Chicago Cubs 2025

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#151      
Kris Bryant hit .425 with 9 HR's in Spring of 2015. He was sent to AAA.

Shaw will be in Iowa on opening day.

That was only due to a manipulation of the service time rules that were in force at the time. Bryant's situation helped get the rules changed in the next CBA:

The league and union agreed to several changes moving forward:

  • No matter when a player comes up from the minors, he'll be awarded a full year of service if he finishes first or second in Rookie of the Year voting.
  • A new system put in place now rewards teams with extra draft picks if they promote their top prospects on Opening Day. A player who receives a full year of service time and finishes in the top three in Rookie of the Year voting or top five in MVP/Cy Young voting will earn his team an extra draft pick coming after the first round.
  • A new pre-arbitration bonus pool allows the best players in a class to boost their pay significantly through on-field performance while still in the early arbitration years of their contract. The top 100 players via a WAR-based formula and the end-of-year award winners will split up $50 million annually.
While it all came too late to help Kris Bryant, the next Kris Bryant will benefit greatly.

The Cubs have said that they are hoping that Shaw wins the job in Spring Training.
 
#152      
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.

Never said Lopez would be the reason Shaw starts season in minors. That would be Berti at the moment. But Lopez provides another option as a utility guy (which ideally Berti would be) if they decide to open season with Berti at 3B.
 
#153      
That was only due to a manipulation of the service time rules that were in force at the time. Bryant's situation helped get the rules changed in the next CBA:



The Cubs have said that they are hoping that Shaw wins the job in Spring Training.
Rules have changed, but still manipulation going on. I believe a year of service time is considered on the MLB roster for something like 172 days of what is typically about a 186 day season. I’m not 100% sure this is correct, but if Cubs wait until mid to late April to bring up Shaw, while the clock for arbitration eligibility would start I don’t believe the Cubs would lose a year of team control as far as eligibility for free agency. And the latter is the big thing.
 
#154      
That was only due to a manipulation of the service time rules that were in force at the time. Bryant's situation helped get the rules changed in the next CBA:



The Cubs have said that they are hoping that Shaw wins the job in Spring Training.
The new rules really only come into play if you think your guy is going to be a contender for ROY. If a player finishes in the top 5 in ROY voting and qualifies for a full season, the team gets an additional draft pick. It certainly would have changed the math on Bryant, but Shaw isn't quite that level of "Can't miss."
The smart money still says we don't see Shaw until mid-late May.
 
#155      
Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA predicts that the Cubs will win 90.6 games and finish in 1st place. I predict that they will surely not win 90.6 games or finish 1st in the Central. They have the Brewers finishing 2nd with 80.2 wins. I'm just as certain that the Brewers will not win 80.2 games.

I will reiterate my prediction with the current team, and signing a few more meh guys will not change my prediction. The Cubs finish second in the central, and 4th in the wildcard race. Hopefully they make an exciting signing or even 2 and I will have to change my prediction.
 
#156      
Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA predicts that the Cubs will win 90.6 games and finish in 1st place. I predict that they will surely not win 90.6 games or finish 1st in the Central. They have the Brewers finishing 2nd with 80.2 wins. I'm just as certain that the Brewers will not win 80.2 games.

I will reiterate my prediction with the current team, and signing a few more meh guys will not change my prediction. The Cubs finish second in the central, and 4th in the wildcard race. Hopefully they make an exciting signing or even 2 and I will have to change my prediction.
They might make another move, if the price is right. I tend to think they will go into the season with what they have and make moves closer to the trade deadline depending on results and development. Having the financial flexibility to take on a good player on an expiring contract could be the difference between the PETCOA prediction and yours.
There is no reason to exceed the tax again. Frankly, it was really dumb to creep over it last year. Save those bullets for when more of our young talent matriculates and/or we pay Tucker.
 
#157      
Saw a report (can’t remember where) that Cubs are still “in” on Bregman. Found that surprising, but good news if true.
 
#158      
Saw a report (can’t remember where) that Cubs are still “in” on Bregman. Found that surprising, but good news if true.

I guess it all depends on what "still in on" means. I hope I'm wrong but he'll end up back in Houston.
 
#163      
What is that now? 25 relievers on the 40 man roster? :ROFLMAO:
Fine by me.

Not sure how many they ended up with, but I believe Cubs pen had close to 20 blown saves through June last year. Believe all or nearly all of those ended up being losses. Throw in that Cubs only had two starters throw more than 150 innings, and I’ll take all the middle relievers we can get. Plus, should the Cubs F-up again this year, always a strong market for RPs at trade deadline.
 
