cincycub31

Owen CaissieMoises BallesterosJaxon WigginsKevin AlcantaraJefferson RojasEthan ConradJonathon LongJosiah HartshornCristian HernandezJames TriantosPedro RamirezBrandon BirdsellKane KepleyAngel CepedaCole MathisJuan CabadaErian RodriguezConnor NolandJostin FlorentinoTyler Schlaffer

Owen CaissieMoises BallesterosJefferson RojasKevin AlcantaraJaxon WigginsJonathon LongEthan ConradBrandon BirdsellWill SandersJames TriantosPedro RamirezChristian FranklinConnor NolandRyan GallagherCristian HernandezKane KepleyJosiah HartshornJuan CabadaNazier MuleRonny Cruz

Moises BallesterosKevin AlcantaraMatt ShawCade HortonOwen CaissieJames TriantosBrandon BirdsellJaxon WigginsJonathon LongCristian HernandezJefferson RojasIvan BrethowrNazier MuleDrew GrayJuan TomasRonny CruzDerniche ValdezYahil MelendezChristian FranklinCole Mathis

Cade HortonPete Crow-ArmstrongOwen CaissieMatt ShawMoises BallesterosKevin AlcantaraBen BrownJefferson RojasJames TriantosPedro RamirezJaxon WigginsDerniche ValdezFernando CruzAlexander CanarioDrew GrayChristian FranklinLuis VazquezNazier MulePablo AliendoBrandon Birdsell

Cade HortonPete Crow-ArmstrongMatt ShawMichael BuschOwen CaissieKevin AlcantaraJordan WicksJefferson RojasMoises BallesterosBen BrownJames TriantosAlexander CanarioMatt MervisLuke LittleBJ Murray JrMichael AriasDrew GrayLuis VazquezJaxon WigginsBrennen Davis

Adding another reliever that can close (through signing or trade) pushes everyone down a spot...along with a dominant Luke Little and the bullpen would look a lot better.

I think it's likely that we may see some minor trades to try and recoup some sort of value if possible or include these guys as "pot sweeteners" in larger deals.

C: Yan Gomes ($6.00M) 1B: Cody Bellinger ($0.77M) 2B: Nico Hoerner ($11.67M) 3B: Nick Madrigal ($1.90M) SS: Dansby Swanson ($26.00M) LF: Ian Happ ($21.00M) CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong ($0.77M) RF: Seiya Suzuki ($21.00M) DH: Christopher Morel ($0.77M) 4th OF: Mike Tauchman ($2.00M) Utility: Patrick Wisdom ($2.90M) Utility: Miles Mastrobuoni ($0.77M) Backup C: Miguel Amaya ($0.77M) SP1: Justin Steele ($4.10M) SP2: Kyle Hendricks ($16.00M) SP3: Jameson Taillon ($18.00M) SP4: Javier Assad ($0.77M) RP: Adbert Alzolay ($2.50M) RP: Mark Leiter Jr ($1.60M) RP: Drew Smyly ($10.50M) RP: Julian Merryweather ($1.30M) RP: Hayden Wesneski ($0.77M) RP: Codi Heuer ($0.77M) Payroll is 27.32% under budget

Sorry - didn't realize I submitted this - wasn't done yet 😀

C: Yan Gomes ($6.00M) 1B: Cody Bellinger ($20.00M) 2B: Nico Hoerner ($11.67M) 3B: Jeimer Candelario ($11.00M) SS: Dansby Swanson ($26.00M) LF: Ian Happ ($21.00M) CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong ($0.77M) RF: Seiya Suzuki ($21.00M) DH: Christopher Morel ($0.77M) 4th OF: Mike Tauchman ($2.00M) Utility: Patrick Wisdom ($2.90M) Utility: Miles Mastrobuoni ($0.77M) Backup C: Miguel Amaya ($0.77M) SP1: Justin Steele ($4.10M) SP2: Kyle Hendricks ($16.00M) SP3: Jameson Taillon ($18.00M) SP4: Javier Assad ($0.77M) RP: Adbert Alzolay ($2.50M) RP: Mark Leiter Jr ($1.60M) RP: Drew Smyly ($10.50M) RP: Julian Merryweather ($1.30M) RP: Hayden Wesneski ($0.77M) RP: Codi Heuer ($0.77M) Payroll is 13.83% under budget

