Trade deadline target

[PeanutPunch33]

If the Cubs were 1 piece away then I'd be all for Skubal.  But unfortunately, they need at least 1 more legit piece in the bullpen, the lineup, and the rotation.  Selling the farm for Skubal could backfire tremendously for future seasons.  

[gflore34]

15 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

No. Why do people keep wanting to trade injured cubs. I have seen Conrad, Wiggins and now Horton mentioned. All would be severely undervalued if considered at all. 

Don't know the seriousness of the his back issues given, since the last Cub's update, he's basically disappeared from the face of the Earth.  I'd gather the back issues are significant being so, he probably has little value.  Wiggins and Horton?  Little to value whatsoever, can't stay healthy enough to be worth anything.

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

If the Cubs were 1 piece away then I'd be all for Skubal.  But unfortunately, they need at least 1 more legit piece in the bullpen, the lineup, and the rotation.  Selling the farm for Skubal could backfire tremendously for future seasons.  

Skubal or another legit TOR like him would be exactly what they need for the rotation side of it.

Brown right now is their only legit starter I have confidence in, hopefully he'll be able to hold up the rest of year.

Imanaga and Cabrera will need to show me more heading into the deadline, and id probably still be iffy with them, unless they really turn it on.

Taillon can get DFA for all I care, and id prefer Rea in the bullpen. 

Steele,  I think since his return will be later than they hoped, I think theyll play it cautious with him or at least should imo, and just have him pitch a handful of games in August/September and then shut him down. Let him go through a normal offseason and be 100% ready for whenever 2027 begins.

So if they can stay afloat and start winning consistently again between now and the deadline,  getting Skubal or a TOR like him, Id be confident in the rotation going forward. 

Skubal, Brown, Cabrera, Imanaga, Boyd and Steele.

[chibears55]

27 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Don't know the seriousness of the his back issues given, since the last Cub's update, he's basically disappeared from the face of the Earth.  I'd gather the back issues are significant being so, he probably has little value.  Wiggins and Horton?  Little to value whatsoever, can't stay healthy enough to be worth anything.

I wouldn't trade those guys no matter what their value is now, they need them for next season and beyond (if theres a 2027 season).

They have to replace Imanaga, Boyd, Taillon,  and Rea in the rotation this offseason/2027.

Steele has 1 year of control left before hes a FA, Cabrera 2 more years before hes a FA, so Brown the only starter they have control of for more than 2 years.

 

[Gjfificifjdej]

16 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Skubal or another legit TOR like him would be exactly what they need for the rotation side of it.

Brown right now is their only legit starter I have confidence in, hopefully he'll be able to hold up the rest of year.

Imanaga and Cabrera will need to show me more heading into the deadline, and id probably still be iffy with them, unless they really turn it on.

Taillon can get DFA for all I care, and id prefer Rea in the bullpen. 

Steele,  I think since his return will be later than they hoped, I think theyll play it cautious with him or at least should imo, and just have him pitch a handful of games in August/September and then shut him down. Let him go through a normal offseason and be 100% ready for whenever 2027 begins.

So if they can stay afloat and start winning consistently again between now and the deadline,  getting Skubal or a TOR like him, Id be confident in the rotation going forward. 

Skubal, Brown, Cabrera, Imanaga, Boyd and Steele.

The rotation is so bad that 1 TOR arm isn’t making a dent in the problem. Realistically this team needs 4 starting pitchers to remain in the race. Cabrera and Boyd will be back somewhat soon, but that still leaves us with only 3 major league starters, and who knows where Cabrera is at, he was really bad before the IL stint. 

[BobbyD3]

Is it even in the realm of possibility to go to the Red Sox with Shaw, Wiggins, Alcantara + and ask for Gray and one of either Tolle or Early?  They have a young arm, and we have a young infielder who grew up idolizing Dustin Pedroia.  Gray and one of the Sox kids could go a long way in fortifying our rotation.  Just a thought.... maybe a bad one.

