Backtobanks

If we're going to make a big deal, go after Carlos Gomez to solve offensive problems and then get a cheap (in players) rental (Harang, Kennedy, Latos, etc.) for a 5th starter. During the offseason, go big for a FA pitcher.

While the Dodgers and Red Sox are unlikely to want to part with their most talented youth -- Corey Seager and Julio Urias in Los Angeles, and Mookie Betts and Blake Swihart in Boston -- Jayson Stark reported that the Phillies are willing to go for a balance of quantity and quality in a Hamels' deal. That would mean six -- six! -- prospects for Hamels. While it obviously depends on which six, if one of these teams really wants Hamels and everything his contract represents compared to this winter's options, then they'll have to pay up that number or something reasonably close to it.

From MLBTR: The Mets are still willing to deal Jon Niese, but are asking for a player with multiple years of control in return, Stark tweets. The southpaw has turned up his performance of late, racking up eight straight quality starts (at least 6 innings pitched, no more than 3 earned runs) since a run of rough outings to end the month of May. He is playing on a $7MM salary this year and represents a $9MM tab for 2016, but can be controlled thereafter through a pair of options ($10MM and $11MM, respectively, each with $500K buyouts). Given New York’s evident budgetary restrictions, it has seemed that moving Niese’s salary could be a way for the club to free resources to allocate to the struggling offense, but it’s not clear whether they’ll have much hope of pulling that off in a single transaction. How about Castro + pitching prospect for Niese and Daniel Murphy. Russell takes over SS while Murphy plays 2B.

That's the bottom line. Let's quit pretending that he's adequate at catching, just don't be comically bad.

Disagree. The WSox can't run out all their LH starters and win. They need catching, middle infield and CF. We seem to have available players they could use. Yeah, Quintana would be exactly what we need. It would certainly be worth a phone call to see if there's any possibility and ask what the price would be.

If this is a showcase, then all of the AL teams might be drooling.

Are you familiar with the Bears? The all star break happens around the same time every year and training camp begins around the same time every year, meaning there is nothing to cover roughly two weeks before training camp, every year. The Tribune covering the countdown to training camp is not some random decision they made because it's a slow week. I know this. That doesn't refute what I said, though. If there were baseball to cover, there probably wouldn't be training camp coverage 2 weeks before it even starts. At the very least, there'd be a lot less of it. There just is absolutely nothing else for them to report on. That was my point, there's nothing else to report on. I'm a Bears' fan, but the media coverage gets pretty ridiculous.

As one Tribune writer wrote today - "longest week in sports". So bad that the Tribune started their 14 day countdown to Bears training camp.

From MLBTR: In a mailbag piece, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes that he can envision Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Wilin Rosario and John Axford being traded in the next two weeks. Though Nick Hundley appears to be a classic trade candidate — he’s hitting well in the first season of an affordable two-year deal — Saunders writes that he’s emerged as a strong presence in the clubhouse, which upper management may not want to lose. Blackmon would make an intriguing trade candidate, though his struggles against lefties and significant home/road splits throughout his career would seem like potential hindrances to his trade value, in my mind. Blackmon would be a perfect addition: platoon with Fowler, can play all 3 OF positions, reasonably young, controllable until 2019.

Yep, though acquiring was the favored word. I expect a trade, a big trade. I posted once before that I hope the Cubs do make a big deal this year before some of our trade chips (Castro, Baez, Alcantara, etc.) lose their trade value. The right deal at the deadline could set us up for 2016-2020. This year's team has been fun to watch, but you can see the pieces aren't all in place yet for serious contention.

Obviously Arrieta. Lester gets to start game 1 of the regular playoff series after Arrieta gets us into the playoffs.

Bryant & Rizzo ought to chip in for a plane ticket to Cincy in order to pitch to them in the HR Derby.

From MLBTR: One person familiar with the Reds thinking tells Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that he believes there’s at least a 50/50 chance Jay Bruce is traded in July. Recently, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports heard that Bruce is as “as good a bet as anyone” on the team to be dealt. Bruce, 28, is controllable for three more years and offers an established power bat. Bruce would certainly look good in our lineup. I'm hoping the Cubs go big at the deadline before some of our trade chips (Castro, Baez, Alacantara, etc.) lose all of their trade value. I think there are teams out there that might be interested in Castro and Baez.