Cade HortonPete Crow-ArmstrongKevin AlcantaraOwen CaissieMatt ShawJordan WicksJackson FerrisMoises BallesterosAlexander CanarioBen BrownLuke LittleMatt MervisBJ Murray JrJames TriantosJefferson RojasBrennen DavisHaydn McGearyDrew GrayJaxon WigginsBrandon Birdsell

Pete Crow-Armstrong Should be roaming CF in Wrigley next year if he has a good spring.Cade Horton Still needs to build up innings, but has produced at every level so far.Kevin Alcantara Big year in 2024 if he isn't traded. Needs to show he can hit in high minors, but very high ceiling.Ben Brown Swing and miss stuff with high ceilingOwen Caissie I get the K issue, but man he can hit and super young for level. I really like his make up too. He and PCA just seem to really love the game.Matt ShawJordan Wicks 1st rounder producing at upper levels.Miguel Amaya Maybe not a prospect anymore...wish they gave him more AB at ML level.Moises Ballesteros Maybe the best pure hitter in the organizationMatt Mervis Deserves a second shot, but probably won't come until 2024Jackson Ferris Very promising start, just needs to continue building innings and refining stuff and controlAlexander Canario I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of him...maybe some AFL action? James Triantos Want to see more in game powerBrennan Davis If he doesn't come back playing well, will start to disappear from these lists.Michael Arias Can he repeat 2023 performance moving up a level in 2024?BJ Murray Jr He just keeps hitting and drawing walks. Maybe should be higherJefferson Rojas Looks promising, but can he continue to do it as he moves up levels.Haydn McGeary Will have same questions as Mervis I think. Will need to prove it at every level.Brandon Birdsell Has just been steady all yearKohl Franklin Maybe a little bias based on last 6 starts, but those starts have been awfully good (with one exception) High upside. Lack of health and innings worrisome. Could easily have gone 30+, a lot of tough decisions in the 15-20 range. Ultimately I left off some high leverage relievers for some SP upside. Next ten in no particular order: C. Hernandez (is Alexis maybe better?), Palencia, L.Little, Gallardo, L. Vazquez, P. Hodge, Aliendo, D. Valdez, D. Gray, Jaxon Wiggins.

Pete Crow-ArmstrongCade HortonBen BrownJordan WicksOwen CaissieKevin AlcantaraMatt ShawMiguel AmayaJackson FerrisMatt MervisJames TriantosAlexander CanarioMoises BallesterosBrennan DavisPorter HodgeCristian HernandezJefferson RojasKohl FranklinLuis VazquezRichard Gallardo

He's actually been pretty good lately - only given up 4 ER in his last 20 innings.

I think they may end up being buyers and sellers both. There are a lot of good but not great prospects that rule V eligible and not enough spots for them all. It would be nice to package a few and get a useful ML piece or even a high upside lottery ticket. If you can get anything for Taillon from a desperate team then do it. I think Smyly is probably gone along with bullpen guys on expiring deals. Also depends on what offers you can get for Stroman, Hendricks, etc. I don't think they sell just to sell this year unless things really start to fall apart in the next week or 2.

