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Outshined_One

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Everything posted by Outshined_One

  1. Outshined_One
    I saw him as a defensive tweener type and was skeptical about how his contact profile and power would translate to the pros. I admittedly was a bit all over the map on that draft, but leading up to the draft I was leaning in favor of one of the college catchers, James Tibbs, or Christian Moore. For the record, I was happy with Cam Smith when he was selected.
  2. Outshined_One
    More a vibe than anything else as to Caissie/Alcantara. Note I didn't say the same about Ballesteros, who was the first to get the call when there was an opening. He acquitted himself well, so I think he'll stay in the system in 2026, even if it's to work on catching at Iowa. Injuries definitely derailed Caissie and Alcantara, but with the Cubs in win-now mode, it didn't seem like there was a priority on getting them playing time, even when Tucker's calf was mooing. I could see a world where the Cubs get middling starter like Refsnyder or Yaz as a corner OF backup plan and letting Caissie and/or Alcantara sink or swim, but this isn't a team that can afford to give 300 plate appearances to a corner OF who will likely struggle in adjusting to major league pitching.
  3. Outshined_One
    I've been thinking the Cubs might explore trade options to address Tucker's absence. I don't see them in on Bellinger or Schwarber (sadly), and the prospect of Yaz or Refsnyder is just depressing. Based on how the season finished, I get the lingering sense that the team isn't quite sold on handing a starting OF job to Caissie/Alcantara, and the idea of shifting Seiya to RF and having Ballesteros take over at DH doesn't quite seem right to me, especially since Amaya should be 100% healthy and ready to take the backup C role. There are some intriguing OF trade candidates going into the offseason. Jarren Duran will be the main name thrown around, but I don't think the Cubs match up super great with the Red Sox, so I'm wondering how this team would feel about someone like Steven Kwan or Taylor Ward.
  4. Outshined_One
    The "no compensation attached" angle makes me think the Cubs will take a harder run at him than we might expect. They've been stingy with draft capital under Jed, and Imai checks a lot of boxes the rotation will need going into next season.
  5. Outshined_One
    Derwood finally won something?
  6. Outshined_One
    The hilarious thing to me about that draft is the one guy I absolutely, positively did not want the Cubs to take (JJ Wetherholt) ended up becoming a Top 5 prospect. Go figure.
  7. Outshined_One
    Time to hit the wayback machine to the 2024 MLB Draft! Consider this a friendly reminder to everyone that prospecturbation is more an art than a skill, particularly when it comes to the draft.
  8. Outshined_One
    Alcantara's sports hernia surgery definitely puts some perspective onto the Cubs' usage of him at the end of the season. I don't think it hinders his trade value, and it actually makes you wonder if he'd have had a more prominent role if he were fully healthy. I still think Mo is the most likely of the Iowa bunch to have a regular role on the team next season, but one ponders these things while watching the inevitability of the Brewers getting swept.
  9. Outshined_One
    Unfortunately, he has to operate within the rules regarding things like tampering, so this sort of mealy-mouthed doubletalk is par for the course across MLB when it comes to free agency and player contracts. You don't want to get fined or lose draft picks because you talked out of turn.
  10. Outshined_One
    I'm kinda there with those three and, to a lesser extent, Johnny Long and James Triantos. I think we have a pretty good idea of their respective ceilings and floors, with Ballesteros probably being the only one to benefit from more time in AAA if the Cubs truly believe he can stick at catcher long term, although he's also the only one of the five I'd be comfortable seeing in the 2026 opening day lineup.
  11. Outshined_One
    I'm admittedly down on Caissie and Alcantara for 2026. I can't remember who first mentioned it in the context of Wicks and Brown, but I really wish there was a way to loan both out to a team like the Pirates where they could play every day comfortably, make mistakes, learn, and then come back to the Cubs in 6 months to a year. If either is the starting OF come opening day, something seriously went wrong. I've mentioned elsewhere, but my sense is the Cubs are going to make their highest/best offer to Tucker early and go from there. Whether he takes it should dictate whether they pursue a TOR SP through trade or free agency.
  12. Outshined_One
    I understand the perspective, but that positive variance is also what contributes so much to Shaw's value in the trade market. The PCA comparison is valid to an extent, but I don't think Shaw's skillset is comparable if you're doing an apples to apples comparison. I'm not saying Shaw is bad, far, far from it, but I also don't think he's untouchable. I am also saying that he's at a position with 2-3 high quality FAs and he'd likely be the first ask in any potential trade deal for someone like, say, MacKenzie Gore, whereas I don't think you'd find similar interest or value with Caissie, Alcantara, or Ballesteros.
  13. Outshined_One
    I don't see trading Shaw as giving up on him. I'd see it as maximizing his present value, given that he has proven that he can be at least an above average 3B just with his defense, and his bat is a bit of an open question going forward. He can still be a starting quality 3B with a long career with a mediocre bat and good defense, but I think that can be upgraded for next season. The big question I think we all have for next season is the rotation, and I get the sense there's only so much money in the kitty that a trade pretty much *has* to happen to get either a big bat or a TOR starter. I'm skeptical they'll be able to acquire both in FA, but I think replacing Shaw's current production would be doable with Bregman or Suarez, and I think a lot of teams would be open to trading a top flight controllable SP for him.
  14. Outshined_One
    The Twins took a lot of heat for their fire sale and not trading Ryan was definitely a head-scratcher since he was their best piece with a lot of teams looking for SPs. They might hang onto him to keep the fanbase from revolting, but who knows?
  15. Outshined_One
    Shaw is probably the best trade chip this team has in the offseason. The Cubs could conceivably target Suarez or Bregman if the goal would be to trade Shaw for a cost controlled SP. It's an interesting thought experiment.
  16. Outshined_One
    The Brewers deserve credit for going on their insane run. Home field indeed was a factor in this series, and their pitching was ultimately the difference. There's a lot of what could have been with injuries and the failure to add a rotation piece. But even then, I don't know if it would have been enough to overcome the offense's shortcomings, be it here or against the Dodgers. It was a successful season, but there's work to be done this offseason.
  17. Outshined_One
    Don't know their salary situation, but Tucker would be a really good fit for them.
  18. Outshined_One
    I read something on Defector that pointed something out regarding bunting I hadn't thought of. Because the shift has been effectively eliminated, it's a hell of a lot harder to bunt for a hit than it was even a few years ago since there aren't big holes in defensive alignments any more.
  19. Outshined_One
    That was unnecessarily stressful, but I'll take it.
  20. Outshined_One
    Alright Boyd, let's not have a repeat of Game 1.
  21. Outshined_One
    We should have sat him!!!!! Hahahahah
  22. Outshined_One
    Let's chase this fool and wreck their pen for Game 5.
  23. Outshined_One
    This thread is why I horsefeathers despise the 8 PM start time.
  24. Outshined_One
  25. Outshined_One
    I don't see a universe where the Cubs win this series without Boyd pitching at least once more.
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