Random trade speculation

[Bobson Dugnutt]

17 minutes ago, mk49 said:

Somebody said in an article that the Cubs need to send Wiggins, Ayers and Triantos for Detmers.  Sounds like overpay, IMO, but is this the price we need to pay for someone like Detmers?

[Bertz]

ESPN says the Yankees are open to moving on from Camilo Doval.  I'd love to take advantage of that.

[Adipost]

15 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Latest update today is Harvey and Palencia are progressing well and could start rehab during the Dodgers series. No progression on Brown, probably still having symptoms. Steele is starting bullpens in August.

Status: Has started to increase activity to tolerance, including plyo ball work and light throwing. Manager Craig Counsell said Brown has been "asymptomatic" recently, but Cubs continue to be conservative with his program. (Last updated: July 22)

[Adipost]

4 hours ago, Bertz said:

ESPN says the Yankees are open to moving on from Camilo Doval.  I'd love to take advantage of that.

I know his underlying data seems ok, but he’s been a complete disaster since they traded for him last deadline.

[Geographyhater8888]

16 hours ago, Neuby said:

I want a RH bat for the bench/DH. I'm being Greedy but with Shaw ailing, Austin still MIA, Jed can find a cheap one.

Why do they need a right handed bench bat? Because Happ couldn’t get on base as the tying run in a game that they lost 8-7? That’s so far down the list of needs right now, especially on a team with a 119 wRC+ versus left handed pitching. 

[Jason Ross]

53 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Why do they need a right handed bench bat? Because Happ couldn’t get on base as the tying run in a game that they lost 8-7? That’s so far down the list of needs right now, especially on a team with a 119 wRC+ versus left handed pitching. 

I think a few things can be true all at once: 
1. The Cubs, as currently constructed, do lack a hitter off the bench who can smash LHP. They have Michael Conforto, for example, to get to RHP. But as of now, your normal bench options don't inspire a ton against LHP, especially if Kelly is already in the lineup. 
2. Matt Shaw will hopefully come back to help with that
3. It wouldn't be a bad idea to hedge your bets and add one and definitely if you plan on trading either Shaw or Ramirez
4. This is low on the totem pole of "needs"
5. It's not a particularly difficult or expensive need to fill in the next week

I don't think it's wrong to point out that the team generally hits LHP well, or that it's low on the list of priorities, but also something the Cubs should devote a little time to think through.

[Geographyhater8888]

18 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I think a few things can be true all at once: 
1. The Cubs, as currently constructed, do lack a hitter off the bench who can smash LHP. They have Michael Conforto, for example, to get to RHP. But as of now, your normal bench options don't inspire a ton against LHP, especially if Kelly is already in the lineup. 
2. Matt Shaw will hopefully come back to help with that
3. It wouldn't be a bad idea to hedge your bets and add one and definitely if you plan on trading either Shaw or Ramirez
4. This is low on the totem pole of "needs"
5. It's not a particularly difficult or expensive need to fill in the next week

I don't think it's wrong to point out that the team generally hits LHP well, or that it's low on the list of priorities, but also something the Cubs should devote a little time to think through.

That’s fair. Carson Kelly is the closest thing we have to one when Amaya is in the lineup.. Happ is the only bat who’s awful against left handed pitching so there’s not a ton of pinch hitting opportunities but sure, if both Ramirez and or Shaw are gone then you can recalibrate in the event of an extra inning game where you’re pinch hitting Conforto for Kelly or something. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Geographyhater8888

[Bertz]

Happ should straight up not be in the starting lineup against LHP.  It's fine to not give him the Ballesteros treatment and pull him out of games in like the 5th because some innocuous left reliever comes in, but it's a reasonably sized opportunity.

[Rcal10]

9 hours ago, mk49 said:

Somebody said in an article that the Cubs need to send Wiggins, Ayers and Triantos for Detmers.  Sounds like overpay, IMO, but is this the price we need to pay for someone like Detmers?

