No. the Cubs aren't going to get a WC spot. Actually pretty fortunate to be in the Central. Would be virtually buried in the other two divisions.
Chicago Cubs 2017 Season
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No. the Cubs aren't going to get a WC spot. Actually pretty fortunate to be in the Central. Would be virtually buried in the other two divisions.
They're only 6 games out of a wild card with no teams between them and the Rockies. That's buried in September. Not so much on July 2 with 3 months to play.
The Rockies, Diamondbacks and Brewers are all playing way above their talent levels. The Cubs only need to catch one of them.
The Rockies, Diamondbacks and Brewers are all playing way above their talent levels. The Cubs only need to catch one of them.
Let's hope they can...but I'm not holding my breath. If we can maintain our .500 ways but rattle off maybe 2, 5 game winning streaks somewhere in there things will look much better.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Well the Cubs made it through this 20-game stretch with 17 on the road with a 10-10 record, pretty fitting really since it leaves them pretty much where they started, hovering around .500 and close to first place in the division. I guess there is no reason to feel the second half will be any different. First team to 85 wins might make it.
The Cubs have played 6 more games on the road than at home.
The Brewers have played 9 more games at home than on the road.
That pretty easily accounts for the 2.5 game difference in the standings.
The Brewers have played 9 more games at home than on the road.
That pretty easily accounts for the 2.5 game difference in the standings.
[ W ] #42.
Jon Jay for mayor!
Jon Jay for mayor!
Disagree on the Rockies. They have a ton of talent. Some of which isn't even performing well (Carlos Gonzalez, Trevor Story) or has been injured (Jon Grey, Ian Desmond, David Dahl). If Grey and their young pitching staff hold up, that's a playoff team.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Pitching is so important for a potential playoff team. I think what the Rockies have done with their pitching (lots and lots of young options) is very interesting and likely the best they could have hoped for given that no legit free agent has interest in pitching at Coors.
That said, it is going to be very hard for that staff to perform over the remainder of the season. Between the number of home games at Coors and their being so young, they are going to have to really hold up through August and September. 14 of their final 29 are against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.
I really like the way the GM has gone about making them relevant, and that offense is about as good as it gets. That said, I am still skeptical they finish with a better record than the Cubs. Now that is predicated on the belief that the Cubs will trade for a pitcher, get Hendricks back and go on a nice run to end the season. The Rockies very well still might make it as a wild card team, two teams in the Central would have to catch them in order for that to happen, but I am struggling to see them as a serious contender one way or another this year.
I'm interested to see who the posters in this thread want, and what they'd be willing to part with. Heard they're checking in on the price of Verlander, and they have the resources to land a Gray/Quintana/Archer.
Being a native of the south side thread, I think a deal for Quintana could be interesting, but I don't think youd like the asking price
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I'm interested to see who the posters in this thread want, and what they'd be willing to part with. Heard they're checking in on the price of Verlander, and they have the resources to land a Gray/Quintana/Archer.
Being a native of the south side thread, I think a deal for Quintana could be interesting, but I don't think youd like the asking price
I've heard some whispers of Marcus Stroman, though given his contract and age, he may cost more than any of the options you listed.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
I'm interested to see who the posters in this thread want, and what they'd be willing to part with. Heard they're checking in on the price of Verlander, and they have the resources to land a Gray/Quintana/Archer.
Being a native of the south side thread, I think a deal for Quintana could be interesting, but I don't think youd like the asking price
I will say, based on the commentary in the White Sox thread, I don't think Sox fans are going to be over the moon with the return. I just don't see him getting the return that an Ace would receive. He is a quality pitcher, but his value two years ago was much, much higher than it is now. 26 vs. 28 is a big deal, and he hasn't done much this year to drive that price up. The Sox are still going to receive a nice return for him if they pull the trigger, but it feels like there was talk of his return reaching the same level you got for Sale. I don't think you end up getting anywhere near the return for Quintana that you got for Sale. At the end of the day, the Cubs aren't going to pay what the Sox would demand of him in a trade with the Cubs specifically, so he is almost a non-starter in this discussion.
That said, outside of Archer, Quintana is personally the most enticing option of the ones you listed. I was a big fan of Gray... 2 years ago. He has really struggled, has dealt with injuries, and in general, hasn't looked like the same pitcher he once was. However, he also probably comes with a lot less return than a couple years ago and the Cubs love reclamation projects. I could definitely see them springing for Gray at the right price.
