Jump to content
North Side Baseball

Stratos

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    3,894

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Profiles

Joomla Posts 1

Chicago Cubs Videos

Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking

News

2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

Guides & Resources

2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

The Chicago Cubs Players Project

2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

2026 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

Blogs

Events

Forums

Store

Gallery

Everything posted by Stratos

  1. Stratos
    Let's hope so, but I dunno. I guess we'll see, but Imanaga and Busch aren't moves that point towards that.
  2. Stratos
    I really hope Almonte isn't one of the 2 arms because he's clearly a below average relief arm.
  3. Stratos
    Cubs were in on Suter down to the end: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2024/01/13/how-new-reds-pitcher-brent-suter-brings-world-view-to-hometown-team/72216493007/
  4. Stratos
    https://twitter.com/ryan_a_herrera/status/1746256069687439495
  5. Stratos
    This is on Ricketts. He bulldozed most of Wrigley a freaking national landmark and rebuilt a facsimile on its footprint but with more seats and ugly electronic scoreboards for more ad space and some stupid mascot to sell for birthday party events so he could make more money but doesn't put much if any of it back into the team. Fans are shelling out their money for the Cubs Con right now and Ricketts will pocket that too. Jed is doing what he can to make the best team possible under the cap because that's the budget he's been given. He'd still be spending intelligently with a 270m budget, he'd just be able to afford better and more players.
  6. Stratos
    No. They were never going to acquire 2 quality SP this offseason, unless a great deal fell into their lap they couldn't refuse. They have Wicks, Assad, Wesneski, Smyly, Brown to fill the 5th spot. Doesn't make any sense to block the young guys that are decent assets. They might sign some cheap depth SP flyer to compete for the 5th spot. They chose to bring back Hendricks over a more expensive upgrade. They had 1 SP to fill to replace Stroman. They could have signed Snell, or Montgomery, or traded for Bieber etc. They chose Imanaga. They went for the cheaper value signing. They're likely trying to squeeze under the CBT cap again. They've got about 35m under the cap to spend right now. Enough for Bellinger, a couple of decent pen arms, and another cheap corner/DH bat. We're probably not getting Hoskins unless we miss on Bellinger or Ricketts is ok with going over the cap slightly.
  7. Stratos
    From Jordan Bastian, Cubs.com: https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-roster-needs-remain-as-cubs-convention-begins --------------------- Hoyer believes the Cubs have their new first baseman in Busch, who will be given a shot at earning that job this season. Imanaga is likely the Cubs’ biggest move for the rotation this offseason. Hoyer leaned on the old baseball adage that a team “can never have enough” pitching, but said he did not envision another major rotation addition. “That's an area we probably don't make another transaction,” Hoyer said. “I think if we do, it may be smaller. Something could fall in our lap. We could end up with something, but that's not my expectation right now.” While Hoyer is generally opposed to longer deals for relief pitchers, he acknowledged that the Cubs have made some multi-year offers to available bullpen arms this offseason. Adding more depth and quality to the relief corps “is an area of priority” for the team. “We'll end up making more deals this winter,” Hoyer said. “I don't know if they're going to happen next week or if they're going to happen in February. Things could be really slow this year. And that's just the nature of it. Last year, it was the opposite.”
  8. Stratos
  9. Stratos
    Are you at the Cubs con? Or watching on Marquee?
  10. Stratos
    Interesting that they may get another 1B bat, that could create quite the lineup. Team hits LHP well, glad they're focusing on RHP.
  11. Stratos
    Maybe. His interpreter's name is Shingo.
  12. Stratos
    Can't argue with most of those projections. Suzuki/Happ are hopefully a bit low
  13. Stratos
    If he can put up around a 4.00 ERA as a SP it would be worth it. Expensive gamble though. He's a good reliever but not exactly dominant.
  14. Stratos
    Seems like a terrible contract. You may be right.
  15. Stratos
    Cubs have 3b, 1b, and DH to fill. Morel and Busch are going to be filling 2 of those most of the time.
  16. Stratos
    If Morel does get traded, which I doubt happens this offseason, it would likely be for MLB talent at some position we need anyways, so I'm not that worried it. If we don't get Chapman we at least have Madrigal in situations we prefer a glove and he might be even better defensively. Morel could surprise us with the glove too after he gets a couple of months of work there.
  17. Stratos
    Waiting out the market for more leverage to secure more money for his clients. It's just some contract negotiations, there's no Marxist conspiracy happening here. There's people living in tents, worry about them.
  18. Stratos
    delete
  19. Stratos
    The owners are responsible for numerous issues in baseball. Scott Boras waiting out the market so that he has more control of it to gain leverage for his contract negotiations isn't one of them.
  20. Stratos
    I think Morel has a better shot to be a better defender at 3B. He has better tools. He has quickness, athleticism, and arm strength, he just needs polish and consistent reps and to dial down the throws a notch. He does everything at 100% effort. But Busch also gives them LH/RH options. He can play 1B or DH, it doesn't really matter, Counsell will figure out where to play them all. It's good to have multiple options and depth at positions.
  21. Stratos
    Yes that's a possibility. They could also trade Suzuki next year. He has a NTC but so did Darvish. Guys like Caissie, McGeary etc could be ready by next season most likely and could slot in as much cheaper DH options. We could reload the farm a bit with a Suzuki trade. I see a lot of potential for Hoyer's plans to be more sustainable than Theo's if we can trade guys here and there for prospects. They can always be replaced with other free agents if needed. The Cubs are already coming up on a surplus of good talent at different positions where some will be dealt. A much better problem to have than not enough talent.
  22. Stratos
    Fun fact: Caus' slider had one of the highest whiff rates of any pitch in the MLB last season. Around 60% if I remember correctly. That and the funky angle are probably what the Cubs liked.
  23. Stratos
    I think this trade has some implications for both Chapman and Bellinger. If we include Shaw in the equation, if Chapman is signed there's a logjam at 3B going forward. If Bellinger is signed he can play CF this season but where does he play once PCA is up if we also have Morel/Busch/Mervis at 1B and Shaw probably taking 3B? Morel/Busch/Mervis can always platoon at DH, but then we also have Canario, Caissie, McGeary that may be ready next year and may DH as well. If Bellinger is signed gotta think someone is dealt at some point. It's harder to see Bellinger at 1B now longterm unless someone is traded. If he is signed we could see him slide into a corner OF spot and they do something else with e.g. Suzuki, including a trade. Really intrigued now to see what they do with CF this season. Metrics show Canario's running speed is below average so maybe he's not the best RHB pairing for Tauchman in CF if they pass on Bellinger. He played RF in winter ball.
  24. Stratos
    Just read your Mervis article, looking forward to the Busch one. Hopefully whatever changes Busch made that led to the big drop in K% in AAA last year hold. The 26% he had in AA/AAA previous wasn't great and he was an older prospect.
  25. Stratos
    Well he mainly played there when he was called to the Dodgers last year. Interesting thing is he's only played 20 games at 1B at all levels as a pro, but i'm sure he's an option there too. I think the main thing is that the Cubs have options at 3B, 1B, and DH now with Morel, Busch, Mervis, and Wisdom, plus Madrigal as a defensive option at 3B. They can platoon these guys based on the matchups. Hopefully Morel/Busch are able to hold down 3B, at least until Shaw is ready, and gotta think somebody between everyone mentioned is going to be dealt at some point when that happens, if not this offseason. 40-man is tight. Mastrobuoni might get put through waivers or dealt.
×
×
  • Create New...