Donzo

Stone was nothing but very positive about the Cubs. He even came off as enthusiastic when he praised the entire structure of the Cubs organization.

Dang, looks like Ross to the Rangers... I guess this means Wood could be back.

Dang, you really do love your victim status. :banghead:

With the cost of acquiring good starting pitching, and quality young pitchers under team control, so expensive at the moment, I hope the Cubs can sign Wood and Ross and call it an offseason. The Cubs can keep all their prospects and be in great position to make moves in season.

+1

Incorrect. Just take responsibility for your actions and the consequences of those actions. Perpetuating a feigned sense of victimhood is objectionable.

It's probably a bit of an overpay but I'd do it. I like Rizzi, but not for Happ... If Happ or Jimenez are traded, I want better than Rizzi... Great post by the OP...

FanRag Top 15 It's page loaded (annoying), so here's their list: 1. Jimenez 2. Happ 3. Cease 4. Candelario 5. De La Cruz 6. Zagunis... That's the highest I've seen on him. 7. Hatch... Cubs think he could have been a 1st rounder if not for the injury. 8. Underwood... Nice writeup, still some hope here. 9. Hudson 10 Dewees 11 Clifton... Dang- harsh 12 Albertos 13 E. Martinez 14 Galindo 15 Wilson Myself, move Clifton in front of Zagunis and I like it a lot.

Pick Tracker: Cubs currently have the 28th and 31st picks. (?) I don't know if this is the right thread to keep track of the draft pick situation, but it works for now... Is there a site that specifically keeps up with this? So far, I just see the Dex and Desmond signings affecting the draft, with Dex slotting higher... So, as I see it, the Cubs draft pick moves up to #28 and are awarded the first comp pick at #31.

Dang...That's what I thought, but wasn't sure... Thanks for the reply. So, with various teams losing their first round picks signing tendered free agents, the Cubs are looking at picks in and around #26 and #31.

So, the Cardinals 19th pick in the first round now belongs to the Cubs, right?

Link to Cubs top 20 from Sickles: Cubs Top 20 from Jon Sickels (SB Nation) Clifton ahead of Happ- interesting...

I wouldn't call me new, I'm recycled... I think following the minors will be fun this year, a lot of guys to keep an eye on.

Yeah, it is what it is. With so many graduations, it's time to regroup. But, obviously, some other non elite prospects will help this year. Zastryzny could be huge this year if continues what he showed last year and I very well could be selling Candelario short. I saw him play last year and he looked overmatched to me, like almost all young rookies would in a July call up. As you specifically pointed out, I just don't see the tools/talent of a regular MLB player, like I do with Jimenez and Happ. Saying that, what do I know?!? I thought Kelton and Vitters were gonna be stars, so it's a plus for Candelario that I don't think all that much of him- 8-) ... A guy I talk to about prospects loves Candelario. He said when he's comfortable, his bat speed is a plus. Here's a videohe sent me- this takes some talent.

This is a transition year for the system. In the last two years, it graduated a lot of top talent and it just lost a top 10 - 20 prospect (probably higher after the AFL), in a late season trade. Time to regroup. The good news is it appears there's quite a bit of developing talent in the lower levels. We'll see how it shakes out. 1. Eloy: Clearly the top prospect. Probably has the highest ceiling in the system and the best chance to approach it. 2. Happ: The only top prospect above A ball. His skillset is excellent, but with that glaring weakness with strikeouts. 3. Candelario: I don't know what to make of him. For some reason, I'm thinking he' an AAAA player... No particular reason why. Hope I'm wrong. After that, it really is a bunch developing prospects. Next year will clear this up... Myself, I like Clifton more than most. I like how he ended so strong in high-A at a young age, 20/21, and has been healthy. I see his stuff eventually developing and translating to success in higher levels.

