Chicago Cubs 2026

#227      
EyeoftheIllini
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
Alcantara #60
Wiggins #72
Ballesteros #84

Surprised Wiggins and Ballesteros aren't higher.

Caissie #62. Hmm...Alcantara ahead of Caissie?
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Yeah, that Alcantara ranking is out of whack with most other lists. Just noticed that MLB.com has come out with its Top 100 finally. Only two Cubs on the list — Ballesteros (55) and Wiggins (58). They haven’t released team Top 30 lists yet. On that list end of last year, it was Rojas, Alcantara and Ethan Conrad rounding out top 5 in that order after the Caissie trade. He is #47 on 2026 Top 100 list (#3 Marlins prospect). Marlins have 5 in top 100.
 
#228      
DRS
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
Alcantara #60
Wiggins #72
Ballesteros #84

Surprised Wiggins and Ballesteros aren't higher.

Caissie #62. Hmm...Alcantara ahead of Caissie?
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Don't be surprised with fangraphs. They weigh very heavily projection into their calculations on all levels. Take fWAR for example, they have projection aspects in that number and it is not solely based on outcomes of a year. This is why bWAR is a better descriptor of how good a player has been. Fangraphs is trying to emulate more of a scouting perspective, sort of. Like go with this guy because he will be better. Rojas above those guys is a crazy call. Career minor league ops of .714 and you have him above Ballesteros who has mashed at every stop and was underaged for each of his levels? Fangraphs does a lot of nice work but they definitely think they are the smartest guys in the room.
 
#229      
Emerson Bigguns
DRS said:
Don't be surprised with fangraphs. They weigh very heavily projection into their calculations on all levels. Take fWAR for example, they have projection aspects in that number and it is not solely based on outcomes of a year. This is why bWAR is a better descriptor of how good a player has been. Fangraphs is trying to emulate more of a scouting perspective, sort of. Like go with this guy because he will be better. Rojas above those guys is a crazy call. Career minor league ops of .714 and you have him above Ballesteros who has mashed at every stop and was underaged for each of his levels? Fangraphs does a lot of nice work but they definitely think they are the smartest guys in the room.
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I think they penalize guys for being older. Ballesteros’ defensive questions will always hold him back in rankings. Doesn’t mean his hit tool isn’t more than MLB caliber. Kid makes a ton of contact.
 
#230      
DRS
Emerson Bigguns said:
I think they penalize guys for being older. Ballesteros’ defensive questions will always hold him back in rankings. Doesn’t mean his hit tool isn’t more than MLB caliber. Kid makes a ton of contact.
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I love defense MORE than the next man, but Ballesteros just finished 21year old season in the majors! and has been rushed through the minors and never missed a beat. Being a natural at making contact, recognizing pitches(great obp) and drive the ball. That is the rare combo. As far as defense, I have always thought guys like this could be a back-up catcher AND designated hitter, you rarely see that but he is a prime candidate for that. After this year him and Amaya as the starter is interesting to me. But his one tool is hitting, slow and not a great arm, but man that tool is the one you want.
 
#233      
EyeoftheIllini
Grandpa said:
Sounds like Baez, can't lay off sliders and sweepers. Not good!
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Always been the concern. Below is from his scouting report from MLB.com going into last year. He now has exceeded 15 HRs as he hit 17 last year.

“He has at least 30-homer upside and can drive the ball out of any part of the ballpark, but he has yet to go deep more than 15 times in a season because he chases too many pitches out of the zone and struggles to do damage against non-fastballs. He's at his best when he focuses on making hard contact, but he'll lapse into trying to do too much and produces a lot of rolled-over ground balls.”
 
#234      
Grandpa
EyeoftheIllini said:
Always been the concern. Below is from his scouting report from MLB.com going into last year. He now has exceeded 15 HRs as he hit 17 last year.

“He has at least 30-homer upside and can drive the ball out of any part of the ballpark, but he has yet to go deep more than 15 times in a season because he chases too many pitches out of the zone and struggles to do damage against non-fastballs. He's at his best when he focuses on making hard contact, but he'll lapse into trying to do too much and produces a lot of rolled-over ground balls.”
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Dislike
 
#237      
EyeoftheIllini
https://twitter.com/x/status/2024880228020228546

Hoping Long sees plenty of action this Spring. Interesting to see that the two OFs with major league experience are starting over Alcantara. Not sure it matters, but interesting. And didn’t even realize Scott Kingery is still playing and with Cubs for Spring. Remember drafting him in my fantasy league years ago when he was a highly regarded prospect.
 
#238      
Illiniaaron
Suzuki plays center?
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#249      
Grandpa
Low risk but he was -WAR last year. I am expecting nothing out of him except spring training games when PCA abd Suzuki are in the WBC.
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Expect nothing, you won't be disappointed. You could be pleasantly surprised.
 
#250      
bdutts
bdutts said:
Low risk but he was -WAR last year. I am expecting nothing out of him except spring training games when PCA abd Suzuki are in the WBC.
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And now we know why Conforto was signed: Tyler Austin out for a few months with some knee tendon procedure he had. Still not expecting anything rom Conforto but we can be waived when Austin comes back if he's bad. I hope I'm wrong about him.
 
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