This probably ends up being a minor trade but god I want Luzardo and Puk bad.
Here's a random thought, would Jed trade PCA as a result of signing Bellinger?
Catching up, I'm really happy for the Orioles. They get out from under Angelos' cheapskate thumb and get an ace for a reasonable price. Go for it, guys.
I assumed Gomes and Amaya would be the tandem all season and Jorge Alfaro is a pretty capable 3rd catcher down in Iowa, unless he has an opt-out clause. I wouldn't be against adding another backstop but I'm fine with the depth chart as it stands. Hey maybe we can try Morel at catcher!
That's all a really polite way of saying "You can believe in FACTS and SCIENCE and TREATING OTHERS WELL but people on my tv said fascism is actually good and that's fine with me so why are you mad?"
All that aside, I like our pen in general now. Another lefty might be nice but I don't know that I'd do much else.
I also didn't realize the 40 man was full but the obvious move is a Rucker DFA. He's given us some good innings but he's nothing special and probably would pass through waivers.
Man those Hendry drafts for a few years were brutal. 2005 and 2010 were garbage both at the time and in hindsight.
It's also insane to me that in the 2002 draft, the Cubs had 4 first round picks and 8 picks in the first three rounds and just ONE of those players made the majors (8 mediocre games pitched from Billy Petrick).
That's a great deal. Living in Philly I got see Neris with the Phillies plenty. He's got good stuff and the results to show it. Always thought he flew under the radar, even when he was closing. Gives the Cubs a nice late inning arm that didn't break the bank (which is important for PTR).
My wife worked for a cancer nonprofit and says the one he has is one of the worst to get. I'm hoping he can pull through.
Ryno is always one of my favorites. I also wore No. 23 playing ball as a kid. A few years ago I got back into card collecting and sending to athletes through the mail. Sandberg signed and returned to me in like a week. I'll cherish it forever. I still have his Topps rookie card I bought when I was like 10 with all my allowance money.
Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome but I'm starting to be ok with the idea of 3B being Madrigal and Wisdom with a side of Busch. Maybe upgrade at the trade deadline depending on how things are looking.
The Cubs have had success dumpster diving for relievers over the years. Merryweather and Leiter are two big recent finds. You can even point to guys like Hector Rondon and Cahill and Duensing. And relivers can be volatile. So I don't love the idea of allocating a ton of money for the pen but we need another shutdown guy after how badly winded the pen looked in September. Robertson and/or Moore would be good gets.
I like the idea of trading with the Marlins. Does Triantos, Mervis, Caissie for Puk and Edward Cabrera do anything?
I like the idea of Ben Brown, Assad and Wicks battling for the 5th starter spot but we need an injection of velocity into the rotation badly.
I know we've cooled on him but Mervis still should hold value. I've been wondering if there's a way we could swing a deal with him for a controllable reliever like a James Karinchak. Is that too unreasonable? Not necessarily a one-for-one.
This is a wild trade. Ferris was probably my favorite pitching prospect in the system and I'm pretty bummed. Busch is a great prospect but now we have two bat-first guys without a position? I hope this doesn't lead to a Morel trade just for the sake of it. I'm still digesting all this.
I know they need pitching but I really want Wicks to win a spot in the rotation. Heck can maybe even piggyback him and either Assad or Wesneski. Especially if we go with a 6 man rotation.
Also I'm still really holding out hope that Keegan can still be a guy.