Rcal10

Of him signing a 32 year old bat. Wouldn't that suggest Seiya is a possibility this off season more than Skubal?

He is right up there for me. Find a way to keep Seiya, sign Holmes and Morejon and add a few smaller pieces and maybe one substantial trade and it is a great off season. Unfortunately I think if they offer both Happ and Seiya a QO (and I think they will). Happ may take it, which would mean no Seiya. One might be back but both won’t be back. I also could see them offering Boyd a QO and him accepting it. At that point it probably makes Holmes unlikely.

This is extremely conservative and probably very realistic. And most likely if they did this most people wouldn’t liked the off season. Plugging names in, it could be something like signing Holmes, keeping Boyd and Happ. Plugging the last outfield spot with Conforto and a system guy platoon and they signing Sanchez and Civale. No big trade makes the rotation Holmes, Cabrera, Boyd, then questions. Steele, Brown, Assad, Wiggins, Garrett and eventually 🤞Horton. It would also mean no Ayers on the team next year. As I said, very realistic of what will probably happen. But not very inspiring. Seems like a worse team than this year, unless positive results come out of question marks.

Come on. I saw Riley Martin in the AFL! 😬 Thanks for the scouting report. I actually knew Bailey could be fun too. I guess I just assume he won’t play.

Truth is they probably won’t get either. But if I were to bet on one it would be Seiya stays with them. Just my opinion, which is obviously different from yours.

Williams ranking and the explanation for it certainly isn’t going to help them. It is ridiculous.

I try going to 3 or 4 of those games a year. I found where I can see the line up and if a lot of cubs are in it, I go. Is Cabada the only one worth going to see?

Good for JJ Watt. How can Caleb be ranked 20th after week one. He played a great game. Even using the stupid standard if having to complete 70% he did that. 2 rushing TD and 2 passing TD, 70% completion and no turnovers. And his team scored 59 points. What the hell else does he need to do?

I would put me in the skeptical without defeatist camp. And not because they can’t get him or won’t try for him, but because there are probably 6 or more teams who can really go after him hard, including the Cubs. I would hate for them to be all in on him, not get him, and not get a solid corner bat because while they were waiting on Skubal the bats got signed. Now, if they signed Seiya again, signed Peterson, traded for a young arm, signed Morejon and then were still in on Skubal, that would be awesome. If Skubal goes elsewhere pivot to Holmes. I just don’t think they can/will do all of that. Maybe the choice comes down to Holmes and Morejon or just Skubal and a dumpster dive pen arm. 🤷 I guess if they secured Seiya and Peterson and traded for a young starter, I would be fine with Skubal and dumpster dive pen arm as plan A, and Holmes and Morejon as plan B.

Exact same plan I have for the off season. Except I also want 1 bull pen arm they actually spend money on. Morejon would work.

I’m not really worried about the Dbacks. But I wouldn’t mind seeing them play a little better, tbh. Wouldn’t mind San Diego losing a few games. They have the Dodgers coming up, and hopefully a still competing Dbacks team. Padres have won 8 in a row and still have 2 in Colorado. They may win those but then their schedule gets harder. Especially so if the Dbacks are within a few games of them.

That is true for the pitching market. Skubal will clog it. The problem is, hitters might be signing. So if the Cubs decide they want their money to go towards Skubal they aren’t getting Suzuki. He will be gone. If someone beats the Cubs out on Skubal, which is very probable, they are stuck with money and little bats to spend it on. So if they go the route you mentioned they better complete the mission. Because they are going to be weaker offensively.

It is the time and he is the guy. And I trust you when you speak as to them having interest. But for me, I can’t put him in any plans. I would rather think smaller and be shocked if they proved me wrong. Besides that, I think if they signed Holmes and Peterson and traded for a young starting pitcher with a few years of control left, the rotation would be solid. Maybe go after the best pen arm via free agency and keep Seiya. They are going to add many pen arms. They have a lot of guys signed for next year, already.

I would be fine with him and Holmes signed. Then trade for a starting pitcher. Maybe look into Detmers again. Hopefully Cabrera for his customary bad first year whenever coming to the Cubs, over. Then you have maybe Steele and Brown. Also Garrett and maybe Wiggins and Assad as other options. Maybe even consider Civale. I just don’t see this team with a standard 5 man rotation who all get 28-32 starts with just some fill in pitchers. Seems more like 7-8 guys all getting 12-30 starts.

Exactly