Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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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.
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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 😬
