Random trade speculation

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

4 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Would you trade Shaw, Pedro, or Rojas? 

If we're getting an elite reliever or guy capable of starting playoff games, it doesn't matter. The trading team can have whoever they like best.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Joe Ryan and the Twins trying to get his enrire HR rate regression out of the way in one start ahead of the deadline.  Smart

wow, 6 homers in 4 innings. is that a record?

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

If we're getting an elite reliever or guy capable of starting playoff games, it doesn't matter. The trading team can have whoever they like best.

I agree. I also think whoever someone wants now will probably change at a later date. Which is why I agree, take whoever you like best. 

[mk49]

11 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

wow, 6 homers in 4 innings. is that a record?

Sounds like Ryan is getting ready to be a Cub.😁

[mk49]

Jamo sucks more now?

[JBears79]

Just always about how many homers the opposing team will hit, not if they will

[mk49]

2 minutes ago, mk49 said:

Jamo sucks more now?

Yeah, I guess he does.

[731.4life]

I know he's not available, but I'm curious to see what the asking price for Hunter Goodman would be. I know our offense is good, but a power hitting offensive catcher would solve a need for the Cubs. I would say that I am hesitant to trade for a catcher during the season, but if the Twins are willing to trade Jeffers, and the Athletics maybe listening for Langeliers, then curious to see what the price would be for the best offensive catcher in the game would be.

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, 731.4life said:

I know he's not available, but I'm curious to see what the asking price for Hunter Goodman would be. I know our offense is good, but a power hitting offensive catcher would solve a need for the Cubs. I would say that I am hesitant to trade for a catcher during the season, but if the Twins are willing to trade Jeffers, and the Athletics maybe listening for Langeliers, then curious to see what the price would be for the best offensive catcher in the game would be.

Why would the Cubs be using resources on a catcher. They need pitching. 

[731.4life]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Why would the Cubs be using resources on a catcher. They need pitching. 

In my opinion, I don't think they're going to be all in for a steep asking price for a pitcher, I don't see it. With that being said, I'm thinking this is more of a long term/offseason move than just 2026. So, if I feel like they're not going to get a legit ace (just my opinion) then they're going to have to pivot and go all in on the offense side. And with Goodman, I'm not saying he's Yordan Alvarez (nowhere near his level), but you could put him in the 4-6 spot in the lineup, and the lineup just got even deeper. 

I maybe off, but I don't see it being a 2026 move only, I think it'll be years down the road. I like Miguel, but the offense isn't there.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, 731.4life said:

In my opinion, I don't think they're going to be all in for a steep asking price for a pitcher, I don't see it. With that being said, I'm thinking this is more of a long term/offseason move than just 2026. So, if I feel like they're not going to get a legit ace (just my opinion) then they're going to have to pivot and go all in on the offense side. And with Goodman, I'm not saying he's Yordan Alvarez (nowhere near his level), but you could put him in the 4-6 spot in the lineup, and the lineup just got even deeper. 

I maybe off, but I don't see it being a 2026 move only, I think it'll be years down the road. I like Miguel, but the offense isn't there.

Ok, I understand your reasoning. I don’t agree with it, but at least you have a plan. Cubs offense is top 5-7 in baseball. I can see Kelly coming back next year. Even if they didn’t get a pitcher this TDL I don’t think they need a bat.

[731.4life]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

Ok, I understand your reasoning. I don’t agree with it, but at least you have a plan. Cubs offense is top 5-7 in baseball. I can see Kelly coming back next year. Even if they didn’t get a pitcher this TDL I don’t think they need a bat.

Fair enough, and I don't mind the catchers we have with Miguel and Carson today, but I'd rather have 1 true catcher. Goodman is a good offensive catcher, it's not just the Coors Field effect. He hit long homers on the road as well.

I understand the top 5-7 offense, and that's great, but it doesn't we should be content and not improve a need for that position long term. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, 731.4life said:

Fair enough, and I don't mind the catchers we have with Miguel and Carson today, but I'd rather have 1 true catcher. Goodman is a good offensive catcher, it's not just the Coors Field effect. He hit long homers on the road as well.

