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

[Rcal10]

So when do we think Valdez and Gallen will make a decision? Pitcher and catchers reporting soon. I think the only thing that will change the Cubs roster is getting Gallen. Otherwise I think this is it. 

[Dfan25]

Suárez to Reds 1/15 with mutual option at 16 . Not thrilled to have him in the division with the amount of damage he does againts the Cubs . Boston has to get Paredes now , I would think 

[Bertz]

I really didn't want Suarez but that's a nifty deal for Cincy.  

[Rcal10]

Just now, Bertz said:

I really didn't want Suarez but that's a nifty deal for Cincy.  

He is going to hit a lot of homers next year. Good ballpark for him. But I didn’t want him either. 

[Neuby]

Damn at at 1 year 15M. I wouldn't have minded Mo starting the year at Iowa getting reps behind the plate. 

[CubUgly]

14 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

He is going to hit a lot of homers next year. Good ballpark for him. But I didn’t want him either. 

100%.  He was flat out bad for Seattle after the trade.  And he is a below average defender.  But he's a Cub killer and we have to face him 13 times - so he'll probably strike out 20 times but hit 7 homers against us. 

[PackLandVA]

Just 7?

That'd be a win.

~

Edited February 2 by PackLandVA

[KCCub]

Another 2b off the board for the Red Sox

 

 

[Bertz]

Jed & Dana Brown texting Breslow roght now

[Tryptamine]

11 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Another 2b off the board for the Red Sox

 

 

Card fans were expecting a huge return of like Montes + Cijntje, I guess we'll see if they get it. If they managed to get any of Sloan, Anderson or Emerson, it was a huge win.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, KCCub said:

Another 2b off the board for the Red Sox

 

 

Cardinals going into tank mode, Cubs have zero excuse to not win the Division, Brewers be damn...

[CubUgly]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Cardinals going into tank mode, Cubs have zero excuse to not win the Division, Brewers be damn...

Attendance gonna drop significantly again this year.  Best fans in baseball leaving - and their fan base was already pretty old, don't think they are all coming back.  A shame isn't it?

[Thusly Boned]

17 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Cardinals going into tank mode, Cubs have zero excuse to not win the Division, Brewers be damn...

Cards weren't going to be factor in the playoff race even before this offseason's sell off, but they might be looking at 100+ losses in 2026

They should have done this last offseason

[Dfan25]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Card fans were expecting a huge return of like Montes + Cijntje, I guess we'll see if they get it. If they managed to get any of Sloan, Anderson or Emerson, it was a huge win.

A lot of chatter about Cijntje and Peete going to St Louis . Nothing confirmed by  any of the national reporters yet .

[KCCub]

Seems like this is the full trade -

 

[Tryptamine]

My first thought was the package was underwhelming, but the more I look at it, I don't mind it. It's certainly not a homerun, but it's not terrible.

[Hortonhearsawho]

was there any top 100 people in the trade?

[KCCub]

Ended up being two Comp B picks according to Passan -

 

21 minutes ago, Hortonhearsawho said:

was there any top 100 people in the trade?

Cijntje is #91 on pipeline. 2024 15th overall pick. 

[Post Count Padder]

A low end top 100 prospect and two interesting OF prospects. And the comp picks. Maybe a little underwhelming but not a terrible return. An interesting wrinkle was the Mariners intending on Williamson being their 3B this year and used him in the deal. 

Also I liked Peete and Cijntje so I'm a little annoyed they went to STL. Feels like now Cijntje will pan out and Peete will be a pesky player against us for a few years. 

[Geographyhater8888]

Cardinals have finally ditched modeling themselves after the Steelers of MLB for good. Reds are going to be an even bigger pain in the ass this year than usual.

Edited February 3 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

What is the best case scenario for Edward Cabrera? Jed traded for his upside and ability to miss bats. Are we thinking 150+ innings and a 3+ fWAR?

[CubUgly]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

What is the best case scenario for Edward Cabrera? Jed traded for his upside and ability to miss bats. Are we thinking 150+ innings and a 3+ fWAR?

Hard to count on him pitching for 150+, but then again - last year I would have bet the Farm that Boyd would not have pitched over 100 innings. 

[Geographyhater8888]

23 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

Hard to count on him pitching for 150+, but then again - last year I would have bet the Farm that Boyd would not have pitched over 100 innings. 

Best case scenario. Not necessarily what we expect out of him. Does he have a career as an elite pen arm if his elbow is a problem? 6 man rotation or not.

Edited February 3 by Geographyhater8888

[Jason Ross]

2 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

What is the best case scenario for Edward Cabrera? Jed traded for his upside and ability to miss bats. Are we thinking 150+ innings and a 3+ fWAR?

Best case? This is a guy who can run his changeup to 94mph. Not his fastball, his *changeup*. The best case scenario here is "sky is the limit". That will require many things coming together; the 2025 control, pitch mix tweaks and health, but if it does, that's your perfect storm. 

Likely it will be below that. I think a realistic hope is 130-140 IP where he looks like a top-25 (or so) SP in that sample. 

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, Post Count Padder said:

A low end top 100 prospect and two interesting OF prospects. And the comp picks. Maybe a little underwhelming but not a terrible return. An interesting wrinkle was the Mariners intending on Williamson being their 3B this year and used him in the deal. 

Also I liked Peete and Cijntje so I'm a little annoyed they went to STL. Feels like now Cijntje will pan out and Peete will be a pesky player against us for a few years. 

I think this is a good haul by the Cardinals. Back end top 100 pick, 2 comp picks and 2 other prospects for Donovan. Seattle traded their starting 3rd baseman as well. So if we just look at what Seattle lost to make this deal it is a top 100 prospect, a starting 3rd baseman, another interesting prospect and a comp pick. If that’s the price for Donovan, with only 2 years of control left, if I am the Cubs I am holding out for Early and Abreu from the Red Sox. Ballasteros can stay at Iowa learning how to catch and Abreu can play right with Seiya as DH. And you have Early for next year. If the Cubs have to they can add a not highly rather minor leaguer to the deal. Maybe a guy years away, if ever. And no problem if the Red Sox say no. Keep Shaw.