Rcal10

I know when the deal was first made there were a few people who didn’t like Parades. They are not using 200 AB as proof that he isn’t good. They felt that way before. If anything, now those AB are being used to confirm their opinion. I do understand some concerns. But as you said, maybe he won’t be a star, but he is a reasonable upgrade over Morel, even if some of the concerns people have about him become a reality. Personally I think he is a solid player and a top 10 third baseman. So I am happy to have him. He has had a wRC+ of 123 over the last 3 years, when he was 23-25. I see no reason he should be able to stay that was over the next few years. And that would be a very good player. Maybe not a superstar or all star, but solid.

To be fair, some disliked him even before he played his first game with the Cubs. His Cubs AB were not the issue with some. 🤷 i was not one who hated him before and I still don’t. I think he is a fine third baseman and a nice pick up.

Facts don’t matter. Some people have been against Parades since they traded for him. For some, he replaced Happ.

It very well might be their excuse, but it shouldn’t be. There is still enough money available as well as enough young minor league assets to be able to work in the FA world as well as trades. And they can always trade Bellinger. Just a salary dump. For a team who isn’t worried about payroll he isn’t a bad guy to acquire for a year. Don’t expect anything back, but I have to think the Yankees or Phillies would take him and most of his contract. Maybe the Mets too. And if they can dump him that really gives them enough money as well as a spot in the line up to improve. If a GM believes there are no bad one year deals, they may take him. This is a huge year for Jed. He has to think outside the box.

Chibear posted it. I did ask where he got that info. Haven’t heard where it came from. But if I bad to guess where he came away with the Cubs being the heavy favorites it would be the article thawv just posted. So just an opinion.

Agreed. I am really not interested in him, at all. Not sure why the Cubs are heavy favorites to sign him.

Where did you see them as heavy favorites to land Sugano? Also, why do you feel they should move Parades? You have been on him since they got him. Similar to how you were with Busch. I think Parades is here to stay. I also hate the idea of sticking with Amaya and Bethancourt. I absolutely do not think Jed will do that. I don’t feel they need to stay cheap at catcher for flexibility. I think there is enough money to add who they want, even if they upgrade catcher. Especially so, if Sugano is their pitching upgrade.

I would guess a little better numbers could be in order for next year. Like you said, maybe a few more homers and a better OBP. But he wasn’t that far from his average year. And even with laser numbers he was a 4 WAR. He isn’t going anywhere because he shouldn’t go anywhere. A small bounce back is definitely possible, but even a similar year to last year is fine.

😀Yep. They are clearly not going to do anything except blame last year on the coaches they got rid of. It is official.

I don’t either. Just playing it out as to what happens if this was actually a thing. As mul21 pointed out, none of us knows if this is even anything other than a totally baseless rumor. That said, not something I would consider.

I’m not in favor of trading our 4 WAR SS for a catcher coming off a season where he hit under .200, and he still has several more years at about $12M a year annual, and a guy who does hit some homers, but is position less. And if Bellinger does come back, I’m not even sure where Soler plays. This would lead to more trades that, to me, are senseless. Bellinger isn’t going anywhere. And Happ and Suzuki have NTC. I don’t see how those guys get moved. And, frankly, don’t see why the cubs would move either of them so Soler can play.

Just curious. What would something like Jax, Lopez and Jeffers cost the Cubs in the way of prospects? Solved a few problems for the Cubs with Lopez being the only guy with any kind of salary attached. But what would the Cubs have to give up? In this scenario Jax could either be the late inning pen arm or they can transform him into a starting pitcher. I wouldn’t even pretend to know what it would cost the cubs.

I don’t think they get much, if anything for Bellinger. And if you eat some of his contract they have less money to spend on his replacement.

I think if Bellinger opts out the Cubs will use that salary to add a FA bat. Hernandez, Santander, Bregman and to a lesser extent, Alonso. are a few examples. Or trade for a big bat like Tucker, Rooker or Vlad. I don’t think they will trade for that bat on the last year of his contract unless Jed is pretty certain he knows what the guy wants to extend and he is willing to give it to him. If Bellinger opts in I don’t see the Cubs doing much with the offense. At best, maybe they trade for an everyday player and play 9 guys in 8 positions. That improves the bench. To be clear, they should go after Soto. No reason not to, with or without Bellinger. But I am pretty sure they won’t be in on him.

Adding in to what you just said, depending on how versatile the players are, if they had 9 guys for 8 positions everyone would be able to play 140-145 games a year. Which is fine. And that is assuming everyone is healthy all year, which will not happen.

