Kyle Tucker isn't a legitimate change?
Chicago Cubs 2025
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Lol imagine being a regular on this site and thinking the Cubs thread was the epicenter of negative energy.
It's all about the extension.
As I said a couple of pages ago, the 2025 Cubs and the big picture about the Ricketts' financial stewardship of the franchise are two separate conversations.
The 2025 Cubs feel like must-see-TV now, we'll see if the writers can stick the landing.
I think a legitimate franchise with legitimate resources, after 2 years where you have more blown saves than any somewhat contending team, goes out and makes the biggest offer to the best 3 or 4 relievers on the market and commits to fixing the problem. Instead, Jed dumpster dives for a closer who is old and past his prime and gets a few other scrap junk pieces like Eli Morgan and Ryan Brasier. Think the pen is bad now? Wait until Julian Merriweather gets hurt, considering he has gotten hurt almost every single year of his career.
Haha, I get that. It takes a unique tolerance of distress to dive into the game/recruiting threads.
This thread has felt like a fun escape from that nonsense, so to see it evolve into that this season has been disheartening.
It makes far more sense to be optimistic about Illinois basketball than Cubs baseball.
Unless you have unrealistic expectations for Illinois basketball and think they should be getting blue chip recruits constantly and then do not think the Cubs should contend yearly like every other major market high revenue team.
Unless you have unrealistic expectations for Illinois basketball and think they should be getting blue chip recruits constantly and then do not think the Cubs should contend yearly like every other major market high revenue team.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
This is revisionist history. The Cubs made serious offers to several RPs and most of them ended up on the Dodgers roster.
Yeah. You have to dramatically overpay and over-offer positions of need to ensure you don't end up in the same situation. Red Sox needed Bregman so paid more for him.
Cubs spend a smaller percentage of their revenue on their roster than 90% of the league. That's not acceptable to me.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Third base looks like a big problem going forward. But I'm just enjoying the good start. What else can you do?
It's all about going over the luxury tax for the 2nd straight year causing more stringent penalties coupled with so so viewership of Marquee.
Year 9 of the honeymoon. It's 2 years past the 7 Year Itch.
Year 9 of the honeymoon. It's 2 years past the 7 Year Itch.
This is a bad take. Look at David Bednar (DFA). Look at Emmanual Clase this year (7.84 ERA). Two of the best relievers in baseball 2 years ago. RPs have a huge variance year-to-year. Paying top dollar for a "proven closer" is not a good strategy.
That's a reasonable take. I agree.
Kind of cherry picking here.
Clase had ERAs of 2.91, 1.29, 1.36, 3.22, 0.61 the 5 seasons before this one. We'll see whether he regroups.
One thing I can say for sure is not smart when it comes to relievers is targeting ones in their late 30s who used to be good but have lost 4-5 MPH on their velocity and now have struggling peripherals (Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly come to mind)
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
I could see them moving Michael Busch to 3B and going after a 1B if there's a greater availability at that position.
Gage Workman DFA’ed. Nicky Lopez picked up.
Workman had 3 errors on 10 chances, which doesn’t count a “double” he probably should have gotten to.
You can tolerate a lot of failure in baseball, but not at that rate in the field. Lopez can at least field his position.
Workman had 3 errors on 10 chances, which doesn’t count a “double” he probably should have gotten to.
You can tolerate a lot of failure in baseball, but not at that rate in the field. Lopez can at least field his position.
Hollowell sent down for Drew Pomeranz, hope it's just because he pitched 2 innings yesterday and he will be back up in a day or two because he looked good.
How about Rizzo at 1st and Busch at 3B. The vibes alone would be worth it but I think the homecoming could coax mediocrity at the plate out of Rizzo.
How about Rizzo at 1st and Busch at 3B. The vibes alone would be worth it but I think the homecoming could coax mediocrity at the plate out of Rizzo.
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If the Cardinals fall out of contention, Arenado would be an ideal fit. If they stick in it, the 3B market is absolutely barren. Maybe Kyle Farmer from the Rockies?
Bellinger is good at first. We are all set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoyer could win Executive of the Year after a 92-95 win season and a minimum of the NLCS. The man has completely rebuilt the farm system from the Theo disaster. The BP is better than last year at this time. Tucker will be signed. Shaw will be back up shortly. Hoyer needs to be extended.
Ultimately, this is the key to his future.
If they don't resign him, they will have given up not one, but TWO third basemen and will have left a glaring hole at the position during a season where he went "all in". 3rd base is a power position and one where you need to carry an above average glove. Because the ball gets on you so quickly, you don't need to be a magician. The position, on a really good team, demands 20+ home runs(minimum) and a dependable glove(at minimum). I, personally, don't think Shaw is ready, but Hoyer is "hoping" he will be. Hope isn't a plan.
If Tucker signs, acquiring a superstar takes assets and any issues with the trade will be squashed. It's a winning trade. That said, unless the owner guarantees you that he's dedicated to bringing him back....you don't make the move. The Cubs have not committed to a contract over 200M.....ever. Tucker's deal is going to be close to a 500M number.
Do we really think Ricketts is going to take that leap? The Cubs are just one of his many business units and he's managing to the bottom line. He's gone on record as saying he doesn't make money on the Cubs piece of his portfolio. He complains about the upkeep that Wrigley takes during every winter meeting with the media. He won't go over that tax threshold and he's already planning on a 2027 lockout, meaning he wants a clean balance sheet if/when it starts. A 500M liability doesn't provide that.
Unfortunately, that all comes back to the GM. He knows the cards he has to play with.
Now, the bullpen. This post is way too long already, so we'll just let the bullpen's performance speak for itself. He didn't address it properly in the off-season, but again.....this could be more of a byproduct of a Ricketts monetary cutoff.
We'll see what happens. There are still 137 games to play. A lot can change. Shaw can come up, hit .275 with 20 HR's and Counsell could find the perfect mix in the pen. If that happens and they resign Tucker.....extend Hoyer.
If not and this ends up an 81-81 season and they're trying to replace 40 home runs, 115 RBIs and starting over with the pen.....see ya.
Isn't Busch a lefty? He might hit left handed, but throw right-handed. Not sure as I type this.
If he does throw left handed, you can probably count on one hand the amount of left handed SS or 3B that had any level of success in MLB. Don Mattingly might be about it.
Busch throws right handed. He has played some third base and a good amount of second base.
Busch hits left, throws right. He’s played a grand total of 14 MLB games at 3rd. 13 of those with the Dodgers. He played 61 games at 3rd in the minors.
Counsell is one stubborn guy.
Justin Turner is probably the worst hitter in major league baseball this year by any metric you want to use and Counsell slides him into the 3-hole against a right handed pitcher.
Justin Turner is probably the worst hitter in major league baseball this year by any metric you want to use and Counsell slides him into the 3-hole against a right handed pitcher.
It's probably not the WORST idea and it's at least an option should this continue to go this poorly.
Not saying Turner should be hitting 3rd, but he is nowhere close to being the worst hitter in MLB on the year. Joc Pederson is 3 for 55 on the season and 0 for his last 41.
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