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

[Geographyhater8888]

18 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

I think he's been with some bad pitching orgs (Arizona, notably and the Orioles aren't stars here either), but also think if I was handicapping "who's the next Brad Keller" that Martin is next to Snider for that. He saw a big 2mph velo bump last year, and his curveball is nasty, with a 127 Stuff+ rating. It feels like if you can dial him in a bit, there's an MLB reliever in there. 

The ERA sucked last year, but the K% was way up, too and the xFIP was under 4.00. I wouldn't bet on him being Keller-good, but he's got a lot of signs of "the Cubs could get the most of him" too. 

That sounds a lot like Ben brown.

Edited January 13 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

20 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

I think you can add Suzuki to the two with potential to be unproductive. We’ve seen some dramatic hot and cold stretches with him.

Suzuki will end the season with around a 130 wRC+ where he always is. 

Edited January 13 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Suzuki will end the season with around a 130 wRC+ where he always is. The combined production from the catcher position and possibly PCAs offensive efficiency is where I bet we’ll see the most regression IMO. That and of course the void left by Tucker.

I agree. But if you replace Tucker and Shaw for Mo and Bregman I’m not so sure that’s a regression. I think Mo will put up better offensive numbers than Shaw did in ‘25. And Bregman will come close to Tucker’s numbers. On paper I think this is a better team than the ‘25 team. They added Cabrera, have Shaw off the bench and rebuilt their pen. Plus they have Steele coming back and a full year of Horton, and hopefully, Amaya

[BigbadB]

7 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I think Gallen is better. 

We know. You've only mentioned this about 15 times in this thread in the last week. 

 

 

 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

We know. You've only mentioned this about 15 times in this thread in the last week. 

 

 

 

Apparently MK didn’t read my comments 15 times. Because he asked directly if I thought Gallen would pitch better than Tailon this year. So I answered him.

[BigbadB]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

Apparently MK didn’t read my comments 15 times. Because he asked directly if I thought Gallen would pitch better than Tailon this year. So I answered him.

Sorry. I was trying to add to my previous comment and it posted before I could edit it. I meant to add that the likelihood of adding Gallen is practically nil, so I'm not sure why it's even being discussed. 

Taillon is in his contract year, so let's just hope we get contract year production and see where we are at the trade deadline.

[Geographyhater8888]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree. But if you replace Tucker and Shaw for Mo and Bregman I’m not so sure that’s a regression. I think Mo will put up better offensive numbers than Shaw did in ‘25. And Bregman will come close to Tucker’s numbers. On paper I think this is a better team than the ‘25 team. They added Cabrera, have Shaw off the bench and rebuilt their pen. Plus they have Steele coming back and a full year of Horton, and hopefully, Amaya

That’s true, assuming Bellestaros mashes. The 4.2 fWAR and 110 wRC+ from the catcher position is likely a blimp though. I’m not sure which PCA will show up either. I hope the second half slump was stabilizing to the mean rather than a trend. To a much lesser degree of course.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

Sorry. I was trying to add to my previous comment and it posted before I could edit it. I meant to add that the likelihood of adding Gallen is practically nil, so I'm not sure why it's even being discussed. 

Taillon is in his contract year, so let's just hope we get contract year production and see where we are at the trade deadline.

I know it isn’t likely. I think the team is basically set. I also think the Cubs like Tailon more than for just being a MOR starter. They seem to really value culture guys. And from all I have ever heard about Tailon he is that sort of guy. I think a big part of going after Bregman as a top target is his leadership. Most likely, unless they do something stupid like trade Nico, this is the team. If Alcantara can be sent down maybe they add a veteran outfielder. But that is about it until the TDL. 

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

That’s true, assuming Bellestaros mashes. The 4.2 fWAR and 110 wRC+ from the catcher position is likely a blimp though. I’m not sure which PCA will show up either. I hope the second half slump was stabilizing to the mean rather than a trend. To a much lesser degree of course.

I can easily see Mo as a 115 wRC+ kind of bat. And while I agree with you on the catchers regression, I think PCA can hold his offense similar to his end numbers. And hopefully more consistent. Maybe a few less homers but a few more steals and less K’s. And I think we haven’t seen the best of Busch yet. Which is exciting. I think the offense will be good overall. 

[Geographyhater8888]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I can easily see Mo as a 115 wRC+ kind of bat. And while I agree with you on the catchers regression, I think PCA can hold his offense similar to his end numbers. And hopefully more consistent. Maybe a few less homers but a few more steals and less K’s. And I think we haven’t seen the best of Busch yet. Which is exciting. I think the offense will be good overall. 

Busch’s offensive per PA efficiency will go down entirely because Miles Mikolas is no longer in the division I’m afraid.

Edited January 13 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

11 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Busch’s offensive per PA efficiency will go down entirely because Miles Mikolas is no longer in the division I’m afraid.

