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Jason Ross

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Everything posted by Jason Ross

  1. Jason Ross
    Ballesteros could have lots of routes 1. Don't resign Tucker and he's the DH 2. Trade Happ or Suzuki in their last year of their deals - not impossible even with NTC - Ballesteros DH 3. PCA didn't start with the MLB roster in 2024 he got 410 PAs Worst case he will be 22 years old. If he got another 200 PA's in Iowa he won't die.
  2. Jason Ross
    I would guess, and just guessing if the Cubs did that Horton would be there to save real prospect capital. Maybe Horton, Caissie and then keep the rest of your Wiggins, Rojas, Alcantara, Ballesteros group.
  3. Jason Ross
    Gore has thrown 133, and 166 innings the last two years. He probably has 10-11 starts left in 2025 regular season. Season velo is 95.3and last 5 was 95.1. There's nothing there that suggests he can't push to 175 innings right now.
  4. Jason Ross
    No one needs to remind me what Horton could be. I've been the highest person on Horton since draft day when everyone hated it. But the Cubs will probably have to get a little irrational to get the guy they want. And if you traded Horton, but kept Wiggins, I think you can find a way where the pain isn't as bad. That also depends on how the Cubs internally view Wiggins vs Horton, too. There's lots of things here. I'm just saying, there's a world it makes sense even if it hurts to say it.
  5. Jason Ross
    I'm going to play devils advocate here for a moment and please remember I'm the Cade Guy. You can make an argument where trading him and getting Gore can work. Youd *have* to keep Wiggins. But let's say you expect to shutdown Horton anyways, so for 2025 purposes, you're not losing a ton of additional on field value. Next year, you get Steele back, have a stable of young back end types like Assad, Birdsell, Sanders, maybe Wicks, and then Wiggins comes up 2026 mid-year and does the Horton thing if/when an injury bites. You cannot do Shaw/Horton. But I can see a world where Horton could make sense. Which hurts me to type, but realistically, it's there.
  6. Jason Ross
  7. Jason Ross
  8. Jason Ross
    Yeah, that's a pretty big price. Massive.
  9. Jason Ross
    Olney: Suarez and Cease likely to be moved
  10. Jason Ross
    Traded the #3 prospect in baseball, Leodalis De Vries
  11. Jason Ross
    I won't speak for Matt, but I think he fits multiple ways. 1. Mike Soroka is a better version of Chris Flexen. The Cubs used Flexen in pretty limited roles; he'd be the guy you'd see pop in extras when the team used the rest of their available pen arms, or he'd come in during losing situations. Soroka is more effective (and was very effective in relief in 2024) meaning you don't need to shield or limit him. This also opens up potential options for the rest of your pen. 2. You can use Soroka as a starter if need be. He's better than Colin Rea, and likely more trustoworthy than Ben Brown all things considered, so if another injury pops up on the year, moving him into a SP for a bit of time makes sense. He lengthens your pitching depth in that way. He's pitched far better than his ERA. And while I agree that the Cubs should spend more money in general, it never hurts, regardless of your budget, to have useful, flexible, and versatile pitching.
  12. Jason Ross
    There are enough mid-rotation arms (which includes Morton) that the Cubs should find one today. A bit of a bummer that they didn't get Suarez, but the Cubs maybe just as good by getting a Willi Castro if they can make that kind of a thing happen. How available each is, is up for debate, but arms who fit at least a midrotation mold and are still plausible include Gore, Ryan, Cabrera, Alcantara, Kelly, Morton, Keller, and Cease. And these are just like a handful of names that just rattled off my brain.
  13. Jason Ross
    Yeah the idea of Bieber was nice. Jays basically traded their version of Wiggins for him though. Not sure I liked Bieber that much.
  14. Jason Ross
    We're probably trending that way. If not now, maybe when Taillon/Assad come back.
  15. Jason Ross
    Jays traded Khal Stephen. FG ranked him #4 org, top-80 overall. That's pricey. I doubt he was ever a realistic backup plan at that price.
