Winter Meetings Thread

[Jason Ross]

15 minutes ago, thawv said:

I agree with this.  I'm just saying that they can always move Nico and save 11 million or whatever it is.  I think if they don't plan on adding a couple of years to Nico, they should be shopping him. 

They could, but I think, ultimately, you will end up under water. Nico is a 4 win player and you're not going to get 4 wins back for him. I don't think they can realistically move him and be better for it.

[Bertz]

Cubs batters last year took 6162 plate appearances.  That is essentially 10 full time hitters plus a 2025 Justin Turner on top for good measure.

The Cubs can, even in a world where we assume no lengthy injuries, sign an everyday 3B and still give two of the kids semi-everyday at bats (think what Shaw got last year).  When you consider the inevitable injuries it's relatively safe to assume they can balance a third one.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

They could, but I think, ultimately, you will end up under water. Nico is a 4 win player and you're not going to get 4 wins back for him. I don't think they can realistically move him and be better for it.

I think IF they end up with Bregman it is because they know they can trade Shaw to get a starting pitcher in a trade. I think you said before that but appears they are angling to add a pitcher and a bat with one in trade and one via FA. And I agree with you on that. I I see no reason to move Nico if they got Bregman. 

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Nico is 28 and Bregman is 31, Bregman will be more expensive than any Nico extention for equivalent fWAR. I get the increase in right handed slug but what other possible angle and I missing here if they somehow go that route? Bregmans value relative to Nico would be higher on a pitching staff that misses bats.

Well, I don't think it's necessarily so black-and-white for the Cubs. I'll admit up front that I'm not really on Team "Sign Bregman to 5+ years", but I'm going to try to look beyond my biases and figure out a Cubs' line of thinking here:

Alex Bregman posted a 125 wRC+ at 3b last year at the 3b position which, league wide, was a 93 wRC+. It's a trash position offensively right now (it's behind catcher). We aren't seeing a decline in bat speed yet and he's been a consistently productive hitter with a plus-plus approach at the plate. Defensively he remains +. We know the team kind of struggled against LHP and he had a 139 wRC+ against them last year. You have Bregman, Shaw, Hoerner and Swanson who can all move around the lineup a little, giving each other some days off, maybe Shaw or Bregman can play some DH against LHH while you sit Caissie/Ballesteros (whichever you roll with). 

When it comes to 2027. you let Nico walk and you gift the position to Shaw. Shaw, right now, looks not too far off from Hoerner, if we're being honest with ourselves. He was a near plus-plus defender at 3b according to DRS, and a move to 2b you'd think he'd maintain a very plus defensive rating. His wRC+ after his return in May was 99. Compare that to Hoerner's last three years: he's a 105 wRC+. Assuming Shaw shows progress, they're probably not that far from each other. That's no shade on Hoerner either, I like him a lot! But if you needed to find a Hoerner replacement...

That's probably your argument. You hope in this scenario that the Cubs have more money than expected and can sign Bregman, don't need to move off Hoerner immediately, and can still get a Michael King and improve the rotation. 

[thawv]

15 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

They could, but I think, ultimately, you will end up under water. Nico is a 4 win player and you're not going to get 4 wins back for him. I don't think they can realistically move him and be better for it.

His value both on the field and payroll is fantastic.  Money aside, would they be better with Bregman and Shaw, and Nico's return?  Or Shaw and Nico?  Not to mention the savings to get pitching.  I love Nico, but they can't just let Nico and 4 other guys just walk to free agency after this season.  Can they?  Not to mention 3 additional players with options.  

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, thawv said:

His value both on the field and payroll is fantastic.  Money aside, would they be better with Bregman and Shaw, and Nico's return?  Or Shaw and Nico?  Not to mention the savings to get pitching.  I love Nico, but they can't just let Nico and 4 other guys just walk to free agency after this season.  Can they?  Not to mention 3 additional players with options.  

I think the Cubs would 100% be better with Bregman+Shaw+Nico rather than Bregman+Shaw+Nico's return.

We aren't getting a four win player in a straight up swap with him.

And yes, the Cubs can probably let multiple players walk. Shaw (as I outlined in a post above) isn't too far off from Hoerner now . Then you hope one of Caissie or Ballesteros is ready to take an OF spot or DH next year. And then you have money. 

The roster cliff is real and I'm a little concerned about it. But I don't think you're getting much of a controlled option for Nico Hoerner who's on his last year. The strip for landing a Nico trade last year was narrow, I think it's essentially non-existent this year unless you're just okay with actively getting a worse player back than Hoerner.

