Rcal10

I don’t know. I really think Bellinger for Castillo is pretty fair. Maybe the Cubs add $5M to $6M to the deal to make salaries the same. Then both guys are good players but just not worth their money. Bellinger is an everyday player that bats anywhere 2 thru 6 in a line up and Castillo is a solid #3 pitcher. Fair deal IMI. But if the Cubs had to add anything I wouldn’t tbh knit would be a high end prospect. Maybe someone not in the top 30? But if that did happen are the Cubs better off with Castillo and FA bat, not Soto, or Kikuchi, Flanaagan or Eovaldi and Bellinger. That is what has to be asked.

For me, if the Cubs were to DUMP Bellinger it would be strictly for salary relief. Maybe save at least $20M of his contract and take little back. Then spend that $20M to $30M to replace his bat. Then with the original money go about their original business. Maybe if they got someone to take the entire contract they could also add a better pen arm via FA with extra money they had beteeen the Bellinger money and the money they pay whoever they sign. But is the team better with Teoscar Hernandez, Alonso, O’Neil or even any other FA they might sign (excluding Soto) instead of Bellinger? Honestly, I’m not sure. But what I am sure about is, I would rather have Bellinger and either Eovaldi or Kikuchi over Stroman and one of the FA bats I mentioned above. Trading Bellinger for Stroman isn’t the proper dumping of Bellinger. It is trading him for a worse, less useful player without gaining enough money to add someone to replace him. Dump to get out of his contract and then spend elsewhere, I get. Not sure I would do it, but I get it. Dump to add a #4 or #5 starter, I don’t get.

Thank you. I completely agree.

No interest in Stroman coming back to the Cubs.

I like it. But not sure they go with 4 lefties in the rotation. Also not sure Marlins agree to that deal. Maybe Eovaldi instead of Kikuchi? Like the bats you suggested. Solid bench bats.

Did you miss where I said Cubs pick up half of Bellinger s salary? If the Cubs picked up half of The $32M he would get if he opted out next year, he would only cost the Yankees $16M. So he doesn’t have to play to a $32M contract. If he didn’t opt out, his last year would be for $20M. So it is Bellinger for one year at $16M or two at $36, for the Yankees. That is not really negative value for them. Now, if they don’t want to trade Schmidt, I get that. That is fine. But I wouldn’t have any interest at all in Bellinger for Stroman. To use your argument about last year with Taillon, the rumor was the Cubs wanted to trade Taillon. But they didn’t. Maybe because what was left unsaid in that statement was they wanted to trade him “for fair value”. Not dump him. Maybe that is what is being unsaid again with Bellinger. Wanting to trade and wanting to dump are not the same. i do agree with you that now that they let Tauchman go the Bellinger talk is probably done. Maybe you weee right. Maybe they really WANTED to trade Bellinger. But maybe I was also right, and they didn’t want to just dump him. So they keep him. I don’t see it as some pile of wasted money. It is an overpay. Every team has those. Good teams with higher payrolls can still win. Hell, Astros won last year paying Abreu to suck and not even be in the team. At least Bellinger is a good player. And, IMO he woukd have been even better in NY. In that park I can see 25-30 homers, maybe .275 average and .350 OBP. Add that to good defense in center, right or first and you have probably a 3WAR player. But as we both said, probably not happening now. And I am fine with that.

If the Yankees are offering Stroman the Cubs aren’t trading Bellinger.

Bellinger isn’t going to be traded as a dump. They will just keep him. If they need to trade him at the deadline then they do that. But there is no reason at all for the Cubs to just salary dump Bellinger. If a team doesn’t give them what they want, they keep him. It is that simple.

Whatever you say Cuzi. But if you are right, then I hope they just keep him. He helps them win in 25’.

I expect the Cubs to sign Hoby Milner. Funky lefty previously with the Brewers. Seems like an obvious signing. So if they do, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

This is also true. And I am fine with that. Bellinger does not need to be traded to “dump salary”.

Except Bellinger is still a useful player for any team in their everyday line up. Stoman is not even a #3 starter. I really don’t think the Cubs feel they need to dump Bellinger. There is enough money to put together a good team and they have some prospects to trade to add talent as well. If they traded Bellinger as a dump, they would then need to find someone else. I am fine if the Yankees aren’t interested in that sort of deal. But I see no reason the Cubs need to trade for Stroman.

A true rumor or not, I don’t see the Cubs doing that. Maybe Bellinger for Schmidt with the Cubs eating half of Bellinger’s money. If the Yannees want him they can’t have him for a guy they are basically trying to dump. I do not think the Cubs NEED to trade Bellinger. I feel they would and maybe even should, if they get something of use back. Otherwise just keep him.

So basically a minor league deal and not on the 26 man roster. Which is perfectly fine. Is that correct?

I said it was greatest fear. I did not say that is what I would expect them to do. I would expect more like what squally suggested. Depending on when they did trade Bellinger that might be the only way they can spend his money they save. The other FA bats to replace him might be gone. And, TBH, aside from Soto, none of the other FA is a certainty to be better than Bellinger, all around, next season. That is why I like squally’s idea of them trading for the big bat.

Agreed. Stroman is done. PERIOD. Bellinger is a good player who makes a little too much money. But he is still a valuable player to any teams everyday line up. If they trade him it has to be for player in a similar situation, most likely a pitcher who is still GOOD but makes too much money, or for a mid grade prospect or young relief pitcher who doesn’t make a lot of money. If they do the latter of the two, they can then use the money they saved to add a bat to replace him. Stoman does not qualify as still being good.

If you say so. Not sure who they spend it on. No real upgrade except the guy they won’t talk to. Do they sign Kikuchi and Flaherry or maybe Scott and a starter?

Pocket the cash is my concern. I assume you mean to spend elsewhere. My fear is pocket the cash means exactly that. They cubs come in $20M to $30M short of the LT.

I agree those teams may be interested. But who comes back from the Red Sox or the Nationals. I like Seattle because they have something of interest that could come back.

I agree on Mariners and Cubs matching well. Didn’t feel like arguing with the poster. I mean, it’s not like Seattle to make big unexpected moves with their current GM, right? Personally I am with you. I think it is pretty fair. And as I said, if you add the Phillies in something like this Seattle can get Bohm while Phillies get Bellinger and Cubs get Castillo. Maybe a few more pieces or money has to be moved. But either Cubs/Seattle 2 team deal or one adding the Phillies is definitely something that can make sense.

Thank you.

Fine, then the Cubs keep him. He is certainly not going to be traded for Stroman. IMO the Cubs don’t have to trade Bellinger. I’d be isn’t bringing value back I am fine keeping him.

Royals are said to be interested in Bohm. So goes back to another 3 team deal. Bohm to KC, Singer to Cubs and Bellinger to Phillies. Again, not perfect. Maybe some additions need to be made. But Cubs do get a MOR pitcher.

Well said. That is why I think if they did trade him if would be for a similar type of contract on a guy who is good, not great. Maybe Castillo, as an example. He becomes the Cubs MOR starting pitcher. Seattle adds a bat to the line up. Maybe that sort of deal needs a 3rd team in the event Seattle doesn’t want an outfielder. Maybe Bohm to Seattle, Bellinger to Phillies and Castillo to the Cubs. Figure out the add on that may need to be included. This is just an example of what I would expect if the Cubs dealt Bellinger. I know Stratos posted Bellinger for Schwarber earlier, which I thought was not possible. But maybe that isn’t so impossible. Yet another example.

I think CubinNY said it earlier. The move creates nothing more than a shrug. That is all this move should have created. Basically a NBD move that doesn’t change anything about the off season, IMO.