MLB: Cubs Offseason

[ISUCubswin]

Whats going to happen this offseason? I'm pretty much assuming, with my writing below, that 2014 will be a bust and we're building towards 2015.

INFIELD:
I have really high hopes that Bryant, Baez, and Alacantara are ready to fill the infield holes for opening day 2015. Alacantara is the Cubs 8th best prospect according to most sites, but his numbers are freakish. He'll make a great leadoff hitter. Olt will end up being traded somewhere. I could see the Cubs signing Mark Ellis just to have a vet on board that could be worth some sort of prospect in July.

OUTFIELD:
Not completely sure where I see Lake in the future. I think he will be a utility guy come 2015. Not starting opening day, but playing somewhere for 140+ games. But I think he'll be starting for us in 2014. Almora and Soler should be ready by opening day 2015. I'm pretty confident Almora will work out great for us. I'm still unsure of Soler. I definitely could see the Cubs signing an outfielder to a bigger contract this offseason. Ellsbury is likely out, because of his price. I also think the front office is banking on Alacantara to pan out, who has Ellsbury's speed, but more power. Not as high of a BA though. I could definitely see the Cubs going after Gomes after next year in free agency. A fun clubhouse guy, who is a vet, that could take the reigns in left field for us. Brett Gardner wouldn't be bad, either, but I don't see the Yanks letting him go.
PITCHING:
Smardzija may not even be in our future now. Would like to see us sign a nice reliever or two so we don't take ourselves out of 20 games this year because we couldn't close it out. I think this is where we spend most of our FA money the next two years. No idea on who, though. Got a couple solid prospects but can't bank on them.

CATCHING:
Rumors are swirling that the Cubs want a lefty hitter here.. Saltalamachia would be the only guy I can think of that would take that spot, but he'll be pricey. Just pay up Navarro, who was great last year.

SIDE NOTE - Rumors have it the Mets MAY be looking into Starlin Castro to fill their need for shortstop. Not sure what the front office thinks about it.

 

[Wesley]

Focus is on Rick Renteria as Cubs hit 'final stages' of search - CBSSports.com

 

[ISUAlum2002]

Looks like it's pretty much a done deal:

Rick Renteria to be named Cubs manager | WGN Radio

 

[ISUCubswin]

Not sure I like it. He hasn't done anything to prove he can be a good coach. I truly believe the only reason he has this job is because of Hoyer. And what exactly has Hoyer done thats stellar?

 

[erikbj]

Contraction?

 

[CycloneErik]

Well, I guess he's hired. That's something.

 

[gocubs2118]

Not sure I like it. He hasn't done anything to prove he can be a good coach. I truly believe the only reason he has this job is because of Hoyer. And what exactly has Hoyer done thats stellar?

And who could they of hired that's proven he can be a "good coach"?

 

[ISUCubswin]

Read from the Cubs espn reporter that there is a good chance Baez and Bryant show up this upcoming year to the bigs at some point, and Almora and Soler make their debuts in 2015, barring any set backs.

 

[ISUCubswin]

And who could they of hired that's proven he can be a "good coach"?

Pay the price for Luvullo. Not like we've spent our money elsewhere the last two years, or plan on spending it anywhere this year.

 

[gocubs2118]

Pay the price for Luvullo. Not like we've spent our money elsewhere the last two years, or plan on spending it anywhere this year.

Lovullo was my choice as well but the Red Sox weren't allowing the Cubs to talk to him and he has as much of a chance to fail as anyone else.

 

[Clark]

Pay the price for Luvullo. Not like we've spent our money elsewhere the last two years, or plan on spending it anywhere this year.

The Red Sox weren't looking for money. They were being spiteful. We probably could have given them a prospect for him, but do you really want to give up even a c prospect for a bench coach?

 

[ISUCubswin]

The Red Sox weren't looking for money. They were being spiteful. We probably could have given them a prospect for him, but do you really want to give up even a c prospect for a bench coach?

If they weren't in our top 20, yes, I would give them up. How many of our prospects actually pan out?

 

[ISUCubswin]

All I'm saying is look at what the Padres have done the last decade and look at what Luvullo has done the last three years.

Padres: **** on the carpet, yet we hire everyone from there that we can.

Luvullo: Helps make Blue Jays relevant with no talent on his team (though he was first base coach) and Red Sox win World Series his first year in the organization. The bench coach is the assistant to the Head Coach - he knows his ****.

 

[Clark]

All I'm saying is look at what the Padres have done the last decade and look at what Luvullo has done the last three years.

Padres: **** on the carpet, yet we hire everyone from there that we can.

Luvullo: Helps make Blue Jays relevant with no talent on his team (though he was first base coach) and Red Sox win World Series his first year in the organization. The bench coach is the assistant to the Head Coach - he knows his ****.

I think you've lost your mind but whatever. I'm not going to argue with you about bench coaches, nor about the talent of the bluejays. You just keep on being ****** that they hired some guy you had never heard of before this week instead of that other guy you had never heard of before this week.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I think you've lost your mind but whatever. I'm not going to argue with you about bench coaches, nor about the talent of the bluejays. You just keep on being ****** that they hired some guy you had never heard of before this week instead of that other guy you had never heard of before this week.

FINE I WILL.

Actually, I knew of Luvullo last year when he was named the Bo-Sox bench coach and I've been a fan of his since. Not a die hard fan, but he's had success just about wherever he goes.

 

[CyJack13]

I think you've lost your mind but whatever. I'm not going to argue with you about bench coaches, nor about the talent of the bluejays. You just keep on being ****** that they hired some guy you had never heard of before this week instead of that other guy you had never heard of before this week.