  16. Jason Ross
    Bummer. On to the next.
  17. Jason Ross
    Interesting, he was a big bonus kid. At 17 years old, he's forever and a year away. As it pertains to IFA SS's the Cubs usually get one or two every year who have big bonuses and still kept Tomas and Cabada. There's a chance this is our Fernando Tatis. But more likely he's our Reggie Preciado.
  18. Jason Ross
    I do not think he will be in the rotation. Both Zumach and Matt have said the Cubs like him in the bullpen. I think he would end up in a rotation spot for two main reasons: 1. The Cubs don't close the door on another SP 2. Someone eventually gets hurt But I think the Cubs envision him as a reliever first and foremost. EDIT: Maybe if they settle on Bieber, who has just made his last start in Double-A, Soroka would be capable of being in the rotation for 2 or 3 turns and then give way to Shane in 2 weeks or so when he's more built up and ready, as well.
  19. Jason Ross
    My guess is the Cubs will spend most of the day trying to get a controlled SP. There are obvious ones like Ryan, Gore and Cabrera, and likely a few we have no idea are available. My hope is they can get one, but I also know that's a pretty tall task. As the day goes, they might have to pivot. As much as I'd love to bully a team off of their controlled SP, for all of the reasons I wasn't worried Jed would pay two-top-100 types for Suarez, I am equally confident that Hoyer won't do that. He will value these pitchers in a specific way and if they never come down to his level, then they'll remain in their current colors. At that point, I think the Cubs end up with Shane Bieber. The Cubs always get connected with him and with how both teams get together on trades, I think they'll be a team who will hold onto Bieber late into the day.
  20. Jason Ross
    Oh makes sense! Yeah I think Soroka is going to be a better version of Flexen. Brad Keller lite? Flexen was kind of the "last guy" in the BP for many aspects. He'd pitch in extras in a close game because you ran out of options or he would be your " designated loser" when you were down and hoping he could give length and not give up too many when you wrre down to maybe mount a comeback. Soroka probably does that role better (specifically designated loser, a more important role than probably ever given credit for) but also could pitch in close games in the 6th and 7th far with much more confidence than Flexen was given. Could also be a starter if we had another injury too and be better than Flexen. But I do really think he's a nice upgrade in the BP. He might not be Duran, but I think he adds a nice bit of depth to a BP that needed it.
  21. Jason Ross
    If the Cubs *dont* get a SP today, the rotation through the next few weeks would be: Shota/Boyd/Horton/Soroka/Rea with Taillon bumping Horton. But I think the Cubs will get a SP today on top of Soroka. Sharma said at the time of the trade "a few" pitching additions and the Cubs have made two, so I think one more is incoming. I think the Cubs will spend the day really working on a controlled SP. That they have already acquired two rentals might be an indication they feel more confident on that than previously, or could suggest they just are not interested in the rental reliever market and this was their solution. Kittridge has a $9m team options, but I assume there is no way thats being picked up. Cubs can still pivot at any moment from the Cabrera/Gore/Ryan market to the Kelly/Morton/Gallen market and remain one of the few games in town for the former (there arent many teams with means and ability to nail down a real trade for the controlled arms). I would assume in a perfect world for the Cubs that today would end with them getting Edward Cabrera and Willi Castro.
  22. Jason Ross
    For Wicks, I think he needs out. It just doesn't feel like it's going to happen here for him. With Birdsell, Sanders and Assad in the mix, he feels expendable. And I just dont love changeup dominant relievers. For his sake I hope he does well if he is in this. I do think he will be traded this deadline and this feels like the trade.
  23. Jason Ross
    This feels like a Jordan Wicks trade.
  24. Jason Ross
    Both Soroka and Kittrdige add significant amounts of K% to a bullpen lacking it. They will probably be the 2nd and 3rd best on the team immediately our of the pen.
  25. Jason Ross
    Not immediately. But once the Taillon and Assad crew are back up....
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