KCCub

Agree with Tom here. You’ve got a good thing going with Busch at 1b, no need to get cute there. Get an actual 3b next year.

Yea I've been penciling in Bellinger on next years team, unless he's moved at the deadline. Before PCA's injury, it seemed like Belli in RF, PCA in CF, and Suzuki at DH against RHP was what the Cubs were going with.

I think we'll see something like that once they get further and further out of contention. Now if they stay in the WC hunt, that's when things will get interesting. I agree, that time period to give him some rest would be great 🙂

Yea they pulled him unfortunately...

Skenes is absolutely shoving against MIL right now.

It’s Bowden again, but a little more Belli chatter -

I want Soto or a true top tier bat just as much as the next guy, but I think we have to be realistic here. With the pending FA class and the players who we think at this time could/will be available, I realistically don't see a path to us landing the true big bat that you or others are describing (Unless Jed shocks the world with Soto). Heck, even Paredes is an extreme longshot to land. If folks would be disappointed with landing Paredes, who's value add at 3b over what we currently have would help this team tremendously, then I don't think they are going to be satisfied with the off-season.

Without analyzing the data, I'm sure he'd lose a couple HRs due to Wrigley's deeper LF dimensions, but he would probably also gain some wind aided homers in the summer. I know the under the hood data is not ideal for him, but we're going on year 3 of him beating it due to his dead pull fly ball nature. He's basically been a neutral defender at 3b, only 25, and under control for 3 more seasons after this. I'd rather go that route (cost considered) vs trading for Alonso.

I'm still on the Paredes train. Adds a nice middle of the order bat, fixes 3b, and is controlled through 2027. Seems like he should be the no brainer trade target, with the Rays seemingly willing to deal and they have guys in their system ready to step in.

His Krate is coming down as well, which is huge. 27.4% since June 1st (113 PA).

Jansen is a FA at the end of the season btw. I just don't see Jed and company trying another risky move like moving Busch to 3b. You have a good thing going with him at 1b, don't screw it up.

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