Rcal10
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So you don’t want Chapman or Bellinger? Satisfied with the team for 24? I do think they are a low 80’s win team right now. Maybe 84 at best. But I would like to see something added. If not via free agency then a trade. And that is not easy to do. Hate to waste a year with the division being so winnable.
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They gain one with Bellinger however. Kind of like last year when they lost one for Swanson but gained one for Contreras. But you make a good point in if Chapman only signs short term, is it worth it.
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Hard to know for sure, but maybe this gets things going a little. This may take one team out of both Bellinger and Chapman. That should get the attention of either of those guys as well as Boras. But I just don’t know anymore.
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Since 1908 answered the PCA part of your post, I will comment on the Bellinger question. I believe it is very likely the Cubs haven’t had any “formal” discussion in regards to Bellinger yet. And if he does sign for anything like what Boras is asking it will be reported the Cubs never made a formal offer. But that doesn’t mean they are not interested. It also doesn’t mean they won’t sign him. Boras has to come down, at least in years, and then, IMO, the Cubs will be interested. If he doesn’t and Bellinger does sign an 8+ year deal it won’t be with the Cubs. I don’t feel any differently about the Cubs chances of signing Bellinger than I did in early January. Nothing has happened to change my opinion on it. To me it was 50/50 when almost every reporter suggested Bellinger would be a Cub and it is 50/50 now. But he will start in center if they sign him.
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Settle down old timer, we are just talking 😬
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Yes, for best results either Morel or Busch would have to play 3rd. Which could be a problem. Either way, I would like to see 2 more bats. Maybe not Belt. If Morel(or Busch) can’t play 3rd there isn’t enough ab for Belt. Since you don’t see either at 3rd that explains why you don’t see enough AB for Belt. My scenario is wishful thinking. Which is pretty much what I said from the start.
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I don’t get how Belt wouldn’t play 100 games a year. Even if everything went well the Cubs would have Bellinger in center, and then a combination of Belt, Busch and Morel to handle 1st, 3rd and DH. At 38 I would imagine 100 games is a decent amount for him. But if not, if either Busch or Morel proved they could handle 3rd he could play more. Or if he is a better option than either Busch or Morel when the Cubs go with Madrigal at 3rd he plays then too. I don’t see your concern for his AB’s. If he hits he plays, period. Just a suggestion anyway. As I said, that would be MY ideal end to the off season. Doubt it happens.
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That is the 13 I would go with. I had mentioned a Morel for Burger deal with the thought Burger can play 3rd. They are pretty close in value. But it seems Burger isn’t much better at 3rd than Morel or Busch. Plus that complicates things. So without any trades, I would be fine with these 13.
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I agree with this. Sign one of Soler/JDM/Belt now. Figure out the rest later. I also agree Morel would then have to figure out how to play 3rd or be traded. The one advantage Belt has over the other two is he can play 1st. So if they signed him, Busch or Morel can play 3rd. It does give the Cubs another option. He is also a lefty bat. If they are not going to sign Bellinger, which they still might, at least they added lefty bat. I am honestly not concerned with if they did this and then sifned Bellinger, Wisdom loses a spot in the roster. That is fine with me. I also am not concerned about playing time for PCA. There are several things that can happen that would allow for PCA to come up, if it is warranted. Beside that maybe he can use another year at AAA.
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I don’t think that the lack of AB would be an issue with Belt. I don’t think he would/should expect to be an everyday player. I am more concerned about 3rd base defense with that idea.
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So I am down to this: sign Bellinger and Belt. Maybe add a pen arm or not. Fine if they do, but ok if they don’t. Between Belt, Busch and Morel you have DH, 3rd and 1st covered. Get Madrigal in for defense and some starts when a lefty is pitching. That would be a solid team and probably a B+ off season. This would mean either Morel or Busch would be at 3rd. But it does give them the best line up they could realistically have. I view Belt as maybe a 90-100 games a year player. So that being the case, there would be plenty of games for Madrigal to play 3rd.
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I guess one trade of less than star players and a couple mid grade free agent signings could be considered very active. You may be right, I was just expecting a bit more than that.
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And, if history shows us anything, you should never wait for a future FA class and it is highly unlikely they would be in on Soto.
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I can see Hendricks more than Woodruff. But I would be ok with this as well.
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I will go one step further. I am pretty sure it is wishful thinking. But, I am still wishing….. My reasoning is because based on reports (and I understand that could be all hyperbole) the Cubs were said to be expected to be the most active after the new year. To me, that means they had several irons in the pot with a framework of a deal. I feel if that is true, and again, I realize it might not be, they can be revisited. There are several guys whose name appeared as on the market. Cease, Robert(have to be blown away), Marlin pitcher, Seattle pitcher, Bieber, Naylor, Alonso, Kim, etc…. They are all still there. It is pretty obvious now that the Sox were asking a ridiculous haul for Cease. Maybe they get more realistic as other teams do as well. So as I said, I know it is wishful thinking, but wishing with some merit behind it. We shall see. And honestly it could be a smaller move too. If they signed one of the Boras guys and traded or signed a pen arm, that would be 2 guys on the team to start the season who aren’t here now.
