Post Count Padder

I had apparently not paid attention and didn't realize he basically went hitless the final month of the season. I was banking on passable bat with the ability to catch and play multiple positions. I also was thinking of him as a possible 26th man/Iowa shuttle guy vs. a regular contributor. Having said that, his numbers are dismal and he was just DFA'd.

I mean, Matt Thaiss isn't a bad bench bat. But we're not talking about possible fits, we're playing #PTR roulette.

The hit rate on draft picks is very low in Major League Baseball. But we're going to second-guess picks from the past anyway. Isn't that what the offseason is for? Image courtesy of © Jerry Lai-Imagn Images Playing armchair quarterback (or general manager) to your team's play and transactions is easy. You also trust your organization to scout profusely and plan and discuss the best ways forward. That being said, I was dubious leading up to the 2007 MLB Draft regarding how the Cubs would proceed and immediately peeved at their first-round pick (and for years afterward). I (and several others) salivated at the thought of selecting Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters. He was a sound defender behind the plate with big power potential. Despite Geovany Soto's breakout in the minors in 2007 (which was just months old at this point), there was not much in the cupboard regarding catching and Wieters would have been a very nice addition to the system. Instead, the Cubs used the No. 3 pick in the draft to select high school third baseman Josh Vitters. Vitters was a smooth hitter with raw power who was seen as a slight reach but still had potential. The concerns were if his power would ever fully develop and how much time his transition to wood bats would require. Fast forward, and Vitters hit well enough in the minor leagues. He would be a top 100 prospect for the next three seasons, though he never reached 20 home runs in a season and continued to face concerns about his long-term power potential in the majors. Vitters posted impressive numbers as a 22-year-old in Triple-A in 2012, with an .870 OPS. This was good enough for a cup of coffee in what would be his only call-up to the majors. He hit just .121 in 36 games and returned to Iowa. After that, Vitters battled injury and ineffectiveness and was out of the Cubs system by 2015. He spent a few years toiling in independent ball before hanging up his cleats. He is somehow still just 35 years old as of this writing. Wieters never became a superstar but tallied four All-Star Game appearances and two Gold Gloves for the Orioles and helped them reach the playoffs four times. Injuries played a role in his sharp decline in his 30s, not uncommon for catchers. But he still was one of the better catchers in the majors during this time and averaged a 3.5 bWAR per 162 games during his time with the Orioles. It's easy to imagine what would have been possible if the roles had been reversed. Maybe Wieters stabilizes the catcher position for the Cubs and hits better when playing in a weaker division than the AL East. Maybe Soto is used as a trade chip, or the two form an impressive hitting tandem behind the dish. We can also look at the bigger picture and see a butterfly effect. The Cubs' next pick in the draft was, in fact, used on a catcher: future MVP third baseman Josh Donaldson. Donaldson was used in the 2008 trade with the Athletics to acquire Rich Harden, and then the Athletics converted him to third base. Maybe that deal never happens. Maybe the Cubs opt to make that position change, and Donaldson becomes entrenched at the hot corner. Or maybe the Cubs never picked Donaldson in the draft after selecting Wieters. Maybe instead, the Cubs gambled on one of two players who went in the second round, Mike (Giancarlo) Stanton or Freddie Freeman. Maybe this will lead to the Cubs never acquiring Anthony Rizzo, with Freeman holding down first base. Maybe the drafting of Wieters leads to the Cubs continuing to contend in the early 2010s instead of struggling to stay above water before tanking and bringing Theo Epstein aboard. Or maybe Wieters flames out, never reaching his potential, and/or the Cubs' coaching and instructors fail him in his growth. This was not uncommon for Cubs hitting prospects in the 2000s in what is likely an indictment of our system at the time (see Felix Pie, Brian Dopirak, Nic Jackson, Ryan Harvey, Tyler Colvin, etc.). Then, we could wonder if Wieters was the correct choice. And just maybe Vitters became what we imagined, and Kris Bryant will not be taken in 2013, or the next few drafts will be impacted. It is all a series of "maybes," and you could play this game with virtually anything. It is somewhat ludicrous to suggest a simple draft choice could have changed the Cubs' fortunes in the near future. Or is it? Imagining various "what might've been" scenarios is still fun. What other draft picks could we second-guess? View full article

Hmmm that's an odd one for sure. Luzardo's stock is down because he was bad and injured. I'm not sure I'd part with Alcantara for him at this point. McGeary as a throw in is kinda amusing because he basically has no value anymore.

I wouldn't trade Horton at this point. His stock is low and I still believe in his future. I don't mind that Crochet deal. And I do love Jeff Hoffman as a pickup. Watched him the last two years here in Philly.

The Angels' best two catching prospects are 19 and 18. O'Hoppe is still affordable and also good. I assume that while we checked in, there was no deal that was close.