The Cubs would really be paying for Verlander's decline, I just can't see them giving up anything meaningful to then have to overpay him for several years.
If I had to guess, Archer/Gray are legitimate candidates to land on the Cubs, it just depends on how willing they are to part with Eloy Jimenez. You might get Gray without having to part with Eloy, combining the right mix of prospects (this could just be wishful thinking), but no way you get Archer without giving him up plus quite a bit more. Gray's market is hard to gauge, his numbers look decent this year, but not spectacular. Maybe the Cubs are willing to trade Happ in order to make a deal happen, but they have been very unwilling to part with offensive players who have proven themselves at the Major League level. Copy any commentary about Archer and it would apply to Quintana as well. I just think that there is no way the Sox are willing to get punked in a deal with the Cubs, and thus the asking price is going to be over what it might be for any other non-AL Central team.
If I am handicapping the odds of landing on the Cubs, I would go: Gray, Archer, Verlander, Quintana.
That is one spicy meatball. I still think Archer is the best pitcher of the group right now, even including Stroman, but Stroman is 2 years younger which likely drives his demand a little higher. There is no doubt that either Archer or Stroman makes the pitching staff immensely better and would slide right in next to Lester and Arrieta (yeah, yeah... I know) as that fringe 1-2 type pitcher.
If we can just get Hendricks back looking somewhere between his 2016 and 2017 self, and make a deal for a solid pitcher... things start looking a lot more optimistic for the remainder of the season. Arrieta is going to pitch better post-All Star break, book it.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Verlander already pitches for the Cubs. His name is Jake Arrieta. Say no to Verlander unless they give up next to nothing for him.
I could see Schwarber being traded to an AL team. Can't see them part with either Jimenez or Happ, especially Happ with his success so far.
Wonder what Baez would get the Cubs as the centerpiece of a deal...
Say no to Verlander unless they give up next to nothing for him.I could see Schwarber being traded to an AL team. Can't see them part with either Jimenez or Happ, especially Happ with his success so far.
Wonder what Baez would get the Cubs as the centerpiece of a deal...
Verlander already pitches for the Cubs. His name is Jake Arrieta.
I could see Schwarber being traded to an AL team. Can't see them part with either Jimenez or Happ, especially Happ with his success so far.
Wonder what Baez would get the Cubs as the centerpiece of a deal...
I have always felt Schwarber is a DH. He needs to get back on track though for the Cubs to get enough value.
I cannot see the Cubs trading Baez in season. Rarely do you see contending teams trade valuable pieces of their major league roster. Usually trades for improvement, i.e. Deadline deals, involve prospects.
I don't think he's going to get a Sale return, but the conversation would have to involve Eloy. I don't see any reason why they'd include Happ given that he's helping them win right now. That seems counterintuitive.
I think Eloy + organizational depth gets it done for Quintana. I'm sure Hahn is asking for Cease/Candelario given the contract control, but I'm not expecting that.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I don't think the Cubs should make any trades just to try and win this year. They're not going anywhere this season. Its not as if they are only one player away like last season. If they can steal someone at the deadline go ahead, but all trades should be made with a focus on the future. They are going to need three new starting pitchers for next season. They don't seem to have any ready pitching depth in the minors. It's still one or two years away. I would like to think that this team's championship window is another 5-6 seasons. But some chinks are starting to show up in the armor. Lester is looking very old. Arrieta was a Cy Young winner in 2015 and will be on another team next season. What if Schwarber can't hit major league pitching? What if Russell is only a .240 hitter with an average to below average shortstop arm? Baez is great on defense, but does not seem to be developing much at the plate. Things might not be as rosey as some fans think.
I could go down the pessimistic side you're taking here, but for the sake of my sanity I will not (though I will agree that things sure do stink right now).
Instead I'll address just one point. I think you can make a big trade with an emphasis on the future. If a Chris Archer or Marcus Stroman can be added, that helps both this year and the next three, filling a hole in the rotation with Arrieta's likely and Lackey's certain departure. That being said, I don't think there are three holes to fill in the rotation, only two. Barring injury, Lester, Hendricks, and Montgomery will be locks for the rotation.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
I believe every pitcher mentioned here would be under team control through 2020. The Cubs aren't selling out for this year.
