GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
No idea either, and I'm not even THAT old.
Chicago Cubs 2025
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Alice Cooper>>>Alex Cooper
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I thought it did say Alice Cooper. I had to reread it.
Actually, it's probably the opposite or it can at least be looked at in a different perspective. You are saying:
1)This is the only year we have Tucker
2)Boyd can't repeat this year, next year
3)The catchers can't repeat this season
4)The bullpen is lightning in a bottle.
I agree with all of the above. I'll also go with:
5)Happ cannot be a leadoff hitter, has regressed and should be sent packing or at very least be dropped in the order. I don't see him back in 2027
6)Shaw is a complete question mark.
Given all of the above, what business do we have getting rid of either Caissie, Alcantara or Triantos, when there are going to be gaping holes in LF and RF within the next two years?
Amaya is the future at C, but is injury prone. I don't see anyone but Ballesteros that would be anywhere close to being a backup catcher once McGuire and Kelly go.
Any "big" trade is going to involve top young arms. With the status of Steele completely up in the air, Boyd having a career year, Iminaga being 32(??) next year, Taillon only having one year left on his deal.....how can they rationalize even thinking about giving up Brown, Horton or Wiggins? One of those three would have to be included in a deal.
Now, the Cubs do have a ton of infield prospects, but again, where will Shaw be and will they bring Hoerner back in 2027?
At the end of the day, the question is, what is Ricketts willing to spend? If they commit to Tucker, that solves the need to hold on to all of those outfield pieces. If he's willing to actually pay for starting pitching going forward, a guy like Wiggins or Brown COULD be expendable. If Shaw hits and they commit to Hoerner, a guy like Rojas or Hernandez could be looked at.
Those are a lot of question marks with the key question being....1)are they only one or two players away from competing with the Dodgers or Phillies and 2)does what's available via the trade market get you over the top or at least on a level playing field with those teams?
I, personally, think that the Cubs have too many holes to fill this year to be a real threat in the playoffs, BUT they are set up well in the future. It's not worth the gamble, when I'm in complete agreement with you that we have some players that probably can't replicate this season.
I just don't see Ricketts spending the money to make their prospects expendable.
I wrote a book on post #1221. I definitely don't want to rehash it.
I think that there are way too many question marks to give up prospects, at position of what could be significant need, going forward.
Unless they commit to Tucker....I don't see how they could rationalize giving up Caissie, Alcantara or Triantos.
Unless Ricketts commits to spending on pitching and you can guarantee a healthy Steele coming back, I can't see rationalizing giving up any pitching.
Unless we can confirm that Shaw will indeed hit and they will resign Hoerner in 2027....I can't see how you can send any infield prospects packing.
The biggest question, as we sit here right now....are the Cubs one starter away from being able to match the Dodgers or Phillies in a five or seven game series? Are they magically going to start being consistent against left handed pitching?
It's not a matter of the # next to a prospects name, it's where the needs potentially lie.
Before Hoyer makes any decisions, he needs to know if Ricketts is "all in" after this season.
re the Ricketts family one wonders a little , what return exactly are they willing to accept , in order to have a team that can win the division or get a wild card spot . And then , have a reasonable chance to advance a round or two or to the WS.
If you factor in the increase in value since they purchased , they are WAY WAY ahead of any main stream tech index .
there just isn’t that much risk in owning a major pro sports franchise in a major city .
If you factor in the increase in value since they purchased , they are WAY WAY ahead of any main stream tech index .
there just isn’t that much risk in owning a major pro sports franchise in a major city .
Attendance is going to be there no matter what.
The X factor is Marquee. I know the ratings have to be up this year (and the rest of the year unless they fall apart) although they are not published yet.
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There is zero risk.
You mention 6 things that are potentially a problem next year or at least not as likely to be as positive (unless they sign Tucker), but said they are set up well for the future? And it seems like this is based a lot on how you value the prospects we have, but it is unlikely all of them pan out. Yes, the team now has some holes, but we’re not talking about a team struggling to make a wild card spot making deals. This is a team with second best record in NL and fourth overall. And making a couple of deals can plug some of those holes without demolishing farm system.
Look we’re not going to change each other’s minds. We’ll see what happens. I will say that many of the prospects you mentioned, no one is really advocating to trade other than I mentioned Triantos or one of their middle infielder prospects with ETAs from 2027 to 2030. Based on last year’s trade deadline deals for SP, that is probably the starting point for a good SP given that I agree that some of the guys you mentioned are unlikely to be traded. I think one of those guys plus a prospect in the 15-30 range is an acceptable risk to try and take advantage of the unexpected positives we’ve seen cuz LAD with their SP question marks and Phila don’t really scare me if we can plug a couple of holes. No assurance that Cubs will get to WS let alone win it. But don’t think anyone had a TX/AZ World Series two years ago. Cubs shouldn’t go for it at all costs, but need to try at least to capitalize on this season IMO.
If Seiya didn't cost us several games a year by dropping pop ups little leaguers catch 100% of the time, he wouldn't be forced into a DH role.
This is EXACTLY where I'm at. You summed up my blowhard comment in one sentence. I'm all for making reasonable improvements and take a shot. I just don't want to see them unload the system, when I know Ricketts won't do what needs to be done in the off-season.
If he behaved like the owner of a team in the third largest market in the country, I'd feel more confident about Hoyer's decisions.
My ideal trade deadline would be something like:
Seth Lugo from the Royals
Pablo Lopez from the Twins
Eugenio Suarez from the D-backs
Kyle Finnegan from the Nats
A couple mid-rotation starters having nice years. A right handed big-bopper that plays the corner infield. A lock down late inning pitcher.