I understand the top 5-7 offense, and that's great, but it doesn't we should be content and not improve a need for that position long term. 

The Cubs WAR from the catcher position is, I believe, top 5 in baseball. Not sure of the need. Just sign Kelly again. 

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

If we're getting an elite reliever or guy capable of starting playoff games, it doesn't matter. The trading team can have whoever they like best.

With the emergence of Pedro as an option that can hold his own, and frankly looks more comfortable at the plate than Shaw (which doesn't matter nearly as much as results), Shaw is expendable for this year.   Pedro can cover 2b and 3b off the bench.   Conforto can cover corner OF in case of injury, and Alcantara is another option and can also platoon vs LHP.

The issue for me is 2027.  We have to assume Happ and Suzuki could sign elsewhere and we could have 2 corner OF slots to fill.  That said, corner OF is the easiest position on the field to fill.

And desperate times call for desperate measures.  This offense and defense is good enough to win it all with some significant pitching upgrades.

[ILMindState]

14 hours ago, 731.4life said:

In my opinion, I don't think they're going to be all in for a steep asking price for a pitcher, I don't see it. With that being said, I'm thinking this is more of a long term/offseason move than just 2026. So, if I feel like they're not going to get a legit ace (just my opinion) then they're going to have to pivot and go all in on the offense side. And with Goodman, I'm not saying he's Yordan Alvarez (nowhere near his level), but you could put him in the 4-6 spot in the lineup, and the lineup just got even deeper. 

I maybe off, but I don't see it being a 2026 move only, I think it'll be years down the road. I like Miguel, but the offense isn't there.

You can't assume a catcher can maintain good offense for years down the road. Look at Raleigh and Rutchsman

[Jason Ross]

14 hours ago, 731.4life said:

Fair enough, and I don't mind the catchers we have with Miguel and Carson today, but I'd rather have 1 true catcher. Goodman is a good offensive catcher, it's not just the Coors Field effect. He hit long homers on the road as well.

I understand the top 5-7 offense, and that's great, but it doesn't we should be content and not improve a need for that position long term. 

Opportunity cost is your biggest issue here. Really, consider everything:
1. The Cubs have a top-5 offense already
2. The Cubs have the 8th most fWAR from catchers in baseball
3. The Cubs have two young catchers in Iowa in Ballesteros and Ayers
4. The Cubs have some trade pieces, but they have mostly enough for one big trade. 

I don't want to take anything away from Hunter Goodman who has been great, but in 100 games the Cubs have gotten a 2.1 fWAR output from the catcher position and in 93 games Goodman has been worth 2.3 fWAR. They're basically getting Goodman production as is, albeit with two roster spots, but the Cubs will have to still carry a backup, so it won't solve that issue adding him. Do you think the .2 fWAR bump Goodman gives you is worth spending the prospect capital on catcher versus a pitcher? 

Just to be clear about my personal answer to that question: I think it would be a grade mismanagement of assets. Godman is a very good player but outside of getting a personal thing of "we have one catcher we count on instead of a rotation" it really doesn't move the needle for the team. The Cubs need to move the needle. The offense really doesn't need a fix.

[ILMindState]

 

If you really wanna upgrade the offense we could use a better DH. It's not gonna happen and I'm not suggesting it but if you're looking for a trade that doesn't involve a starter, a Contreras and Chapman deal from the Red Sox would have been fun. But they're probably buyers now after winning 14 in a row. 

[mul21]

14 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

If you really wanna upgrade the offense we could use a better DH. It's not gonna happen and I'm not suggesting it but if you're looking for a trade that doesn't involve a starter, a Contreras and Chapman deal from the Red Sox would have been fun. But they're probably buyers now after winning 14 in a row. 

This is wildly misleading.  The Cubs are 8th in baseball in fWAR from the DH position at 0.2. It also appears to have just used whoever has the most PAs as DH to put this chart together.

[squally1313]

7 minutes ago, mul21 said:

This is wildly misleading.  The Cubs are 8th in baseball in fWAR from the DH position at 0.2. It also appears to have just used whoever has the most PAs as DH to put this chart together.

