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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    I do understand the reasoning why you say this. Prior was a Cub prospect who was supposed to do exactly what he was doing. So there was a comfort level there. Jake came out of nowhere, so being unsure made sense. But the end result is Jake’s year was far superior to Prior’s, even though we all did watch expecting the wheels to fall off at any time.
  2. Rcal10
    Nico. Sign him. If Shaw beings the Cubs a rookie pitcher similar in upside as Wiggins they may not spend on a pitcher. So sign Nico.
  3. Rcal10
    I think if Boston is asking for Hoerner or Shaw you ask for Tolle and Abreu. If Boston does that, you let one go. If not, no problem. You go into the season with Hoerner at 2nd and Shaw utility. Keep the ask high because they don’t have to move one. But if Boston does that deal Abreu becomes the right fielder, and has years of control left. Suzuki is the DH and Mo can catch all year at AAA. Could benefit the Cubs moving forward if he proves to be an average defensive catcher. Then in ‘27 they have a right fielder, a pitcher and depending on who Boston takes, they still have a second baseman. Sign either Urias so you have a utility infielder. The question comes in as to who is the last player. Can they afford not to have a guy who can play centerfield on the bench? If Shaw is who Boston picks (though I think it would be Nico) who does play centerfield a day you want to rest PCA, Suzuki? If PCA gets hurt you bring Alcantara up. Or is Kevin the last spot on the bench.? I wouldn’t mind seeing Andujar added if they can go without a true back up centerfielder on the team. I know for a true “value” standpoint Shaw is more valuable. But for Boston I think they want a guy who can be very valuable next year. Nico is a much surer option. And, again, if this is too much, don’t trade either.
  4. Rcal10
    I agree on Nico. But I can see Shaw traded for equal value in the form of a young starting pitcher.
  5. Rcal10
    Honestly, this is what I would prefer. Then sign a utility bat. Sure, they lose Nico’s replacement in ‘27, but they gain a starting pitcher for that year. Works for me. Wish Andujar could play some middle infield. That would be a signing that raises the bench bat too, over Shaw.
  6. Rcal10
    If you are looking for a comp and using Bradley Jr, he isn’t it. His bat was much worse than Hoerner’s. Bradley was a 9 hitter. Nico is not. Yes, the ask is probably too high. But it isn’t as crazy as some would think. Nico is a great 2nd baseman who would also be the best SS on Boston. He is a great base runner as well who can get you 25-30SB. And a good hitter. In Boston I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit 10+ homers too. I have no issue the Cubs asking for that much. I also have no issue with the Red Aox not meeting that price.
  7. Rcal10
    And, honestly, they should ask for that much. Probably won’t get it so he will stay, but why not ask. Which is why I said it certainly sounds like that is the Boston target but doesn’t mean Hoerner would be traded. What would that look like anyway? Abreu, Early and top 5 minor league prospect in the Boston system?
  8. Rcal10
    Certainly reads like they want Nico. Whether they pay what is necessary or not, is another question.
  9. Rcal10
    99.9 chance Skubal is a Dodger in ‘27. I wouldn’t even bother considering him.
  10. Rcal10
    Grace left after the 2020 season. Choi didn’t play in the majors until September of ‘02. He was not the reason they dumped Grace. He was probably in A ball at the time. But, yes, I thought he would be good. Don’t think about him because we got D Lee for him.
  11. Rcal10
    I’m not sure Prior didn’t have something to do with not becoming a star. If I remember correctly there was a lot of talk of him enhancing his body illegally in college and the minors. He may have broken down when he stopped illegal activity. I am not sure of this, and not accusing him of anything. Just pointing out there were questions out there. And he was very brittle. 🤷
  12. Rcal10
    How and why do they have Bregman’s offensive numbers so low? .240 average and 18 homers? Really? They have Shaw similar. That is ridiculous.
  13. Rcal10
    Yep, as long as they trade him for equal value I have no issue trading him. As you said, Tolle, would work fine. Then trade for or sign a utility IF. Not sure who exactly. But not that big a deal.
