Cubs Pre-Offseason Mega Thread

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree that if they traded for a corner outfielder the player dealt should be Ramirez. Couple of reasons.                                           

1. Shaw is fine in the outfield.

2 IMO Ramirez brings more back. 

Off field nonsense aside I believe we've not seen the best of Shaw.  There's a quality hitter in there and given the time it'll rise to the surface.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Off field nonsense aside I believe we've not seen the best of Shaw.  There's a quality hitter in there and given the time it'll rise to the surface.

I actually agree with this. Plus IMO his value took a bit a little last year. That added to the fact he can play the outfield, & Ramirez is probably worth more in trade, is why I would trade Ramirez instead of Shaw. I do hate the off the field stuff with Shaw, but now isn’t the time to trade him, IMO. 

[Gjfificifjdej]

35 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think the Chicago media can be rough on a guy. Fans too. But I only really know cubs fans so maybe it would be the same elsewhere. Maybe the Chicago media/fan base wouldn’t be any tougher than Boston. But I do think it is tougher than somewhere like KC or one of the lower revenue teams markets. 

Boston might be the most vicious sports market in North America. 

[gflore34]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I actually agree with this. Plus IMO his value took a bit a little last year. That added to the fact he can play the outfield, & Ramirez is probably worth more in trade, is why I would trade Ramirez instead of Shaw. I do hate the off the field stuff with Shaw, but now isn’t the time to trade him, IMO. 

Yes, I think it'd be a mistake to let some team buy low on Shaw.

[Outshined_One]

Duran is the sort of guy you offer up a lottery ticket for in a trade. Dude looks cooked and is on the wrong side of 30.

Shaw and Ramirez have a good amount of value. Don't try to offload them just because you want to offload them.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Another thing you have to account for with Duran is that he is a total piece of trash human being.

[Backtobanks]

8 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Another thing you have to account for with Duran is that he is a total piece of trash human being.

So, you're saying Shaw for Duran is okay?

[Geographyhater8888]

11 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

So, you're saying Shaw for Duran is okay?

It’s okay if you want the Cubs to be worse.

[Outshined_One]

2 hours ago, Backtobanks said:

So, you're saying Shaw for Duran is okay?

The following things can all be true:

1 - Shaw is a trash person.

2 - Duran is a trash person.

3 - The return Shaw can get in a trade is significantly better than the return Duran can get in a trade.

[Backtobanks]

1 hour ago, Outshined_One said:

The following things can all be true:

1 - Shaw is a trash person.

2 - Duran is a trash person.

3 - The return Shaw can get in a trade is significantly better than the return Duran can get in a trade.

I mentioned earlier that a package including Shaw for Duran + Bello would help fill two spots for the Cubs.

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I mentioned earlier that a package including Shaw for Duran + Bello would help fill two spots for the Cubs.

But what is the package? I don’t think the Cubs have to add anything to that offer. And how does Duran solve at problem Shaw doesn’t solve? I would rather trade Ramirez in that deal. ONLY Ramirez. This is all based on the field ability. Not who they are as a person. I don’t personally like Shaw, but I’m not giving him away. 

[Gjfificifjdej]

Durans year by year statlines are fascinating. 

[Backtobanks]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

But what is the package? I don’t think the Cubs have to add anything to that offer. And how does Duran solve at problem Shaw doesn’t solve? I would rather trade Ramirez in that deal. ONLY Ramirez. This is all based on the field ability. Not who they are as a person. I don’t personally like Shaw, but I’m not giving him away. 

Duran is an OF with a few years of solid offense (and a terrible 2026).  Three years prior to 2026 he had a total of 17.1 WAR.  He has 2 more years of control (arbitration).  His salary is very affordable ($7.7 million in 2026).  At only 29 years old, he looks like a perfect bounce back candidate and bridge to our OF prospects.  Bello is young and signed for a reasonable amount for at least 3 more years.  He would probably slot in as a #3 or #4 SP.  Do you really think Ramirez alone gets you those two players?  As for Ramirez or Shaw, I don't really care because they are reserve IFs on the Cubs and we don't need both of them.  Neither of them should be in the OF on a contending team unless there's an emergency situation.

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Backtobanks said:

Duran is an OF with a few years of solid offense (and a terrible 2026).  Three years prior to 2026 he had a total of 17.1 WAR.  He has 2 more years of control (arbitration).  His salary is very affordable ($7.7 million in 2026).  At only 29 years old, he looks like a perfect bounce back candidate and bridge to our OF prospects.  Bello is young and signed for a reasonable amount for at least 3 more years.  He would probably slot in as a #3 or #4 SP.  Do you really think Ramirez alone gets you those two players?  As for Ramirez or Shaw, I don't really care because they are reserve IFs on the Cubs and we don't need both of them.  Neither of them should be in the OF on a contending team unless there's an emergency situation.

I feel you are doing it again. Selling the Cubs players short while bumping up other teams players. Why can’t Shaw play the corner on a contending team if Duran can? He had a terrible year. Red Sox might not even offer him a contract. He has negative value and is going to make $8M if they give him a contract. 
Bello is ok. Doesn’t strike out many but does keep the ball on the ground. Probably a 3 or 4. They would have him for 3 or 4 years. So he has value. But so does Ramirez. He is very young and has a good year for a guy his age. He has years of cheap control. Why shouldn’t he cost Duran and Bello. He is even a guy the Red Sox can look to extend. 

[Rex Buckingham]

Bello is another JAG in the rotation. The Cubs have plenty of those. They need a certified dude, not another above average innings eater who you hope can get through the lineup once in the playoffs without imploding. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

47 minutes ago, Rex Buckingham said:

Bello is another JAG in the rotation. The Cubs have plenty of those. They need a certified dude, not another above average innings eater who you hope can get through the lineup once in the playoffs without imploding. 

I agree but they also need a couple JAGs because the previous JAGs are leaving 

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I agree but they also need a couple JAGs because the previous JAGs are leaving 

Right. And we need less expensive guys too so we can maybe buy 2 front end pitchers. Bello is fine. Better (or at least a surer thing) than any JAG we have. 

[Bertz]

Bello's a pretty solid buy low target but the idea of him costing something like Shaw is laughable. 

He had a 7.18 ERA and a 4.65 xFIP as a SP and had to be sent to the minors to get himself straightened out.  He's going to cost $15M AAV over three years, and has had a K rate under 20% in 3 of his 4 fullish seasons.

Like aside from throwing hard is Bello any better than David Peterson?

[Rcal10]

30 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Bello's a pretty solid buy low target but the idea of him costing something like Shaw is laughable. 

He had a 7.18 ERA and a 4.65 xFIP as a SP and had to be sent to the minors to get himself straightened out.  He's going to cost $15M AAV over three years, and has had a K rate under 20% in 3 of his 4 fullish seasons.

Like aside from throwing hard is Bello any better than David Peterson?

He might not be better than Peterson. But the Cubs don’t have Peterson either.