Random trade speculation

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'd be a bit surprised if we don't get a SP tonight.

Last year they locked in Soroka the night before, tried to get Cabrera et al the day of and pivoted to Castro+relievers when that was a bust.  Feels like that same order of operations makes sense here?

I'm expecting something tonight. I'll be honest with you and say I'm not sure what, though. Had a few conversations here or there with some people who do know, and they also...don't know. There was smoke on some lineup choices earlier and then that got blown up. 

My personal guess is 3.5 is the line for "players added" and I lean towards the over (3 arms, 1 bat). If you go into tomorrow thinking you're getting four players I think you're probably living on the wrong planet. So I think someone has to get in tonight. Big or small, you have to get some early shopping done.

Part of me thinks "the big one" happens tonight just to get it in and dusted (how big the big one is, who knows?) but that might be wishful thinking.

[Bertz]

8 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I'm expecting something tonight. I'll be honest with you and say I'm not sure what, though. Had a few conversations here or there with some people who do know, and they also...don't know. There was smoke on some lineup choices earlier and then that got blown up. 

My personal guess is 3.5 is the line for "players added" and I lean towards the over (3 arms, 1 bat). If you go into tomorrow thinking you're getting four players I think you're probably living on the wrong planet. So I think someone has to get in tonight. Big or small, you have to get some early shopping done.

Part of me thinks "the big one" happens tonight just to get it in and dusted (how big the big one is, who knows?) but that might be wishful thinking.

Doing Gausman/Hoffman or Holmes/Weaver feels ideal?  You've done enough that you don't *have* to do anything else tomorrow, even though you'd clearly like to.

But really I think it just has to be a SP. even if it's a tepid one like Tyler Mahle.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

His numbers hide the swing decisions. He's incredibly passive. Young pitchers at High-A struggle to exploit him in this way. So his numbers stay high. As he promotes, I think there's going to be a reckoning he'll have to face in terms of approach. 

Think of it this way: you know how impressed we all are with Pete Crow-Armstrong's approach changes? And how...rare it is for us to see those? Flip it. Imagine a hitter who is incredibly passive and consistently gets into two strike counts because he doesn't swing enough. And now think about how hard it might be to break it.

Didn't know that about him, but did notice the huge BB% #'s.  Yes i could see that as an issue for a player, I had that same issue a lot of the time when playing high school ball.  Led the team in OBP and steals though haha.  I was able to get over it, I'm sure not everyone could, just like being too aggressive as you say.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Stratos said:

Didn't know that about him, but did notice the huge BB% #'s.  Yes i could see that as an issue for a player, I had that same issue a lot of the time when playing high school ball.  Led the team in OBP and steals though haha.  I was able to get over it, I'm sure not everyone could, just like being too aggressive as you say.

Approach changes are some of the hardest to make. Think about how many times we have talked about Seiya Suzuki on that front. Or Javier Baez on the opposite end. 

Kepley is young enough that he could make those changes, but what they do to his walk rate is up for debate. And then there's the question of "how much power does he have?" and "how good is the hit tool?" and how this plays into it. 

He's a good but I think somewhat limited prospect. I've got him more as a 4th OF'er than someone you want to start. Valuable but probably not a top-100 guy. If you get a team who loves Kepley, thinking he's a top-100 type, I'd pack his bags fast. 

[Funky-daddy]

26 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I'm expecting something tonight. I'll be honest with you and say I'm not sure what, though. Had a few conversations here or there with some people who do know, and they also...don't know. There was smoke on some lineup choices earlier and then that got blown up. 

My personal guess is 3.5 is the line for "players added" and I lean towards the over (3 arms, 1 bat). If you go into tomorrow thinking you're getting four players I think you're probably living on the wrong planet. So I think someone has to get in tonight. Big or small, you have to get some early shopping done.

Part of me thinks "the big one" happens tonight just to get it in and dusted (how big the big one is, who knows?) but that might be wishful thinking.

Was the lineup changes smoke? Or did they think a deal was in place ?

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Funky-daddy said:

Was the lineup changes smoke? Or did they think a deal was in place ?

I had heard two names that were connected to a rumor and both of those players did not start. That rumor was also backed up with Matt's article today "Angels like Ayers, Cubs hesitant to include him". Kepley came in mid-game for Hartshorn. Why Hartshorn was pulled is hard to figure out; is it a trade? Is it an injury? The Cubs won't tell us anyways. 