  14. Rcal10
    The biggest disappointment to me was Prior. I thought we had something there. I know he had a little more than a cup of coffee in the majors, but damn, he should have been special. I like you choices, but when I think of prospects I lean to guys ranked high who never developed. So I think if Brennen Davis, Mike Harley, Vitters, Pie, Patterson, Almora, etc…. Those were all either first rd picks or guys who worked their way up to top 20 prospect status and never developed much beyond that. I am trying to remember the pitcher they Cubs wouldn’t trade then to the Rays in the Garza trade so they gave them Archer instead. Also, the lefty pitcher (Marquis?). He pitcher an inning against the Sox several years ago. He was supposed to be special for some time. Struggling to think of a right handed pitcher rhat every year he was supposed to be a special one coming up and never made it. Hispanic guy. Can’t remember his name.
  15. Rcal10
    They can’t have Andujar and Austin both on the bench unless they are going without a utility IF or an outfielder who can play centerfield. Right now that is Shaw and Alcantara. Austin and Andujar are kind of redundant. I think Busch is going to get more time at 1st anyway. So playing either there for 15 games isn’t going to be that big a deal. But you can’t have both on the team. We would then have a team without a back up who can play centerfield or a backup who can play middle infielder, depending on if you keep Shaw or Alcantara. Austin was a $1M of the dice. Not like he has to make the roster. At this very minute I have back up catcher, Austin, Shaw and Alcantara as the bench.
  16. Rcal10
    I agree they aren’t going over the second line. I doubt they deal Hoerner. Maybe they do trade Taillon. The difference in salaries between him and and what Gallen would get is probably at most $5M. So they would have plenty of money to use at the TDL. They can probably add Andujar too and still be comfortably under the second line. Andujar would take over as right handed DH, some corner outfield and right hand hitter giving Busch a break. Basically take Austin’s spot.
  17. Rcal10
    Bellinger would take them over the second tier if the LT. He isn’t coming here unless they traded Happ. And before you suggest this, Happ isn’t going to allow a trade.
  18. Rcal10
    😅
  19. Rcal10
    He has played 9 games at 2nd in his major league career. And with the Red Sox having issues at 2nd and Devers on the team, Bregman didn’t play second. I doubt he would now. IMO if Andujar is signed he takes Austin’s place.
  20. Rcal10
    How does Andujar back up Swanson or Hoerner when he can barely play 3rd? I think he takes Austin’s place, if anything. Which is why I am not sure of their interest. He would back up at 1st, play a little left and right field and be a right handed DH.
  21. Rcal10
    No, I don’t either. But I am not suggesting one way or the other if it is a good idea based on keeping pitchers sharp. You indicated it is a lot to ask. How so? Don’t they do that in Japan? Even college baseball guys pitch usually once a week. I honestly don’t think it would be a straight 6 man rotation. If they got Gallen and had 6 starters, I could see them using it going thru a 10 game stretch in 10 days. But with days off, I would imagine CC would get creative. Skip a start, maybe send Horton down for a bit to limit innings. Any arm fatigue, instead of a pitcher pitching through it, but him on the IL. They have that luxury. I do believe Shota pitched better in 5 days rest. I can see it helping Boyd and Taillon too. These are not young pitchers. And, like I said, I can see CC using this to an advantage of limiting innings for the Cubs starters to hopefully be fresher and healthy for the playoffs. Also, when Steele does come back if all are healthy, it gives them an opportunity to trade one of them. And innings would still be limited.
  22. Rcal10
    🤷 But is a team views him as one he might be able to get more money. Hard to say what a player wants to do. The only certainty is they want to make as much money as they can.
  23. Rcal10
    Kind of a tough question to answer on what he should get. I mean he is better than all the 2nd baseman making $25M and probably not as good as Marte, making $19.5. I would guess he would want $25M annual but probably get in the low to mid $20M a year. I don’t think I would give Hoerner 7 years. But, again, that might be what he is looking for.
  24. Rcal10
    Actually this is absolutely correct. If they were going to go over they should have spent on Williams instead of adding a pitcher to the rotation. That makes a lot of sense. They haven’t added Gallen yet, but now that you mention this, it leads me to believe they won’t be going that much over so probably won’t get Gallen. As you said, if they were to go $15M to $20M over they should have been there already.
  25. Rcal10
    Cubs have not been linked to him all off season. Valdez isn’t coming here, IMO.
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