Rcal10

I think this is a good haul by the Cardinals. Back end top 100 pick, 2 comp picks and 2 other prospects for Donovan. Seattle traded their starting 3rd baseman as well. So if we just look at what Seattle lost to make this deal it is a top 100 prospect, a starting 3rd baseman, another interesting prospect and a comp pick. If that’s the price for Donovan, with only 2 years of control left, if I am the Cubs I am holding out for Early and Abreu from the Red Sox. Ballasteros can stay at Iowa learning how to catch and Abreu can play right with Seiya as DH. And you have Early for next year. If the Cubs have to they can add a not highly rather minor leaguer to the deal. Maybe a guy years away, if ever. And no problem if the Red Sox say no. Keep Shaw.

You don’t “think” those Cubs want him. Of course you have no knowledge of this being true. You are using your opinion of a player and putting it on others. My “guess” is all the players on the Cubs are very happy to have Bregman. He is a better fit than Bellinger, who I also liked. Honestly, have you read anything about a player on the Cubs being disappointed he was on the team? I haven’t. How about focusing in on the good Bregman brings to the team. He is very much a student of the game and loves baseball. He has been a guy who constantly helps players on the team and takes interest in all of them. He is exactly the type of guy the Cubs gravitate to. Instead of this constant narrative of Bregman being the worst human in baseball because he was on a team who cheated, maybe focus on the good of Bregman. He is a great teammate and a damn good ballplayers. Many Red Sox players spoke out about what a great teammate he was and how he will be missed in the clubhouse as well as on the field.

Ok, so what did you say? Did you say the Cubs could bring back Turner, but because of Bregman, that would be a problem? I mean we all can read what you posted. Sure sounds that way. So suggesting Turner would be a good guy to sign but now they can’t because Bregman is in the team, isn’t that doubling down on your nonsense of not liking Bregman because he cheated 7 years ago? If I am wrong about what you are trying to say, please enlighten me. What is your point about Turner?

He is going to hit a lot of homers next year. Good ballpark for him. But I didn’t want him either.

So when do we think Valdez and Gallen will make a decision? Pitcher and catchers reporting soon. I think the only thing that will change the Cubs roster is getting Gallen. Otherwise I think this is it.

There is nothing out there suggesting the Cubs are interested in trading Dansby. And for got reason, they shouldn’t. He and Happ are just guys people love to hate here,

I agree. I think if they did sign Gallen, the opt out couldn’t be until after year two. It doesn’t make sense at one year. They would lose another pitcher after ‘26 and they lose the pick they got for Tucker to make that deal. Just doesn’t work for me if he leaves after 1. Honestly I would rather see a simpler deal like 3/$60M. Add a 4th for another $20M or a $5M opt out. Maybe that is a little high, but in order to know he won’t opt out, that is what they may need to do. Or if they aren’t sure in him, just pass on him all together.

Rengifo played 6 positions last year and from 22-24 was a plus bat. He was down a little last year. If the Cubs traded Shaw I would be fine with Rengifo as the utility guy. Shaw isn’t some unicorn who is the only person who could be a good utility player. And if he brings you good value back, that helps them after this season too.

I agree with everything you said here. While I personally do not like Shaw for obvious reasons, I do not want to trade him because of his views. I want to trade him to get a good young pitcher, and then resign Nico. If they don’t get equal return I am fine with them keeping him.

You mean alternative facts aren’t facts????🤷Who knew!!!!

And that women should have been shot too, right? What horsefeathers.

Not interested in Abrams, at all.

Ok, thanks. So chibears numbers are incorrect. They are about $450,000 under the LT line as it stands now. That is what I thought.

So are they under or is chibear right?

I though they were still about $1M under. Does someone who understands this agree they are $13M over?

It would be trickier, but I assume if the Cubs did trade Shaw they would get in return someone they would count on in ‘27. So they lose Shaw for ‘27 and beyond, but get the guy they got in a trade. So if it is a pitcher, that is one rotation spot they don’t have to spend money on in ‘27. Then they can actually sign Hoerner or Suzuki, or both again, because they are getting cheap pitching. I also agree with you that they can get a utility guy who can put up similar numbers to what Shaw would put up. I don’t see trading him hurting them much, if at all, this year. As long as they get good value for Shaw, they can deal him. And if they don’t that is fine too. Go into the season with him as utility.

No, there is no maybe to it. He is definitely above average for a left fielder. Regardless of him just being an average outfielder, as a whole, he is a very good left fielder. I get the bar is low for left fielders.

Got it. We are on the same page. Don’t trade Nico and only deal Shaw if they get a great package and reign Nico, and can get a solid bench guy, like Rengifo. Before last year he was better than league average for 3 straight years.

Rather than trade Hoerner I would like to see Shaw for Tolle then sign Rengifo. Small loss on the bench, maybe. Sign Nico to an extension and Tolle takes a rotation spot in ‘27. If not Tolle, Red Sox have a few other pitchers of interest. I realize Shaw hit at evey level, but his hard hit rate was terrible. He might just be a guy who hits around league average. Not bad, but not great either. Rengifo gives you league average hitting and can play all over the infield. So, again, not a great loss in ‘26. And you have Tolle instead of Shaw after this year. And they keep Nico moving forward.

Honestly, without injuries keeping guys out a long time, I don’t see more than 300-350 AB from Shaw. Why would he be the DH against a lefty? Why not Austin? If Busch is going to play more against lefties wouldn’t Austin take the DH spot. I realize Shaw has value, but I think 3 wins is an a bit high. And why couldn’t they plug in someone else who could be just as good or close. We are talking about a bench bat for the ‘26 team. If it gets them Tolle, as an example, they then have a staring pitcher for ‘27. Maybe it gets them more. Maybe a lower level minor league prospect and Shaw gets the Cubs Tolle and Abreu. How many wins does Abreu add to the Cubs? Again, the ask has to be high to do it. I would just rather they deal Shaw instead of Hoerner. He is easier to replace. By logic of losing 3 wins if they trade Shaw, wouldn’t they lose more trading Nico? Shaw has to play second. They lose a few games there,’going from Nico to Shaw. Then a different utility man replaces Shaw.and they lose the 3 games being mentioned if they traded Shaw. In theory Shaw should bring more back than Nico, so they would lose Nico and a solid utility guy, because Shaw would be at second, and not even get as much back. Trading Nico makes no sense to me, unless they are doing it for payroll. And they said they aren’t worried about that.

I don’t agree with this. It isn’t like we know Shaw will be a great utility bat. He might not be any better than those guys. And if they traded Shaw, maybe they pick up a decent utility guy. I don’t think Shaw, used as a bench bat/utility guy, is that hard to replace for the ‘26 season. Again, they have to get an overpay to make that happen. So I am fine keeping him. I just don’t think that if they traded him they would expect to win 3 less games.

Ok, I agree. But TBH, I hope they just keep Hoerner. If Red Sox want to overpay for Shaw, have at it.

Not sure what you are saying? We’ll be happy with the return because it will be an overpay, or we’ll be angry because they didn’t get enough? I don’t think he will be traded because I think the Cubs will ask too much. And I am fine with that.

If he is healthy, what are we really expecting for him anyway. When people say good signing I believe it just means as a good bench bat, 4th outfielder. He refused a minor league assignment and then signed a minor league deal with the Cubs. I would think, if he does start in the minors he has an end date where they either have to bring him up or release him.

I realize what he would do is take Mo spot in the line up against a left handed pitcher. But Suzuki would DH. He would play right. Nice “value” pickup. I like the move. Low risk, solid reward.