Have an uneasy feeling that we’ll just see a minor FA pickup and/or a veteran signed to minor league contract with chance to compete for job.
That already happened. Jon Berti.
Have an uneasy feeling that we’ll just see a minor FA pickup and/or a veteran signed to minor league contract with chance to compete for job.
Yes, I know they signed Berti. With his versatility, I think they might take a flyer on another body as a plan C. Thinking along the likes of a Solano or Urshela type player, though I think those two have already signed elsewhere. Not sure who is still out there, but I don’t expect them to make any kind of splash. More a ripple that might help them bide a little time if they think Shaw needs a month or two in minorsThat already happened. Jon Berti.
Yes, I know they signed Berti. With his versatility, I think they might take a flyer on another body as a plan C. Thinking along the likes of a Solano or Urshela type player, though I think those two have already signed elsewhere. Not sure who is still out there, but I don’t expect them to make any kind of splash. More a ripple that might help them bide a little time if they think Shaw needs a month or two in minors
They’re currently 2 players over on their 40-man roster. So, I could see a “take a lot of our crap for a little of your crap” type of trade. It would be someone on the fringe of an opening day roster who can play the corner infield.
That was always the most likely outcome.Nah. Instead, they just released Luis Vazquez and Matt Festa.
I wonder if their spending spree will lead to changes in the next CBA...The Dodgers just signed Yates. They’re going to be absolutely grotesque this year. 112 wins might be a conservative estimate if their three big bats stay relatively healthy.
They have become a bit of a joke at this point. If they stay healthy, no team has any chance to beat them in the World Series.The Dodgers just signed Yates. They’re going to be absolutely grotesque this year. 112 wins might be a conservative estimate if their three big bats stay relatively healthy.
Baseball is a funny game. Sometimes in a series, the best team does not win. Case in point the Cardinals a some years back winning with an 82-80 record.They have become a bit of a joke at this point. If they stay healthy, no team has any chance to beat them in the World Series.
The bar is very low to improve on their production at 3B from last year.Still need a proven bat at 3B. Too bad there isn't anyone on the market right now who could fill that void...
Baseball is a funny game. Sometimes in a series, the best team does not win. Case in point the Cardinals a some years back winning with an 82-80 record.
Morgan will for sure be on the team and I'd be shocked if Wicks and Brown aren't as well.So, I think these are your 2025 Chicago Cubs:
C: Amaya, Kelly
1B: Busch
2B: Hoerner
SS: Swanson
3B: Shaw
LF: Happ
CF: Crow-Armstrong
RF: Tucker
DH: Suzuki
Bench: Berti, Canario, Workman
SP: Imanaga, Steele, Taillon, Boyd, Rea
6th Starter/Swing: Assad
RP: Hodge, Pearson, Miller, Thompson Thielbar, Merryweather
Closer: Pressly
Brujan could beat out Workman.
If Canario isn’t the bench outfielder, I don’t know who else it could be. Caissie can’t play center.
Brown, Wicks and Horton will all start in Iowa to give starter depth.
Morgan, Roberts, Poteet, Little, etc could all start with the Big Team and I’m sure there will be a lot of shuttling back and forth from Iowa.
Fangraphs has the Cubs about 2 games in front of the Cardinals for top team in the Central.
Unless he burns it up in spring training, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Shaw starts the season at AAA with a promotion when it starts to get warm.So, I think these are your 2025 Chicago Cubs:
C: Amaya, Kelly
1B: Busch
2B: Hoerner
SS: Swanson
3B: Shaw
LF: Happ
CF: Crow-Armstrong
RF: Tucker
DH: Suzuki
Bench: Berti, Canario, Workman
SP: Imanaga, Steele, Taillon, Boyd, Rea
6th Starter/Swing: Assad
RP: Hodge, Pearson, Miller, Thompson Thielbar, Merryweather
Closer: Pressly
Brujan could beat out Workman.
If Canario isn’t the bench outfielder, I don’t know who else it could be. Caissie can’t play center.
Brown, Wicks and Horton will all start in Iowa to give starter depth.
Morgan, Roberts, Poteet, Little, etc could all start with the Big Team and I’m sure there will be a lot of shuttling back and forth from Iowa.
Fangraphs has the Cubs about 2 games in front of the Cardinals for top team in the Central.
....and an extra year of control?Unless he burns it up in spring training, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Shaw starts the season at AAA with a promotion when it starts to get warm.
The Big Red Machine was pretty incredible.Dodgers are beatable by a team that has better pitching than the Dodgers. That means no one. They are more dominant than any team since the 1927 Yankees.
Not sure of the rules on that these days, but certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing. Even if that wouldn’t be the result, I could still see him starting in minors. He only had 150 AB at AAA last year, and though he did quite well at that level I think they’ll play it like they did with PCA. He had about the same amount of AB at AAA in 2023, and they started him in minors — bringing him up in late April after getting another 100+ AB.....and an extra year of control?
Pete Rose nauseated me. OVER RATED!!!!The Big Red Machine was pretty incredible.
He is overrated because he has the most hits ever, played in the ALL Star game at FIVE different positions and played in the most winning games ever. I can understand being nauseated by him, but he was not overrated.Pete Rose nauseated me. OVER RATED!!!!
Pete Rose nauseated me. OVER RATED!!!!
Start mapping out the parade routeCubs sign Nicky Lopez to minor league deal. WoooooHooooo
As I said earlier, this was the type of move I was expecting. He doesn’t move the needle but adds some depth. He’s not a bad utility. And though most of his time has been spent at 2B and SS, he has played some 3B. Sure looks like Cubs are planning on starting Shaw in minors unless he really forces their hand in spring training.Start mapping out the parade route
Nicky Lopez is insurance in AAA after the release of Vazquez. He's probably 4th-5th on the depth chart for 3B. He signing has no bearing on Shaw.As I said earlier, this was the type of move I was expecting. He doesn’t move the needle but adds some depth. He’s not a bad utility. And though most of his time has been spent at 2B and SS, he has played some 3B. Sure looks like Cubs are planning on starting Shaw in minors unless he really forces their hand in spring training.
Kris Bryant hit .425 with 9 HR's in Spring of 2015. He was sent to AAA.As I said earlier, this was the type of move I was expecting. He doesn’t move the needle but adds some depth. He’s not a bad utility. And though most of his time has been spent at 2B and SS, he has played some 3B. Sure looks like Cubs are planning on starting Shaw in minors unless he really forces their hand in spring training.