*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
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Yea to be a full time DH, it would seem like Ballesteros needs to be a .275+ hitter & 25 HR hitter.
IMO he probably would be under valued as a trade piece because I doubt his defensive limitations are a secret. So IMO the Cubs have to be all in he's a DH.
And as much as Cub fans feel the Cubs value position flexibility more than most MLB teams, I feel that is largely a myth. If the Cubs could start Hoerner, Swanson, Happ, PCA and Suzuki 150 games a season at their primary positions, the Cubs will. And if Busch can hit lefties, he'd start 150 games.
I honestly think they sold high on Caissie. His contact rate is always going to limit his production. A guy like Conrad may not have as much pop but has the potential to be a really nice player. Plus Conrad has multiple more years of control and should see AAA in 26.
Probably not a starter anywhere else but likely will get to acceptable as a backup. Regardless the bat will be elite.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Shaw as a defacto platoon for Mo. anytime we see a lefty Shaw takes the feel and allows a regular a day off DHing. That would basically be about 40 games over 5 or 6 positions.
Was just going to post this. Levine suggests if signed we may deal a starter. That would almost have to be Boyd or Taillon. Thus it would have to be Taillon.
I know you would love nothing but to trade Taillon as you have beat this drum over and over, but if I had to guess Boyd might be easier to trade just because he's 2.5 mil cheaper and has a mutual option for 2027 that could potentially come into play depending on where he is dealt. Plus he's a lefty too which traditionally is more valued although not sure if that is the case anymore or not.
I'd be surprised if they wind up signing Gallen but would not be against it if he does just "fall into the Cubs lap" at a very reasonable 1 or 2 year deal. Can never have too much pitching and they can figure out what needs to be done 1 way or another if they have too many pitchers. Could also see Boyd go to the pen as a long guy too and Assad starts the year in Iowa. Would have 2 solid long guys from both sides with Rea and Boyd then who could also fill in as a spot starter if needed.
Taillon is cheap, an expiring deal, an innings eater (admittedly when healthy), as good of a 4/5 as you're going to find for the money, a huge mentor to the young guys and a great clubhouse presence.
Trading him would be crazy when the only way you could get value would be to eat a bunch of salary which defeats the whole purpose. I know Jed loves a good salary dump but this would be bad even by his standards.
Trading him would be crazy when the only way you could get value would be to eat a bunch of salary which defeats the whole purpose. I know Jed loves a good salary dump but this would be bad even by his standards.
I just think who would you prefer starting a playoff game. Good Boyd or good Taillon. Too me it isn’t close. And this is Levine beating the drum not me.
Steele Gallan Cabrera Horton Boyd and even Shota.
If they are at their best form are better options for October. Levine suggested Gallan on a three year with two opt outs. If we don’t resign Shota Gallan Boyd and Happ there would definitely be room to sign Skobul in 27.
Not sure I would want to commit to more than two years. Hoping we do everything we can to position ourselves to put Skobul at the top of our rotation in 27. If Gallen is signed we’d have Skobul Gallen Horton Steele Cabrera and Wiggins. You can match up with the Dodgers with that rotation.
Shota is at 22mil Jed dropped the ball on that one.
Boyd 17
Taillon 18
Two of those guys have shown All Star potential. Why would you keep the guy that’s ceiling doesn’t reach winning in October?
There is zero chance that Tom and Jed are going to commit $400M+ to a pitcher on the wrong side of 30.
I guess you can blame Jed for offering a QO after doing what everyone else was hoping would happen with not picking up their part of the option then him declining his option?
Don't get me started about Taillon and not "reach winning in October" crap either. He was one of the most reliable pitchers in the Cubs rotation from August 19th on as we lost just 1 of the 8 starts he pitched when he came off the IL and that was a 1-0 loss to the Reds that he went 7 innings in while the offense mustered up just 6 hits. He had a sub 2.00 ERA in that stretch and won both the playoff games he started. In 6 post All-Star starts he went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with a .194 opposing batting average. He's perfectly fine as a 4th or 5th starter on this current roster and you would be hard pressed to find many other rotations that will get the kind of production out of their back end of the rotation that he will give you. He's not going to be counted on as a #2 or 3 starter now. I trust him a lot more than I do what we saw from Shota in the 2nd half of the season (20 HR in 76.2 post All-Star break innings) and Boyd from about August on really tailed off too as the innings piled up.
I will agree the ceiling on Shota is possibly higher if he can return to the better version we've seen of him at times, but the long ball has been a problem for him regardless and they usually come early in starts with runners on base. Boyd had a nice bounce back year after several years of not being able to stay healthy so I don't know how much more of a ceiling he really has. Taillon is the most proven commodity out of the 3 IMO. Shota they can't trade until after June 15th because of the QO. I doubt they wind up signing Gallen anyways so for now I am fine holding onto all of them and letting things play out as is until Steele is back. It will all sort itself eventually either an unexpected injury in the rotation which is bound to happen at some point or 1 of them pitches so bad they have no choice but to send them to the bullpen or something else drastic like a DFA or dump trade. If they all pitch well then it will be a good problem to have.
Levine suggested signing Gallen could trigger moving a starter. I think we both agree Shota would be a tough sell to anybody until he can show he can log some quality starts again. Just blows my mind you think parting with Boyd is a better option than Taillon.
Boyd is much more likely to turn into a pumpkin.
