Winter Doldrums Thread

[Hortonhearsawho]

It appears it's down to these 3 teams for his market. 

 

 

 

 

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, chibears55 said:

I still expect to see this lineup on OD...

Kelly/Amaya 

Busch

Hoerner 

Swanson 

Shaw

Happ

PCA

Caissie 

Suzuki/Ballesteros 

I would agree. Except Suzuki is definitely in the line up. It is Cassie/Ballesteros for the last spot. 

[chibears55]

35 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I would agree. Except Suzuki is definitely in the line up. It is Cassie/Ballesteros for the last spot. 

I figure Suzuki Ballesteros and Caissie would be rotating between DH and RF(Suzuki  Caissie).

We could see Suzuki sitting against some RHers and both Mo and Caissie starting. 

The bench can easily be

Catcher, Mo, Caissie, and 2 of Kingery Austin and maybe Long to start the season. 

Hoyer OD bench rarely stays the same after the first month and this season, I can see him relying more on guys in AAA to fill that role when needed.

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by chibears55

[chibears55]

35 yo Anthony Rendon was just bought out by the Angels, he is exactly what Hoyer would bring in on a 1 year deal....

😅😅

[Outshined_One]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

35 yo Anthony Rendon was just bought out by the Angels, he is exactly what Hoyer would bring in on a 1 year deal....

😅😅

In 2027 on a minor league deal, sure.

Quote

Rendon, 35, won't officially declare retirement, but he is not expected to play in 2026 and will instead continue to rehab from his home in Houston, as he did throughout the 2025 season, according to a source.

 

[Cuzi]

Rendon is pretty vocal about how little he cares about actually playing baseball. Even as a minor league signing, I want no part of him.

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I figure Suzuki Ballesteros and Caissie would be rotating between DH and RF(Suzuki  Caissie).

We could see Suzuki sitting against some RHers and both Mo and Caissie starting. 

The bench can easily be

Catcher, Mo, Caissie, and 2 of Kingery Austin and maybe Long to start the season. 

Hoyer OD bench rarely stays the same after the first month and this season, I can see him relying more on guys in AAA to fill that role when needed.

 

I don’t think we will see both Mo and. Cassie on the team so I doubt both will play and Suzuki sits. If healthy Seiya will play 150+ games. If Mo beats out Cassie Seiya will play right. If Cassie beats out Mo, Mo will catch at AAA, and Cassie will start in right over Seiya, who will DH. Bench of Austin, back up catcher, maybe Alcantara and a utility infielder. Maybe Kingery. This is, of course, if they don’t add a bat. 

[Bertz]

The bench is mostly in place.  The questions are basically for us externally.

1. Does the team view Alcantara or Seiya as the backup CF?  This basically determines if the team can carry both Mo/Caissie or just one.  You can only fit two of Caissie/Mo/Alcantara on the roster at once without injury

2. Does the team plan to add a 3B in front of or behind Shaw?  The team needs a backup at 2B/3B/SS, but if you add a starter at 3B it frees up Shaw to be that guy himself

[thawv]

18 hours ago, chibears55 said:

I still expect to see this lineup on OD...

Kelly/Amaya 

Busch

Hoerner 

Swanson 

Shaw

Happ

PCA

Caissie 

Suzuki/Ballesteros 

You and every Cub fan expects this. 

Edited December 31, 2025 by thawv

[chibears55]

27 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I don’t think we will see both Mo and. Cassie on the team so I doubt both will play and Suzuki sits. If healthy Seiya will play 150+ games. If Mo beats out Cassie Seiya will play right. If Cassie beats out Mo, Mo will catch at AAA, and Cassie will start in right over Seiya, who will DH. Bench of Austin, back up catcher, maybe Alcantara and a utility infielder. Maybe Kingery. This is, of course, if they don’t add a bat. 

I dont know, i think Mo will definitely be up on OD, maybe Caissie could get a month in Iowa if they feel like holding him back.

I just dont see how they can just hold him down if hes hitting well.

[chibears55]

7 minutes ago, thawv said:

You and ever Cub fan expects this. 

Yea but I think alot of fans are still expecting or hoping for that bat, I never thought they would add a bat, my expectation was solely on pitching for this offseason..

I still feel like OD payroll will be under 225

[Rcal10]

30 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I dont know, i think Mo will definitely be up on OD, maybe Caissie could get a month in Iowa if they feel like holding him back.

I just dont see how they can just hold him down if hes hitting well.

I do think Mo can hit. But the Cubs could make a solid argument that keeping him in Iowa to work on strictly catching makes a lot of sense. If Mo makes the major league roster and stays up, IMO, that means they do not really believe he can catch. There is also a possibility one of him or Cassie is traded. I don’t see them both being on the team short of an injury replacement, or as Bertz said, Seiya is considered the back up centerfielder. Which is not an idea I like.

[chibears55]

29 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I do think Mo can hit. But the Cubs could make a solid argument that keeping him in Iowa to work on strictly catching makes a lot of sense. If Mo makes the major league roster and stays up, IMO, that means they do not really believe he can catch. There is also a possibility one of him or Cassie is traded. I don’t see them both being on the team short of an injury replacement, or as Bertz said, Seiya is considered the back up centerfielder. Which is not an idea I like.