What about Julio Teheran? Not sure exactly why the rebuilding Braves would want to deal him as he is only 26 and controllable through 2020, but Jon Heyman is reporting the Braves are open to the discussion.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I didn't necessarily mean trading Baez mid-season. Was more of a general question of what he could bring being the centerpiece from the Cubs point of view.
[ W ] #43
Back to .500. Again.
Back to .500. Again.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Pertaining to our conversation around pitching:
Cubs' Theo Epstein: 'Our biggest fixes are inside the clubhouse'
All that said, I hope the right deal does come along for them. We need to improve our Starting Rotation. Not just for this year, but for the next several years.
Also: #TheoForPresident
Cubs' Theo Epstein: 'Our biggest fixes are inside the clubhouse'
All that said, I hope the right deal does come along for them. We need to improve our Starting Rotation. Not just for this year, but for the next several years.
Also: #TheoForPresident
I don't get it. The Cubs are 10th in the league in runs per game and 3rd in the league in runs given up per game and the only thing I'm reading about in the press from the team, the talking heads and the fans is about how they need more starting pitching.
I realize it's not as good as last year and I realize that they're going to need at least two starting pitchers heading into next season, but THIS YEAR, it's not the starting pitching that's keeping the Cubs out of the playoffs. It's their inability to score runs that will keep the Cubs out of the playoffs and last night's game was a perfect case in point. Four hits.
There's been a lot of talk about Schwarber's performance - and he's certainly been awful - but Zobrist and Russel have been worse. And Heyward has been almost as bad. For as much talk as there's been about Heyward's "resurgence," his OBP is basically the same as it was last year. So that's half the supposed starting lineup - Zobrist, Heyward, Schwarber and Russel - with an OPS below .700. That's a ton of outs from a huge chunk of the lineup.
Frankly, the emergence of Happ has probably kept the season from being a complete loss to this point.
I realize it's not as good as last year and I realize that they're going to need at least two starting pitchers heading into next season, but THIS YEAR, it's not the starting pitching that's keeping the Cubs out of the playoffs. It's their inability to score runs that will keep the Cubs out of the playoffs and last night's game was a perfect case in point. Four hits.
There's been a lot of talk about Schwarber's performance - and he's certainly been awful - but Zobrist and Russel have been worse. And Heyward has been almost as bad. For as much talk as there's been about Heyward's "resurgence," his OBP is basically the same as it was last year. So that's half the supposed starting lineup - Zobrist, Heyward, Schwarber and Russel - with an OPS below .700. That's a ton of outs from a huge chunk of the lineup.
Frankly, the emergence of Happ has probably kept the season from being a complete loss to this point.
illini80
- Forgottonia
While it's not always the case certainly, great pitching generally beats great hitting.
It's really pretty amazing to think, but about 5 or 6 more losses in a row and the Cubs could be sellers instead of buyers at the deadline. Figure among the free agents Davis, Jay, Duensing and Uehara would all be pretty attractive targets. And maybe someone would want to take on Arrieta, hoping to catch lighting in a bottle as a pretty low-risk high reward type of situation.
It would help the Cubs stock up on prospects to go after some starting pitching in the off season.
There'd probably be a lot less interest in Lackey, and I'm wondering if we've already seen Lackey's last pitch for the Cubs. That DL stint might just last the rest of the year regardless of how really injured he is.
Figure regardless of how things go the rest of the year, the Cubs will start looking to unload Zobrist. As long as Happ is hitting and Zobrist isn't, it's just going to be increasingly difficult to find a place for him on the roster. He has a year and a half more of a full no trade clause, but they could look to find a mutually agreeable destination with someone. I don't believe there's any restriction on trading him in year four of his contract, but at this rate it looks highly unlikely anyone would want him then.
It would help the Cubs stock up on prospects to go after some starting pitching in the off season.
There'd probably be a lot less interest in Lackey, and I'm wondering if we've already seen Lackey's last pitch for the Cubs. That DL stint might just last the rest of the year regardless of how really injured he is.
Figure regardless of how things go the rest of the year, the Cubs will start looking to unload Zobrist. As long as Happ is hitting and Zobrist isn't, it's just going to be increasingly difficult to find a place for him on the roster. He has a year and a half more of a full no trade clause, but they could look to find a mutually agreeable destination with someone. I don't believe there's any restriction on trading him in year four of his contract, but at this rate it looks highly unlikely anyone would want him then.
Deleted member 16340
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You know, I don't think that anyone really expected back to back world championships, but I don't think that anyone expected them to be this downright embarrassing either. Pathetic!
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