Gammons is reporting that the Padres are listening to offers on Shields I wonder if the Padres would go for a Castro + Jackson for Shields + Venable deal. Tweak with a few prospects going both ways. Total money is close to even.

Our "concern" over the glut of middle infielders seems to have waned with the struggles of Alcantara, Castro, and Baez. Obviously Russell will be our SS in the near future, but his bat has been below the expectations (even factoring in his age).

After saying that Baez for Niese was highly unlikely unless it involved a bigger deal, this guy from SBNation suggested: Another more realistic option for the Mets on the Cubs' roster could be third baseman Mike Olt. Olt, who was once a top prospect in the Rangers organization, has been a huge disappointment since the Cubs acquired him in the Matt Garza trade. The 27-year-old has batted just .158/.245/.333 in 111 major league games, and his future as a starter with the club is in serious doubt now that Kris Bryant occupies third base. Despite his discouraging batting line, Olt has shown some pop in the majors, hitting 12 home runs in 89 games last season. The Mets have a void at third base with David Wright's injury, so acquiring Olt for Niese represents a much more realistic trade option for the Mets. Attempting to catch lightning in a bottle with a player like Olt could eventually pay dividends. Now there's a deal I would go for.

From MLBTR: The Cubs have considered dealing for Mets left-hander Jon Niese, although they might also aim higher. The salary remaining on Niese’s current deal (he’ll make $9MM next year, plus a $500K buyout or $10MM option in 2016) might also be a slight obstacle to trading him.

Don't know you well enough to say, but it sounds like the scouting report on you is that you wouldn't tip your cap for the seven playoff seasons but instead would focus on how they didn't make the proper moves to make the playoffs in all eight. I'll admit I get really frustrated with people who try to bash Epstein. Maybe it's naive, but I have total trust in the front office for the first time as a Cubs fan. I want nobody in charge more than them. Yes, they will make mistakes. It's baseball. But the process behind their ways is magical and something I dread not having whenever he and his boys leave. I agree with Kyle on this one. I support Epstein, but believing that "the process behind their ways is magical" is a bit much. Front office management has changed so much in the last 10 years (because of Epstein, Beane, etc.) that I think Theo and his boys can be replaced if they choose to leave. I really, really believe there are not many GMs who could have delivered what the Cubs have now in such a short period of time. The rebuild was risky in that they had to hit on a number of guys or the thing was going to stall, and they pretty much hit on all the important things for it to happen while also getting some key guys back in trades. Sorry, but I just can't believe there are that many front offices in the game today that would have the Cubs in the position they are in now. The Astros, Royals, and Pirates are examples of losing and taking the draft choices to rebuild, but none of them had the assets (Cashner, Garza, Hammel, etc.) at the ML level to trade for more prospects.

Don't know you well enough to say, but it sounds like the scouting report on you is that you wouldn't tip your cap for the seven playoff seasons but instead would focus on how they didn't make the proper moves to make the playoffs in all eight. I'll admit I get really frustrated with people who try to bash Epstein. Maybe it's naive, but I have total trust in the front office for the first time as a Cubs fan. I want nobody in charge more than them. Yes, they will make mistakes. It's baseball. But the process behind their ways is magical and something I dread not having whenever he and his boys leave. I agree with Kyle on this one. I support Epstein, but believing that "the process behind their ways is magical" is a bit much. Front office management has changed so much in the last 10 years (because of Epstein, Beane, etc.) that I think Theo and his boys can be replaced if they choose to leave.

Why wouldn't you want to acquire Buxton when we already have Ross as a replacement for Schwarber? :lol:

Trade him even up for Trout. :clapping:

Another option could be Greinke: The Dodgers aren’t doing much to entice Zack Greinke to stay, Mark Saxon of ESPN.com writes. Greinke has been vocal about his lack of run support this season as he continues to lose despite strong pitching. Greinke, of course, has the right to opt out of his contract following this season. If he doesn’t opt out, Greinke will be in line to earn $78MM over the remaining three years. Through 13 starts this season, the 31-year-old owns a 1.95 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9.

We could use his bat more than his arm.

If he's as good a hitter as we think he is, it would make a lot of sense. It doesn't interrupt the Baez "clock", it doesn't cause any defensive changes, etc. Keep your 8 regular players in the positions they're used to and bring up a guy who can hit, but struggles with defense.

Nobody's going to reverse the deal, but Cashner should would look good in our rotation.