Backtobanks

Ramirez is now up and can be the utility IF, but if we don't get some rotation help soon it won't matter. I don't think we'll be replacing 2 corner OFs next year because Jed is too cheap to sign any other FAs and too afraid to trade the prospects needed to acquire a big-name replacement. Now might be the time to take a chance and get Duran and Tolle/Early from the Red Sox for Shaw plus others.

I've been saying this for a long time. Shaw is a utility player on the Cubs' roster and yet he has the trade value to be the first piece in a TOR trade. His trade value is decreasing daily. Other teams may have a need and picture him as a solid, controlled IF, so trade him now.

5 innings is about par for the course in modern MLB. The last time MLB starters averaged 6 innings pitched was about 30 years ago.

All of the stories about the Mets struggling suggest that they might be sellers. If that happens, Peralta would be a nice addition to the rotation.

Expand the deal to include a utility IF along with the major target i.e. Early + Kiner-Falefa for Shaw + low pitching prospect.

It doesn't have to be hindsight because Shaw's trade value is 35.2 according to BTV (down from about 43 during the off season). Some interesting players out there are Miller (29.6), Rasmussen (24.5), Ryan (49.6), Tolle (35.2), Early (31.8), Alcantara (16.1), Gil (11.1), W. Abreu (32.3), Duran (43.6), and Chisholm (20.6). I'm not saying all of those players are currently available (or the other team is willing to trade), but most of those players would be more valuable to the Cubs than a utility player.

That's why I proposed trading him in the offseason. He had a ton of trade value according to BTV, but it will probably decrease pretty rapidly as a backup IF and a below average backup OF/1B. The left side of the infield is locked up long-term so we could have signed a mediocre backup IF for under $3million.

He is much much much cheaper because he's not nearly as good as Hoerner.

I'm more worried about the Cubs going cheap and the RNC getting a huge donation.

I'm not crazy about giving Jed (and Ricketts) that much money to play with. I'm sure they will try to go cheap in 1 or 2 of those spots, which will discourage top FAs from considering the Cubs.

Enjoy it while you can because there's a good chance we might let our 2B, LF, and RF walk after this season.

I'm hoping the Orioles DFA Mountcastle. He would be a great option for a RH bat.

I was referring to Hoyer when I said he must not read NSBB because many posters (including you and I) stated often that Tauchman would be a good addition.

Unfortunately, he must not read NSBB because Tauchman was mentioned by quite a few posters over the last few months as a good addition.

Hoyer blew it.