Bertz

This type of verbiage usually is shortly followed by a completed deal. Might literally just be a matter of Benintendi agreeing to get vaxxed.

A smidge more than a lot at #13

Following up now that FG is updated. Canario at AA by month May - .199/.233/.415, 3.5% BB, 34.9% K, 62 wRC+ June - .228/.284/.489, 7.8% BB, 26.5% K, 92 wRC+ July - .327/.464/.727, 20.3% BB, 15.9% K, 205 wRC+ I feel like Jackie Chiles describing his hot streaks: stupendous, outrageous, preposterous.

Canario up to .240/.315/.520 at AA. And the BB/K numbers are improving rapidly including 14 BB and 11 Ks here in July

Morel's approaching 250 PAs and still doing awesome things. Rapidly approaching the point where we don't need to hedge every time we talk about his future with the team. Conversely I don't love Steele's lack of velo tonight. I'm sure him and Thompson are starting to get gassed but figured the ASB would at least temporarily alleviate that.

Ohh, not park adjusted. Myrtle Beach is a pitcher-friendly ballpark. SB too right, or is that just early in the year when it's cold? I think only Iowa is especially hitter friendly, and even it's not crazy like Colorado Springs or some of the former Cal League parks

Have to assume Wieck gets cut this winter now. Miley might get a rehab start in before the TDL, so maybe he does actually get dealt?

The Phillies are now clearly going to dong him into oblivion tonight

Yeah the Guardians list is so deep, I cut myself off but could have gone 8-10 deep there. I *really* hope they are in on Contreras and/or Robertson. The Dodgers list is too, but with them being probably only in on the relievers you have to limit to 2nd/3rd tier guys (and their system is so good those are still quality guys!). I think my ideal at this point would be Happ for Waldichuk or one of the Padres' guys, Contreras (and probably Martin?) for Rocchio and Curry, and Robertson for one of the Twins' bats.

As I try to coast into the weekend by avoiding work, I've found an assortment of prospects I like from teams that are good fits with the Cubs at the trade deadline. I listed their FG prospect rankings, though generally I looked at what both FG and MLB.com had to say about them. Most of these guys below are 45 FVs or better by Fangraphs' methodology. For those that aren't familiar, a 40 FV is a typical org Top 30 prospect, a 45 FV is an org Top 10, a 50 is an industry Top 100 guy, and a 55 FV is industry Top 40ish. There are higher grades, but those are mega prospects and we're not getting any of those this deadline, this year only Soto and mayyybe Luis Castillo will net that kind of return. I laid this out earlier in the thread, but I expect Robertson to bring back a 45 and a 40, Contreras to bring back a 50 and a 45, and Happ to bring back approximately what Contreras and Robertson are worth combined. Also used spoiler tags to keep this post from being a slog to scroll through Guardians Twins Padres Dodgers Yankees Mets/Giants/Jays Honestly, I don't like any of these teams' prospects enough for them to be my preferred options on a deal, or at least a bigger deal for one of Contreras/Happ/Robertson. For example Brett Baty is fun, but is he worth burning probably both Contreras and Robertson to acquire? Nope. It's a shame because with their needs and the Cubs' inventory they're strong fits on a trade, especially the Mets. They may have guys who've popped this year and would be worthwhile (e.g. Kilian last year), but looking at the current prospect lists doesn't offer many compelling matches.

Yup. I was all about this idea in March, but at this point I'd rather the team have the money and the roster spot than the extra prospect capital. Myers or some other short term money fine, but let's not stack any dead money on '23/'24/'25.

I would do awful things for either of James Wood or Luis Campusano. Those awful things being trades of Contreras or Happ respectively.

Very explicitly poo poos Willson to Tampa

Yesssss!!!!

This is, unsurprisingly, very good

Dom Smith sucks but he's more worthwhile than anything else we could throw out at 1B. I think at this point 1B next year is probably Patrick Wisdom with a LH compliment. Hopefully that's ultimately Matt Mervis, but maybe Dom Smith can show enough this year to get first crack at that job.

Cleveland feels like an inevitable trade partner this deadline is whether it's in a bigger deal or a smaller one. They've got such a deep farm, plus the Hawkins connection, and they could use help at catcher, in the pen, and even a Drew Smyly to help in the back end of their rotation. Xzavion Curry would be extremely in line with the org's current tastes.

1. Gotta be Nazier Mule, right? He probably doesn't spend too long doing the two-way thing, but it's exciting especially when he throws triple digits as a pitcher 2. Shane Marshall (14th round) probably? He's a catcher, threw a few innings in a blowout where his fastball metrics absolutely popped and the team took him as a pitcher. I think that's fun, and I believe it's similar circumstances to how the org ended up shifting Brandon Hughes to the mound 3. Keep in mind the Cubs have a pretty deep system, but I'd say Horton slots into the back of the top 10, Ferris around 15ish, while Mule, Birdsell, Paciolla, and maybe Frisch in the 20-30 range (or at least have a good argument to)

You wouldn't think any of the Cubs guys would warrant him (even packaged), but then again you wouldn't think Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas would either.