KCCub

Without roster attrition, a big bat is not going to happen. You're looking at a FA that includes something like Jansen at catcher and Chapman/Bregman at 3b.

To add on - I don't want to say it's a 100% forgone conclusion yet, but I think we're close to calling Suzuki a near fulltime DH agaisnt RHP when PCA is healthy. The Cubs are absolutely going to address 3b next year, so that also leaves Morel as a DH against lefties. There's just not room or a need to lock in a DH only high priced bat next year unless there's attrition across the roster.

Last year, the simple equation was one WAR was worth around $8m to $8.5m per. I haven't really seen the dollar value of one WAR referenced this year, but that's been the easy 10,000 foot view to determine value. Basically when he signed the contract, he needed to average around 3.3ish WAR per season to break even.

Ugh, just seeing the Cards lined up their rotation to go Gray - Lynn - Gibson - Mikolas all on extra days rest against us to head into the break, all while they get to miss Steele/Shota again.

I can see both sides of the Taillon debate. There's value in having an innings eater SP under control this day and age with all the pitching injuries. He's been good this year, and maybe you can get another respectable season out of him next year (Especially if we improve the defense). On the flip side, next season is his age 33 season, his vFA is down to 92.8, he doesn't miss bats, his HR/FB rate this season is an extreme outlier compared to the rest of his career, he's out pitching his peripherals, and I think we all believe regression is coming, it's just a matter of when and how much. If a trade deadline buyer is desperate enough to take on his full remaining 2/$34m past this season, I think the Cubs should heavily consider it. Again, I understand the argument of can they actually improve on him enough/use the $17maav in a way that makes it worth it. It just feels like keeping Taillon, if they have a suitor willing to take on his full contract, falls under the "buying floors" mold that Jed seems to follow, which leads to a team projected to win in the low 80s. Would love to be the team that moves Taillon and actually pulls the trigger on the next Glasnow level trade that we were supposedly involved with. The good news is, in 21 days we'll find out if the Cubs are sellers, if Taillon has a market, and if he does, where the Cubs stand on keeping him vs moving him and we can all quit having this same discussion over and over.

Yea, I think the Braves will take a page out of their 2021 deadline playbook and swim in the waters of the Tauchman's of the league and not the Bellingers.

The answer to this is right in front of us, but most won't like. Add a legit 3b. move Suzuki to DH (Belli RF), and all of a sudden you have a legit bench bat in Morel. Belli plays CF against lefties with Suzuki in RF and Morel DHing.

I think I can get on board with this. I'm in the camp of wanting Soto (Duh!) but that's most likely just not a realistic option that's going to happen. I don't hate the thought of an OF of Happ/PCA/Belli with Suzuki DHing, combined with someone who can handle 3b - That would make us near an elite team defensively. Upgrade catcher and BP, I could see that being a team CC likes and is his ideal blueprint.

Personally, I believe the team needs some attrition, but it sounds like you're on board with running it back? E.g. fixing 3b, catcher, adding to the BP, and then running it back with the same core of position players and starting pitching? And maybe I need to just get Soto completely out of my mind, but there's no shot Jed adds Soto to a team that includes an OF budget of Bellinger/Suzuki/Happ. To me, it seems like trading Bellinger (If we're sellers of course) gives us the best opportunity (financial freedom + frees up an OF spot) at landing Soto. The return doesn't concern me at all honestly. But if we live in a world where Soto just isn't realistic, I guess I could get on board with trying to plug the gaping holes only and see how much of a difference that makes next year.

Was really wanting to see Bigge here

Wtf

Minor leaguers can’t be placed on the 60 day IL. They would have to call him up in order to place him there.

CC said when he went on the IL that he had been battling through it off and on for a couple weeks and they thought it was time to IL him and let him heal.

That was my immediate thought as well. Hoping he's back in there soon.

Agreed. He was someone I had stashed in my minor league system in my fantasy dynasty league at the time. Solid trade both ways actually since Marsh has been good.

Imagine if I had a time machine and could talk to the Derwood from last year (below) and let him know that in 2024 Taillon will have one of his lowest K% (down 2.2% from last year) & SwStr% (Also lower than last year) of his career and that there's a chance a team might be willing to trade for his full contract. The outlier this year is his HR/FB ratio is way down this year (Hmm dead ball a factor anyone??) at 8.8% (13.4% last year, 12.1% career). SIERA of 4.21. If a team is willing to take on his full contract, you absolutely do it. Things are never as bad as they seem and things are never as good as they seem. If Taillon is on the club next year, the data suggests there's a good chance we see the below Derwood return. "Stealing a game with Taillon on the mound feels like three wins" "Taillon is Anthony Young bad" "Taillon is such a boat anchor" "What a disaster this Taillon signing was" "Taillon SUUUUUUUCKS" "Taillon was a great signing. Bang up job, there"

I do want to point out that you’re really cherry picking my original post. In no way was it a “You’ve got to move Taillon and go all in on Flaherty” post. Squally asked for examples and if they were to go the FA route, Flaherty was an example. I would much rather use the cash you save by moving Taillon/Belli towards Soto. Then make a trade for a cost controlled SP and use the left over cash/prospect capital to plug catcher/3b/bp.

Nico and Happ need to stay. It would just add additional holes and we aren’t going to upgrade over them.