Yea, and putting nothing pass Hoyer, he could also be thinking about moving Suzuki and or Happ in July depending on how the team is playing.

Ballesteros if he not able to catch at least in a backup role would be ideal to trade now to get a SP, at least with Caissie we know hes going to replace either Happ or Suzuki as an everyday guy no later then OD 2027.

[Neuby]

I can't see the Cubs breaking camp with Alacantra/Cassie/Mo. One of them has to continue to build value and get reps in Iowa.

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Yea, and putting nothing pass Hoyer, he could also be thinking about moving Suzuki and or Happ in July depending on how the team is playing.

Ballesteros if he not able to catch at least in a backup role would be ideal to trade now to get a SP, at least with Caissie we know hes going to replace either Happ or Suzuki as an everyday guy no later then OD 2027.

I don’t know for certain, but I would bet just about anything Jed isn’t thinking for even one minute about trading Happ or Suzuki in July.  I would think the further thing from his mind is ”how do I dump at the TDL”? 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Neuby said:

I can't see the Cubs breaking camp with Alacantra/Cassie/Mo. One of them has to continue to build value and get reps in Iowa.

I agree. And I think Alcantara fills their biggest need. Someone who can play all spots in the outfield. 

[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I do think Mo can hit. But the Cubs could make a solid argument that keeping him in Iowa to work on strictly catching makes a lot of sense. If Mo makes the major league roster and stays up, IMO, that means they do not really believe he can catch. There is also a possibility one of him or Cassie is traded. I don’t see them both being on the team short of an injury replacement, or as Bertz said, Seiya is considered the back up centerfielder. Which is not an idea I like.

I like Mo and I agree he can hit, but he seems to be destined to be a DH.  I think he would make a great addition to a trade package to get a SP.  Using BTV, Ballesteros @22, Wicks @ 8.3, Brown @ 12.4, etc. certainly puts you in or near Cabrera @ 27.6 or Ryan @ 52.5 territory. 

[Rcal10]

50 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I like Mo and I agree he can hit, but he seems to be destined to be a DH.  I think he would make a great addition to a trade package to get a SP.  Using BTV, Ballesteros @22, Wicks @ 8.3, Brown @ 12.4, etc. certainly puts you in or near Cabrera @ 27.6 or Ryan @ 52.5 territory. 

I would be fine with Mo or Cassie traded for Cabrera. Add one of Wicks, Brown or Assad. 

[BigbadB]

10 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I would be fine with Mo or Cassie traded for Cabrera. Add one of Wicks, Brown or Assad. 

This is probably the most likely scenario. Alcantara and either one of those guys would be a decent enough option to DH/RF. 

One of Mo or Caissie won't be here in 2026, unless they work a trade for a starter that can keep one of them in AAA. But who is traded for pitching if Shaw doesn't go anywhere? Have to assume one of those two guys will be the key element in bringing in a SP.

Games against lefties will be Austin and Alcantara getting at bats. Alcantara's ability to play CF makes him the perfect 4th OF this year.

[Geographyhater8888]

14 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree. And I think Alcantara fills their biggest need. Someone who can play all spots in the outfield. 

Can Alcantara hit though? Cubs still need a right handed bat. Nothing wrong with a fourth outfielder like Almora but I haven’t seen anything to indicate he’s our future starting corner outfielder. 

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Can Alcantara hit though? Cubs still need a right handed bat. Nothing wrong with a fourth outfielder like Almora but I haven’t seen anything to indicate he’s our future starting corner outfielder. 

I agree, but that’s another discussion. For 2026 it makes more sense for the Cubs to carry one of Cassie or Mo, and then Alcantara as a a 4th outfielder. Once 2027 comes around maybe Cassie does take one of the outfield spots and they sign or trade for another outfielder.

[ILMindState]

@Jason Ross do you have any theories on why Gallen fell off so badly last year? Looks like his velocity stayed the same. Is it a mechanical issue?

[Bertz]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

@Jason Ross do you have any theories on why Gallen fell off so badly last year? Looks like his velocity stayed the same. Is it a mechanical issue?

Matt Trueblood wrote it up and theorized it's fastball movement

This was more or less Taillon’s issue his first half season here IIRC

 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Bertz said:

Matt Trueblood wrote it up and theorized it's fastball movement

This was more or less Taillon’s issue his first half season here IIRC

 

Bingo. His fastball shape has taken some gut punches recently. Arizona isn't known as a great organization when it comes to pitching, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him regain most of what he was with an organization who is much better in that aspect. 

He's not on the top of my list at all, but I also can see the arguments for why the Cubs would like him.

[Rob]

19 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Bingo. His fastball shape has taken some gut punches recently. Arizona isn't known as a great organization when it comes to pitching, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him regain most of what he was with an organization who is much better in that aspect. 

He's not on the top of my list at all, but I also can see the arguments for why the Cubs would like him.

Yeah, as someone a little low on Imai and high on Gallen (at least compared to the rest of the board), I don't think I see the difference between them as being worth an extra $100M over an additional 4 years.

To the budget-conscious Cubs, I can definitely understand the Gallen flirtation. I'm still short of endorsing it, though. [That would depend on specific contract terms]