PeanutPunch33

So this is purely based on my "eye test" analysis, but I don't see how the Cubs don't win 88 to 90 games next year or more if they re-sign Bellinger. When I watched the team last year, they were devoid in 2 key areas: Left handed hitting, and coaching (imo) A few reasons why I'm optimistic: 1. I legitimately think Cody Bellinger is one of the best players in baseball when he is on this team. I'm all-on in the idea that the Cubs have "fixed" him and his approach. People forget that he was legit the best player in the game in the month of July last year, and he was basically a .820+ ish (if i recall) OPS guy before he got hurt and came back in July to be even better than that. This is an Arizona/LA kid who translated right away to Chicago baseball. I also think that he can consistently mantain a high BABIP now because of his new appraoch of putting the ball in play and spraying it all over. He has taken to hitting at Wrigley the way Castellanos did in 2019. 2. Emergence of Seiya Suzuki: I don't think we've seen the best from this guy yet, and he clearly turned a corner the 2nd half of last year. If his new "IDGAF" attitude extrapolates to a full season, he could be a top 20 hitter in baseball. I expect it to come all together this year with CC at manager and giving him his "mental break" days as needed 3. The Cubs got nothing from left handed hitting last year outside of Belly and some days from Happ. Now you are adding 2 top LHH prospects in Armstrong and Busch this year, in addition to retaining Tauchman and Happ. The Cubs can platoon the **** out of teams all year long, similar to the 2021 SF Giants. 4. Insane Pitching Depth: Up and down the roster, the Cubs have excellent pitching, both left handed and right handed. This is not even including Ben Brown and Cade Horton and both of them could force their way up in 2024. They have more pitching talent than they know what to do with. 5. Coaching - the Cubs lost a ton of close games last year, and they added probably the best manager in the game. IDK guys, I'm really optimistic this year. BTW the Cubs have 2 bonafide starting caliber players coming off of their bench - Morel and Madrigal - this is a loaded team. They could absorb an injury in the rotation, bullpen, or lineup and be fine given the depth

I don’t understand advanced stats well enough to carry on but if he’s moving up the minors at the rate he is, he could be pretty dang special.

Edit that’s true, I just hope it’s not Chapman lol I’m not sold on him

Matt Shaw is a unicorn. He’s got “best player in the organization” potential. TBH, a 1 year placeholder at 3B makes sense. Maybe run it back with Madrigal or sign a bounce back guy like Tim Anderson for 1 year to play there

I would be upset if they trade Morel. He’s just a kid that makes things happen in big moments, like Baez or Trea Turner

How about now

Definitely. I’m intrigued that the Cubs just swapped out basically heavy ground-ball guy (Stro) to a heavy fly-ball guy from what I’ve read in Shota. Hawkins and team have completely changed the pitching here in just a few years

Arrieta and Lackey fell off so quickly.. with this team it just seems like 1 option after another. Wicks seems like an after thought sometimes but even he reminds me a bit of a young Lester. Just so many arms everywhere and control on everyone

Jed > Theo when it’s all said and done

oh lol my bad that team came to mind but longevity… This group will be together for a while and Assad is so nasty too lol he’s the odd man out now

IMO Cade just as a prospect stacks up to anybody on that list, Steele could be a top 10 pitcher already. You are right though that 04 team was deep..

My b

this is the best Cubs rotation I’ve seen in my life, and as soon as Hendricks leaves after this year they can insert the best pitching prospect in baseball in his place What a time to be a Cubs fan

Justin Steele doesn’t have a burner fastball but still dominant, they see something they love with this guy can’t wait to see it

Love the move if it’s not the only move

Wow that’s a heck of a 1st trade by Breslow

People that are willing to trade Morel need to go back and watch the blast he had against the Twins. Kid has 50+ HR potential

If Cease becomes a 300m guy (which I expect, like Cole) I like his profile a lot to play well thru it. I think the Cubs would have to decide right now if he fits that category, and extend him right away similar to the Dodgers and Glasnow. He wouldn’t have to leave Chicago and he’s coming off a down year. I think he’d listen to an aggressive offer… and that would make that trade worth it imo

I have some de ja vu dealing w/ the Sox but I could get behind a Cease trade pretty quickly, even if it meant Armstrong Alcantara Brown and change (although I’d hang up before they ask for Cade) That trade + Cade’s pending call up solves all the velo issues in the rotation. But definitely at a price..

For the people that are disappointed in not getting Glasnow, it’s clear now that the cubs would have had to give up morel and maybe more, seeing what they got from the dodgers worth it for a guy who will pitch 5 innings every time he goes out there and almost surely miss 1/4 of the season at minimum?

They’ll prob re sign Belli, sign Hader, and swing a Dylan Cease trade with the Sox 🙂 at the very least if they swing the top 2, and any kind of meaningful trade hard to say this was a bad off season

They’ll prob re sign Belli, sign Hader, and swing a Dylan Cease trade with the Sox 🙂

Unpopular opinion but I actually think Jed is a great GM and way better than Theo, even if the WS hasn’t followed yet. There is a reason that this team has the type of rotation and young pitching it hasn’t had in 20 years with the ability to add even more. He’s drafted great (Horton, Shaw , Wicks are slam dunk type picks) , made solid trades (Armstrong, Caissie, Alcantara, Brown) None of those guys except Wicks have done anything in big leagues yet for the cubs, yet they were still 1 game away from the playoffs last year because of that aforementioned pitching depth. Also fixed Steele, also got Counsel

How’s this for a trade idea Christopher Morel for Triston McKenzie

lol who cares. They had like the 6th best run differential last year, it’s time to go for it. Anybody in this fan base that thinks like you do is being ridiculous and how you end up 108 years without a championship Revolutionary idea here maybe they can do what you said and also spend in FA