Backtobanks

The Braves were desperate enough for a slugger that they would play Schwarber in the OF, even though he should be a DH. Adam Dunn had no business playing the OF either, but if you need his bat in the lineup you find a way.

You're going to need to get a lot more specific in terms of timing if you're going to keep tooting your own horn on this. When exactly did you want these trades to be made? If you trade Schwarber and Russell, you're giving Zobrist a full time job at either second base or left field. A full time set job for a guy in his late 30s who draws a lot of value from his positional versatility. This also means that it becomes much harder to hide Heyward the last couple years as he struggled to be a replacement level player. You can't sit Heyward for Zobrist against lefties if you need Zobrist to play second or left. Of those remaining players you named, who of Happ, LaStella, and Bote did you want to give full time ABs to going into 2017? Ian Happ had just got done throwing up a .318 OBP in AA. David Bote had a good year in high A, and got a cup of coffee in AAA as a reward. He spent all of 2017 in AA. Tommy LaStella? Lol ok. I know this is where you point random free agent X that turned out to be a great deal as a way to retroactively solve all our problems. But let's not pretend like this grand solution was sitting there, obvious to you but not Theo, at the time. How about 2017 when Schwarber has a hero and Russell was still considered a top draft pick. Hell, Schwarber still could have been valuable (Braves, Indians, etc.) this past offseason until Theo announced he was unavailable. As I said before, it was obvious from day one that Schwarber was born to be a DH and Russell was going to be replaced by Baez. The players that I named were internal possibilities, but there were plenty of external trade possibilities or FAs in the last two years that could have filled those two spots.

Even if the defensive numbers were off last year, Schwarber isn’t a “DH only” anymore in LF. He’s completely fine if not a little above average out there. With DH in the NL, he probably wouldn't be playing the field. As trade bait to the AL, I would think most teams would consider him a DH unless they already had a DH that couldn't play the field.

My point about trading Schwarber (and Russell) back when they had trade value was based on the fact that they were both easily replaced while giving us solid ML pitching (or top pitching prospects). Schwarber always has been the epitome of a DH in a league that doesn't use a DH. Russell's obvious replacement was Baez who moved off of SS for Russell. Finding a replacement LF and 2B from Zobrist, Happ, LaStella, Bote, or a FA would have been rather easy.

For drafting him? Or for not trading him when his value was high? Or for not trading him not that his value is lowered? Or some other reason? For not trading him when people thought he was the second coming of Babe Ruth. I suggested trading both Russell and Schwarber when they had trade value.

That's insane. Lester is probably the best free agent signing the Cubs have ever had. Andre Dawson would disagree.

Time for another speech. If his speech can turn this year around he will be worth his contract (almost :lol: ).

Who's going to get Theo's coffee?

Depends on how much he wants.

I think the Cubs could use a guy with a big mouth.

That's what happens when you take a rest in the middle of a race while the other runners keep running.

The FO has to prove why he was our big FA signing.

From MLBTR - Giants have released catcher Rene Rivera from his minor league contract, as reported by several members of the Giants beat (including NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic). Do you think PTR can afford him on a minor league deal?

Butbutbut.... I thought the Giants were going to take Jason Heyward so we could get Harper! :lol: You do wonder about their FO when they might prefer Harper over Heyward.

I think that chapter might have a few references to PTR.

Actually probably just the opposite, he came back to use the locker that the Cubs were going to give to Harper before they realized he was serious about wanting a big contract.

Gj Noah Syndergaard, sucks he will never be a Cub because of this uppity attitude I have a feeling the Cubs trade for him...in 10 years. And 3 surgeries.

We would probably have to clear some payroll to afford him at a few million.

If we sign him we might have the inside track on getting his cousin Enrique to sing the 7th inning stretch. Those relative connections really worked for the White Sox (or not). :lol:

Obviously they have the potential to do better, but last year they had 1.5, .9,1.6,and .6 for Schwarber, Almora, Heyward, and Happ according to Baseball Reference.

You mean someone like Rivera that just signed a minor league deal?

I'd be careful if I were "the Rizz". PTR always looking for a deal. PTR would wait for Lester, Darvish, Hamels,Bryant, and Zobrist to make the same offer before he would budge.

Good thing for Theo & company because we really don't have any (pitching prospects). Ahead of the curve again, amirite? Apparently there aren't any good FA's either.

Let's not forget that he used the state to pay for his stadium while he is raking in tons of $$$$.

Trump has a better chance of his emergency getting through Congress than Theo getting it through PTR.