Brandon Glick

I hear what you're saying. It's nice to have the elite teenage prospects with great projectability. But Mervis is 25 now. Rizzo was 22 at the time of the trade to the Cubs. He didn't become an all-star until his age 25 season (in 2014). And Rizzo was a pick straight out of high school in '07 (Mervis was signed out of college). I think the comp, while not exact (Rizzo was always a top prospect, Mervis barely ever got Top 100 consideration), is valid, given they both had monster numbers in Triple A for an extended time and struggled badly in the majors at first. Mervis will never be Rizzo, but to give up on him simply because he's an older prospect would be organizational malpractice.

I don't think the Cubs are ready to give up on Mervis - he had 99 PA and his underlying metrics (hard hit rate, barrel %) were above league average. You CANNOT count on him to become the guy at first base, but he needs more chances (don't forget Rizzo was AWFUL for the Padres before the Cubs got him for Cashner and turned him around). I'd love to see Candy re-signed if it's reasonable, but I think Belli is the bigger priority.

That would be an unbelievable thing if it started happening, but the Braves have been the exception, not the rule. Even other teams that have handed out the monster extensions to pre-arb guys (Diamondbacks and Carrol, Padres and Tatis, Mariners and J-Rod, Rays and Franco) are paying out massive dollars, just with more years to lower the AAV. It's hard to imagine any of the Cubs elite prospects signing the 6-100 or 8-72 deals that Acuna and Michael Harris did.

I'm with you on that front. I've always been a "guy needs to master this level to get promoted to the next". And Brown is falling into the Killian camp of "elite stuff without elite results". I think he's better suited for a long-relief bullpen stint once the rosters expand thanks to two plus-plus pitches (4-seam fastball, curveball), but he definitely doesn't need to be the next man up for me. God we need Stroman to come back healthy haha.

MLB.com has him at 7, Prospects Live has him at 8, Keith Law tweeted (X'd?) "he's a top 5 prospect on my next list" last week. B/R has him at 13, which is within a few promotions (ahead of him on the list) of the distinction. And of course I acknowledged that FanGraphs is low on him. Is he the absolute top guy in the minors? No, of course not. And industry rankings will always fluctuate. But he's a tip top prospect who's only getting hotter in the second half. Something tells me all lists will have him top 10 once the offseason comes around.

Wow. Haven't even considered this (I guess because the expectation is Ben Brown would be the guy to come up since he's already on the 40 man, but now he's dealing with an injury). I would bet everything against this happening. Just can't see a way with the roster crunch that this occurs. But man, that would be something. Would certainly have an electric debut at Wrigley.

Completely agree that the odds are long, and there may already be similar options on the 40 man. But PCA is undoubtedly the best outfield defender in the entire org right now, and he's electric on the bases (and he gets on base a lot). He's definitely not going to start even if he comes up, but if the Cubs go through a tough stretch for a week at the end of August, he could provide a big spark.

Nearly every mid-season prospect update (MLB.com, Bleacher Report, Prospects Live, Keith Law) has him top 10 (or within a spot or two of it). Fangraphs is admittedly down on him though (22, which is well below the industry "consensus"). And I think it's fair to keep him down while he develops into (hopefully) the future at CF. But this team is competitive now. They're in a playoff spot as of today. Even an extra win or two could make the difference down the stretch. Something to ponder on.