[thawv]

7 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think IF they end up with Bregman it is because they know they can trade Shaw to get a starting pitcher in a trade. I think you said before that but appears they are angling to add a pitcher and a bat with one in trade and one via FA. And I agree with you on that. I I see no reason to move Nico if they got Bregman. 

Since they have nobody in the pipeline to take Nico's spot, I think it makes more sense to trade Nico for some pitching, save well over 10 million for more pitching, and move Shaw to 2B.  Shaw has 6 years of control, and needs more time to see what we have in him.  

[Cuzi]

1 minute ago, thawv said:

His value both on the field and payroll is fantastic.  Money aside, would they be better with Bregman and Shaw, and Nico's return?  Or Shaw and Nico?  Not to mention the savings to get pitching.  I love Nico, but they can't just let Nico and 4 other guys just walk to free agency after this season.  Can they?  Not to mention 3 additional players with options.  

They made a 1 year trade for Kyle Tucker where they gave up some pretty decent long term assets, then punted away the rest of the offseason and deadline, and are letting him walk. Whether or not the Cubs can afford it, it's probably what's about to happen.

[thawv]

2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I think the Cubs would 100% be better with Bregman+Shaw+Nico rather than Bregman+Shaw+Nico's return.

We aren't getting a four win player in a straight up swap with him.

Your first option is the best option.  We need a utility infielder on the bench anyway.  It can always be Shaw and he takes over 2B next season in the event they let Nico walk.  

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, thawv said:

Since they have nobody in the pipeline to take Nico's spot, I think it makes more sense to trade Nico for some pitching, save well over 10 million for more pitching, and move Shaw to 2B.  Shaw has 6 years of control, and needs more time to see what we have in him.  

I think if you sign Bregman then trade Nico you take a step backwards. You aren’t getting a pitcher to plug into the rotation for Nico. I don’t agree with Bregman replacing Nico. He either signs here and the Cubs use young bats for a young TOR starting pitcher or, as Jason said, they extend the payroll this year and sign King. Worry about 27 when it comes. 

[Geographyhater8888]

34 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Well, I don't think it's necessarily so black-and-white for the Cubs. I'll admit up front that I'm not really on Team "Sign Bregman to 5+ years", but I'm going to try to look beyond my biases and figure out a Cubs' line of thinking here:

Alex Bregman posted a 125 wRC+ at 3b last year at the 3b position which, league wide, was a 93 wRC+. It's a trash position offensively right now (it's behind catcher). We aren't seeing a decline in bat speed yet and he's been a consistently productive hitter with a plus-plus approach at the plate. Defensively he remains +. We know the team kind of struggled against LHP and he had a 139 wRC+ against them last year. You have Bregman, Shaw, Hoerner and Swanson who can all move around the lineup a little, giving each other some days off, maybe Shaw or Bregman can play some DH against LHH while you sit Caissie/Ballesteros (whichever you roll with). 

When it comes to 2027. you let Nico walk and you gift the position to Shaw. Shaw, right now, looks not too far off from Hoerner, if we're being honest with ourselves. He was a near plus-plus defender at 3b according to DRS, and a move to 2b you'd think he'd maintain a very plus defensive rating. His wRC+ after his return in May was 99. Compare that to Hoerner's last three years: he's a 105 wRC+. Assuming Shaw shows progress, they're probably not that far from each other. That's no shade on Hoerner either, I like him a lot! But if you needed to find a Hoerner replacement...

That's probably your argument. You hope in this scenario that the Cubs have more money than expected and can sign Bregman, don't need to move off Hoerner immediately, and can still get a Michael King and improve the rotation. 

Bregman was much better away from Fenway for what it’s worth and was on pace for a 5 fWAR if he didn’t miss a month from injury. I’m not averse to it but it’d also depend on whether or not he’s ok with splitting time at DH if they keep all 3 infielders. You’d have to sell him on that if that’s a priority for him. The idea of trading Nico, whether or not it’s in the teams best interest is bringing back a prospect to flip for a cost controlled starting pitcher if you can fetch a prospect the nationals or marlins like was my angle if keeping Shaw is the plan. 
 

Regardless of what happens it’s interesting that Jed has shown interest in Bregman. That’s him going outside of comfort zone and would be that big surprise you talked about a couple weeks ago. 