#164      
Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA predicts that the Cubs will win 90.6 games and finish in 1st place. I predict that they will surely not win 90.6 games or finish 1st in the Central. They have the Brewers finishing 2nd with 80.2 wins. I'm just as certain that the Brewers will not win 80.2 games.

I will reiterate my prediction with the current team, and signing a few more meh guys will not change my prediction. The Cubs finish second in the central, and 4th in the wildcard race. Hopefully they make an exciting signing or even 2 and I will have to change my prediction.

The Cubs Have the Best Projected Starter at Six of Eight Positions in the NL Central


First Base
  1. Michael Busch (CHC): 111 OPS+, 3.3 WAR
  2. Spencer Horwitz (PIT): 118 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  3. Willson Contreras (STL): 113 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  4. Rhys Hoskins (MIL): 105 OPS+, 1.0 WAR
  5. Jeimer Candelario (CIN): 103 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
Second Base
  1. Nico Hoerner (CHC): 101 OPS+, 4.5 WAR
  2. Matt McLain (CIN): 112 OPS+, 3.6 WAR
  3. Nick Gonzales (PIT): 106 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  4. Brendan Donovan (STL): 115 OPS+, 2.5 WAR
  5. Brice Turang (MIL): 88 OPS+, 2.5 WAR
Left Field
  1. Ian Happ (CHC): 116 OPS+, 3.6 WAR
  2. Jackson Chourio (MIL): 108 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  3. Bryan Reynolds (PIT): 115 OPS+, 2.4 WAR
  4. Lars Nootbaar (STL): 116 OPS+, 2.3 WAR
  5. Spencer Steer (CIN): 108 OPS+, 1.8 WAR
Center Field
  1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 97 OPS+, 3.5 WAR
  2. Oneil Cruz (PIT): 114 OPS+, 2.9 WAR
  3. Garrett Mitchell (MIL): 106 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
  4. TJ Friedl (CIN): 95 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
  5. Victor Scott II (STL): 68 OPS+, 0.7 WAR
Right Field
  1. Kyle Tucker (CHC): 129 OPS+, 3.7 WAR
  2. Sal Frelick (MIL): 98 OPS+, 2.2 WAR
  3. Joshua Palacios (PIT): 104 OPS+, 0.9 WAR
  4. Jake Fraley (CIN): 94 OPS+, 0.7 WAR
  5. Jordan Walker (STL): 99 OPS+, 0.5 WAR
Designated Hitter:
  1. Seiya Suzuki (CHC): 127 OPS+, 3.3 WAR
  2. Christian Yelich (MIL): 119 OPS+, 2.3 WAR
  3. Alec Burleson (STL): 110 OPS+, 2.0 WAR
  4. “Candelnacion-Stephly” (CIN): 1.4 WAR
  5. Andrew McCutchen (PIT): 93 OPS+, 0.4 WAR
 
#165      

The Cubs Have the Best Projected Starter at Six of Eight Positions in the NL Central