The Cubs are closing in on a playoff spot. The Cubs have one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and he’s at Triple A. A decision looms. Image courtesy of Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK Pete Crow-Armstrong is the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system, and a consensus top-10 prospect in all of baseball. He’s the most highly-regarded prospect the Cubs have had since the days of Kris Bryant and Javier Baez (for whom he was acquired), and seems destined to be the man who patrols center field at Wrigley for the next decade-plus. If you’ve been keeping up with scouting reports at all since the Cubs acquired him during the 2021 Trade Deadline Fire Sale, you know PCA’s calling cards: defense and speed. According to MLB.com’s scouting report (which merely corroborates the universal notion on PCA), Crow-Armstrong has true, top-of-the-scale 80-grade defense, and he receives similarly high marks for his speed and aggressiveness on the base paths. The 2023 Cubs are looking to make some noise in these final two months, indicated by their surprising deadline approach of buying the top rental bat on the market in Jeimer Candelario (and controllable reliever José Cuas). They’re clearly serious about each and every roster spot—a fact highlighted by their willingness to designate Trey Mancini for assignment and swallow the remaining $10 million or so on his contract. So, assuming the Cubs remain competitive throughout August, would they actually consider using one of the two extra roster spots on their top prospect? The last Cubs teams that were competitive certainly would have made a case for it. Before that core fell apart and was shipped off for the prospects that will define the next era of Cubs baseball, the team had an affinity for using that last roster spot on elite speed and/or defensive threats who could be used as valuable late-game substitutions. (Remember Leonys Martin in 2017, or Terrance Gore in 2018?) Crow-Armstrong fits both mini-role descriptions, and it’s almost certain his bat would already be more playable than any of the other pinch-runners and defensive subs they’ve thrown out there in the past. However, there’s also water to throw on this fire. Crow-Armstrong doesn’t need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason for Rule 5 protection, meaning that the Cubs can wait to do so until after the offseason to maintain maximum flexibility for their signings, trades and other prospect maneuvers over the winter. Moreover, he was only added to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs roster this week. It may be best for his development (and in the same vein, the future of the Cubs) to use this last month of the minor-league season to figure out what he needs to work on over the offseason to show up to 2024 Spring Training ready to compete for the center field job, rather than worrying about providing marginal value to a big-league team in the heat of a playoff push. All of that fails to mention that if the Cubs don’t add Crow-Armstrong with one of the two extra roster spots that now constitute September call-ups, they can add another prospect banging on the door of the Major Leagues. (Luis Vasquez, Yonathan Perlaza, or Matt Mervis, anyone?) It’s probably also worth noting that this Cubs team is pretty well-equipped in center field already. Cody Bellinger is having a monstrous comeback season, and is on the heels of winning National League Player of the Month in July. He’s an elite bat and defender out in center, and if Candelario is really going to take over first base full-time down the stretch, the need for Crow-Armstrong is probably mitigated. Alas, there are different schools of thought to be applied here. There may be no player in the entire Cubs organization right now better-equipped to help this team at the margins, which becomes amplified as every game starts to mean that much more in the playoff race. But, Crow-Armstrong is still just 21 years old, and only two years removed from a major shoulder surgery that cost him virtually the entire 2021 season. Where the Cubs’ season goes from here may ultimately answer the question on its own. If they remain competitive in the heat of the Wild Card and division race, perhaps Crow-Armstrong earns his cup of coffee in the big leagues. If the club falls out of it (or, alternatively and however improbably, if they run away with and lock up a playoff spot early), he’ll probably remain in the minors until next season. Regardless, it speaks volumes to the success of this campaign—both for Crow-Armstrong and for the Cubs, as a team—that this is a discussion we’ll be having for the foreseeable future. View full article