Edited December 9, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

16 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think if you sign Bregman then trade Nico you take a step backwards. You aren’t getting a pitcher to plug into the rotation for Nico. I don’t agree with Bregman replacing Nico. He either signs here and the Cubs use young bats for a young TOR starting pitcher or, as Jason said, they extend the payroll this year and sign King. Worry about 27 when it comes. 

Unless you can find a third team who’d chip in a prospect for Nico as the final piece in a trade for a starting pitcher. Bregman is more of a lateral move than a step backwards. I don’t expect anything to happen because that’s the nature of our front office but it’s something to entertain. Two years in a row Jed has shown interest in Bregman for what it’s worth.

[Bertz]

Quote

Preller was described by multiple people as frenetically working the phones, though it is not clear how much more activity that was than his usual pace of investigating virtually endless possibilities ….

Two sources familiar with the Padres’ discussions said Preller is shooting big.

One source said the Padres are working multiple fronts that could result in deals that rival the massive trade in which they acquired four major leaguers in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham at the winter meetings two years ago. Another source said Preller’s plans coming to fruition would make the deals he made at the past two trade deadlines pale in comparison.

[Cuzi]

Is he trying to move Tatis? Nothing else they can do would "rival" trading Soto.

Edited December 9, 2025 by Cuzi

[Petrey10]

Here’s to hoping cubs start communication with Bichette today

[Neuby]

5 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

 

My guess is the Braves and they view Tatis as a shortstop solution.

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, thawv said:

I agree with this.  I'm just saying that they can always move Nico and save 11 million or whatever it is.  I think if they don't plan on adding a couple of years to Nico, they should be shopping him. 

If they're bringing in a 30 mil dollar bat, wouldn't that be because they're looking to make a playoff push and wouldn't Nico be a big part of that push for them?  Especially since his replacement would be Shaw who is still questionable with the bat, which could turn 2B into a revolving door of players.

I dont know, I just have a feeling we're not going to see any real major additions this offseason, especially with position players, maybe a SP if they do add someone of significant, but i think they're going to ride out 2026 with the position players they have and the ready prospects like Mo and Caissie and wait til next off season when they'll have more money from the expiring contracts and a new CBA to work off of and potentially a better group of FA to go after.

 

[JunkyardWalrus]

1 hour ago, Neuby said:

 

 

My guess is the Braves and they view Tatis as a shortstop solution.

0% it’s Jed and belief Tatis can play 3b. 

100% I hope this is true. 

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

If they're bringing in a 30 mil dollar bat, wouldn't that be because they're looking to make a playoff push and wouldn't Nico be a big part of that push for them?  Especially since his replacement would be Shaw who is still questionable with the bat, which could turn 2B into a revolving door of players.

I dont know, I just have a feeling we're not going to see any real major additions this offseason, especially with position players, maybe a SP if they do add someone of significant, but i think they're going to ride out 2026 with the position players they have and the ready prospects like Mo and Caissie and wait til next off season when they'll have more money from the expiring contracts and a new CBA to work off of and potentially a better group of FA to go after.

 

I didn’t check out the FA list next year. Is it better if you don’t count all the Cubs on that list?

I believe they will explore deals for a bat, but in the end not end up with Bregman, Suarez(thankfully) or Bichette. I also doubt the younger Japanese player. But I wouldn’t be shocked if they ended up with the other Japanese 3rd baseman or traded for someone like Bohm. They can keep Shaw in this case. In fact if they did trade for Bohm, Shaw would probably still start at 3rd. Bohm would be a guy to hit left handed pitchers, play 3rd occasionally and also cover first when they sit Busch. I do, however, expect a decent pitcher coming this off season. Whether it be via trade (Gore, Cabrera, Ryan, etc…..) or FA (Imai or King), I think they will spend to get a MOR/TOR starter. With Imanaga, Tailon and Boyd leaving next year, they need some stability after this year. They won’t do it all in one year. 

[Bertz]

Hopefully the dam breaks now

 

[squally1313]

What would it cost to get Ketel Marte?

[ILMindState]

 

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

Okay yeah consider that dam busted

What a terrible 10 minutes for Mets fans lol

[Jason Ross]

Busy day in Orlando.

[KCCub]

5 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

What would it cost to get Ketel Marte?

I've seen "Superstar return" thrown around and also an emphasis on major league SP coming back. I thought the Red Sox would be a good partner for them with their plethora of young OFers and have a couple nice young arms. Seems like they are hoping for someone to send them an offer they can't refuse.