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Rcal10

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Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. It does build some confidence moving into 2025. Hell, Amaya is probably pretty close to league average for a catcher now. And he is trending up to possibly getting to league average overall before the end of the season.
  2. But if Bellinger opted out there is no reason they shouldn’t go all in on Soto. I feel someone like Santander would be similar to guys like Teaoscar Hernandez, O’Neil, and maybe Alonso. All of those guys would be nice additions, even if Bellinger came back. But if Belli is gone I feel they should aim higher. The article made is seem as though if Bellinger didn’t opt out they would sign anyone. And I think that is a mistake, unless they are going to trade for a big bat instead(Vlad or Tucker).
  3. This, exactly. They have enough to deal prospects and still have solid guys in the minors. This is exactly why Jed should be aggressive this year. Oh, also if they suck next year he may be gone. So there is that reason too.
  4. I wonder if Bellinger opting out and the Cubs having to pay 5M goes into this years salary. Maybe that is the difference beteeen them going under or over the LT. If he opts in they are under. If he opts out they are over? Would actually make for an interesting discussion. Would you rather he stays and they are under, but they don’t have his money to spend on FA. (But if they went over it would be just the first year over) Or would you rather he opts out (therefore making his buy out salary this year, and puts them over the LT) but the Cubs have money to spend. But the problem is in all likelihood would use the excuse they went over this year, to not go over in 25’, so not spend over the LT.
  5. You trade for Vlad and figure out the line up every day. 10 guys for 9 positions. Injuries will play a part in this as well. With guys like Busch, Paredes, Bellinger, and Nico you can gives guys a day off and fill in with someone. I think I even saw Vlad at 3rd for the Jays the other day. Trade for Vlad. Maybe trade for a catcher(or go with Amaya). Then sign a TOR starter and I guess a pen arm. Might only need to be Lopez again. That isn’t a mid 80’s win team. That is a 90+ win team, IMO.(assuming PCA and Amaya are better next year). I am all for trading prospects for proven talent. There is no place for them.
  6. That is just not going to happen. But I do agree with you that the Cubs are set up well to be very good next year. Hell, even if Bellinger comes back and they send the same line up out there, if PCA and Amaya are better than this year the team should be better. Add a TOR starter and maybe a pen arm as well as a decent bat somewhere and they have a very good team. That bat would have to fit in with the 9 they already have and 10 guys would play 9 positions in the line up. Yes, I would love that bat to be Soto, if in a trade, Vlad or Tucker. But I don’t see Jed doing that. But as you said, they are set up nicely.
  7. I feel they need a 7-2 trip to actually feel like they can make a run. If they can accomplish that maybe they will only be 2 or 3 out and then who knows. 16 at home with only the Yankees 3 games being against a good team, and 9 on the road(little rougher with Phillies and Dodgers being 6 of those 9) But if thru can go 7-2 maybe they can make a run and end around 86 games won. Still might not be enough, however.
  8. Agreed. Feels like another 82-84 win season.
  9. Yes, I do remember a poster being down on those guys. I think even as recent as a few weeks ago when Busch went 0-4 with 4 K’s it was mentioned again that him and Paredes were nothing special. Prior to that and before PCA was hitting I believe it was said by a poster that he has seen enough to know PCA will never hit. As I said, some posters are very much reactionary and prone to hot takes. As you said, sometimes it feels like some have never followed baseball before.
  10. 100% agree. There are definitely certain posters that do this way more than others, however. Some posters are much more reactionary and prone to hot takes than others. This has happened with Busch, PCA, Happ etc….
  11. So you are referring to when he was 21 and 22 and had a total of 180 AB as two of those years. And then since that time he has finished seasons with OPS+ of 113, 131. And then in 24’ when they made the trade he was at 127. How is that remotely close to 2/3 of his ab? He has been bad as a Cub. I agree. But we are still talking about a 25 year old player whose career shows him to be a solid hitter comfortably better than league average.
  12. Clase. I don’t think they will do it, but if we are talking trading for a pen arm, why not aim higher. But if the group you mentioned in trade, Fairbanks appears to be someone who will be traded. He might fit.
  13. I will believe it when I see it. And I wouldn’t consider Jensen elite anyway. None of the guys you mentioned are elite to me. I also understand that’s kind of what you are saying. There is no Hader. But I would rather them develop the guy they have closing next year, then spend $18M for a guy near the end of his career. If yiu could get Robertson for something like $8M for 1 years, maybe. But I would hate to see so much annual salary go to an aging pen arm, closer or not. No interest in Pressly. His WHIP is pretty close to Neris’.
  14. I highly doubt they acquire an elite closer. They aren’t going to spend that money, and they might already have one with one of their young arms. I do agree with you that had Adbert not been broken and pitched as he was expected to pitch the Cubs would be fighting for the division and almost a lock as a wild card team.
  15. What handful of games come to mind that the Acuna won early against St.l? They won 6 of 13 and 3 of them were on the last homestand, where they should have swept. What 3 games before then did they win that they shouldn’t have. 3 is also not a handful. They definitely blew way more games they should have won then won games they should have lost.
  16. They shouldn’t care but we know they do. And why be over by something like $2M. Why get dinged for a year over because you couldn’t get the accounting straight. I get them going close to the inner and the at the deadline if they weee in it go over. But they are not really in it. So if they are going to go half way in and out, as they did, then they should have known to be under the LT. Honestly, even if they don’t care it makes sense to not start the clock this year. Had they been all in at the deadline and went over I wouldn’t have an issue with it. Seems that was their plan. But if that was the plan the default plan should have been if they aren’t going all in at least eat under.
  17. FO mismanagement is the only thing that would cause this issue. It is ridiculous that the Cubs are in this situation.
  18. Well Hawkins confirmed the Cubs are over the LT. And most likely will end up over. So maybe FG is wrong or maybe it is a little more complicated than what FG is showing it to be.
  19. For league minimum, prorated, I am sure someone will. I wasn’t sure if someone would before he cleared waivers. I guess not.
  20. Ok, so he has already been passed up by all teams. That is what I was asking. I know once he is passed up the team who does take him will only have to pay the protested of the league min salary. I didn’t know everyone already said they weren’t interested.
  21. Does releasing Neris give the Cubs a chance at being under the LT? Would a team pick him up now and pay the prorated portion of his contract the rest of the year? That would be over $2M, right? If he passes through unclaimed the savings is less. Someone might do it so that someone lower in the standings doesn’t get him once he clears. Maybe???? I can hope! 🤷
  22. Well that is a big reason. I agree.
  23. Well it won’t be Soto either. I agree they won’t get Burnes. But no Burnes and no Soto means NO 9 figure contracts, IMO. I wouldn’t give Alonso 9 figures and I don’t think another pitcher will get 9 figures. So basically it is almost a guarantee the Cubs will not sign a 9 figure contract.
  24. I doubt he even does that much, TBH.
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