Chicago Cubs 2025

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#1,326      
Unfortunately, we may be bidding against the Yankees. So - that may push the price higher.

I could only laugh at this one, though.

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That's a hard pass...
I don’t think NYY will be the only competition.

As to the mock trades I’ve seen, everyone doing one for their team thinks they’re getting Caissie in return from Cubs. I don’t think they trade him and certainly not for a one-year rental. Only player I’ve seen worthy of including Owen in the trade is Joe Ryan. And I don’t think Twins trade him.
 
#1,327      
The cubs do not need a 1b. Busch is above average and an excellent defender. And, for those who say he can’t hit lefties, he’s done fine against lefties the last couple of weeks.
I agree but he needs a day off especially in August and Suarez would be an upgrade as he can play both third and 1st. We can let Turner go.
 
#1,331      
A starter will be needed until JT comes back. I think a RH 1B with power will be another piece to get. I am ok with Shaw at 3rd as he makes plays. He does not have the Kris Bryant brain fart IQ we had to put up with when he was here. I am hoping this time off and the break, he can get back to hitting fundamentals where he can be an asset. If we can get Suarez, he could also play 1st to give Busch a breather. He is a rental though.
We had to put up with? I don't mind the comment the Shaw is the better defender because he has been clearly better(to date) , but Bryant was the MVP of the damn league and had a WAR of 7.7.

Shaw's WAR is currently 0.6. He's daringly close to being an overall negative. They have to seriously think about making a trade IF the thought process is to be "all in" this year.
 
#1,333      
I don’t think NYY will be the only competition.

As to the mock trades I’ve seen, everyone doing one for their team thinks they’re getting Caissie in return from Cubs. I don’t think they trade him and certainly not for a one-year rental. Only player I’ve seen worthy of including Owen in the trade is Joe Ryan. And I don’t think Twins trade him.
If they are able to swing a deal for Edward Cabrera of the Marlins, Caissie would be included. Cabrera controllable until 2029.
If they trade him the worst case scenario is that they don't re-sign Tucker, play Seiya in RF and have Ballesteros DH.
My only hope is a trade for O.N.K.C. means a re-signing of Tucker.
 
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#1,334      
If they are able to swing a deal for Edward Cabrera of the Marlins, Caissie would be included. Cabrera controllable until 2029.
If they trade him the worst case scenario is that they don't re-sign Tucker, play Seiya in RF and have Ballesteros DH.
My only hope is a trade for O.N.K.C. means a re-signing of Tucker.
You’re probably right about Owen in a Cabrera deal, but depending on who else would need to be included, I’d much prefer Ryan over Cabrera even before Cabrera was removed from his last start with elbow problem. Yes, Ryan is controllable for one less year, but he is a better pitcher and I have much more faith he’d perform well this season than I do for EC. It is going to take multiple top 30 prospects to get, so I’d rather trade someone like Alcantara or Moises than Owen and make the other prospects better than would be the case if Caissie is included. Is that good enough to get deal done? No idea. But like I said in original post, likely moot point since I don’t see Twins trading Ryan.
 
#1,335      


20 picks, 13 pitchers
 
#1,337      
The mock trades out there are ridiculous right now. Last year there were ~1-3 top 100 prospects traded depending on which list you're using. There is no way someone like Mitch Keller is going to get a Cassie level prospect back with that contract. And that Suarez deal is hilarious. A 1/2 season rental of a third baseman...
 
#1,338      
Not sure why AZ would want a ML bullpen arm in deal nor why Cubs would give one up. Heck, I’d like Cubs to add a bullpen arm at trade deadline.
It will be interesting on who the Cubs give up and who they will get. I feel like any starting pitcher will need to have years of control. Thinking that Taillon and Shota will be free after next year. Steele has 2 years left after this year. So getting a guy who has 3 years attached will be good. I like Mitch Keller just for that reason.
 
#1,339      
The mock trades out there are ridiculous right now. Last year there were ~1-3 top 100 prospects traded depending on which list you're using. There is no way someone like Mitch Keller is going to get a Cassie level prospect back with that contract. And that Suarez deal is hilarious. A 1/2 season rental of a third baseman...
100% and not even a half season. 60 games if you're lucky, probably more like 54-55.
 