Clarifying here to make sure I'm not looking at this wrong...did you mean 8th in bWAR? I don't really have any idea how to work the baseballreference site, but my method of pulling fWAR has them as 18th from the DH position YTD. 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=0&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=&filter=&players=0&type=8&month=44

Regardless, we should stop talking about trading for hitters unless it's Mike Trout. Get pitching, then get more pitching. 

[mul21]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

Clarifying here to make sure I'm not looking at this wrong...did you mean 8th in bWAR? I don't really have any idea how to work the baseballreference site, but my method of pulling fWAR has them as 18th from the DH position YTD. 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=0&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=&filter=&players=0&type=8&month=44

Regardless, we should stop talking about trading for hitters unless it's Mike Trout. Get pitching, then get more pitching. 

Yeah, I'm an idiot.  I looked at Fangraphs first and their data sorting kind of sucks so I landed at BR.

[squally1313]

4 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Yeah, I'm an idiot.  I looked at Fangraphs first and their data sorting kind of sucks so I landed at BR.

No worries, and interesting, I feel the exact opposite. Although I do pay for a FG membership and it was mainly because the site was a total ad-cancer before I did, so maybe I'm just forgetting how brutal it was/still is. 

[Bertz]

I think if you wanted to spend big on a bat you'd add an outfielder rather than a catcher.  When you combine catcher attrition with our depth there it's just not justifiable.  An outfielder's not my favorite use of resources but I think he (or Seiya) could be a semi-full time DH for the next two months and then the new guy would get a starting spot for '27.  

Offense is fine with marginal tweaks.  Get Pedro in there more against RHP, shorten Happ's leash against LHP.  Maybe add a RHH 4th outfielder (Lane Thomas?) to help with the latter, but anything more than that carries significant opportunity cost.

[Rcal10]

I know Jed has commented about spending assets on adding pitching at the TDL being something easier to do if the goal was having a top 2 record in the NL. And if that spending is on a rental I completely agree. I think rentals will end up on teams who are clearly in position for a top 2 spot. However, I don’t see why that should be a factor if they go after a controllable pitcher. Even if all the do is make the playoffs and lose in the first round, they still have that pitcher. While I think where the Cubs are currently will limit how much they spend on a guy for just this year, IMO, it should be a factor with someone Will years of control left. 
They may need to be creative and do a controlled bat for a controlled arm. Guardians, Red Aox and Mariners could be an option, even for teams in contention. The Angels also have a few guys with several years left. As long as whoever they get is beyond just this year, I think they can still be aggressive. 
I think instead of focusing on Skubal, Peralta, Holmes, and maybe a few others on the last year of their deals, the focus needs to be on controlled pitchers. They can still make a major trade. 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Here's what I'd like to see some version of:

1. Detmers & Adell from Angels for J. Rojas, Conrad and lower level upside guy (Southisene? Hartshorn?)

Provides one starter and backup OF who is mashing lefties this season (plus Wrigley should be a slightly better park effect for him)

2. Foster Griffin & Abrams from Nats for Shaw, Ayers & Wiggins (or Townsend) & a Drew Gray type

Griffin slots in as a long-relief/possible starter, Abrams is under control until 2028 & replaces Shaw as IF back up with a better bat to upgrade the DH spot. 

3. Okert from Astros for whatever non-closer relief pitchers go for.

Bargain shopping here, since we've depleted the farm for other needs. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Manny Trillos Brother

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, Manny Trillos Brother said:

Here's what I'd like to see some version of:

1. Detmers & Adell from Angels for J. Rojas, Conrad and lower level upside guy (Southisene? Hartshorn?)

Provides one starter and backup OF who is mashing lefties this season (plus Wrigley should be a slightly better park effect for him)

2. Foster Griffin & Abrams from Nats for Shaw, Ayers & Wiggins (or Townsend) & a Drew Gray type

Griffin slots in as a long-relief/possible starter, Abrams is under control until 2028 & replaces Shaw as IF back up with a better bat to upgrade the DH spot. 

3. Okert from Astros for whatever non-closer relief pitchers go for.

Bargain shopping here, since we've depleted the farm for other needs. 

Josiah Hartshorn is a top-50 prospect in baseball according to many outlets.