In the year 2023, this is a Mike Tauchman post. What a time to be alive. Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports It may seem that the impetus to write this came on Friday night, when Mike Tauchman robbed Alec Burleson of a walk-off two-run homer, propelling the Cubs over .500 on the year and firmly into “playoff contender” status. And while that moment feels like it’ll be etched into Cubs lore regardless of what happens the rest of the season, it’s actually the rest of Tauchman’s year that deserves the most love. Originally, Tauchman was signed to a minor league deal in January, meant to serve as organizational outfield depth and perhaps compete for the fourth or fifth outfielder job on the big league team with a strong Spring Training showing. If you’ll allow yourself to think back to then, the plan for the Cubs was for Cody Bellinger to man center field full time, while other offseason signings Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini kept first base warm for Matt Mervis. You know what happened next. Hosmer was… well, modern-day Eric Hosmer, and he got released at the end of May. Mancini has been a disaster to the tune of a -1.3 WAR (i.e., Mancini has been worth over one win less than a replacement-level first baseman this year), at times showcasing spectacularly atrocious defense at the “cold” corner. And Mervis, surrounded by tremendous hype, was called up in May… only to post a .531 OPS in 99 plate appearances. Then, Bellinger got hurt in Houston, costing the Cubs their center fielder and best bat. As such, the Cubs were left at a standstill. So, they responded by calling up Tauchman to fill in and hold down the fort in center field while Bellinger got healthy. Then, something amazing happened: Mike Tauchman became one of the Cubs’ most valuable players. In 57 games (through Monday, July 31st) with the Cubs in 2023, Tauchman has been worth 1.6 WAR, with a .760 OPS propelled by a .361 on-base percentage (which currently ranks fourth on the team). He’s provided solid (and, as aforementioned, sometimes special) defense out in center. And he’s quickly become one of the most respected voices in the locker room, no doubt a reflection of the wisdom he’s picked up in a journeyman career that has featured stops with multiple first-place teams (2019 Yankees, 2021 Giants). But the most valuable contribution Tauchman has given to the Cubs this year can’t really be quantified: flexibility. His steady presence atop the lineup has allowed Bellinger to shift back to his original position* at first base against righties, keeping Mancini on the bench until an opposing lefty appears on the schedule (where Bellinger then shifts back to CF). This hybrid, three-man platoon has worked quite well for the Cubs, and now with Nick Madrigal back and healthy at third base, we may see even more options for the Cubs at first (especially against lefties), including Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel. It’d be easy to question the sustainability of a guy putting up career highs or near-career highs across the board, especially at 32. And there’s no doubt the future of center field at the Friendly Confines is still Pete Crow-Armstrong (barring the fulfillment of a dream Bellinger re-signing). But for a team that’s desperately trying to compete in a down year in the division (and really, across the entire National League), Tauchman’s contributions have been invaluable. It remains to be seen just how much damage a team with Mike Tauchman atop the lineup can do in the playoffs in the year 2023 if they even get there at all. Only time will tell if that home run robbery against the Cardinals right before the trade deadline will be the highlight of a lost season or a footnote in a much more successful one. But following years of trading fan favorites and Chicago legends with an eye toward the future, it’s nice to have someone creating his own Cubs legend right now. *Bellinger was initially called up to replace an injured Adrian Gonzales at first base for the Dodgers in 2017. View full article

