Cubs, Giants Discussing Nico Hoerner Trade

[Rcal10]

24 minutes ago, Cubs420psd said:

I dont want to trade Nico but if you can get someone like Early? That would be tough to turn down.

I’m with you. I don’t want to trade him either. However, if the Mariners get involved they have a lot of interesting prospects. 

[Tryptamine]

I love watching other fan bases talking about Nico and they're like, I guess Nico would be ok. The guy is just criminally underappreciated. 

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I love watching other fan bases talking about Nico and they're like, I guess Nico would be ok. The guy is just criminally underappreciated. 

It's not just the other fan bases. Search Nico's name in the articles written about him on this site. 

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I love watching other fan bases talking about Nico and they're like, I guess Nico would be ok. The guy is just criminally underappreciated. 

Yep. if Nico is traded it will be a trade neither fan base likes. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

It's not just the other fan bases. Search Nico's name in the articles written about him on this site. 

I am fine with everyone selling him short. That would mean then Cubs don’t get overwhelmed 

[macarthur31]

 

Uhh... I don't know if I should feel good about this.  

 

[Bertz]

Everything's fine

[NorthsideAvenger]

I rather trade Shaw.

[Rcal10]

21 minutes ago, macarthur31 said:

 

Uhh... I don't know if I should feel good about this.  

 

Not crazy about the messenger but I am fine with the message. Hope it is true. Trade Shaw for a young pitcher who can be in the rotation in ‘27. Just pick up a utility guy for the bench(Castro). Maybe even extend Nico. If Wiggins, Horton, Cabrera and whoever they get for Shaw are in the rotation next year, with Steele, you might have a 5 man rotation for under $25M. You can afford Nico as well as another FA bat and probably a pitcher. 

[JunkyardWalrus]

2 hours ago, DrCub said:

I hate even saying such a cheesy thing, but dude just looks like a horse feathering gamer. 

He looks like my old meatball of an Assistant GM. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

He looks like a super fan

[Hot Sauce]

4 hours ago, macarthur31 said:

 

Uhh... I don't know if I should feel good about this.  

 

None of this is groundbreaking news. Bregman pushed Shaw to the bench and the Cubs don’t feel compelled to make a trade. That’s the right call, IMO. There are enough ABs to go around and the Cubs are a stronger team with all 3. 

[javy knows my name]

4 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

He looks like a super fan

He looks like my cousin

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I love watching other fan bases talking about Nico and they're like, I guess Nico would be ok. The guy is just criminally underappreciated. 

If Nico played SS last year he probably would have hit 5 fWAR due to the extra points given for the positional adjustment.

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, macarthur31 said:

 

Uhh... I don't know if I should feel good about this.  

 

I always thought Nico would make a great supersub.  Great athlete who could play any position besides catcher.  Won't happen next year though.

I'm glad Shaw can give Nico/Swanson the occasional day off and probably DH vs tough lefties.  Makes the bench deeper and saves us a bit of cash. I think we dropped about 3m on Berti last year then traded for Castro.

We saved about 5m over Turner by going with Austin.  That's about 7m saved (8 minus Shaw's salary) that can go towards Bregman (plus going thrifty in the pen rather than getting an established FA closer). I've been wanting Jed to save on the fringe 1 WAR guys for years and put it towards actual talent.  He's had a good offseason.

[Geographyhater8888]

11 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I’m with you. I don’t want to trade him either. However, if the Mariners get involved they have a lot of interesting prospects. 

If they trade Nico it better be lopsided in favor of the Cubs. Nothing close enough to a straight value swap. 

Edited January 15 by Geographyhater8888

[Bull]

This whole conversation is silly.

(from the video) Of course Nico is staying put. How is this a question. 

There's no reason to trade Nico. There's no reason Shaw has to have a "great spring" to make the team (per the video embedded above). There's no way Shaw is demoted  for "much of the year".  This is ridiculous. Somebody pull up the "too many middle infielders" conversation from Barney, Castro, Baez, Russel, Torres-on-his-way days.

These things work themselves out. There are injuries. Look at the 2016 fielding stats between Zobrist and Baez.

This is just so silly. Baez had 450 PA's, Zobrist had 523 (mostly at second base). Javy played 5 positions, Zobrist played 5 positions.

One of them will play some CF. Nico will play some SS to rest Dansby. Against lefties Bregman may DH some. He'll also have to rest. Someone will sprain a muscle, or worse. 

 

Why are we (I'm not talking about the thread as much as I am the sportswriters) having this conversation?

Edited January 15 by Bull

[Geographyhater8888]

25 minutes ago, Bull said:

This whole conversation is silly.

(from the video) Of course Nico is staying put. How is this a question. 

There's no reason to trade Nico. There's no reason Shaw has to have a "great spring" to make the team (per the video embedded above). There's no way Shaw is demoted  for "much of the year".  This is ridiculous. Somebody pull up the "too many middle infielders" conversation from Barney, Castro, Baez, Russel, Torres-on-his-way days.

These things work themselves out. There are injuries. Look at the 2016 fielding stats between Zobrist and Baez.

This is just so silly. Baez had 450 PA's, Zobrist had 523 (mostly at second base). Javy played 5 positions, Zobrist played 5 positions.

One of them will play some CF. Nico will play some SS to rest Dansby. Against lefties Bregman may DH some. He'll also have to rest. Someone will sprain a muscle, or worse. 

 

Why are we (I'm not talking about the thread as much as I am the sportswriters) having this conversation?

Because Zobrist and Bryant were both versatile and split time in left field. None of our 4 infielders have experience in the outfield that I know of. Luckily with the universal DH there’s room for all 4. 
 