That is probably the cost. May also be an overpay, but would do it. 

[Outshined_One]

I'm not crazy in thinking a LHP SP with 3 fWAR and years of control should fetch more than a Top 75ish power pitcher with injury history, a borderline Top 100 catcher who was almost a complete unknown entering the season, and a light hitting utility prospect, right?

I feel like the Dodgers and Brewers could match that using prospects found between their couch cushions.

[Jason Ross]

6 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

I'm not crazy in thinking a LHP SP with 3 fWAR and years of control should fetch more than a Top 75ish power pitcher with injury history, a borderline Top 100 catcher who was almost a complete unknown entering the season, and a light hitting utility prospect, right?

I feel like the Dodgers and Brewers could match that using prospects found between their couch cushions.

They could, but it also hinges on a lot of things:
1. Do the Dodgers and Brewers like Reid Detmers enough to actually trade a top-50 prospect?
2. Do the Angels, a team who is kind of hard to figure out where Art Moreno starts and stops, value the Brewers' prospects that high? Teams don't operate on the industry rankings
3. Do the Angles prefer the Cubs' offerings?
4. Do the Angels prefer a quantity or a quality offering?

Just about any pitcher in the top-75 is either coming with injury history or because they're a pitcher, are an injury risk, so I think that aspect of Wiggins is kind of...negated. Pitchers just do that, and any team is aware of that. But we can glass-half-full or half-empty any prospect. 

The Brewers aren't trading Jesus Made for Detmers, for example. Or Luis Pena. Those are top-30 prospects in baseball, and that would be a pretty large jump from where the Cubs bought on Edward Cabrera. Even at the deadline it was "Owen Caissie+" and Caissie was not a top-30 prospect. So maybe it's Jefferson Quero, a 23 year old catcher with a sub-100 wRC+ in Triple-A? Would you rather him or Owen Ayers? Brady Ebel or Alexander Frias are tp-75 prospects or so who are both...teenagers. 

I'm not shitting on the Brewers here, their system is super fun and have big time upside. But the Angels probably have to prioritize teenagers in a Detmers trade from Milwaukee where as the Cubs can offer players who are in Triple-A. So where are the Angles internally?

[Geographyhater8888]

Skubal and Mize should determine how many teams are bidding on Detmers. I think? If Skubal is traded to Milwaukee or LA then it’s a doubles edged sword with the talent gap between them and everyone else widening even more, at least for 2026. 
 

I just don’t want to walk away with another Soroka. This positional group is too good to not at least give them a chance in the postseason. 

Edited 18 hours ago by Geographyhater8888

[Bertz]

21 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

I'm not crazy in thinking a LHP SP with 3 fWAR and years of control should fetch more than a Top 75ish power pitcher with injury history, a borderline Top 100 catcher who was almost a complete unknown entering the season, and a light hitting utility prospect, right?

I feel like the Dodgers and Brewers could match that using prospects found between their couch cushions.

Detmers fits right in with the Cabrera/Baz/Gore trio from last year.  So the question is what is the premium for doing a deal at the deadline vs. the offseason.

I don't think Wiggins gets the deal done right now but I do think Rojas/Ayers/Triantos does. 

[Rcal10]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Detmers fits right in with the Cabrera/Baz/Gore trio from last year.  So the question is what is the premium for doing a deal at the deadline vs. the offseason.

I don't think Wiggins gets the deal done right now but I do think Rojas/Ayers/Triantos does. 

And again, I would do it. Maybe while they are dealing with the Angels they take Soler too. I doubt the cost changed by adding him.

Edited 17 hours ago by Rcal10

[Outshined_One]

I'm at the point where I'd do something like Shaw/Ayers/Triantos for Detmers and not even hesitate. Heck, I'd even throw in a Tomas or a Cabada if they want a lottery ticket.