If your question is would he fit in the line up, I would say without question he would. And he would be my catcher if the cubs got him. But I do think the Cubs are perfectly happy he isn’t on the team. I would say there is less than a 5% chance the Cubs would want him back.

Like I said, I don’t think catching would be the issue. I think if he did come back he would catch 100+ games. I don’t think he hurts the pitchers anymore than Amaya does. Plus with him in the line up,and the other 8 guys, you do have a solid line up. But I am not sure the Cubs want him in the clubhouse. That is my concern.

Willson brought back as a catcher doesn’t bother me on the field. I don’t have much issue with his catching and how pitchers pitch when he is behind the plate. And he would be a huge upgrade offensively. I think the bigger issue is team chemistry. I know a lot of people don’t consider this and think it is a myth. But I am pretty sure the Cubs were not thrilled with his actions in the clubhouse. I think he is less than an ideal teammate. That is my biggest concern with Willson.

I am also in on this idea. Even if everyone plays all year without an injury, if yiu have 9 guys for 8 positions all can play around 140 games. That works for me.

Well if Cody is back Wilson wouldn’t be the DH. He would have to catch to play or one of the other regulars would have to sit. So your plan to have Amaya as the primary catcher with Willson as the DH wouldn’t work for the same reason you are saying the Cubs can’t add a bat elsewhere.

For the most part I have been against the idea of signing a higher priced pen arm. But think I would make an exception for Tanner Scott. He can not only be the closer if they need him to be, but he can also be the lefty pen, late inning arm if Hodge does prove to be a solid closer. He will cost a decent amount of money, but tbh, if Bellinger comes back I don’t see them spending big on the offense. There should be enough money to sign Scott and still get a quality starting pitcher, upgrade at catcher and maybe add a decent/solid bench/semi-regular bat to the team. Between free agency and trades of some young assets the Cubs should be able to do all of that and stay within the budget. And, if Bellinger leaves use his money for an everyday line up bat. Again that can be through a trade or free agency. High end example of a decent semi regular bat would be to trade for B. Lowe. He is about at the spot where Tampa starts moving guys. He can play 2nd, 3rd or first. He can also play when Swanson takes a day, by moving Hoerner to SS. He can DH. Basically he would give the Cubs a 9th man for 8 line up positions, which is fine. That move helps the bench too, because there will always be a starter grade guy on the bench. They have enough young talent to get him without giving a top 5-7 prospect in the team. As for a pitcher, I guess it depends on if the Cubs want to spend money on one or use minor league assets for one. I am sure that decision would be made with the budget in mind. They need to get one that slots ahead of Taillon. Schmidt has been mentioned here. He would be a nice option., if the budget is the issue. Which brings us to catcher.🤷 They could go trade, they could go FA to share time with Amaya. I think that would be a very good, realistic off season. Of course I want them to explode getting one or two of Soto, Vlad, Tucker, Rooker, a TOR starter, a high end catcher etc….. , but I don’t think it is realistic that they will. I think lengthening the rotation with a solid starter, strengthening the line-up/bench with a solid bat, getting a very good, dependable lefty pen arm and upgrading catcher would take this team from an 83 win team to a 90+ win team. And I think they can do it within their budget and still have some young talent available to them from the minors.

Where did the Cubs land overall in bullpens?

True. But there are probably a handful of guys who can be counted year in and year out. So even if you are a team who has 2 of those handful of guys you still have to fill the pen with 6 other guys and probably another 5 or more ready to filter in. As for Jansen, sure he has been fairly consistent. And I know era is a terrible way to judge a pen arm, but in 6 if his last 7 seasons he has had an era over . And his FIP is no better. He is a solid pen arm. But not a lock down closer, IMO. And he probably gets a lot of money to be that guy.

This is true. And a version of this statement can probably be said about 90% of the middle relief pitchers in the game. There is no reason to assume Miller, Almonte, or Lopez will be good either. Same with Pearson, Thompson, and Hodge. But other teams have the exact same issue. Year in and year out it is a guessing game as to who will be good. The guys who make up a good pen this year might be the same guys next year in a pen that is average to below average. Cubs, or any team really, just have to have enough options to go to to find the right mix. Sometimes it happens from the start, like Cleveland this year. Sometimes it takes time, like the Cubs of 24’. And sometimes it never comes together.

I would say Pearson is the least likely to be let go. He will be here next year.