. It is easy to say team A will not sign player A any FA year. I would guess you would be right 80% of the time.
He most likely won’t take a discount. I agree with that. But contracts are very complicated. If he likes Chicago he might be willing to work with the team to get a deal he can accept. And from Ricketts POV, it is harder to explain to fans how you lost a guy on your team who you wanted to keep than it is to tell your fanbase you tried on a particular guy from another team but he just didn’t want to play for Chicago or he just chose another team. 

I don't think Tom is going to spend 400m of his money to save face with his customers (us).  They let Rizzo, Bryant, Javy, Contreras go and they were WS heroes.

That said, I like Tucker as a player more than the majority of big FA's that come up.

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Busch gets 1 back

Busch is a heck of a player.

[thawv]

9 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Correct me if im wrong but wasn't Cam Smith going to be starting the season in AA with the Cubs had it not been for the trade ?

I have some doubt that Hoyer had him scheduled for a fast track to majors for this season in December after only 20 PA in AA. 

 

Absolutely!!  He would very likely be in AA and AAA until the 2027 season. 

[CubinNY]

Pinning away about Smith isn’t healthy. They wanted Tucker and had to give someone of value to get him. Given Smith’s performance at the time of the trade, I believe the Cubs knew they had a special talent. 
 

Jed worked himself into a bit of a corner and needed a a star. It probably was the best move to make. 
 

This isn’t some Lou Brock for Ernie Brogolio (sp?) trade. I hope the sign Tucker to lang term contract, but I would not be surprised if they didn’t. 

[Geographyhater8888]

7 hours ago, Stratos said:

I don't think Tom is going to spend 400m of his money to save face with his customers (us).  They let Rizzo, Bryant, Javy, Contreras go and they were WS heroes.

That said, I like Tucker as a player more than the majority of big FA's that come up.

They let go of them for obvious reasons as we’ve seen. They offered Bryant a $200 million extension in 2018. Heyward, Lester and Darvish were all big contracts and adjusted for inflation Heyward would be worth north of $200 million if he signed his contract over the winter.

They’ve went over the LT in the past and I don’t think Jed pulls the trigger on a trade like that while dumping salary just to let him walk unless there was a playoff mandate set by ownership where he felt pressed to make a move with his job on the line.

I expect a truly competitive offer and any hesitation will be thanks to his age loading up the front end of his deal with the expectation you’ll be paying a premium price for a less productive 35 YO Tucker on the back end of the deal, a potential lockout and the Yankees offering him the Statue of Liberty.

Edited June 29, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Derwood]

The Rea haters gonna just hand wave away 2 ER in 5 IP?

[731.4life]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

They let go of them for obvious reasons as we’ve seen. They offered Bryant a $200 million extension in 2018. Heyward, Lester and Darvish were all big contracts and adjusted for inflation Heyward would be worth north of $200 million if he signed his contract over the winter.

They’ve went over the LT in the past and I don’t think Jed pulls the trigger on a trade like that while dumping salary just to let him walk unless there was a playoff mandate set by ownership where he felt pressed to make a move with his job on the line.

I expect a truly competitive offer and any hesitation will be thanks to his age loading up the front end of his deal with the expectation you’ll be paying a premium price for a less productive 35 YO Tucker on the back end of the deal, a potential lockout and the Yankees offering him the Statue of Liberty.

I don't think it's a "potential" lockout anymore, I think it's coming.  I just hope that doesn't sway Ricketts to go in a different direction.

Just enjoy as much baseball for 2025 and 2026 as we possibly can, because I don't think we're going to get much in 2027, which is the All-Star game at Wrigley.

Edited June 29, 2025 by 731.4life

[Rcal10]

8 hours ago, Stratos said:

I don't think Tom is going to spend 400m of his money to save face with his customers (us).  They let Rizzo, Bryant, Javy, Contreras go and they were WS heroes.

That said, I like Tucker as a player more than the majority of big FA's that come up.

 I said I don’t think he would have even allowed the trade if he didn’t think they could get him long term. I do think he doesn’t want the bad press he will get if he then let him walk. I also think he will be very aggressive. And if he thought they could get him long term he has to know the money would be what it will be. He has offered over $400M once already. On a guy who would not come here. Tucker may be that special person he does go all in on. I think he is. That said, still not easy to sign him. I just disagree with those who act like it is a forefone conclusion the cubs will never sign him. I think they have a decent shot. 

[Rcal10]

18 minutes ago, 731.4life said:

I don't think it's a "potential" lockout anymore, I think it's coming.  I just hope that doesn't sway Ricketts to go in a different direction.

Just enjoy as much baseball for 2025 and 2026 as we possibly can, because I don't think we're going to get much in 2027, which is the All-Star game at Wrigley.

