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Outshined_One

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Everything posted by Outshined_One

  1. Outshined_One
    Since we did separate threads for the draft, I opened a deadline rumor discussion thread for Cubs rumors so there's a central place for everyone to keep up to date on the latest and discuss.
  2. Outshined_One
    Since there's been a fair amount of discussion across multiple threads and forums over the last few weeks, I think it's only fair we open up something for general discussions regarding rumors today (and another thread tomorrow) for any articles, social media hubbub, and general wishcasting in advance of tomorrow's trade deadline. There will be another thread tomorrow, and we will also have separate threads for any deals that happen. ESPN's latest has...well, not much about the Cubs.
  3. Outshined_One
    Caissie might be the better prospect, but Ballesteros is probably the prospect most likely to help the Cubs *now*. Caissie is currently a thumper in AAA, but he's needed a fair amount of time with each promotion to adjust to the league, and he's also shown concerning enough K numbers that he probably will need at least a few months in the majors before he can be a positive at the plate. It also doesn't help that he's not a plus defender. Ballesteros has his own issues, but he's more likely to be a positive contributor at the plate right now.
  4. Outshined_One
    This has actually been hovering around my #2/#3 biggest need for the Cubs. This team has a phenomenal 1-9 options for the everyday lineup (10 if you include McGuire or Amaya), but things completely fall off a cliff once you go past that. Berti, Brujan, and Turner have been varying levels of bad, and Turner needs to be kept as far away from the OF as possible. They need someone who can hit LHP off the bench in a pinch, and the lack of depth is really going to show if upgrades aren't made at the deadline.
  5. Outshined_One
    It does, but the fact that none of those guys have been traded and most (not all) trades have involved guys on the periphery tells me that potential sellers are making life miserable for buyers right now. I'd be more aggravated if we'd seen other teams making a bunch of moves, but that simply hasn't been the case.
  6. Outshined_One
    I wouldn't say desperately, but a win would at least keep this thread from descending into Jonestown levels of doombonering.
  7. Outshined_One
    It's up. Share favorite memories and stories. Dude was my first favorite baseball player, and I loved how he played the game.
  8. Outshined_One
    Link No words.
  9. Outshined_One
    This ump is doing Boyd zero favors.
  10. Outshined_One
    The farm system has definitely improved since the end of the Theo Era, so credit there. I feel like the Cubs could do better, but they also very easily could do worse.
  11. Outshined_One
    Dodgers. Edman has been fine at 3B, but they need an upgrade.
  12. Outshined_One
    I kinda wanted them to tie it and force Berti to come back out for the 9th. Kinda figures he'd make the last out.
  13. Outshined_One
    This is oddly hilarious.
  14. Outshined_One
    If we're "within reason", that puts Gore and Ryan out of the picture. A B-level trade deadline would look like Mitch Keller, Willi Castro, and someone like Caleb Ferguson or Hoby Milner to me. Not splashy, but it would address three needs (rotation, bench, bullpen) and improve the team across the board.
  15. Outshined_One
    Story of my life.
  16. Outshined_One
    Houser is on my radar as a potential sneaky good trade pickup. He's likely due for a regression, but teams aren't barreling him up the way they did in years past and his walks have dropped. I don't think he'd start in a playoff series for this team, but he'd be a good target as a guy who could give Horton/Boyd a breather down the stretch and relegate Rea to long relief.
  17. Outshined_One
    A friend of mine used to work for a sports agency who represented amateur baseball players back in the day. Like all annoying things in life, it comes down to accounting. Signing bonuses are part of the overall compensation structure; this site gives a decent overview regarding what goes into the signing bonus process and how teams can get creative with that process. With a guy like Book, he might have told the Cubs he'd take the $100k signing bonus if it meant he got it all up front instead of the standard $75k/$75k structure you might see with a $150k bonus. He also may have been willing to agree to certain non-bonus clauses in his contract that would make it look like he *only* got $100k, but he received certain benefits/guarantees that might not show up on the bottom line, such as funding for education expenses in the event he doesn't make it, which might be worth more to him than just a $150k bonus.
  18. Outshined_One
    I always saw KLaw as a good writer with some interesting insights, but his prospect lists come across as contrarian and a bit curmudgeonly.
  19. Outshined_One
    It's also worth remembering this team is 6.5 games up in the Wild Card (2 ahead of the Phillies, 5 ahead of the Padres), and it took the Brewers going on an ungodly heater to knock them out of the division lead in the Central. They need depth and a starting pitcher, but this is a very good team as is.
  20. Outshined_One
    Life as a Cubs fan.
  21. Outshined_One
    This is why a second SP before the deadline is a necessity for this team. You not only need to upgrade Rea, but you also need backup for Boyd/Horton in case they need a breather down the stretch.
  22. Outshined_One
    Owen CaissieJaxon WigginsMoises BallesterosJefferson RojasKevin AlcantaraJonathon LongJames TriantosEthan ConradCristian HernandezBrandon BirdsellWill SandersChristian FranklinRyan GallagherPedro RamirezFernando CruzJuan TomasNazier MuleEli LovichIvan BrethowrRonny Cruz
  23. Outshined_One
    That'll do.
  24. Outshined_One
    We just had a bit rain up in Evanston. 🤷‍♂️ This kind of heat/humidity can sometimes breed pop-up thunderstorms.
  25. Outshined_One
    The recent lessons learned from Shaw and PCA should really educate the decision-making process around Caissie (as well as guys like Alcantara, Long, and Ballesteros, to various extents). He's prone to Ks and has shown the need to make adjustments with each promotion. He's made them so far in AAA, which is great! He looks ready! Except the reasonable expectation for him should be that he will fall flat on his face at the plate after being called up. Unlike Shaw or PCA, he's not a premium defender, so it will make things even worse by comparison. For whatever reason, the gulf between AAA and the majors for hitters is even more pronounced now than it was even a decade ago. We expect the 2026 Cubs to be just as competitive as now; can they carry Caissie for 200-300 PAs while he figures things out, especially if he's manning a position like LF or 1B that should produce a lot of offense? I like the idea of keeping him, but, in a way, he represents one of the best chances this team has to make the WS this season due to his trade value. I'm not saying trade him for anyone, but if it means getting someone like Gore? I'm all in favor.
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