Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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Last year Morel had OPS of 821 with OPS+ of 116. 2nd year in the majors with very few AB over AA. How is is offensive ceiling not particularly high? Even if last year was his ceiling, that is a good offensive player. If he could handle 3rd it would be a huge plus for the team.
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Love that Counsell is trying it. I have suggested it all off season. Guess we will see if he can handle it. If he can, that does allow the Cubs to add a bat only guy. Which could make for a much more exciting offense.
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That would be an awesome end to the off season.
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Sounds like he wants him to stick with the position. Some consistency at the position makes me feel he is hoping this could be where he is used. Which would be awesome.
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What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I agree that 1 month ago I thought it was more likely one of them was packaged with others in a bigger trade to bring in major league talent. But now I am thinking of a different use for one of them. I can see a team have a starter go down in spring and the Cubs offer one of Assad or Wesneski for a young prospect not in the 40 man roster. There is still a possibility of the trade for major league talent, but less likely than before. But now the opposite sort of trade could happen once pitchers are in and we see who goes down. -
This would be great development if he could do it. Opens up the idea of signing the best bat available, regardless of position. JDM would work well if Morel can play 3rd. Belt would be my second choice, and probably 1A if the Cubs don’t get Bellinger.
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4 with opt outs sound right. But I think $114M is a bit much(annually) If he has to get more then do 5/$130 with the opt outs. Or maybe do something like they did with Imanaga. Maybe they can structure something where the final number is at the $170M mark so Boras can save face. But realistically know the Cubs won’t go that far and that much so allow Bellinger to opt out. A similar type of complicated deal. As as Derwood just shared: DO SOMETHING!!!!
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What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I think Assad or Wesneski gets traded before the start of the season. I do expect Wicks is the 5th starter. If he isn’t, then he is traded instead of Assad or Wesneski. I also wouldn’t mind if Mastrobuoni won the job at 3rd. If they don’t get Bellinger he could be the left handed bat they need. I feel we know what Madrigal and Wisdom are. So if Mastrobuoni wins the job that means he is better than those two. IMO that is a good thing. -
What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I really can’t see Morel traded or starting the season in Iowa. He is their biggest home run threat. There are obviously similarities, between him and Wisdom, but Morel is a much better player. Has more control left, is much younger and far more valuable. Or at least, for the Cubs sake, he better be. If Morel doesn’t play well enough to earn 500+ AB, I fear this could be a long season. -
I definitely don’t agree with 20thK. But if other people are going to say something from the other side, we are going to see these stupid comments. Maybe we should just leave political views to other discussion sites.
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I love the game of baseball. I enjoy watching it live. I am a Cubs fan. So I buy tickets and go to Cubs games. Cubs have had far worse owners than Ricketts. And that is the best thing I can say about him.
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They will be signed by the start of the season. Honestly I want to see some signings, but I have become numb to it a bit. It will happen when it happens. Until then I hope Jed is at least looking at other ways to improve the team. Sadly I think the 2 guys that made the most sense for the Cubs to sign were Belt and/or Hoskins. Neither cost as much, both in years and yearly salary, as Boras guys and each played a position of need, until they traded for Busch. Now if they sign Chapman he isn’t exactly an offensive force, and he could block Shaw or Murray in a few years. And if they sign Bellinger he blocks PCA, or they have to do a lot of mixing and matching to get them both in the line up. I am starting to lean into the Chapman idea if they can get him for 4 years. Imagine the defense with him and PCA added. They might not score the most runs, but I think they will prevent a lot of runs. And if Shaw or Murray do develope I am sure they can figure something out. Maybe trade Morel when those guys are ready.
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I have season tickets. I have about 18 games left. If you know any games you want, IM me. Selling at my face price. Just want to get rid of my last few games. BTW, I live in Az too. Which is why I have some to sell.
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I agree. But the problem is Boras needs to realize this. He and his players need to realize there just are not many options left. When does a player walk into Boras’ office and tell him enough is enough, time to make a deal?
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My guess is if he approaches the Ricketts he will hit the same wall he is hitting with Jed. They are the people who put the limits on Jed, IMO.
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I don’t really view it as the owners winning if these guys have to come down in their demands. Fact is, maybe the players are being unreasonable. I generally side with the players, but if all 30 teams aren’t even discussing these guys at the terms Boras is supposedly asking, maybe the players are asking too much.
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It is kind of ridiculous, if you ask me. How can an agent hold these players with figures teams are not going to go to? I mean, when does the agent and the player decide they need to lower their expectations and start trying to find a home? Can all 30 teams be wrong about what a guy is worth, or might the guy and the agent be wrong?
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I agree. I wouldn’t expect Jed to say anything different at this point. I do expect another move or two or this was a very poor off season. But there is time and guys are still there. I am starting to lean in favor of Chapman for at most, 4 years, over Bellinger. Maybe they should leave centerfield open for PCA at some point in 24’.
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This is my belief as well. But I don’t see PCA breaking camp as the starting centerfielder. Maybe he does come up in June as 1908 suggests. But maybe if the team is doing well and he needs more time at AAA he spends the season there. Either way I do think he will be a productive major leaguer, just not on thawv’s timeframe.
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Any Cubs who is a 3-4 WAR pitcher would be huge.
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I don’t see enough offense on this team to give up Morel unless the guy you get back can play 3rd. Then you can sign either Belt or JDM to replace Morels bat and the 3rd baseman yiu get for him replaces Madrigal or Wisdoms bat. And I don’t see that happening. However, is Kim a free agent after this year? I thought I read he was. If he is, would Morel for one year of Kim make sense for both teams? Kim is clearly the better player, but Morel is young, has 5 years of control left and more of a sure thing than the Padres trading Kim for prospects. I honestly don’t know if either team would do that, but he does make sense for the Cubs in 24’. Obviously the Padres could just keep Kim and try competing next year. But I see them as the 4th best team in a division with a clear favorite. And if they still have money issues maybe this works for them. If Kim still has control I know this isn’t close to acceptable.
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I guess anything is possible. But really Andujar had one good year and fell considerably. Morel has been fairly consistent and actually was better in year two than the first year.
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Agreed. I would rather not spend the money for a minor uograde. Which is why I mention trades from time to time. But even that is hard to do. If they get Bellinger they might not need another lefty. As you said, Belt is not a hill to die on.
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If Belt or any second bat is going to take AB from Busch and Morel, I would rather spend any excess money on an extra pitcher. I only want that second bat if it takes AB from Madrigal and/or Wisdom.
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Busch only 50 games? Morel only 85? Think for Belt and Bellinger to work those 150 games you have allocated to Wisdom and Madrigal needs be be closer to 50 with the extra 100 going to Morel and Busch. Which means one of them has to play 3rd. Which might be why they won’t do Belt and Bellinger. Like to see Morel and Busch each around 120.
