The Chicago Cubs Could Go "All-In" At The Deadline

[NorthsideAvenger]

58 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

For me,” all in” means all players are available. I don’t think it means get a particular player or players. That is too hard to figure out. But if I was to suggest players,  it would look like one of Gore, Cabrera or Ryan plus one of Gallen, Kelly or Lugo, then a bat to play 3rd and/or be a bench bat, and a pen arm. But all that would absolutely gut the system. 

Thank you. All In is just too vague for me.

[muntjack]

So,  boredom has led me to post my 100/100, "all-in" scenario.  I do not claim that these trades would be endorsed by the respective GMs, nor do I claim that I would make them if I were Hoyer. This is a WS-or-bust deadline recipe, just for fun and discussion. 

 

Twins receive: Moises Ballesteros, Jaxon Wiggins, Kevin Alcantara, BJ Murray Jr.

Cubs receive: Joe Ryan, Willie Castro

‐----------------

Marlins receive: Ben Brown, Christian Hernandez, Jonathan Long

Cubs receive: Edward Cabrera

-----------------

Orioles receive: Jefferson Rojas, Brandon Birdsell

Cubs receive: Felix Bautista

 

You can parse the details, but I would argue that the resulting team would be WS favorites.  

The farm is utterly decimated, though we retain Owen Caissie to cover the potential departure of Kyle Tucker.

[chopsx9]

12 hours ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

*sighs* Stop focusing on the Skenes part.

What I am asking is what does the Cubs All In plan look like?

 

What are you sighing about?  You're exact quote is "he would be part of my all in scenario." 

You're the one bringing him into the equation.

*sighs o so dramatically."  Stop contradicting yourself.

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 hours ago, chopsx9 said:

What are you sighing about?  You're exact quote is "he would be part of my all in scenario." 

You're the one bringing him into the equation.

*sighs o so dramatically."  Stop contradicting yourself.

I was frustrated that I was not making my point clearly. People was  focus on a player who I was trying to use as an example. 

Do not take this the wrong way chops but I am done with this particular discussion. I could not make my point clearly and it confused people. I apologize. Ready to move on.

[Rcal10]

12 hours ago, muntjack said:

So,  boredom has led me to post my 100/100, "all-in" scenario.  I do not claim that these trades would be endorsed by the respective GMs, nor do I claim that I would make them if I were Hoyer. This is a WS-or-bust deadline recipe, just for fun and discussion. 

 

Twins receive: Moises Ballesteros, Jaxon Wiggins, Kevin Alcantara, BJ Murray Jr.

Cubs receive: Joe Ryan, Willie Castro

‐----------------

Marlins receive: Ben Brown, Christian Hernandez, Jonathan Long

Cubs receive: Edward Cabrera

-----------------

Orioles receive: Jefferson Rojas, Brandon Birdsell

Cubs receive: Felix Bautista

 

You can parse the details, but I would argue that the resulting team would be WS favorites.  

The farm is utterly decimated, though we retain Owen Caissie to cover the potential departure of Kyle Tucker.

Well this is certainly all in. I like your thought process. But I think, rather than Ryan and Cabrera I would go with one of them and then the second pitcher be Morton. Maybe instead of the Cabrera trade I add Morton to Bautista and give up less than it cost to get Cabrera. If not Morton maybe Kelly of Gallen. Again, less cost than Cabrera. As for who they lose, I honestly have no idea if you are low, high, or spot on with your trade assets. So I can’t comment there. But I am sure someone like Kelly, Gallen or Morton is much less than Cabrera. 

[muntjack]

Agree completely.  If I'm Hoyer, I probably don't mortgage the farm to get two top guys this summer.  This was just a WS-or-bust, all-in for 2025 scenario. 

[Dfan25]

Raisel Iglesias seems to be throwing the ball well again now. Free agent to be . He could be an option and because overall it’s been a down year , they could possibly get a bargain there .

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Raisel Iglesias seems to be throwing the ball well again now. Free agent to be . He could be an option and because overall it’s been a down year , they could possibly get a bargain there .

He would be a good option. Braves need to realize they need to sell.

[Dfan25]

25 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

He would be a good option. Braves need to realize they need to sell.

I think they will sell the FA to be players ( Iglesias , Ozuna ) Murphy is signed long term but I think he gets traded as well . They want to clear the position for Baldwin 

Edited July 12, 2025 by Dfan25

[Layoutman]

I've enjoyed watching the Giant Ginger develop and thrive in the Cub system. Lucky I live in Des Moines so I get to watch the I Cubs at Principle Park fairly regularly.  Cassie and Johnny Long are gym rats....they always seem to be in the cage hitting or working on fielding drills at 1B/RF early pre game. And they stay and sign late. Two quality people you want in your clubhouse at any level. The work ethic is strong with those two. Hope we can keep them both as there are only a couple of pitchers (Cabrera and Gore) I would include Cassie in a deal. 

There is some redundancy between Johnny Long and Moises Ballesteros. Their bat's are ready as there is not that much left for them to accomplish at AAA. The problem is they both lack a defensive position. Outside of DH and 1B where are these guys going to fit in? Moises is 5'8" tall and really shouldn't play 1B. Long's play @ 3B/LF is subpar. Both guys are not athletes, they don't run well, and fielding is sub optimal. But they sure can hit, work counts, draw walks and typically don't chase stuff outside the zone.

Long has been criminally undervalued by many people unfamiliar with his development. Jed and crew got an absolute steal drafting Long in round 9 (2023) and signing bonus under 180k. The following excerpt was taken from:
How Cubs No. 13 prospect became lethal at the plate

One key to Long’s success? He hits the ball extremely hard. He is second among all Triple-A hitters (with at least 100 batted balls) with a 58.9 percent hard-hit rate and third with a 93.4 mph average exit velocity. Among Major Leaguers, only the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and the Pirates' Oneil Cruz have a better hard-hit rate.

So I think one of them gets dealt before the deadline.  Who would you rather keep between the two?

[JHBulls]

Jed on the phone if he makes trades that don’t massively improve the roster in a year where we could make a World Series 

[CubinNY]

If Gore becomes available, Jed has to make a play for him. I'm not sure what that looks like. 

If they get Gore and no one else, they are set up for the playoffs. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, CubinNY said:

If Gore becomes available, Jed has to make a play for him. I'm not sure what that looks like. 

If they get Gore and no one else, they are set up for the playoffs. 

He certainly would lock down the rotation. I think if they did that they would still probably add a bat who can play 3rd but also come off the bench. A cheap (assets wise) guy. 

[CubinNY]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

He certainly would lock down the rotation. I think if they did that they would still probably add a bat who can play 3rd but also come off the bench. A cheap (assets wise) guy. 

Sure, but short series baseball is fundamentally different than the regular season.

That's what I was getting at. 

[Rcal10]

Just now, CubinNY said:

Sure, but short series baseball is fundamentally different than the regular season.

That's what I was getting at. 

I agree with you. I would love Gore. 

[ILMindState]

Hard pass, Terrance Gore wasn't good the last time the Cubs traded for him.