😅

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Busch’s offensive per PA efficiency will go down entirely because Miles Mikolas is no longer in the division I’m afraid.

First: 😂

Second: I knew Busch owned Mikolas but I wanted to see how well Busch did against the Cardinals in general and holy smokes. Busch really did killed the Cardinals last year to a tune of .438/.481/1.146/1.627.

 

[Geographyhater8888]

1 hour ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

First: 😂

Second: I knew Busch owned Mikolas but I wanted to see how well Busch did against the Cardinals in general and holy smokes. Busch really did killed the Cardinals last year to a tune of .438/.481/1.146/1.627.

 

1.7 of his 3.5 fWAR came against St. Louis in only 12 games including 1.6 in 6 games at Wrigley.

Edited January 13 by Geographyhater8888

[mk49]

3 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Apparently MK didn’t read my comments 15 times. Because he asked directly if I thought Gallen would pitch better than Tailon this year. So I answered him.

Thank you for answering me.

[mk49]

3 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree. But if you replace Tucker and Shaw for Mo and Bregman I’m not so sure that’s a regression. I think Mo will put up better offensive numbers than Shaw did in ‘25. And Bregman will come close to Tucker’s numbers. On paper I think this is a better team than the ‘25 team. They added Cabrera, have Shaw off the bench and rebuilt their pen. Plus they have Steele coming back and a full year of Horton, and hopefully, Amaya

I agree with all of what you said + I'm hoping Shota and Hodge will bounce back.

If everyone is relatively healthy, we should have a better team.

[KCCub]

Hopefully they are just trying to drive the price down from the Cardinals by showing “Hey, we’ll shift to Hoerner instead”. But if Passan is posting this, I’m guessing there has been a little more serious talks for Hoerner than we thought vs just kicking the tires.

Edited January 13 by KCCub

[Tryptamine]

I mean, if the Giants want to absolutely blow me away and offer Bryce Eldridge, then I'm intrigued outside of that, pass.

[Cuzi]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I mean, if the Giants want to absolutely blow me away and offer Bryce Eldridge, then I'm intrigued outside of that, pass.

I dont think Bryce Eldridge overwhelms a team that just traded Owen Caissie.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/mets-reportedly-in-three-year-120-140mm-range-in-kyle-tucker-talks.html

Mets offer to Tucker is reportedly 3 years/120-140. I wonder if he's really considering a deal like that.

[Rcal10]

I still think this is more hype than reality. At least with the Giants. It just makes sense for the Cubs and Giants to let out info they are talking. Giants want Donovan but at a lower cost. Cubs would be happy to help them accomplish that in a trade with the Cardinals. As for other teams, maybe there is something there. But I would guess if there is, it  will be after a Donovan trade to the giant shakes out. It just helps the Cubs if the Cardinals think the a giants might go elsewhere. 

[Cuzi]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I still think this is more hype than reality. At least with the Giants. It just makes sense for the Cubs and Giants to let out info they are talking. Giants want Donovan but at a lower cost. Cubs would be happy to help them accomplish that in a trade with the Cardinals. As for other teams, maybe there is something there. But I would guess if there is, it  will be after a Donovan trade to the giant shakes out. It just helps the Cubs if the Cardinals think the a giants might go elsewhere. 

Donovan is just a solid, consistent player. He's nothing to be scared about. And the Cardinals have traded everything around him besides Masyn Winn. I would rather they waste the last 2 years of Donovan rather than get something for him when they are tanking.

Edited January 13 by Cuzi

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

Donovan is just a solid, consistent player. He's nothing to be scared about. And the Cardinals have traded everything around him besides Masyn Winn. I would rather they waste the last 2 years of Donovan rather than get something for him when they are tanking.

I’m not worried about Donovan. I not even too worried about the Cardinals getting too much for him. But maybe if they think the Giants will switch to Hoerner they lower their ask. It doesn’t hurt the Cubs to allow a story that they are talking to the Giants about Hoerner, be out there. I don’t think they trade him to the Giants, however. 

[CubUgly]

On 1/11/2026 at 9:16 AM, Neuby said:

Looks like the deferrals put them right at the tax line.  Was hoping they already pushed past it and no looking back. Still a lot of depth options available better than Scott Kingery talent wise.

 

 

 

I'd like a 4th outfielder - I'm not sure Alcantra is ready and when he might ever be?  Tauchman??

[Tryptamine]

So Seranthony Dominguez is still out there. He was projected to get 2/15 but that's looking pretty unlikely at this point. I'd absolutely love to add him to the pen if they can get him on like a 1/7 deal with a club option for another 7M in '27 but with a 500k buyout. 

[Neuby]

If Tucker is really looking at a three year deal scenario with  Mets, wouldn't he surely prefer playing in Chicago with old friend Alex Bregman?