Either way I agree. Why make the team worse with Suzuki/Happ/Nico/Tailon etc off the books next year when you can cash in on their last year together. Cubs don’t need to stockpile minor leaguers with a top 10 payroll. 

Edited January 15 by Geographyhater8888

[CubUgly]

7 hours ago, Stratos said:

I always thought Nico would make a great supersub.  Great athlete who could play any position besides catcher.  Won't happen next year though.

I'm glad Shaw can give Nico/Swanson the occasional day off and probably DH vs tough lefties.  Makes the bench deeper and saves us a bit of cash. I think we dropped about 3m on Berti last year then traded for Castro.

We saved about 5m over Turner by going with Austin.  That's about 7m saved (8 minus Shaw's salary) that can go towards Bregman (plus going thrifty in the pen rather than getting an established FA closer). I've been wanting Jed to save on the fringe 1 WAR guys for years and put it towards actual talent.  He's had a good offseason.

Agreed, I think Shaw as a super utility guy potentially strengthens our bench significantly from last year and has some real value.  I'd love to get a fourth outfielder, but it seems maybe they are going give Alcantara the runway to sink or swim?

[CubinNY]

15 hours ago, DrCub said:

I hate even saying such a cheesy thing, but dude just looks like a horse feathering gamer. 

He looks like a  plumber who ends up horsefeathers the housewife in a 1970s porn movie. 

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, Bull said:

This whole conversation is silly.

(from the video) Of course Nico is staying put. How is this a question. 

There's no reason to trade Nico. There's no reason Shaw has to have a "great spring" to make the team (per the video embedded above). There's no way Shaw is demoted  for "much of the year".  This is ridiculous. Somebody pull up the "too many middle infielders" conversation from Barney, Castro, Baez, Russel, Torres-on-his-way days.

These things work themselves out. There are injuries. Look at the 2016 fielding stats between Zobrist and Baez.

This is just so silly. Baez had 450 PA's, Zobrist had 523 (mostly at second base). Javy played 5 positions, Zobrist played 5 positions.

One of them will play some CF. Nico will play some SS to rest Dansby. Against lefties Bregman may DH some. He'll also have to rest. Someone will sprain a muscle, or worse. 

 

Why are we (I'm not talking about the thread as much as I am the sportswriters) having this conversation?

To this point most offenses have at least 6000 PAs a year.  Good ones are usually closer to 6200.  That is 10 full time players plus a Justin Turner type.  especially given the pretty clean platoon pairings on this roster it's not hard to get everyone plenty of time.

[Rcal10]

30 minutes ago, Bertz said:

To this point most offenses have at least 6000 PAs a year.  Good ones are usually closer to 6200.  That is 10 full time players plus a Justin Turner type.  especially given the pretty clean platoon pairings on this roster it's not hard to get everyone plenty of time.

I am good with keeping both. As you said, there are enough AB for everyone. But if one was traded I would hope it is Shaw and for a young starting pitcher with his potential. One that could go into the rotation in ‘27. But then they would need to get a good utility bat to replace him this year. That is where I am unsure how it plays out. I like having Shaw as utility. Maybe sign Castro? 
I do like the idea of a cheaper rotation in ‘27 if that pitcher for Shaw is in the rotation along with Wiggins, Horton, Cabrera and Steele. You would 5 starters @ maybe $25M in payroll. That would give them a lot of money to add talent. 
If they could make a trade this year that doesn’t hurt the ‘26 teams chances and solves one spot for the ‘27 team, that would be what I am looking for. Since that is near impossible to do, just keep them both. 

[Bull]

3 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I am good with keeping both. As you said, there are enough AB for everyone. But if one was traded I would hope it is Shaw and for a young starting pitcher with his potential. One that could go into the rotation in ‘27. But then they would need to get a good utility bat to replace him this year. That is where I am unsure how it plays out. I like having Shaw as utility. Maybe sign Castro? 
I do like the idea of a cheaper rotation in ‘27 if that pitcher for Shaw is in the rotation along with Wiggins, Horton, Cabrera and Steele. You would 5 starters @ maybe $25M in payroll. That would give them a lot of money to add talent. 
If they could make a trade this year that doesn’t hurt the ‘26 teams chances and solves one spot for the ‘27 team, that would be what I am looking for. Since that is near impossible to do, just keep them both. 

I am astonished we are entertaining trading Shaw when his value may be at its lowest. I can't imagine Jed is, and have heard nothing to convince me that is the case. Its all clickbait.

 

To put a fine point on it, the title of this thread is a lie. The Giants and Cubs are not and never were "discussing" a Nico Hoerner trade. 

Edited January 15 by Bull

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Bull said:

I am astonished we are entertaining trading Shaw when his value may be at its lowest. I can't imagine Jed is, and have heard nothing to convince me that is the case. Its all clickbait.

Is it at his lowest? He's got 5 years of control, had a 99 wRC+ from May through the rest of the year, had one of the best wRC+'s of 3b throughout the 2nd half of the season. I think the only reason people think his value is "at his lowest" is because of an 8 game sample in the playoffs; and I suspect teams are not nearly as fickle as fans on that.

[Bull]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Is it at his lowest? He's got 5 years of control, had a 99 wRC+ from May through the rest of the year, had one of the best wRC+'s of 3b throughout the 2nd half of the season. I think the only reason people think his value is "at his lowest" is because of an 8 game sample in the playoffs; and I suspect teams are not nearly as fickle as fans on that.

Poorly worded on my part.

More that if another team sees him as "the odd man out" per Nightengale, teams would be trying to get a bargain on him.

And just to reinforce the idea that they are certainly not trying to trade him when he is a very big part of the picture this year and going forward. 

Edited January 15 by Bull