What is really sad about the lockout is the biggest issue isn’t even the players arguing with ownership. It is ownership arguing with ownership on what is best for the majority of owners. You expect players and owners wanting different things and then meeting in the middle. I am not suggesting that isn’t an issue. It is. But it is a normal issue. Owners who can’t agree with other owners on how the game moves forward just makes negotiations even more complicated. 

[CubinNY]

9 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 I said I don’t think he would have even allowed the trade if he didn’t think they could get him long term. I do think he doesn’t want the bad press he will get if he then let him walk. I also think he will be very aggressive. And if he thought they could get him long term he has to know the money would be what it will be. He has offered over $400M once already. On a guy who would not come here. Tucker may be that special person he does go all in on. I think he is. That said, still not easy to sign him. I just disagree with those who act like it is a forefone conclusion the cubs will never sign him. I think they have a decent shot. 

I think you are overthinking. The Ricketts give Jed a pot of money each year and he’s allowed to do with what he wants. If he needs more for a special case he asks. That’s it. The Ricketts will tell Jed how much he can spend next year and it will be up to Jed to make a contract under those restrictions. 
 

My opinion is that they are going to have “clean books” going into the CBA year. But who knows what will happen with Tucker? It will depend on Tucker, mostly. I don’t think the Cubs are going to get in a bidding war with the Dodgers or Yankees or Giants or Mets. So if he goes to free agency the odds are not in their favor. 

Edited June 29, 2025 by CubinNY

[Hot Sauce]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 I said I don’t think he would have even allowed the trade if he didn’t think they could get him long term. I do think he doesn’t want the bad press he will get if he then let him walk. I also think he will be very aggressive. And if he thought they could get him long term he has to know the money would be what it will be. He has offered over $400M once already. On a guy who would not come here. Tucker may be that special person he does go all in on. I think he is. That said, still not easy to sign him. I just disagree with those who act like it is a forefone conclusion the cubs will never sign him. I think they have a decent shot. 

This is where I’m at as well. The blowback from letting Tucker leave without making an aggressive attempt to extend him would be bad. Even Cub fans have a limit to the disrespect they are willing to take.

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

This is where I’m at as well. The blowback from letting Tucker leave without making an aggressive attempt to extend him would be bad. Even Cub fans have a limit to the disrespect they are willing to take.

Again, I am not saying they get him. I just disagree with those who think the plan was him only here one year and then give him some ridiculous contract offer. They know what is needed and I think they will be aggressive it getting it done. Doesn’t mean they get him. And I also think they can go head to head with any team and offer a similar contract. 

[Geographyhater8888]

51 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Again, I am not saying they get him. I just disagree with those who think the plan was him only here one year and then give him some ridiculous contract offer. They know what is needed and I think they will be aggressive it getting it done. Doesn’t mean they get him. And I also think they can go head to head with any team and offer a similar contract. 

It’s not as if the cubs have always been frugal either. They were fourth in payroll in 2018 and 2nd in 2019. Outside of Ohtani and Soto it could just as much be Jed looking some of the free agent short stops and pitchers and projecting their game to age poorly as we’ve seen with Correa, Boggarts and injuries to Seager in a free agent class where the cubs were years away from contention. Turner’s been productive but for $123 million more than Swanson and not a huge gap in production l, Swanson has lived up to his deal no matter how much criticism he receives, unlike Heyward.
 

We saw that 2021 sell off and they dodged a huge bullet there. Glass half full way of looking at this is Tuckers game projects a lot better into his 30’s where his speed and athleticism isn’t tied into his production like middle infielders and of course free agent pitchers who routinely deal with injuries.

 

I just don’t see him trading for a guy on impulse for 1 year unless there was a playoff mandate by ownership. Slugging outfielders tend to have a longer duration of success into their 30’s and that could be what Jed is seeing 

Edited June 29, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[BKHoo]

Nico's WAR is now at 3.3? Tied for 12th.  Wow that is awesome.  Is he underrated? 

[cubfansince77]

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

The Rea haters gonna just hand wave away 2 ER in 5 IP?

I'll eat a little crow on that one Derwood, although I still think most would agree with me that he'd be best suited as a long man in the bullpen. That said, we wouldn't have any lead in the division without him this season. He's been very good as a 4th/5th starter. Almost equal to Assad I'd say. Speaking of Javier, I miss that dude. Wish to hell he wouldn't have gotten hurt. I see he's been cleared for a throwing program, sure would be nice to get him back in a month or so. He'd be a nice boost for the back of the rotation. 

 

[cubfansince77]

5 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Nico's WAR is now at 3.3? Tied for 12th.  Wow that is awesome.  Is he underrated? 

Absolutely. Great fielder, fast and hits for the highest avg. on the team...leader too. Love him.