I'm on ISUCubswin side on this one, if you can't see the coaching talent in a first base coach who takes an 85 win Blue Jays teams and turns it into an 81 win team next year, well then you just don't know baseball.

 

[Clark]

FINE I WILL.

Actually, I knew of Luvullo last year when he was named the Bo-Sox bench coach and I've been a fan of his since. Not a die hard fan, but he's had success just about wherever he goes.

You're a strange one Cubsy. Who even knows who's a bench coach for other teams, let alone roots for them. I'll never doubt your knowledge of other teams coaching staffs again.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Another quality manager hire by the cubs lol

 

[ISUCubswin]

I'm on ISUCubswin side on this one, if you can't see the coaching talent in a first base coach who takes an 85 win Blue Jays teams and turns it into an 81 win team next year, well then you just don't know baseball.

Talent level on 2010 team and 2011 team were a bit different, but yes.

2010:

1	C	John Buck	29	118	437	409	53	115	25	0	20	66	0	0	16	111	.281	.314	.489	.802	114	200	6	6	0	6	1
2	1B	Lyle Overbay*	33	154	608	534	75	130	37	2	20	67	1	0	67	131	.243	.329	.433	.762	105	231	9	3	0	3	7
3	2B	Aaron Hill	28	138	580	528	70	108	22	0	26	68	2	2	41	85	.205	.271	.394	.665	78	208	8	8	1	2	2
4	SS	Alex Gonzalez	33	85	348	328	47	85	25	1	17	50	1	0	17	65	.259	.296	.497	.793	110	163	9	1	0	2	0
5	3B	Edwin Encarnacion	27	96	367	332	47	81	16	0	21	51	1	0	29	60	.244	.305	.482	.787	109	160	9	2	0	4	1
6	LF	Fred Lewis*	29	110	480	428	70	112	31	5	8	36	17	6	38	104	.262	.332	.414	.745	101	177	9	9	1	4	1
7	CF	Vernon Wells	31	157	646	590	79	161	44	3	31	88	6	4	50	84	.273	.331	.515	.847	125	304	18	3	0	3	5
8	RF	Jose Bautista	29	161	683	569	109	148	35	3	54	124	9	2	100	116	.260	.378	.617	.995	164	351	10	10	0	4	2
9	DH	Adam Lind*	26	150	613	569	57	135	32	3	23	72	0	0	38	144	.237	.287	.425	.712	90	242	10	3	0	3	3

2011:

1	C	J.P. Arencibia	25	129	486	443	47	97	20	4	23	78	1	1	36	133	.219	.282	.438	.720	91	194	6	4	0	3	3
2	1B	Adam Lind*	27	125	542	499	56	125	16	0	26	87	1	1	32	107	.251	.295	.439	.734	95	219	12	3	0	8	4
3	2B	Aaron Hill	29	104	429	396	38	89	15	1	6	45	16	3	23	53	.225	.270	.313	.584	58	124	8	4	0	6	1
4	SS	Yunel Escobar	28	133	590	513	77	149	24	3	11	48	3	3	61	70	.290	.369	.413	.782	112	212	14	6	5	5	1
5	3B	Brett Lawrie	21	43	171	150	26	44	8	4	9	25	7	1	16	31	.293	.373	.580	.953	153	87	0	3	2	0	1
6	LF	Eric Thames*	24	95	394	362	58	95	24	5	12	37	2	1	23	88	.262	.313	.456	.769	105	165	7	5	1	3	0
7	CF	Rajai Davis	30	95	338	320	44	76	21	6	1	29	34	11	15	63	.238	.273	.350	.623	67	112	4	1	1	1	0
8	RF	Jose Bautista	30	149	655	513	105	155	24	2	43	103	9	5	132	111	.302	.447	.608	1.056	182	312	8	6	0	4	24
9	DH	Edwin Encarnacion

 

[acody]

Whats going to happen this offseason? I'm pretty much assuming, with my writing below, that 2014 will be a bust and we're building towards 2015.

INFIELD:
I have really high hopes that Bryant, Baez, and Alacantara are ready to fill the infield holes for opening day 2015. Alacantara is the Cubs 8th best prospect according to most sites, but his numbers are freakish. He'll make a great leadoff hitter. Olt will end up being traded somewhere. I could see the Cubs signing Mark Ellis just to have a vet on board that could be worth some sort of prospect in July.

OUTFIELD:
Not completely sure where I see Lake in the future. I think he will be a utility guy come 2015. Not starting opening day, but playing somewhere for 140+ games. But I think he'll be starting for us in 2014. Almora and Soler should be ready by opening day 2015. I'm pretty confident Almora will work out great for us. I'm still unsure of Soler. I definitely could see the Cubs signing an outfielder to a bigger contract this offseason. Ellsbury is likely out, because of his price. I also think the front office is banking on Alacantara to pan out, who has Ellsbury's speed, but more power. Not as high of a BA though. I could definitely see the Cubs going after Gomes after next year in free agency. A fun clubhouse guy, who is a vet, that could take the reigns in left field for us. Brett Gardner wouldn't be bad, either, but I don't see the Yanks letting him go.
PITCHING:
Smardzija may not even be in our future now. Would like to see us sign a nice reliever or two so we don't take ourselves out of 20 games this year because we couldn't close it out. I think this is where we spend most of our FA money the next two years. No idea on who, though. Got a couple solid prospects but can't bank on them.

CATCHING:
Rumors are swirling that the Cubs want a lefty hitter here.. Saltalamachia would be the only guy I can think of that would take that spot, but he'll be pricey. Just pay up Navarro, who was great last year.

SIDE NOTE - Rumors have it the Mets MAY be looking into Starlin Castro to fill their need for shortstop. Not sure what the front office thinks about it.