If he hits for us as well as he hits against us, we have to have him.
Cubs 2023 Season
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KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
I have a friend who is a Mets fan dreading this announcement. Please let it happen...
Not saying I wouldn't welcome him but (assuming we don't sign Belli) don't we need power from the left side? Please, nobody respond Ian Happ.
Bruce Levine reports that Cubs can get Soto for Morel straight up for the one year left on his contract if we take on his entire salary. If that is true do we really care if we extend him? Would they go for it this year while the prospects ripen in the minors for another year?
He’d certainly qualify as the left handed power you were asking for in your previous post.
He’s a bit of an odd positional fit for the current roster. Maybe he’d play 1B - I think that’s the position he eventually ends up at, anyway. With that bat, I’d make it work one way or the other.
I’d certainly want to extend him, but I go through with the trade no matter what. Get the 25 year old all-world bat on the team and then figure out the rest as you go.
This would be an absolute coup. Soto is a guy I would be fine paying. His best years are likely in front of him, and he’s already really good. His demeanor in the batters box always reminds me of Pujols. He always looks like he’s sure he’s going to hit the ball hard.
Morel is a really fun player, but he is hard to trust in big spots. Soto hit .333 with 3 HR in a World Series.
All that said, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Bellinger opts out. Not a surprise. Not sure he’s going to get the $200 million some are predicting, but a George Springer/Brandon Nimmo contract seems about right. 6-8 years, $140-$160 million. I hope it’s with the Cubs.
Stroman also opts out. A bit of a surprise. Probably makes it more likely that the Cubs are major players in the top end of the starting pitching market. Also virtually guarantees Hendricks is back whether on the team option or with a negotiated extension.
Stroman also opts out. A bit of a surprise. Probably makes it more likely that the Cubs are major players in the top end of the starting pitching market. Also virtually guarantees Hendricks is back whether on the team option or with a negotiated extension.
Yep. And I believe the last outstanding option is Smyly’s player option, which I have to believe he’ll pick up.
The next question will be if anyone up for arbitration gets non-tendered.
Madrigal, Heuer and Wisdom aren’t sure things. I wouldn’t be surprised either way.
Leiter, Alzolay and Merryweather are sure things. That’s the core of next year’s pen.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I’d say no to Wisdom, yes to Heuer and I’m not sure on Madrigal. I guess it depends on how much he’s asking for.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Happ, Hoerner, and Swanson win gold gloves. Pretty impressive to have three on one team.
For Happ to win it in consecutive years is impressive considering his tools. Others are faster, others have stronger arms. Happ Knows how to get it done.
I do wish that he had made an all out attempt to catch the one hit given up in Hendricks' game. You know, smashing into the wall if necessary. So what he misses and the runner gets an extra base.
I do wish that he had made an all out attempt to catch the one hit given up in Hendricks' game. You know, smashing into the wall if necessary. So what he misses and the runner gets an extra base.
Madrigal was only at 1.25 million last year. He hasn't earned a significant raise. He did okay at 3rd last year, has some defensive versatility, and contact skills. I assume they will keep one of the Wisdom/Madrigal options. Madrigal makes more sense to me.
Heuer is going to come down to his medicals. He's thrown 12.2 innings in the last year and a half. Tommy John in 2022, then fractured his elbow in a rehab assignment last June. He's got the arm. Will it cooperate?
Agree on Heuer. If there’s a possibility that he can pitch in the 2nd half, they’ll gamble a $ million.
Madrigal has some value, but is so similar to Mastrobuoni who is cheaper. Madrigal is probably better defensively in the infield. Mastro can play outfield in the pinch and is the better baserunner. Madrigal is right handed and Mastro is left handed. I think they both have 3 options left. It’s not necessarily an either/or, but I have a hard time seeing the lineup improving much if the plan is for these guys being 2 of your 13 active position players.
Wisdom is a tough call. I think the Cubs are done with him at 3B. He has a nice arm, but is basically a statue out there. He’s best at being used the way the Cubs used him during the tail end of the year - right-handed power off the bench who occasionally fills in at 1b and DH. I don’t think he’ll make much more than $3 million. So he’s not going to break the bank by any stretch, but can that money be used better elsewhere?
I should also have added in my previous post, Steele and Tauchman are also arb eligible and both will quite obviously be tendered contracts.
Umm…
Did I just read that right?
Did some pretty massive Cubs news just break?
Did I just read that right?
Did some pretty massive Cubs news just break?
It’s on 670. So I guess that makes it official.
Ross out. Counsell in.
Whoah! Jed goes for the throat!
Ross out. Counsell in.
Whoah! Jed goes for the throat!
Just saw that - Wow! I have been saying whether they kept Ross or not would indicate if they were serious!
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
loved him his last few playing years a backstop for Lester and a bench/locker room influence, but it just wasnt working that well these last few years with him as skipper
Whoa… I’m not one who put a lot of blame on Rossy, due to the level of talent he was working with, but Counsel is guy who has gotten the most out of whatever he’s had.
More importantly, it signals where the front office is in terms of trying to compete. This is not a move you make if you are lukewarm on competing or rebuilding. This is a win now move.
Quite an opening salvo for the offseason.
More importantly, it signals where the front office is in terms of trying to compete. This is not a move you make if you are lukewarm on competing or rebuilding. This is a win now move.
Quite an opening salvo for the offseason.
I’m almost afraid to look back at my history to see what bad things I’ve had to say about Counsell over the years.
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