I find the Ayers/Kepley lineup omissions at best a very strong coincidence but notable especially in that they were really the only two major ones system wide. That Kepley came in the game is odd. I would say nothing is completed earlier for sure. How close something else is? No idea.

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

[Jason Ross]

I want to stop refreshing my various feeds but I know the second I do something for me a trade will happen.

[profisme]

12 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Approach changes are some of the hardest to make. Think about how many times we have talked about Seiya Suzuki on that front. Or Javier Baez on the opposite end. 

Kepley is young enough that he could make those changes, but what they do to his walk rate is up for debate. And then there's the question of "how much power does he have?" and "how good is the hit tool?" and how this plays into it. 

He's a good but I think somewhat limited prospect. I've got him more as a 4th OF'er than someone you want to start. Valuable but probably not a top-100 guy. If you get a team who loves Kepley, thinking he's a top-100 type, I'd pack his bags fast. 

Reminds me of a lighter hitting, slightly faster Brian Giles in batting style and build. I like him but if he is traded I’m not going to lose sleep if it is for Morejón, Detmers, or Soriano.

[Jason Ross]

Per Mooney/Sharma: 
- Detmers, Soriano, and Kirby are all players the Cubs are interested in. 
- "Lesser extent Emerson Hancock"
- Rentals such as Gausman, Holmes, Singer
- Peralta wasn't "all that appealing" to the Cubs. 

[JD94]

2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I want to stop refreshing my various feeds but I know the second I do something for me a trade will happen.

Same. I’ve been very unproductive today because it’s really felt like something was going to pop. I still think it does because it’s been a little too slow of a day for less than 24 hours from the deadline. 

[JD94]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

Per Mooney/Sharma: 
- Detmers, Soriano, and Kirby are all players the Cubs are interested in. 
- "Lesser extent Emerson Hancock"
- Rentals such as Gausman, Holmes, Singer
- Peralta wasn't "all that appealing" to the Cubs. 

Anything on relievers?

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, JD94 said:

Anything on relievers?

Not a mention. But did get this:
 

Quote

The Cubs believe they have a deep enough farm system to pull off multiple moves, including a bigger deal to add an impactful starter who is under club control beyond this season.

 

[Bertz]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Per Mooney/Sharma: 
- Detmers, Soriano, and Kirby are all players the Cubs are interested in. 
- "Lesser extent Emerson Hancock"
- Rentals such as Gausman, Holmes, Singer
- Peralta wasn't "all that appealing" to the Cubs. 

They are really laying the Gausman stuff on thick the last two nights.  He has to feel like the most likely individual name at this point.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, Bertz said:

They are really laying the Gausman stuff on thick the last two nights.  He has to feel like the most likely individual name at this point.

I really like him as a rental. And I'd love him if they went Kirby/Gausmann. 

Gausmann is another guy who has experience in the bullpen and gives you options come the playoffs.

[Jason Ross]

 

[ILMindState]

 

 

[profisme]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

 

“Does not need to trade any of them” is pretty strong language for a team mired in eternal mediocrity. Is that Arturo’s Karnisovas over there? If so, we could get Detmers and Trout without giving up a top prospect or any first round picks as long as we pick up some of Trout’s contract lol.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, profisme said:

“Does not need to trade any of them” is pretty strong language for a team mired in eternal mediocrity. Is that Arturo’s Karnisovas over there? If so, we could get Detmers and Trout without giving up a top prospect or any first round picks as long as we pick up some of Trout’s contract lol.

Trout wouldn't waive his no-trade

[Jason Ross]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

They are really laying the Gausman stuff on thick the last two nights.  He has to feel like the most likely individual name at this point.

[JD94]

 

[profisme]

14 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Trout wouldn't waive his no-trade

Lol I am betting you are right but it was more a jab at AK.

[PeanutPunch33]

GREAT MOVE ASSUMING THERE'S ANOTHER ONE HAPPENING

[profisme]

Just now, JD94 said:

 

Oh my gosh we finally got Jake Peav… Brian Rober… I mean Kevin Gausman.

[Dfan25]

Solid move with Gausman . Hopefully another SP is added tomorrow