The problem is the roster is really solid so you could argue they have a complete club. Even now you might say we have our 8th and 9th inning bullpen and some good prospects for the 7th.
What we don’t have are any superstars….on both O and in our pitchers. Can you win a WS that way? I don’t think so. I want another BIG bat and a top of the rotation guy. We should want both. It makes everyone better but it does cost serious coin.
How long have people been saying he needs a third pitch? I’m sure he has worked on trying to get one for a while. But eventually he needs to be a bullpen guy unless he gets one, right?
Eh I don’t know. I don’t see it. I see a pitcher in decline that gives up too many HRs. 22 million is a lot to go give to a guy who was not trusted at the end of last year.
I hope to be wrong - I hope he bounces back. I love his personality and his love for Chicago.
This bothers me. $22 million for a guy who was trending terribly at the end of the year on a big market but sometimes cheaply run team? I wish he had turned it down.
I want Bregman or Tucker plus a #1 SP. I know that is asking a lot and sounds so unlikely with this ownership, but we are the freakin high market Chicago Cubs with a team built to win for 2026. Go. All. In.
I think Cease’s metrics tell a different story. He has amazing stuff and the Cubs need elite pitching if they want to win a WS. Cease is up and down year to year but he has elite upside and would be a major upgrade over Shota IMHO.
The thing about PCA is that he can still get better. He flubbed a few easier balls this year. If he cuts those out he is the best defensive player in baseball (and he still may be anyways).
Teams know way more than we do. If teams steal signs you can use that against them. Just implement the little orphan Annie secret decoder ring and trick them.