The rotation is going to have issues going into next offseason and Detmers fills the Boyd-sized hole really nicely going into 2027. I just don't see why the Angels would trade him for anything short of a Made or a Pena, considering the value he represents is extremely high.

[muntjack]

Eh, I can see why a guy like Made wouldn't be in play for Detmers.  The guy is having a breakout season, but there are factors that (for now) keep him from reaching that ace-tier that would fetch a top 20ish prospect. 

His fastball isn't great.  The slider is elite, but if he loses it,  it's gonna be a bad time.   He's allowed 5 or more runs 5 times in his 21 starts.   Taillon, for example, has 3 such starts out of 15.  

His xFIP is a touch better than Cabrera's this season.   

I would love to add Detmers this week,  but I think something like Alcantara/Wiggins is plenty.   

 

 

[Dfan25]

FWIW , Passan said the Cubs will get at least 1 SP and that everybody outside of Hartshom is in play . 

[Dfan25]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

Detmers fits right in with the Cabrera/Baz/Gore trio from last year.  So the question is what is the premium for doing a deal at the deadline vs. the offseason.

I don't think Wiggins gets the deal done right now but I do think Rojas/Ayers/Triantos does. 

I think I probably do this with their current need and all the SP they will lose after the season. Trading Rojas would hurt , but they need an arm badly 

[Dfan25]

It’s Bowden , but he says the Twins aren’t trading Ryan . Planning to buy

[Dfan25]

One thing to remember as the deadline gets near . The Cubs sit right now 14 million under the 2nd tier of the LT . They aren’t going over that .  
 

They can get a team to eat money if needed , but will cost more in prospects 

Edited 15 hours ago by Dfan25

[Funky-daddy]

I guess we don’t know if they’re selling but would much rather trade Rojas/Ayers + for Alcantara personally 

[Dfan25]

3 hours ago, Bertz said:

Happ should straight up not be in the starting lineup against LHP.  It's fine to not give him the Ballesteros treatment and pull him out of games in like the 5th because some innocuous left reliever comes in, but it's a reasonably sized opportunity.

Yeah , it would be nice to have a power bat to PH him for againts lefties in key spots ( yesterday for example ) . Giving him these type of at bats can absolutely be the difference in the playoffs 

 

[Dfan25]

Alcántara simply for me doesn’t strike people out the way I like . In the playoffs it’s really important to keep the ball out of play as much as possible to avoid babip problems . Alcantara doesn’t do that for me .

 

And really outside of 21-22 the peripherals are kind of meh . I don’t understand why he doesn’t strike people out with his velo 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Dfan25 said:

Alcántara simply for me doesn’t strike people out the way I like . In the playoffs it’s really important to keep the ball out of play as much as possible to avoid babip problems . Alcantara doesn’t do that for me .

 

And really outside of 21-22 the peripherals are kind of meh . I don’t understand why he doesn’t strike people out with his velo 

According to Bruce Levine the Cubs top target is Alcantara. And with the Marlins losing streak he is in play. He said both teams know each others organizations really well since they have talked trades before and did complete a deal for Cabrera. Of course he is the one who referred to the Cubs FO as twinkle Dee and twinkle dum, so perhaps he doesn’t get the best scooped. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 hours ago, muntjack said:

Eh, I can see why a guy like Made wouldn't be in play for Detmers.  The guy is having a breakout season, but there are factors that (for now) keep him from reaching that ace-tier that would fetch a top 20ish prospect. 

His fastball isn't great.  The slider is elite, but if he loses it,  it's gonna be a bad time.   He's allowed 5 or more runs 5 times in his 21 starts.   Taillon, for example, has 3 such starts out of 15.  

His xFIP is a touch better than Cabrera's this season.   

I would love to add Detmers this week,  but I think something like Alcantara/Wiggins is plenty.   

 

 

Agreed. Detmers is good, but I feel like he's being overrated at this point due to lack of other options.

Edited 13 hours ago by Tangled Up in Plaid