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chibears55

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Everything posted by chibears55

  1. I said I can see them winning 90 but I also in response to a poster that if theyre under 500 come July and the postseason looking bleak, then yea i could see them unloading guys or at least try to, on final year of contract at the deadline. Maybe Suzuki won't, but weve seen guys waive their NTC at the deadline of their final year and agree to go play for a potential playoff team, especially if current team is looking to start playing younger players over them. Again, as of now I hope and expect them to improve their roster a little this offseason, especially with the pitching, but you never know with them. I dont want Pham, he was just an example of the type they could sign, they could also just go with Suzuki in RF until they feel Caissie is ready too.
  2. Right, yes they could go out and bring in veterans to play RF and or DH, but Hoyer does have the option to just go ahead and let Caissie be the RFer and or let Ballesteros be the DH either on opening day or at some point during the season. I believe Alcantara will ikely be a bench guy/ OF Depth in 2026 or used in a trade for pitching With most of the position players already in place and prospects like Caissie and Ballesteros, Hoyer can put most of his focus this offseason on pitching.
  3. If they add to the pitching in offseason, I think they should push 90 wins again. As far as a sell off goes, I've said before that I think it depends on where theyre at in July and that they might look into moving guys on expiring contracts at the deadline if they're under 500 and a postseason return looks bleak. I also said I expect Caissie to come up at some point during season after April and felt that they would probably add a guy like Pham or comparable that they can sign for 1 or 2 years and can hold down RF, or just go with Suzuki until Caissie is ready.
  4. Says ARB on here, baseball reference 🤷‍♂️
  5. As far as Suzuki goes, I just have a feeling that after 2026, Cubs, if they don't trade him at deadline, they will let him go over offering him ARB for 2027 and at age 32, he may want to go back and finish playing in Japan for a couple seasons. As of now, as far as position players goes, theyll have team control of for 2027. Amaya, Ballesteros, Busch, Shaw, PCA Swanson 28 mil and Kelly 1.5 mil are the only position players under contract for 2027, along with Boyd 2 mil as the only other player under contract. So as of now, theyll need 2B, LF, and RF for 2027 They can potentially spend more on ARB players, projected now at 139 mil, than contracted players for 2027.. I think it very possible as of now, that they extend Hoerner, hope Caissie an answer for an OF spot, and look to add from outside for the other OF spot. 2026 if they don't make changes this offseason, will be Shaw make or break year for 3B and also for finding out if Ballesteros and Caissie are future pieces or at least be given the opportunity to play everyday in 2027.
  6. Why I would love to see them go hard after pitching this offseason, not just add for 2026 but going forward too. They get a capable bat to replace Tucker ( if he doesn't return), to either DH or play RF , the offense can be respectable enough to win games with solid pitching in rotation and bullpen. Then 2026 offseason after they figure out the CBA, they can just focus on replacing Happ, Suzuki, maybe Hoerner, etc. Maybe we'll have a better idea about a couple of their top 10 prospects by then.
  7. Didn't say he's had a down year, I said his numbers were down from previous two years eventhough he had a career high in HRs. Avg. 285 283 245 OBP 357 366 326 SLg 485 482 478 OPS 842 848 804 Career high HR 32, previously 21 Basically in response to poster about his Slg but more specifically his power, was just saying that I'd be surprise if he hit 30 HRs again, and after next season they should be able to fill his void.
  8. Suzuki had a career year for HR but his Slg and OPS was down from previous two years, I'd be surprise if he reaches 30 HRs again. They'll need to find a RH power bat in the OF after 2026 to go with PCA and probably Caissie.
  9. Funny how the 2026 offseason needs is going to be the same as 2025 was. A big bat, SP, and a closer. I'd be a little surprise if they trade any of the returning bats, so that leaves RF or DH to add another bat for the regular lineup. I do hope Hoyer puts a lot of focus on pitching this offseason and basically builds around Horton for the now and future. Be awesome if they can add Cease, Ryan, or someone in their category. I think having your top 3 starters being a big addition like I mentioned, to go with Horton and eventually a healthy Steele, will go a long way next season. Im probably in the minority with this but I would be good if Imanaga declines his option and moves on if it meant his money could be put towards a more quality SP in his place. They have depth if he goes, with Taillon, Boyd, Assad, Brown,etc., and eventually Wiggins later in season.
  10. Shaping up to be a West Coast World Series Wouldn't mind seeing the Mariners get their championship
  11. Damnn, did not think Seattle would win this series let alone win the first two in Toronto
  12. They need another big arm for the top, otherwise you'll likely see the same as this season with Boyd and Imanaga getting drained come September and who knows what they get out of Steele returning from injury and how much he'll be able to give right away as far as pitches/innings goes. If TR/Hoyer want to seriously contend again, they need to get a TOR starter and build a solid bullpen from the start with a legit closer, cant be giving away games in April and May because you go cheap on the pen in offseason.
  13. If im reading the 2026 payroll right, they will have between 166 to 199 (with the 3 options) on the book, and the Threshold is set at 244. It would be nice if they can at least get close to 240s again. With the CBA expiring after 2026, I wonder if more teams would consider going over Threshold with adding a bigger contract or two, especially if it their first time and pay the 20%, with the chance that there could be a different set of rules with a new CBA
  14. Been reading about 6 man rotation on here for a couple years now, I doubt it happens. There's the obvious maybe with injuries or not pitching well to another starter but if Imanaga, Horton, Taillon, and a new SP are all healthy and pitching well in June and Steele is good to return, who you moving out for Boyd to stay in the rotation? I mean, I can see Boyd being the next guy in for Steele early on as they ease him in slowly in his first few starts, maybe that the route they go for a month til Steele is ready to go full boat, but unless there's an injury, I think 35 yo Boyd goes to the bullpen as a long reliever/ spot starter.
  15. That why I think he'll go to the pen, he'd be perfect as a spot starter and long reliever
  16. He did and it was a career season for him at age 34, so he'll be 35 next season. Outside of starting the season in rotation until Steele returns, who would he replace in the rotation afterwards? Horton Imanaga or Taillon, or do you think they won't add another SP?
  17. I think depending on how season going, they'll look to move both Happ and or Suzuki during the season. If they really want to start Mo at DH on opening Day, then Suzuki will just start in RF until if or when they feel Caissie is ready to take over and look to trade Suzuki
  18. Was thinking about Boyd Rea and the Cubs Rotation for 2026. They definitely need to get a solid TOR guy in the offseason, and they'll have Steele(June), Taillon, Horton and probably Imanaga. Boyd will likely start the season in rotation in place of Steele, but afterwards would he eventually be a good fit for the bullpen as long relief/spot starter? Same with Rea if they pick up his option. I wouldn't mind having two veterans like them as SP depth in the bullpen, that could easily go 2-4 innings if needed, a lefty and righty.
  19. I doubt they trade Caissie, he'll be starting at some point next season..
  20. Hoyer would need to get creative with trades if he going to change up the lineup over going with the same guys and add a stud SP, especially if he needs to stay a certain amount under the Threshold again.
  21. I mentioned getting an Ace to go with Steele, Horton, Taillon, Imanaga There's no journeyman there
  22. That was my way too early guess as Tucker replacement and to hold down RF until Caissie was ready..lol
  23. Probably be easier to get Suzuki to agree to waive in offseason more than Happ, especially if they tell him he'll split some time as DH with Ballesteros, but i think both stays until at least the trade deadline depending on how season is going. They're more likely to agree to waive then, especially if there's no chance of extending and they get moved to a playoff contender.
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