Following yesterday’s report that the Cubs had taken their biggest chips off the table, it feels like a safe bet to say the Cubs will be buyers at the trade deadline this year, however marginal the additions they make may be. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Odds are the Cubs will be “soft” buyers, which is another way of saying they’ll be looking in the bargain bin at the deadline, trying to exploit market inefficiencies without having to trade away any of the top prospects they have so meticulously accumulated over the last three-plus years. Likely, players who are blocked at the major league level (e.g., Nelson Velasquez) or are staring down an offseason 40-man roster decision (e.g., Yonathan Perlaza) will be the Cubs' preferred outgoing assets this year, as well as some of the major league depth pieces that may not wholly suit the roster’s needs right now (e.g., Patrick Wisdom, Miles Mastrobuoni, etc.). And those pieces should be enough for the assumed Cubs’ targets at the deadline this year (bench bat, lefty reliever, corner infielder) to grease the wheels on a trade or two. But what happens if Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins, and the front office decide they want to jump right into the deep end this year? Are there any remotely available players that could convince the Cubs to part with any of their prized prospects? It seems unfathomable to suggest Pete Crow-Armstrong would be going anywhere, as well as other top-100 types like Cade Horton, Ben Brown, and Kevin Alcantara. And yet, what if a guy like Juan Soto becomes available again? Could the Cubs willingly pass on the opportunity to acquire such an elite talent for the sake of “trusting the process”? Below are a few examples of players who: 1) are among the best players at their respective positions, 2) fit the Cubs roster as currently constructed (so don’t expect to see shortstops or second basemen on this list) and 3) are team-controlled beyond this year (with Shohei Ohtani off the market, there are approximately zero rental players worth a top 100 prospect still on the market). Note that we’ll be using MLB.com’s midseason list for prospect rankings, though there are plenty of prospects in the system who have received more love from elsewhere (e.g., Jordan Wicks, Owen Caissie, James Triantos, etc.). PETE ALONSO With the Mets officially waiving the white flag on their season following the blockbuster trades of David Robertson to the Marlins and Max Scherzer to the Rangers, it’s safe to say Uncle Steve and co. will be open for business over the next two days. Anyone who has followed the Cubs this year knows that first base has been a black hole, offensively and defensively. And astute observers have also noticed that the team has a distinct lack of power. If a player on the Mets that could kill both birds with a single stone (bat?) comes to mind, then we’re probably on the same wavelength. Alonso is not having his best season by any means, but a slash line of .218/.314/.506 and an OPS+ of 124 will more than play for the Cubs, who still are forced to play Trey Mancini (he of the -1.3 WAR this season) against lefties at first. And given that he’s having a down year and is only controlled via arbitration through 2024, his price tag shouldn’t be too prohibitive for the Cubs. Given that the Mets’ farm system is top-heavy and dominated by position players (not to mention guys already in the majors like Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez), one could make the assumption they’d be interested in plucking one of the top pitchers from the Cubs’ system. However, they’d certainly ask for PCA back (which the Cubs would immediately decline). Perhaps a swap of Wicks and more for Alonso could make sense, or the Mets could add someone like old friend Brooks Raley to the deal to get a package headlined by Brown, Triantos, and others. Like all of these deals, this feels a little unfeasible given that the Cubs aren’t quite in prime contending status just yet, but the fit here is undeniable. And it’s also fun to engage in a little bit of LOL-Mets when the chance presents itself (which is dishearteningly often for Mets fans, it seems). JUAN SOTO The pie in the sky dream—the ultimate deadline blockbuster. The Cubs watched Soto get traded from the Nationals to the Padres one year ago, as the Padres forked over an absurd haul to acquire the young phenom (and rental bat Josh Bell). Now, Soto has a year less of control and is more expensive - meaning he’d hypothetically cost less than he did last time. Now, it’s up for debate whether the Padres will even sell following a weekend sweep of the Rangers, placing them just 2.0 games below .500 on the year. Their roster is still wildly talented (and expensive), and their window for contention is open right now. But if the Padres decide to restock the farm amid a down season, the Cubs must get on the phone immediately. This deal would start with a major league-level contributor: one of Seiya Suzuki or, more likely, Ian Happ. Soto would immediately displace one of them in a corner of the outfield anyways, and Padres GM A.J. Preller has always targeted proven Major League players with team control remaining. Beyond that, though, the entire Cubs’ farm is fair game. The Padres would almost certainly insist on PCA, who would headline the package with Happ or Suzuki. From there, you’d probably see one of the two big pitchers (Brown and Horton) go, as well as one of the better bats in the system (Alcantara, Christian Hernandez, etc.). That would probably get the deal done for 1.5 years of Soto, though it’s possible a desperate team like the Yankees calls and drives the price to stratospheric levels. Whether the Cubs choose to go shopping in this corner of the market or not, it’s worth noting that they finally have the depth and top-end pieces to do so. The offseason feels like a more likely time for them to dive in head first (Ohtani signing anyone?), but perhaps the Cubs can toe the line between development and contending with the right trade this year. AARON CIVALE Before we could hit "Publish" on this article, Aaron Civale was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays Perhaps the most realistic target here, rumors have been flying that Civale is on the market. As a guy with a 2.34 ERA in 77 innings who also has two-and-a-half seasons of club control remaining, Civale may be the grand prize of this deadline. Cleveland is only half a game out of first in the AL Central (tied with the Twins in the loss column), so trading away one of their few precious, healthy starters may seem unreasonable. But Cleveland is a pitching factory, and they have a wealth of young arms in or on their way to the Majors. And as a small market team with a perennially miniscule budget, it would make sense for them to sell high if the right offer comes along. The fit here is obvious. The 2024 Cubs have only two guys locked into the rotation: Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon. Marcus Stroman is probably gone one way or another, Kyle Hendricks has a $16m team option, and Hayden Wesneski and Drew Smyly are complete wild cards at this point. A guy who can help solidify the rotation this year and beyond is extremely valuable for any team, especially these Cubs. There’s a pretty close approximation as to what Civale might cost: the Jose Quintana blockbuster. The White Sox got two top 100 prospects at the time (Eloy Jiminez and Dylan Cease) as well as two smaller pieces in exchange for Quintana, who had 3.5 years left of control. While Quintana likely costs a little more due to the crosstown rivalry (and extra year of control and more established track record), the very seller-friendly market this year will also drive up Civale’s price. Cleveland has been shopping for young positional talent for years, which is where they’d likely target the Cubs’ system. PCA is probably off the board for a non-ace, but Triantos, Alcantara, and Caissie would all be in play. You’d also likely see the Cubs give up a few projectable guys in A-Ball or the Rookie League, though none feature in any Top 10 lists yet. It’s also worth noting Hawkins’ long tenure and familiarity with Cleveland - he was there when the Guardians drafted Civale. If anyone knows whether Civale is worth the price tag, it’s him. View full article