Happ finished the AFL with a line of: .276/.402/ .526/ .928 There's a lot of good there. It's going to come down to contact for him... I don't get the sense that he has Brett Jackson disease and just can't consistently hit a pitched baseball. The organization has had some success in helping young hackers cut down on their K's, I believe that's a good possibility with Happ as well. We'll see.

:flythew:

I wont bore the board with constant local updates about the Rays, but I'll state this now. Any and all Rays are up for trades this offseason, especially Archer. He's gone public with his criticism of the organization, he's gone. The Rays management has identified this offseason as an especially good offseason to get high returns on their assets. That appears to be accurate. Also, they wouldn't mind tanking the next two years to save money and kill the little local support they still have for the Rays- they're very motivated to get out of their stadium deal. And, they could really accumulate an incredible amount of young assets. With what they already have on the farm, what they could get in trades this offseason and in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 drafts, it's mindboggling how much young talent they could have by June 2019. Just in time to move to Tampa, Orlando, Vegas or wherever. To point, the Rays have six top assets they could trade this offseason. Here's how I see it: Archer- 90% chance he gets traded... Huge return. Atlanta is the early favorite. Longoria- 50% chance he gets traded (yep)... Huge return. Excellent player coming off a good year and has that crazy cheap long term contract. The Dodgers are really interested... Myself, I hope he's traded. I would miss him, he's the face of the franchise... He just deserves better. Colome- 67% chance he gets traded... Huge return. The value of closers is at an all time high and a lot of teams want Colome. He's just beginning his closing career, he was great last year, has everything you want in a closer and is under team control for four more years... No early favorite. Odirizzi, Smyly and Cobb- 50% chance two of the three are traded. Good return for all three... Odirizzi probably has the most value. If Cobb wasn't coming off TJ surgery rehab (five starts in 2015), his value would be much higher.

Trading with the Rays is tough... Just remember what the Cubs paid for Garza... Different management with the Rays, but the same M.O. Also, a lot of teams are looking at the Rays pitching. There's talk (I live in Clearwater) the Braves would unload their farm system for Archer, Odorizzi and Colome.

Happ with a so so AFL... A 390. OBP is nice and his last ten games are real nice... He moved up quickly this year, so I'm not concerned with average overall stats at this point. He's had success and his skillset is outstanding. http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=p_pbp&pid=664023

Thanks for all the feedback on the pitching prospects. It does appear there is some real pitching talent in the system now, with a few top prospects and lot of mid-level prospects. The issue I see is the pitching prospects look like they’re a year away from being a year away before they can realistically contribute to the Cubs. This will probably lead to some trades. Trades that will see players traded that we don’t want traded… Theo said, down the road, there will be trades that make us squirm. We very well could be down that road right now… He put a lot of assets into position players with the idea of trading surplus position players for pitching when needed… Here we are.

Hey Craig, How about those World Series champion Chicago Cubs! I know how much time and effort you’ve put into following the Cubs and their minor league system over the years. I remember us discussing how great David Kelton was going to be. Well, I was sure he was going to be great, you not so much- good call. So, congratulation my fellow Cub fan! Congratulations to all of you… As a sports fan, I’ve been a lucky fan with my various pro and college teams winning championships the past twenty years… Nothing beats the Cubs winning the World Series! Enjoy the moment! :flythew:

Good thread, nice stuff on the pitching prospects. A couple things: Do some of you still have Cruz above Cease?... From the Cubs rankings, they clearly have Cease ahead of Cruz. Do we know Clifton's actual measurables?... I see 6'1 and 6'4... Just browsing and I've seen some confusion here as well. Thanks...

I'm thinking something has to lined up. At this moment, there is no starting pitching depth. With Montgomery sliding into the 5th spot, that's it. If Wood is resigned, then there's that. One of the things that went the Cubs way this year was good health for the starting pitching staff, that needs to continue... I was young in 84 & 85, but I remember devastating injuries to the starting pitching in 85 ruined a repeat of 84's success... I believe all five starting pictures were on the DL at one time or anther in 85.