First Base
  1. Michael Busch (CHC): 111 OPS+, 3.3 WAR
  2. Spencer Horwitz (PIT): 118 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  3. Willson Contreras (STL): 113 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  4. Rhys Hoskins (MIL): 105 OPS+, 1.0 WAR
  5. Jeimer Candelario (CIN): 103 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
Second Base
  1. Nico Hoerner (CHC): 101 OPS+, 4.5 WAR
  2. Matt McLain (CIN): 112 OPS+, 3.6 WAR
  3. Nick Gonzales (PIT): 106 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  4. Brendan Donovan (STL): 115 OPS+, 2.5 WAR
  5. Brice Turang (MIL): 88 OPS+, 2.5 WAR
Left Field
  1. Ian Happ (CHC): 116 OPS+, 3.6 WAR
  2. Jackson Chourio (MIL): 108 OPS+, 2.6 WAR
  3. Bryan Reynolds (PIT): 115 OPS+, 2.4 WAR
  4. Lars Nootbaar (STL): 116 OPS+, 2.3 WAR
  5. Spencer Steer (CIN): 108 OPS+, 1.8 WAR
Center Field
  1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 97 OPS+, 3.5 WAR
  2. Oneil Cruz (PIT): 114 OPS+, 2.9 WAR
  3. Garrett Mitchell (MIL): 106 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
  4. TJ Friedl (CIN): 95 OPS+, 1.6 WAR
  5. Victor Scott II (STL): 68 OPS+, 0.7 WAR
Right Field
  1. Kyle Tucker (CHC): 129 OPS+, 3.7 WAR
  2. Sal Frelick (MIL): 98 OPS+, 2.2 WAR
  3. Joshua Palacios (PIT): 104 OPS+, 0.9 WAR
  4. Jake Fraley (CIN): 94 OPS+, 0.7 WAR
  5. Jordan Walker (STL): 99 OPS+, 0.5 WAR
Designated Hitter:
  1. Seiya Suzuki (CHC): 127 OPS+, 3.3 WAR
  2. Christian Yelich (MIL): 119 OPS+, 2.3 WAR
  3. Alec Burleson (STL): 110 OPS+, 2.0 WAR
  4. “Candelnacion-Stephly” (CIN): 1.4 WAR
  5. Andrew McCutchen (PIT): 93 OPS+, 0.4 WAR
Clicked on link, Last in Rotation, next last bullpen. I'm not from Missouri, but they will have to show me. There are 9 positions since they included DH. 11 if you include SP and BP. They have gotten me enthused the past 2 seasons, and fallen on their faces. Without more help I'm sticking with my projections, which is all these are, projections.
I will be rooting for them, telling the Cardinal fans that the Cubs are in first place when they win the first game of the season, and waiting for them to let me down again.
I was sitting right there when the Miami batter was walked, didn't touch first base before going to the dugout for a pinch runner and started a discussion amongst the people around me as to whether that was proper. We were watching like hawks and the Cub fans cheered when the out call was made. I'm all about the Cubs, but after all these years I am a realist.
 
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#166      
If Bregman becomes a Cub I am going to have a problem rooting for him. He was such a cocky blastard hitting the pitch that he knew was coming. Gleefully banging on the garbage can. The replays of the cheating that I saw he was front and center. Seemed like the worst on the team.
 
#168      
If Bregman becomes a Cub I am going to have a problem rooting for him. He was such a cocky blastard hitting the pitch that he knew was coming. Gleefully banging on the garbage can. The replays of the cheating that I saw he was front and center. Seemed like the worst on the team.
Come on man, it's Chicago, Al Capone, vote early vote often,...and you are worried stealing signs
 
#169      
Come on man, it's Chicago, Al Capone, vote early vote often,...and you are worried stealing signs
I'm not from Chicago. When you get to the UofI you keep driving South. If I went into the polling place twice they would tell me that I had already voted. If I went to a different polling place in the county someone who knows me would tell me that I was in the wrong place. If I tried to vote for a dead person they would say sorry, he is dead. You can't cheat down here. Voter ID is redundant in Crawford County.
 
#171      
The bigger deal for the Cubs might be Pivetta signing with the Padres on a back loaded contract. They’re now likely to try to trade one of their higher-priced starters to try to get their payroll down.

If the Cubs could trade for Cease or King and then sign Turner as a backup bat, that would conclude a pretty decent off season.
 
#172      
Bregman to Boston. 3 years 120 million (multiple opt outs). Glad they didn't go there. I'd have gone 3 for 90 with multiple opt outs. No more.

Bregman is making the same as Aaron Judge. Laughable.
That contract is a joke. Overpaying him by about $10-15 million. His WAR has dropped every year. So happy the Cubs did not add him.
 
#173      
The bigger deal for the Cubs might be Pivetta signing with the Padres on a back loaded contract. They’re now likely to try to trade one of their higher-priced starters to try to get their payroll down.

If the Cubs could trade for Cease or King and then sign Turner as a backup bat, that would conclude a pretty decent off season.
Even though Turner hasn't played a lot of third recently, he could also be a right handed platoon with Busch and be a good affordable fit. Although Bregman has more power, they hit for the same average last year.
 
#174      
That contract is a joke. Overpaying him by about $10-15 million. His WAR has dropped every year. So happy the Cubs did not add him.
40 million a year is too much. He will not opt out, and the only way Boston can trade him is to pay most of his salary
 
#175      
The bigger deal for the Cubs might be Pivetta signing with the Padres on a back loaded contract. They’re now likely to try to trade one of their higher-priced starters to try to get their payroll down.

If the Cubs could trade for Cease or King and then sign Turner as a backup bat, that would conclude a pretty decent off season.
Part 1 of 2: Check.
 
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