[chibears55]

33 minutes ago, Gjfificifjdej said:

The rotation is so bad that 1 TOR arm isn’t making a dent in the problem. Realistically this team needs 4 starting pitchers to remain in the race. Cabrera and Boyd will be back somewhat soon, but that still leaves us with only 3 major league starters, and who knows where Cabrera is at, he was really bad before the IL stint. 

Why i said Imanaga and Cabrera need to show me more before the deadline. If they step it up and start pitching better then a rotation of....

Skubal/TOR guy, Brown, Cabrera, Imanaga and Boyd/Steele to finish out the season can be pretty good.

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

9 minutes ago, BobbyD3 said:

Is it even in the realm of possibility to go to the Red Sox with Shaw, Wiggins, Alcantara + and ask for Gray and one of either Tolle or Early?  They have a young arm, and we have a young infielder who grew up idolizing Dustin Pedroia.  Gray and one of the Sox kids could go a long way in fortifying our rotation.  Just a thought.... maybe a bad one.

If I'm the Red Sox no way am I giving up Tolle. He's a special arm. Early, maybe.

[Gjfificifjdej]

28 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Why i said Imanaga and Cabrera need to show me more before the deadline. If they step it up and start pitching better then a rotation of....

Skubal/TOR guy, Brown, Cabrera, Imanaga and Boyd/Steele to finish out the season can be pretty good.

 

Thats valid, I just don’t see a world where Imanaga gets back to being playable this year, and with how many set backs Steele has had, expecting anything from him this year is too hopeful for me personally. To me he’s firmly in the Horton category of “anything we get out of his career is a cool bonus”, but planning around him being available at any point for any length of time would be irresponsible by Hoyer. 

[Rcal10]

15 minutes ago, Gjfificifjdej said:

Thats valid, I just don’t see a world where Imanaga gets back to being playable this year, and with how many set backs Steele has had, expecting anything from him this year is too hopeful for me personally. To me he’s firmly in the Horton category of “anything we get out of his career is a cool bonus”, but planning around him being available at any point for any length of time would be irresponsible by Hoyer. 

I understand the apprehension on Steele. I also am not sure he gives them much. But why is Imanaga the bad pitcher he has shown to be the last 3 starts and not the very good pitcher he was before that? I mean, maybe he is this guy. But you have it as not a chance he gets back to what he was.
They clearly need a starter. Sooner the better, but I doubt it is in the next 3 weeks. They need Boyd to come back healthy and be the guy he was for much of last year. At least with his injuries his innings will be limited. They also need Cabrera to discover his stuff from last year. Maybe that blister was causing issues longer than we thought. Maybe this time out helps him too. I see a decent possibility they have 3 solid starters, counting Brown. If Imanaga can get back to early season form that is 4, even if Imanaga is the 4. Add a TOR starter and I see no reason the rotation can’t be solid after the TDL. 

[Gjfificifjdej]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I understand the apprehension on Steele. I also am not sure he gives them much. But why is Imanaga the bad pitcher he has shown to be the last 3 starts and not the very good pitcher he was before that? I mean, maybe he is this guy. But you have it as not a chance he gets back to what he was.
They clearly need a starter. Sooner the better, but I doubt it is in the next 3 weeks. They need Boyd to come back healthy and be the guy he was for much of last year. At least with his injuries his innings will be limited. They also need Cabrera to discover his stuff from last year. Maybe that blister was causing issues longer than we thought. Maybe this time out helps him too. I see a decent possibility they have 3 solid starters, counting Brown. If Imanaga can get back to early season form that is 4, even if Imanaga is the 4. Add a TOR starter and I see no reason the rotation can’t be solid after the TDL. 

I was very down on Shota entering the year given what he did last year. Yeah he looked better in the early season but him turning into a pumpkin as the weather gets warmer ties in to his pitching style. He gives up way to many bombs, and a fly ball guy on a team with this much investment in the defence is just wasteful unless he actually limits runs. 

[squally1313]

We’re just throwing shota in the DFA pile (now that we decided Happ can begrudgingly stay, I guess he can have his spot?) huh?  4.40 ERA/FIP can’t be a back end of the rotation guy behind Boyd, brown, and a TOR acquisition?