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong 2. Ben Brown 3. Cade Horton 4. Jordan Wicks 5. Owen Caissie 6. Kevin Alcantara 7. Miguel Amaya 8. Moises Ballesteros 9. Matt Mervis 10. Alexander Canario 11. Jackson Ferris 12. Brennan Davis 13. Christian Hernandez 14. Jefferson Rojas 15. James Triantos 16. Porter Hodge 17. K. Franklin 18. Pablo Aliendo 19. Hayden McGeary 20. Richard Gallardo HM - Luis Vazquez, Made, Kilian, Herz, Palencia, BJ Murray, L.Little, Birdsell, Perlaza, Devers

Certainly not a prospect guru, but I keep track of what's going on. Probably high on Caissie, but I just believe in the overall profile and think he's going to be a solid MLB player. 1. PCA CF Elite CF, contact skills, gap power, lead off guy in a few years 2. B. Davis OF Starting OF by end of 2023…contend for spot on opening day. 3. K. Alcantara OF Loads of potential - breakout candidate as he moves up to A+ into more hitter friendly parks? 4. O.Cassie OF Looks the part of big league hitter. He's been challenged a lot as a young player. 5. H. Wesneski SP Nice MLB debut, can he be a solid rotation piece for 2023? 6. C. Hernandez SS Ready for full season ball 7. J. Wicks SP Solid first year - possibly contribute end of 2023 or start of 2024 8. B. Brown SP Probably starting at AA, but could see action in Wrigley if he does well. 9. C. Horton SP Interested to see how his first year goes 10. A. Canario OF Huge year in 2022 - Injury lowers ranking 11. M. Mervis 1B Hedging a little…would have been a 5th round pick in non covid year, so non drafted status is misleading. 12. D. Palencia SP/RP Great velocity, improving secondaries. Can he make the jump to AA? Can he go longer into games? 13. P. Hodge SP A bit under the radar, 14. J. Ferriss SP How soon will we get to see him in full season ball? 15. J. Triantos Inf My guess is he has a great season in A+ ball this year 16. M. Ballesteros C/1B/DH He's a hitter…he's a lefty…he's young 17. DJ Herz SP/RP Really struggled in his jump to AA. Interested in seeing how he adjusts in off season 18. C. Kilian SP Rough 2022…needs to control and command his stuff. If he does he's got a lot of potential! 19. L.Little SP/RP Good peripherals, but needs to go longer into games 20. K. Made SS Struggled at end of year, but showed signs. Next 5 would be would be K.Franklin, L. Devers, E. Howard, Y. Pinango, M. Amaya

I don't really follow amateur baseball and don't know much about the draft picks, so I'll ask those that do know: 1. What is your favorite pick? 2. Which guy not in the top 5 rounds are you most excited about? 3. Where do any of these draft picks slot in the Cubs Top 30 prospects? I'm assuming Horton and Ferris...any others?

I don't know if he'll ultimately make it, but I loved watching Schwindel go the opposite field on an 0-2 pitch to drive in the go ahead run. It's seems like I've seen a lot of other guys strike out trying to over swing on those types of plays throughout the year, instead of just making contact and putting the ball in play.

It seems like there are more legit OF prospects than I've seen in the Cubs system in awhile. I like it. Davis Caissie PCA Alcantara Canario Pinango Velasquez Nwogu Roederer Franklin C. Morel I know most won't make it, but I have to believe there's a starting MLB OF in there somewhere.

Not that it matters much in the grand scheme of things, but why do you throw a 3-0 pitch to Perez right down the middle of the plate for him to crush?

Curious as to what NSBB top prospect lists would look like?

The Cubs lost a lot of games early and late this year because the bullpen couldn't close it out. Do we really believe Kimbrel will return to being a dominant closer? I think if we add a solid 7th/8th inning option to go with what we have our bullpen will be OK as long as Kimbrel can close out games. If he can't we're in trouble again.

Love the starting pitching prospect analysis. Given how he is often mentioned as possibly our best prospect, I still think Jose Albertos needs to find his way into the top 5. I understand his injury history and lack of track record, but I view him much as we did Cease before this year. Is it safe to say neither Rucker or Alzolay were on anybody's top 30 prospects when the season began?

I think Szczur has earned a spot on this team. Maybe Soler takes a little more time in rehab until a deadline deal opens up a spot or possibly Contreras goes down for a little bit until injury opens up a spot. Not ideal but it buys a little time and it will be hard finding time for both Contreras and Soler and gets Willson some more consistent playing time to stay sharp.