The Cubs completed their second deal of the day late Monday night, acquiring right-handed reliever José Cuas for outfielder Nelson Velazquez. Image courtesy of © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports The move ostensibly opened up a spot for top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong in the crowded Iowa outfield while giving the Cubs some much-needed relief pitching depth. However, the Cubs aren’t just giving away a guy with the talent Nelson Velazquez has - Cuas has some legitimate A-grade stuff when he’s on, and it’s worth a deeper dive to see what he can provide to the Cubs now and in the future. The first move that will likely pop into people’s minds when seeing this one is the Wade Davis for Jorge Soler trade following the 2016 World Series win. Though the teams and positions of the players are the same (which in and of itself is a crazy coincidence), there are plenty of differences. Soler was far more accomplished in his time in the big leagues at the time of that trade, while Davis was one of the best relief pitchers in all of baseball. On the flip side, Velazquez has received sporadic (at best) playing time when on the Cubs, and Cuas is still figuring out how to harness his elite stuff. It’s also worth mentioning: Cuas is under control through 2029, not even reaching arbitration until the 2026 season. Looking at him deeper, the basic stats don’t tell the whole story; Cuas has a 4.54 ERA and nearly-matching 4.46 FIP, suggesting he’s mostly earned his mediocre results this year. He’s got an impressive 11.2 K/9, though his 1.608 WHIP (inflated by an unsightly 4.5 BB/9) suggests he’s still unrefined as a pitcher. His results this year are pretty similar to last year’s (his first in the big leagues), though his ERA+ has dropped from 114 to a below-average 98. What stands out most about Cuas is actually the eye test: his fastball has the ninth-best Stuff+ score (minimum 20 innings pitched this year) according to FanGraphs, despite the fact it’s his third most used pitch. His slider/sweeper is inconsistent but absolutely filthy when at its best. This seems like a guy destined for a dominant two-pitch mix, which should make him an effective reliever in time when paired with his unique sidearm delivery. The Cubs, especially since the hiring of Carter Hawkins as GM, have touted the proficiency of their Pitch Lab™, and they clearly see a guy whose stuff and makeup suggest there’s more in store than just a league-average reliever. Cuas also has a number of option years remaining (i.e., he can be shuttled back and forth between the big leagues and the minors), providing the Cubs invaluable flexibility in the bullpen as he learns to pitch more to his strengths. And, of course, should the Cubs unlock him immediately, he’ll remain in the majors as a cost-effective setup man to newly minted closer Adbert Alzolay. It’s a smaller trade than the Jeimer Candelario one from earlier today, but it could prove prudent in due time should the Cubs help unlock Cuas’ next level. It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow to say goodbye to Velasquez, who electrified at times in his short stints in Chicago, but the Cubs have signaled today once and for all: they are ready to win now. View full article

Two very legit prospects going out - Herz is a lefty with massive potential, but a lot of reliever risk. And Made is a really good defensive SS with a developing (but lagging bat). Love that the Cubs are buying aggressively. Clearly want to send a message that the rebuild is over.

