Screw Winter Doldrums! The Get a Big Bat and Call It an Offseason Thread

[Outshined_One]

That is all.

[Jason Ross]

One Bo Bichette, please!

[Jason Ross]

Looks like Bruce agrees.

[Jason Ross]

Rogers as well.

[Hortonhearsawho]

7 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Looks like Bruce agrees.

Does Jed agree though. 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Hortonhearsawho said:

Does Jed agree though. 

At least based on the recent scuttle, there does seem to be movement on the Cubs and the top-of-the-market bats. Trading for a cost-controlled SP seems to line up with that. 

We're still "wait until we see it" stage, but if you wanted one of those four hitters, this feels like how it'd happen. 

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

At least based on the recent scuttle, there does seem to be movement on the Cubs and the top-of-the-market bats. Trading for a cost-controlled SP seems to line up with that. 

We're still "wait until we see it" stage, but if you wanted one of those four hitters, this feels like how it'd happen. 

Yeah, it kind of always felt like this was the path to getting a top end guy in the rotation and on offense just based on what the budget allegedly is.  There isn't really a bat out there to be traded for who would fit the bill of what the team needs and I definitely wasn't expecting them to break the bank and get an FA for both.

[jersey cubs fan]

Outfield.free sounds like a Web 3.0 biz PTR would invest in 

[ILMindState]

Who do we think is the priority here?

Bichette

Bergman

Tucker 

Belli?

Suarez if you whiff on all 4?

[Outshined_One]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

Who do we think is the priority here?

Bichette

Bergman

Tucker 

Belli?

Suarez if you whiff on all 4?

Probably Bregman, given that the team had prior interest in him.

Although, I'm curious as to whether there are any bats in the trade market who might be worth a gander.  The Cubs still have ammo on the farm for another trade if they want to swing another deal.

[Post Count Padder]

Now my preference is Bichette to play 3B. Shaw can be the super sub to play all over the infield. I honestly like the idea of Alcantara being the 4th OF but it would be nice to have more depth.

Also the lineup in Iowa is bleak right now so I assume we will have some more depth signings soon.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, ILMindState said:

Who do we think is the priority here?

Bichette

Bergman

Tucker 

Belli?

Suarez if you whiff on all 4?

I would rank then

Bichette, Tucker, Bregman, Bellinger

……….Suarez far behind.

But tbh, I would be very happy with any of the top 4. If they added Bellinger, who I rank 4th on my list, I would be happy. Then Mo can catch all year in AAA. They should also be able to go over the LT to make any move, but if not trade Rea to get any other money they might need. They will still have work to do on the bench. It would be Alcantara, back up catcher and Austin. Need a utility guy. Maybe that is who comes for Rea? 

 

Edited January 7 by Rcal10

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Probably Bregman, given that the team had prior interest in him.

Although, I'm curious as to whether there are any bats in the trade market who might be worth a gander.  The Cubs still have ammo on the farm for another trade if they want to swing another deal.

I don’t want to deplete the farm any more. Sign a bat. There are 4 great options. 

Edited January 7 by Rcal10

[The_Achiever]

Nice job Jed.  Go get a real bat and this team could be very good.

[ILMindState]

5 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Probably Bregman, given that the team had prior interest in him.

Although, I'm curious as to whether there are any bats in the trade market who might be worth a gander.  The Cubs still have ammo on the farm for another trade if they want to swing another deal.

Is there a Michael Busch type prospect available? A highly regarded prospect with no options but blocked in the majors. 

[Hortonhearsawho]

7 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Although, I'm curious as to whether there are any bats in the trade market who might be worth a gander.  The Cubs still have ammo on the farm for another trade if they want to swing another deal.

I was wondering if they were going to trade Assad or Wicks or something for a bat. It would likely just be a role player type of bat but that would be serviceable. 

Edited January 7 by Hortonhearsawho

[Dfan25]

29 under the LT now , but with the money they keep for in season it’s more like 19 or so . To get a Bichette , they will need to move salary ( Taillon ) ?  

[Bertz]

14 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

29 under the LT now , but with the money they keep for in season it’s more like 19 or so . To get a Bichette , they will need to move salary ( Taillon ) ?  

I would not be surprised if they go basically right to the line, maybe even a smidge over.  Basically the idea being if the team is in it Tom will be okay stretching things a bit, and if they're not between all the expiring contracts it will be very easy to dip under at the deadline.

Alternatively, I would guess Rea is very movable.  Maybe you wait until spring training for some team to have a pitcher injury crisis?  But that contract is not bad and by holding onto all three of Assad/Brown/Wicks and having Steele/Wiggins coming mid season he's about as expendable as pitching depth can ever reasonably be.

[NorthsideAvenger]

36 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Now my preference is Bichette to play 3B. Shaw can be the super sub to play all over the infield. I honestly like the idea of Alcantara being the 4th OF but it would be nice to have more depth.

Also the lineup in Iowa is bleak right now so I assume we will have some more depth signings soon.

I also go with Bichette over Bregman, because of age. 

[Tryptamine]

31 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

Is there a Michael Busch type prospect available? A highly regarded prospect with no options but blocked in the majors. 

Coby Mayo

[Hot Sauce]

Would be nice if we could start getting some smoke on Bichette soon. 

[Tryptamine]

Yup, now that the deal seems to be official, Jed can get down to the nitty gritty on all the numbers. Please for the love of god Jed don't get me all excited about 2026 and then not finish it with a premier bat.

[Rcal10]

41 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I would not be surprised if they go basically right to the line, maybe even a smidge over.  Basically the idea being if the team is in it Tom will be okay stretching things a bit, and if they're not between all the expiring contracts it will be very easy to dip under at the deadline.

Alternatively, I would guess Rea is very movable.  Maybe you wait until spring training for some team to have a pitcher injury crisis?  But that contract is not bad and by holding onto all three of Assad/Brown/Wicks and having Steele/Wiggins coming mid season he's about as expendable as pitching depth can ever reasonably be.

Right. If they have $29M to spend before the LT line, maybe trade Rea and sign either Bregman, Bichette or Bellinger for $27M to $29M a year. Gives them $6M for deadline moves. And if they had to add at the deadline, if they happen to have Steele back they would have 6 starters. If they added someone of higher end salary at the deadline, they can trade Tailon to get back under. Or they can just act bigger market and be a little over the LT. Who cares???? Just go under the following year, which shouldn’t be a problem. Cabrera was a great start. Now they need the final move…..

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Yup, now that the deal seems to be official, Jed can get down to the nitty gritty on all the numbers. Please for the love of god Jed don't get me all excited about 2026 and then not finish it with a premier bat.

Exactly. 

[Jason Ross]

Per Cerami: According to one source, Cubs do have legitimate interest in bringing back Bellinger.