#1,340      
The mock trades out there are ridiculous right now. Last year there were ~1-3 top 100 prospects traded depending on which list you're using. There is no way someone like Mitch Keller is going to get a Cassie level prospect back with that contract. And that Suarez deal is hilarious. A 1/2 season rental of a third baseman...
I'd venture to say that ~90% of articles purporting themselves to be sports journalism are simply clickbait. Mock trades, drafts, etc... are the sports equivalent to reality television. I wont yuck anybody's yum if they enjoy something like that, but I can't pretend it's anything of substance.
 
#1,341      
It will be interesting on who the Cubs give up and who they will get. I feel like any starting pitcher will need to have years of control. Thinking that Taillon and Shota will be free after next year. Steele has 2 years left after this year. So getting a guy who has 3 years attached will be good. I like Mitch Keller just for that reason.
I’m less concerned than most it seems about controllability after this season. More concerned about value and getting two SPs with the highest likelihood of helping of us go farthest this year. Sure, all things being equal getting a SP(s) with multiple years is better, but all things aren’t equal. The more years a player has on his contract, the more he costs in prospects. And if he’s on the top line side, the cost goes up exponentially.

Compare Lugo and Keller. Overall Lugo has been the better pitcher last two years. The last month or so Keller has been as good, maybe slightly better. But do you trust that trend to continue down the stretch. Lugo is a rental and will be cheaper. So what is the markup on Keller and is it worth it, especially if you have more confidence that Lugo will be better down the stretch this year. Hopefully Hoyer and company get it right.
 
#1,343      
I’m less concerned than most it seems about controllability after this season. More concerned about value and getting two SPs with the highest likelihood of helping of us go farthest this year. Sure, all things being equal getting a SP(s) with multiple years is better, but all things aren’t equal. The more years a player has on his contract, the more he costs in prospects. And if he’s on the top line side, the cost goes up exponentially.

Compare Lugo and Keller. Overall Lugo has been the better pitcher last two years. The last month or so Keller has been as good, maybe slightly better. But do you trust that trend to continue down the stretch. Lugo is a rental and will be cheaper. So what is the markup on Keller and is it worth it, especially if you have more confidence that Lugo will be better down the stretch this year. Hopefully Hoyer and company get it right.
And how much value do Keller's years of control really have when they're at $17-20MM/year.
 
#1,344      
Freakin' Schwarber! Not good enough to play for us.
I don't blame them for the non-tender at the time for the following reasons: 1) he came off a season where he hit .188 in ~225 plate appearances. Don't know when he was hurt - maybe he wasn't and just got that few PAs - but the production wasn't there. 2) No DH at the time. He was a minus defender, other than assists in 2019 when he lead LFers. In 2020, he would have been the 5th OF if he was on the team.

He's kind of a unicorn in that he normally hits around .200 with a lot of walks, strikeouts and slug. Plus he doesn't play a position. Hindsight being 20/20, yes, they should have tendered him. But the question then would be, would he still be with the team today if they tendered him after the 2020 season?
 
#1,345      
The Cubs have the best record in baseball. That is all.

Big Eyes Wow GIF by TV4
 
#1,347      
The Cubs have the best record in baseball. That is all.

Big Eyes Wow GIF by TV4
and deserve every bit of it. 5th hardest strength of schedule so far, second 'easiest' on the way in. I never truly believe these stats.

I can't decide what to be more impressed with. The offseason pick-ups, bullpen development on in house improvement. All around this team is on fire. I think I am going to go with Boyd as the biggest reason for the success, but so many candidates. Palencia has been a godsend. Busch has been magnificent. Carson Kelly has been unbelievable, and I haven't even mentioned our stars.

Need a starter, I think, and one more reliable high leverage arm and this team is gonna be rocking and rolling. Such a fun team to watch.
 
#1,348      
I thought the Central was going to be the cupcake division. 4 teams over .500 and the Brewers with the second best record in the NL.
......And a half game away from 2nd best record in MLB.
Brewers are 32-12 since May 25. That's a .727 winning percentage and are 5-0 against the Dodgers the last week and a half.
We need to make a statement against them in Milwaukee in a week and take 2 of 3.
 
#1,350      
It is so typically Cubs to suddenly find themselves in the top division in baseball just when they have emerged.
There’s something to be said for not being able to coast to a division title. Maybe this will keep us sharp.
 
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