Pitchers and catchers are reporting? It's the Spring Training Thread!

Stratos · February 13

5 hours ago, ToolDRT said:

I think it was always a pipe dream. The fit doesn’t makes sense in that he almost certainly wants an opt out next year.

Gallen has a QO attached. Could he even get a 1/22m deal at this point? Or at any point? He probably should have just taken the QO because he likely wants that 1-year opt-out anyways. Besides Shota he's the weakest of the FA SP this year who had a QO. He or his agent effed up.

If he wants any kind of longterm deal he might have to accept a contract similar or worse than what Taillon got, who didn't have a QO attached. Would Cubs even be in on that? Bregman didn't have a QO so it's a big cost for Gallen with the QO.

Rcal10 · February 13

11 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

There's not one bat left in FA I'd put as an odds on favorite to put up a higher wRC+ than Mo this year.

At this point I think with Mo it is about where he will get better at catcher than it is finding a guy who will be “odds on” better than him. A guy like Tauchman makes some sense, IMO. They would have their regular 8 guys then a bench if the back up catcher, Shaw, Austin, Tauchman and whoever comes out of the battle for the last spot (Carlson, Chas, or Alcantara). Maybe even a surprise guy. Taichman might not outhit Mo, but he could play right instead of Seiya. So that helps them defensively. So if he hits a bit, even similar to last year, he would help them. And if they think Mo learns more about catching at Iowa, it helps Mo in the future. I think they are done, but I wouldn’t mind Tauchman.

Rcal10 · February 13

7 hours ago, Stratos said:

Gallen has a QO attached. Could he even get a 1/22m deal at this point? Or at any point? He probably should have just taken the QO because he likely wants that 1-year opt-out anyways. Besides Shota he's the weakest of the FA SP this year who had a QO. He or his agent effed up.

If he wants any kind of longterm deal he might have to accept a contract similar or worse than what Taillon got, who didn't have a QO attached. Would Cubs even be in on that? Bregman didn't have a QO so it's a big cost for Gallen with the QO.

I could see the Cubs doing something in the neighborhood or 3/$63M. But the sticking point is the first year opt out. I doubt they do that. Maybe opt out after 2 years. Maybe a 3rd year for $21M or a $4M opt out. That would guarantee Gallen 2/$46M. He might take that.

Geographyhater8888 · February 13

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

At this point I think with Mo it is about where he will get better at catcher than it is finding a guy who will be “odds on” better than him. A guy like Tauchman makes some sense, IMO. They would have their regular 8 guys then a bench if the back up catcher, Shaw, Austin, Tauchman and whoever comes out of the battle for the last spot (Carlson, Chas, or Alcantara). Maybe even a surprise guy. Taichman might not outhit Mo, but he could play right instead of Seiya. So that helps them defensively. So if he hits a bit, even similar to last year, he would help them. And if they think Mo learns more about catching at Iowa, it helps Mo in the future. I think they are done, but I wouldn’t mind Tauchman.

Alcantara needs more opportunities to audition himself as part of the teams future. Tauchman will stall his development. Why has he gone this long without signing?

Rcal10 · February 13

6 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Alcantara needs more opportunities to audition himself as part of the teams future. Tauchman will stall his development. Why has he gone this long without signing?

If Alcantara beats out McCormick and Carlson, Tauchman isn’t hindering Alcantara at all. Right now the team seems to be leaning in to Mo as the DH. Or at least it appears they want a left handed bat. So if they got Tauchman he would be taking MO’s spot. He would be that left handed bat instead of Mo.

Geographyhater8888 · February 13

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Alcantara beats out McCormick and Carlson, Tauchman isn’t hindering Alcantara at all. Right now the team seems to be leaning in to Mo as the DH. Or at least it appears they want a left handed bat. So if they got Tauchman he would be taking MO’s spot. He would be that left handed bat instead of Mo.

He’ll probably be catching during spring trading too. You can still give Bellestaros scheduled days behind the plate for a pitcher of choice. Preferably a lefty. I just don’t see any big advantage in signing Tauchman.

Rcal10 · February 13

5 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

He’ll probably be catching during spring trading too. You can still give Bellestaros scheduled days behind the plate for a pitcher of choice. Preferably a lefty. I just don’t see any big advantage in signing Tauchman.

If Mo can learn as much in the majors as in the minors.catching everyday, I agree with you. Only advantage Tauchman, or any left handed bat they add, would be allowing Mo to catch at Iowa. They are not bringing in some guy who will clearly outhit Mo, IMO. A lefty bat would only be so Mo can learn by catching everyday. And maybe he can learn as much on the major league roster. 🤷

Radar3454 · February 13

I think they see Mo as a DH primarily that can play 1st or catch in a pinch. More time at Iowa isn't changing that.