Only Lopez is signed beyond this year. Cubs probably won’t have to give up too much to acquire any of them.
The rotation would still be pretty lacking in the sexy department, but the team would otherwise be strong top to bottom.
Seth Lugo from the Royals
Pablo Lopez from the Twins
Eugenio Suarez from the D-backs
Kyle Finnegan from the Nats
A couple mid-rotation starters having nice years. A right handed big-bopper that plays the corner infield. A lock down late inning pitcher.
Only Lopez is signed beyond this year. Cubs probably won’t have to give up too much to acquire any of them.
The rotation would still be pretty lacking in the sexy department, but the team would otherwise be strong top to bottom.
Agreed, Caissie and Ballesteros are guys who have no place right now. They will bring you a nice haul in trades. But not for a rental. If we are trading those two, we need guys with years left.
Absolutely. I think Owen is unlikely to be traded. Moises isn’t likely to be either, though his positional question mark might make it slightly more possible. But if either is traded or most of the guys that Second Place mentioned, it won’t be (or shouldn’t be) for a rental. I like Triantos, who I’ve mentioned, but some of his underlying metrics are suspect — hits the ball on ground too much, low avg launch angle,etc. He does have good bat to ball skills and he’s still young so can still improve in some areas, but I see him as a potential good player not a great one and need to trade quality to get quality. Like I’ve said, don’t want or expect Cubs to guy the farm system. But some surgical cuts to increase likelihood of having a deep playoff run makes sense to me. We’ll see.
And I don’t think Cubs will blow up the farm system. At least I hope not. But some surgical cuts to improve chances makes sense. Last year, LAD picked up top SP on market Flaherty for I think they’re #8 and #20 prospects. Market may be different this year, but something along those lines is a risk worth taking I believe.
she should be banned for life from wrigley for that publicity stunt. clearly was making it all about her instead of the fans. much disrespect
I'm still reflecting on this list which I find to be so appealing. You're the first person to list Lugo as an option in this thread other than myself, and I feel he would be a strong veteran presence especially come the postseason. Suarez will have a great deal of competition, but would be a powerful anchor at 3B. Lopez has some lingering worries on the injury, but as a Twins fan on the AL side, would love to see him in Chicago. Finnegan, lastly, would give the bullpen exactly what Lugo would give the rotation.
Co-sign.
Shota can't get an out before giving up 2 extra base hits.
Need an ace. Not going to win a championship with a team full of 4th starters.
Need an ace. Not going to win a championship with a team full of 4th starters.
Silence says it all.
What a game by Seiya!!!
0-3 with 3 K’s and squandered all of the scoring chances.
Keep hitting him 3rd and Dansby 5th and 6th, Craig! You’re doing great!
0-3 with 3 K’s and squandered all of the scoring chances.
Keep hitting him 3rd and Dansby 5th and 6th, Craig! You’re doing great!
I like the list, just wonder what it would cost. Not sure how likely Cubs are to trade for an injured SP (last I saw ETA is mid- August), though I certainly like him beyond this year.
As to cost, ran across these two mock trades one going to Cubs and a second player on your list going somewhere else (but still gives idea of general cost if the writer is any good at predicting such things).
Seth Lugo to Cubs
Royals Get:
- UTL Jonathon Long (.887 OPS in AAA) (#11 Prospect)
- RHP Grant Kipp (3.55 ERA in AA) (Unranked)
Royals are still a couple years away as well and Lugo is not a part of the future. The Cubs have the bats to make a deep playoff run but need some help in the rotation and Lugo is a veteran arm who can start a playoff game for them. Long has shown a lot at AAA and could impact a struggling KC lineup right away. Kipp is older but having a career year in AA this and could make a reliever in a couple years.
Eugenio Suarez to Yankees
Diamondbacks Get:
- C/1B Rafael Flores (.840 OPS in AA) (#15 Prospect)
- RHP Eric Reyzelman (3.82 ERA in AAA) (#21 Prospect)
Suarez is having a career year in ARI and with his contract expiring and ARI being out of playoff contention, a trade seems likely. The Yankees have just a 92 wRC+ at the 3B position and Suarez has a 139. For the return, Flores has mashed this year and could be up in the next 1-2 years. Reyzelman has been a good AAA reliever and good pitch this year for a very injured ARI bullpen.
Cubs bats go silent (and boring) against 2 very mediocre pitchers. And they were even right handed.
Brewers 32-15 over last 47 games.
This season will be won or lost at the trade deadline.
Brewers 32-15 over last 47 games.
This season will be won or lost at the trade deadline.
Certainly would be cheap. Not sure how much he has left in the tank, but maybe a better option than Shaw at this point.
Speaking of cheap (at least money wise), one interesting possible trade partner could be the White Sox — Adrian Houser and Lenyn Sosa. Houser having a great year, but I’d hope he would be the lesser of two SP pickups. And Sosa played a fair bit of 3B last year. Sosa is controllable and would make for a pretty good utility guy next year.
One great thing about All-Star Seiya Suzuki is that when you're struggling and badly need a guy to make an impact on the game so you don't lose 2 games to mediocre trash pitchers... he is... absolutely... not that guy. He will only make it worse.
0-6 with 4 K's and too many left on base to remember over the last 2 losses.
What a stud!!!
You will never win a world series hitting this life time verified chronic loser in the 3 hole.
0-6 with 4 K's and too many left on base to remember over the last 2 losses.
What a stud!!!
You will never win a world series hitting this life time verified chronic loser in the 3 hole.
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