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Right, didn’t mean to suggest teams were sitting back waiting on the cubs. Actually the term I wanted to use was framework. I feel the Cubs may have the framework of what’s needed to make a deal with a team and may revisit it sometime in spring training once the Boras 4 are signed and/or the Cubs decide to just pass on those 4. As I get older words escape me from time to time. Guys like biitner and thawv surely understand 😬
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Maybe that’s why it was suggested the Cubs would be the most active team after the new year. Could be Hawkins has several options for trades close to ready to go. Maybe they are waiting out the Boras 4 and once they know which way that goes they make another move (trade). I am sure they aren’t sitting around waiting in Boras without checking into options. I expect(hope)2 or more players open the season with the Cubs that are not on the team now.
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That would be awesome. But I certainly would mint hold my breath on that. I will be happy with Bellinger signing. I kind of agree with Bertz on the teams outlook this year.
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What do you need for them to do in order for you to be interested? Even signing Bellinger and Chapman moves the needle enough for them to be favorites in the central but it also limits them in future years. Plus, I don’t think they can get both in and be under the $257M line. Short of a trade, which has been discussed at length and is very hard to do, I don’t see free agency making this team that much better. That said, I think they can still be a fun team to watch and one that will be in the race the entire season. With some young guys producing they can win the division. Yes, I would like to see more. But when you break it down and are honest, you have to know they didn’t have a chance with Ohtani, were never going to go 12 years on a pitcher(I don’t blame them), and never going to give that much up for 1 year of Soro(again, I don’t blame them). So that leaves the Boras 4 and/or a trade. I like that the added Busch. I like Imanaga and Neris as FA signings. I, too, would like to see more(a trade), but maybe the prices are just way too high. That could explain the little movement that has gone on.
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I’m not saying you are wrong in what you feel needs to happen. I am saying it never will. Why would the low revenue teams sign into having to spend more of their profits. It is not happening.
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Ok, fair. But I suggested Morel twice. He is also a quality major league talent with years of control left. Why not our young controlled player for your young controlled player? Doesn’t that potentially help the team? I find it funny that I mentioned Burger for Morel and you said why would the Marlins trade Burger. And yet two other people said they have little to no interest in Burger. Exactly what I said happens when a trade is suggested. Leaving that one alone, doesn’t Morel and Wisneski or Assad for Naylor and Bieber (add small pieces either way) help the Cubs if they then sign JD Martinez? Busch then plays 3rd. Guardians have a 1st baseman ready to be in the majors and lose Bieber in a year. Is that such a bad deal for them? Morel has more control time left than Naylor. Are they fair enough to talk about? I like Morel, tbh. I would rather not trade him. But if he can’t play 3rd that ties the Cubs hands in bringing in a bat like Martinez. I do like a team with Naylor and Martinez in the line up over Morel and Madrigal. Now, if Morel can play 3rd, just sign JD. I am happy with that.
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The thing is I am not frustrated. I am just making conversation. I get frustrated when you jump in and defend Jed as if I am attacking him. I am not. As I have said in numerous occasions I think he does a decent job with what I believe the FO allows him to work with. I do just wish he was a bit more aggressive and got some deals done. I am only suggesting I would like to see the Cubs take some of their excess assets )this could mean major league players as well) and turn them into a quality major league talent, at a position of need, in a trade. Basically no different than what 1908 said. And yes, at times you do take my words and spin them so that you can make some sort of smartass comment. For the most part you don’t do that, but when you do, it takes a bit for me to start having honest, non combative conversation with you again. I am more than happy to talk baseball with you. We just don’t agree with the plan for this year. I am fine with that. I understand and respect your reasoning. I, on the other hand, hope he can put something together (as 1908 said- a big trade) to improve the team. I am not so worried about losing assets. I also realize that is not as easy as it sounds.
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Wasn’t the report that the Cubs were expected to be the most active team after the new year? What does that mean? I doubt it meant signing free agents ONLY. I guess to me that meant it was known they had things in the works and ready to start pulling the trigger a bit. Since that time they signed a pen arm. So much for active.
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This is reeally all I am saying 1908. But every time I suggest that squally challenges me to put an actual trade together so he, or others can criticize it. And just as I told him earlier, when a trade is out out there you get one post suggesting a team wouldn’t do that, which he did when he asked why the Marlins would do that, and then another post suggesting the Cubs shouldn’t do that. Which also happened. Seems according to him there is nothing Jed can do via trade. But I do agree with you. I would like to see a big deal made.
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For Morel. You can’t tell me you know who they value more, Morel or Burger. I am not suggesting trading minor league talent for him. I am talking about an old fashion baseball trade where those two guys are the main pieces. And if Burger is so much more valuable the Cubs can sweeten the deal a little, wouldn’t take much. They are close. I also gave other examples where Busch moved to this. Fine if you don’t like it. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something they can do.