Bertz · February 13

The outfield's a little tricky. There's not really room for another lefty at the moment unless you decide to send Mo to Iowa. On the flip side we have essentially zero LHH outfield depth. Dylan Carlson is a switch hitter but much better against lefties, and then...Brett Bateman? And even the righties all have their question marks.

On the pitching staff you handle this by adding another veteran like Tauchman, pushing Mo down to Iowa and telling him to hang tight knowing that attrition will work it all out in short order. On the position player side though? There's no guarantee of that injury, Happ/PCA/Seiya combined to miss less than 30 games last year.

Ideally we can get someone of substance on a minor league deal. Max Kepler or Michael Conforto? I suspect those guys can do better though, and we'll just have to live with the idea that if god forbid something happens to Happ or PCA our lineup just gets a little too right handed.

Rcal10 · February 13

1 hour ago, Radar3454 said:

I think they see Mo as a DH primarily that can play 1st or catch in a pinch. More time at Iowa isn't changing that.

I doubt the Cubs agree with you on Mo. For starters, I doubt he plays much first base. He is too short. Next, if all the Cubs envisioned with Mo is a DH who might put up decent offensive numbers I would think he would have been someone they would have been okay trading. I think the FO still believes he could catch. Maybe not 110 games or so, but maybe 60 or more. A back up catcher/ DH is way more valuable than just DH. Seems during trade discussions the Cubs viewed him very highly. He very well could end up just a DH. But I think your decision on him is very premature.

squally1313 · February 13

If the Cubs have made a somewhat final decision that Ballesteros should see the field as little as possible, they should probably start seeing if other teams see differently and then see what they'd be willing to give up for him.

Outshined_One · February 13

Part of the catching discussion might also involve whether the Cubs think ABS will be expanded to full time use after the lockout.

Stratos · February 13

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

He’ll probably be catching during spring trading too. You can still give Bellestaros scheduled days behind the plate for a pitcher of choice. Preferably a lefty. I just don’t see any big advantage in signing Tauchman.

Nifty idea. Mo could catch Boyd given how well he holds runners. I assume they also want to break in Mo for next season since Kelly will be gone. Amaya/Mo next year at catcher?

Jason Ross · February 13

This is purely speculation, but based on the how the reporting around Ballesteros has been "the Cubs don't want to move him" (last deadline) and how willingly they were seemingly okay moving Caissie (last year for Luzardo and then this year for Cabrera) than I don't think the Cubs have made any sort of long term determination on his defensive future.

I think a group of fans have made final determinations because he's awkwardly shaped. I don't believe the team has. It very well may end up with him just never making it even as a fringe catcher, but internally, I highly doubt that the Cubs have come up with the opinion that the discussion is done and dusted.

Stratos · February 13

6 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

This is purely speculation, but based on the how the reporting around Ballesteros has been "the Cubs don't want to move him" (last deadline) and how willingly they were seemingly okay moving Caissie (last year for Luzardo and then this year for Cabrera) than I don't think the Cubs have made any sort of long term determination on his defensive future.

I think a group of fans have made final determinations because he's awkwardly shaped. I don't believe the team has.

If the Cubs see him as a DH only there's no way IMO they refuse to trade him like they have. Huge difference in value for him as a C than DH obviously.

Geographyhater8888 · February 13

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

If Mo can learn as much in the majors as in the minors.catching everyday, I agree with you. Only advantage Tauchman, or any left handed bat they add, would be allowing Mo to catch at Iowa. They are not bringing in some guy who will clearly outhit Mo, IMO. A lefty bat would only be so Mo can learn by catching everyday. And maybe he can learn as much on the major league roster. 🤷

I think he can slowly work his way in with spot starts here and there and as others have mentioned, the implementation of ABS will make his job easier in the future. I’d rather he get reps at DH than a veteran off the street.

Edited February 13 by Geographyhater8888

Bull · February 13

50 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I doubt the Cubs agree with you on Mo. For starters, I doubt he plays much first base. He is too short. Next, if all the Cubs envisioned with Mo is a DH who might put up decent offensive numbers I would think he would have been someone they would have been okay trading. I think the FO still believes he could catch. Maybe not 110 games or so, but maybe 60 or more. A back up catcher/ DH is way more valuable than just DH. Seems during trade discussions the Cubs viewed him very highly. He very well could end up just a DH. But I think your decision on him is very premature.