[muntjack]

I sure appreciate the optimism here.  Not to go full Tom, but Ricketts is a capitalists' capitalist.  The financial success of the Chicago Bulls is not lost on him.  He can piss the fan base off and still pull massive profits.  The WS victory just gives him more slack.  I do believe he wants the team to be "competitive", but he knows you can do that working the margins. 

Jed simply knew he had to contend this season in order to keep his job, so he brokered a deal to do that.  

If they sign Tucker long term,  I will be absolutely shocked. 

[Derwood]

20 minutes ago, cubfansince77 said:

I'll eat a little crow on that one Derwood, although I still think most would agree with me that he'd be best suited as a long man in the bullpen. That said, we wouldn't have any lead in the division without him this season. He's been very good as a 4th/5th starter. Almost equal to Assad I'd say. Speaking of Javier, I miss that dude. Wish to hell he wouldn't have gotten hurt. I see he's been cleared for a throwing program, sure would be nice to get him back in a month or so. He'd be a nice boost for the back of the rotation. 

 

In an ideal world, he would be long relief, but he's been a perfectly cromulent 5th starter

[I owned a Suzuki]

I think the issue with resigning Tucker has more to do with how the team would be built around him. Basically how would Suzuki, Swanson Taillion, Happ, Boyd and Hoerner be replaced or paid going forward? If the Cubs keep producing or trading for cheap productive players, paying for Tucker should be easy.  But it creates more of a gamble to trade future prospects this year to obtain starting pitching.  

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, I owned a Suzuki said:

I think the issue with resigning Tucker has more to do with how the team would be built around him. Basically how would Suzuki, Swanson Taillion, Happ, Boyd and Hoerner be replaced or paid going forward? If the Cubs keep producing or trading for cheap productive players, paying for Tucker should be easy.  But it creates more of a gamble to trade future prospects this year to obtain starting pitching.  

Well, Swanson is under contract for a while. I think the rest many are replaceable. Ballesteros/Caissie/Long are all potential DH's. The Cubs have Jaxon Wiggins, Ben Brown and Cade Horton, all of whom are real potential SP's. Behind them Jordan Wicks. Brandon Birdsell, Javier Assad, Will Sanders could all take #4/#5 roles. Pedro Ramirez could be a 2b option. And that's just internal!

The Cubs can likely trade a few of these guys this deadline, still have a decent crop of near-MLB prospects, but will also have lots of money. They have just $50m on the books for the 2027 season. They can, pretty easily, sign Tucker to a $50m AAV and still have $100m+ to spend. They'll replace some outside of the org too. 

[BKHoo]

I’m getting tired of the Cards and Brewers winning! I assume they both sweep this weekend.  The Brewers are the hottest team in baseball.

Edited June 29, 2025 by BKHoo

[NorthsideAvenger]

7 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

I’m getting tired of the Cards and Brewers winning! I assume they both sweep this weekend.  The Brewers are the hottest team in baseball.

Brewers and Cards both strike me as teams that will cold in the second half. Just stay in front until then.

[Backtobanks]

37 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Well, Swanson is under contract for a while. I think the rest many are replaceable. Ballesteros/Caissie/Long are all potential DH's. The Cubs have Jaxon Wiggins, Ben Brown and Cade Horton, all of whom are real potential SP's. Behind them Jordan Wicks. Brandon Birdsell, Javier Assad, Will Sanders could all take #4/#5 roles. Pedro Ramirez could be a 2b option. And that's just internal!

The Cubs can likely trade a few of these guys this deadline, still have a decent crop of near-MLB prospects, but will also have lots of money. They have just $50m on the books for the 2027 season. They can, pretty easily, sign Tucker to a $50m AAV and still have $100m+ to spend. They'll replace some outside of the org too. 

We could solve a lot of problems by trading Swanson (and his ridiculous contract), but he's untradeable.

[Geographyhater8888]

55 minutes ago, I owned a Suzuki said:

I think the issue with resigning Tucker has more to do with how the team would be built around him. Basically how would Suzuki, Swanson Taillion, Happ, Boyd and Hoerner be replaced or paid going forward? If the Cubs keep producing or trading for cheap productive players, paying for Tucker should be easy.  But it creates more of a gamble to trade future prospects this year to obtain starting pitching.  

A Tucker extention not only lessens the pressure to add a top pitcher to take advantage of his only season as a Cub but also gives you more flexibility to trade a top outfield prospect to add a starter at the deadline. You can be conservative or aggressive at the deadline with little consequence with RF locked up for the next 8+ years.

 

this is only a problem if ownership insists on being cheap. They were able to afford all of the above names last season while slashing $40 million so adding back $45 million into the payroll shouldn’t be a road block. They’re 13th in payroll and make a fortune financially 

Edited June 29, 2025 by Geographyhater8888