My thinking is that Tucker is a difference-maker, and Parades is a solid player. I do the trade and worry about the back fill later. There are competent 3B who can fill that position.
I'm not on social media any longer. Can we split Bellinger and Tucker off this thread and make one for updates only?
And people can talk about an extension or whatever here? But Jed is not an idiot. He's not signing Tucker unless he has an idea of what it would cost to get a long term contract done. I know that won't stop the inane back and forth, but that is that.
You'd be surprised by how much of a difference having an actual run producer makes. However, I don't think they will make this trade unless Houston backs off their asking price. But is likely more about Smith/Shaw than it is about Parades. To me it makes more sense that they would be looking for OF + pitching, but what do I know?
Ok Mr. Pedantic - They cannot throw out a lineup of Aymay, Busch, Hoerner, Swanson, Happ, PCA, rotating DH and Suzuki, regularly and expect different results.
I think if Jed agrees to a trade of Tucker they will 1) know his value and 2) will be willing to keep him if they can. Given where they are in their competitive cycle, it would not make sense to give up what he will cost and not have every intention of signing him long term, whether it be an extension or during free agency.
As goony mentioned, they have a lot of money coming off the books in the next year or two. He could be the face of the franchise for a long time. He's just the player the Cubs need.
So if it happens I will be happy even with the uncertainty. We know they cannot throw out the same lineup they have for the last few years and expect different results.
A team has to pay market value for stars unless they do a really good job of developing players and can pay them less due to the rules established by MLB. This idea of surplus value is an illusion. If you have a guy on your team that you are paying less due to the rules, good work. But you can't expect to get established major league players at a discount.
Baseball is about wins and losses and no one cares about efficiency except for keyboard wizards.
If they trade forTucker and use near ready mlb players they have to at least try to lock him up long term. Maybe not right away but before the season.
it makes little sense to blow through top level prospects for a rental on a team in the Cubs competition cycle
I think they may be lining up the ducks. If we know anything about Jed it's that he's deliberate.
I want the President/functioning GM to be bolder and take big swings at winning. Jed is far more measured. Given the boundaries he has to work under, it makes sense, but "goodenough" is not good enough most of the time.