Outside of Boston and New York, the Cubs and Cardinals rivalry is one of the most heated and storied in baseball. One franchise may or may not have a much stronger track record of reaching the ultimate goal, but fans of both franchises have always been relentless when the two teams play each other, regardless of the quality of the product on the field. Image courtesy of © David Banks-USA TODAY Sports One of the more interesting aspects of this rivalry, especially over recent years, is the number of players who have moved directly from one franchise to the other. While trades between the two teams almost never occur (key word: almost), free agents have found homes in both St. Louis and Chicago recently, including Dexter Fowler and Willson Contreras leaving the Cubs and Jason Heyward joining them (just in time to give the most expensive speech in sports history). But could this year be the year that the two teams finally align in terms of need, surplus, and value? The Cardinals are really, truly sellers for the first time in forever, having shipped off Jordan Hicks to Toronto and Jordan Montgomery to Texas over the weekend. And the Cubs are at least prospective buyers, riding their recent eight-game winning streak to an over .500 record and in the hunt for the divisional lead and one of the three wild card slots. The Cubs’ needs are relatively obvious this year: a first baseman, starting pitching depth, a reliever (especially a left-handed one), and (depending on your feelings on Nick Madrigal) a third baseman. The Cardinals, as aforementioned, have already begun shipping off pitchers. What remains in their cupboard on that end is Jack Flaherty (a rental SP having a solid back-end of the rotation season), Giovanny Gallegos (a righty reliever with a few years of team control remaining), Ryan Helsley (a fireballing closer who was an All-Star last year) and Steven Matz (a lefty starter who pitches exceptionally well against the Cubs and not-so-great against the rest of the league). On the positional side, Paul DeJong is heavily rumored to be available and can play all over the infield. Brendon Donovan may also be floated, though his price tag will be exorbitant even before the rivalry tax is applied. And while Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt fit the Cubs’ roster like a glove, there is no conceivable world where the Cardinals would willingly hand one of their two MVP-caliber players over to the Cubs. So the question this all begs: given that the Cubs are (likely) buying and the Cardinals are certainly selling, could the two franchises move past their rivalry to reach an agreement on a mutually beneficial trade? Would you want to see the Cubs fork even a single prospect over to the Cardinals, knowing they’ll likely apply their voodoo Cardinals magic to turn them into the next Lou Brock? Or perhaps you’re content just to watch the fireworks, hoping the Cubs make smart moves elsewhere while the Cardinals blow up the foundation of their team? No matter how you see it, this deadline is sure to provide some sort of spectacle, even if the Cubs are less involved than in years past. And with a little bit of persuasion from Jed Hoyer and crew, the Cubs and Cardinals can make a trade that leaves the rest of the MLB stunned. View full article

I certainly loved him. And there was a lot of boo-hooing on twitter when he was traded (that's how you determine a player's popularity nowadays, right?).

Oh absolutely - even the Braves this year only have a 20% chance based on the models (which, who even knows how accurate those can ever really be). And there are certainly circumstances where standing pat makes sense. But the Cubs have two of the BEST trade chips on the market right now. They certainly don't need to sell the whole team off, but it's organizational malpractice not to cash in on such a seller's market (should they choose to sell that is).

Definitely wouldn't mind seeing Stroman traded for a cost-controlled corner infielder, and then flipping one those Triple A prospects (Perlaza?) for a pitcher. But this is a seller's market, so it'll take a lot more than we're used to for a quality SP.

I think this a great attitude to have. Only difference for me is that in 2015, most of the future core of the roster was already up in the majors. Right now, a lot of those big prospects (PCA, Alcantara, Horton, etc.) are still in the minors.

It's 100% true that the Cubs' deadline sale last year was far less implosive than the year before, but that's mostly because they had less to trade away (and the Contreras trade to the Astros was nixed at the last second). My point was more so that the Cubs have been among the most obvious and voluminous sellers in the last two years on the market. And while I would love to share your optimism, something tells me Jed and "aiming high" don't always mesh (at least for now).