It's a fair point (and I'd also toss in Birdsell as someone I've got my eye on for a MLB debut in 2025). I guess I'm saying I'm comfortable if that's all we do and two No. 2 or 3 starters isn't a necessity, unless later in the offseason other pieces have fallen into place and the prices drop.

Feels unlikely to me. You get Fried or one of the Mariners guys then you have: Shota, Steele, Taillon, Acquisition, Assad or one of Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Wesneski, Killian, Cade Horton (?). That's solid depth that I'm comfortable with. It's possible they add another swing guy like Smyly who can be a depth starter but I don't think two big starters is a priority given needs elsewhere.

Like I said in another thread, I really don't want to part with Shaw because he fills a need for us soon too. And we have OF prospects for days. The Mariners are constantly in need of power and Haniger was not it, nor was it Arozarena after the deadline. I think Caissie and Triantos and BJ Murray could be part of a deal there, with other pieces involved obviously.

I'd be all for one of the Mariners starters and they have the depth. I think we could possibly do it without Shaw. I think they go all in on Bregman in FA (the M's that is). Maybe Caissie and Triantos and someone like Arias or a further away INF prospect for one of them?

The Cardinals are moving Contreras to first base. As much as I love him, I'm glad we didnt give him that contract.

What are thoughts on Kyle Higashioka one a one year deal to team with Amaya? Veteran with decent numbers behind the plate who provides some power. And gives us another year to see if Ballesteros is gonna be the guy at catcher. Also shouldn't cost a ton and savings can be used to help the pen.

Riley Thompson, Cam Sanders and Cole Roederer added onto the pile of Cubs prospects I thought would be something.

FWIW MLB Trade Rumors did their predictions and consensus is we get Fried and Danny Jansen. I wouldn't be displeased with that but I think a good reliever is a must as well.

I would trade Tauchman for Bubic in a heartbeat which means it's unlikely. We did the similar Velasquez for Cuas deal that worked out for no one. I'd also be down for packaging Tauchman and some prospects for a catcher if there's a good fit for both sides.

What TT said. A full season from PCA, Paredes finds his power again and we get a catcher who can hit (as well as not giving plate appearances to guys like Mastroɓuoni) and that's auch better offense. We also have to believe Dansby will bounce back too. I think we're looking at added likelihood a SP or catcher is added by trade with Bellinger opting in to avoid overspending in FA. There's an obvious log jam of OF prospects in the upper minors.

The extra payroll flexibility would've been nice but he is a very good player who can handle multiple positions and is well liked in the clubhouse. I'm not mad about it. And I think we all assumed this was the likely outcome.

Ethan Roberts collects cards and was doing a live video last night and said he feels pretty sure Bellinger stays put so there you have it.

I'd love if he could retire spending his whole career here. He was mostly bad this year and the magic is gone but definitely one of the best Cubs pitchers in my lifetime. Meant so much to the organization and fans. He has every right to seek another deal but I hope he doesn't go somewhere else, get lit up in 5 starts, get DFAd and then retire.

Vasquez graduated? He barely played? For the somewhat uneducated, is Long a product of system adjustments that will stick or is he gonna be a Haydn McGeary one year wonder?

Cubs get: Bryce Miller, Vlad Jr, Varsho (can he go back to catcher?) Mariners get: Busch, Ballesteros, Addison Barger Jays get: Triantos, Caissie, Wicks, sweetener from the Mariners

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41238109/sources-twins-cut-derek-bender-catcher-told-opposing-hitters-incoming-pitch So his career is over I take it. 6th rounder two months ago, was 189th on MLB Pipeline's top draft prospects.

Let's get wild. Triantos, Ballesteros, Drew Gray, Kohl Franklin to the Mariners for Cal Raleigh and Bryan Woo. Give Tanner Scott a check. Christian Hernandez and Will Sanders to the Twins for Griffin Jax and Jose Miranda. C - Raleigh 1B - Busch 2B - Hoerner SS - Swanson 3B- Paredes RF - Bellinger CF - PCA LF - Happ DH - Suzuki Bench - Amaya, Miranda, Canario, UTIL of choice SP - Imanaga, Steele, Taillon, Woo, winner of Assad/Wicks/Horton/Ben Brown ST battle RP - Scott, Jax, Hodge, Merryweather, Luke Little, Pearson, Tyson Miller, Assad/Ben Brown/Wesneski/potential FA signing Maybe it's not shooting for the stars but the lineup is better, the defense is better, the rotation has depth, the backend of the pen is solid.

Feels like a good deal, honestly. I wouldn't do it for the Cubs but Chapman clearly likes the Bay Area, and gets his guaranteed money after a great season. For the Giants, they add certainty to the position and Chapman's defense gives him a decent floor even if his bat regresses.