***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

Mervis needs to come back down for a while. All of our other 1B options aren't long term pieces. Tauchman and Velasquez are candidates to be 4th or 5th outfielders after PCA takes over in center.
Putting a gold glove CF at 1B for Tauchman is asinine....so I assume they will do it.
 
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Who are the Cubs most likely to trade at the deadline?

1) Stroman - No extension and he could be the best pitcher available. Could get a nice return and have $21 million off the books.

2) Hendricks - Club option for next year. For some reason, I picture him in pinstripes with the Yankees. $16 million off the books.

3) Wisdom - He isn’t really in the plans for the future and a small market team (Orioles/Rays) sees value in a cheap power hitter.

4) Bellinger - Versatile LH bat that won’t be with the Cubs next year anyway.

5) Gomes - solid catcher that has done some things with the bat.

6) Mancini - Hopefully he gets traded for a bat…literally just a wooden bat would be a good return.

I’m fine with all 6 guys getting traded since they aren’t really in the long term plans plus it frees up $65-68 million in free agency to make a run at Ohtani who will probably cost $55 million per year.
 
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Sounds like the plan is for Bellinger to play 1B when he is done with his rehab assignment.

Another Sweeportunity, Suzuki is Good, Smyly Gives Length, Tauchman Plays the Hero, and Other Cubs Bullets (bleachernation.com)

Brett is rather wordy as usually with his breakdown on Hoyer's comments but the one thing I got out of that is Hoyer mentions it feels like a waste of Bellinger's skills to not have him in CF but the move to 1B is necessary for now. If you look past the BS the obvious move here is just to get Bellinger back in the lineup every day to probably showcase him for the trade deadline, prove he's healthy and minimize risk of re-injury by playing 1B instead of CF. Tachman is obviously playing well right now but is he possibly the next Frank Schwindel where they just caught him on a hot streak to ride? He's not a prospect at age 32 and has a career batting average of .238 and played last season in Korea. May turn into a decent 4th or 5th OF possibly but I'm not convinced yet that he's an everyday player given his history.

If I had to guess this is setting up for sending Mervis back to Iowa when Bellinger is activated. Also have Steele and Heuer getting close to being activated too so some roster decisions coming soon.
 
Sounds like the plan is for Bellinger to play 1B when he is done with his rehab assignment.

Another Sweeportunity, Suzuki is Good, Smyly Gives Length, Tauchman Plays the Hero, and Other Cubs Bullets (bleachernation.com)

Brett is rather wordy as usually with his breakdown on Hoyer's comments but the one thing I got out of that is Hoyer mentions it feels like a waste of Bellinger's skills to not have him in CF but the move to 1B is necessary for now. If you look past the BS the obvious move here is just to get Bellinger back in the lineup every day to probably showcase him for the trade deadline, prove he's healthy and minimize risk of re-injury by playing 1B instead of CF. Tachman is obviously playing well right now but is he possibly the next Frank Schwindel where they just caught him on a hot streak to ride? He's not a prospect at age 32 and has a career batting average of .238 and played last season in Korea. May turn into a decent 4th or 5th OF possibly but I'm not convinced yet that he's an everyday player given his history.

If I had to guess this is setting up for sending Mervis back to Iowa when Bellinger is activated. Also have Steele and Heuer getting close to being activated too so some roster decisions coming soon.
Tauchman is just a fill in till the real prospects are ready. Mervis needs more time in Iowa. Bellinger like it or not is a rental unless they decide Mervis or PCA aren't the future.
 
Tauchman is just a fill in till the real prospects are ready. Mervis needs more time in Iowa. Bellinger like it or not is a rental unless they decide Mervis or PCA aren't the future.

I like Bellinger but I don't see the Cubs extending him if they want to be players in the free agent market with bigger names this offseason. He's going to get a multi-year deal for more than what they are paying for him now if he stays healthy and productive this season. I would be he's going to be shopped and likely traded at the deadline just like they probably will try with Stroman and Hendricks too. This team is just not good enough right now to be buyers this deadline and if they were serious about locking up Stroman and Bellinger past this season they would already be trying to get that done now in advance of the deadline IMO.
 
Hard to believe with all the injuries and up/down play the Cubs are 5 games under .500 and 3 games out of first on June 16.

The recent win streak might impact the Cub's trade deadline approach from heavy sellers to stand pat. But it also seems like there is opportunity to make moves to get prospects/hole fillers without diminishing the everyday lineup too much.
  • Barnhart
  • Madrigal or Wisdom
  • Happ or Suzuki (Assuming Bellinger is healthy to play CF & Morel everyday in corner OF)
  • Fulmer, Leiter
I realize Happ and Suzuki are considered core players and fan favorites, but I don't see how the Cubs can continue to have both corner outfield spots manned by players who are 15-20 HR guys.
 
Hard to believe with all the injuries and up/down play the Cubs are 5 games under .500 and 3 games out of first on June 16.

The recent win streak might impact the Cub's trade deadline approach from heavy sellers to stand pat. But it also seems like there is opportunity to make moves to get prospects/hole fillers without diminishing the everyday lineup too much.
  • Barnhart
  • Madrigal or Wisdom
  • Happ or Suzuki (Assuming Bellinger is healthy to play CF & Morel everyday in corner OF)
  • Fulmer, Leiter
I realize Happ and Suzuki are considered core players and fan favorites, but I don't see how the Cubs can continue to have both corner outfield spots manned by players who are 15-20 HR guys.
What I don't get is trading stroman. He wants to be here, we need starters. We're going to trade him to try and sigh a guy like him? Probably get another tallion instead. I'd give stroman something like 4 years 90 to 100 million
 
What I don't get is trading stroman. He wants to be here, we need starters. We're going to trade him to try and sigh a guy like him? Probably get another tallion instead. I'd give stroman something like 4 years 90 to 100 million
I’d trade Hendricks over Stroman.
 
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What I don't get is trading stroman. He wants to be here, we need starters. We're going to trade him to try and sigh a guy like him? Probably get another tallion instead. I'd give stroman something like 4 years 90 to 100 million

Yea, a GM can't always be trading away a teams top guys for prospects and then expect to have a deep playoff team when the GM is ready to win.

Stroman has been great and he is something like 31/32. He seems like the kind of player who could be a solid pitcher for another 5 years- not a flame thrower and since he was a SS earlier in career probably has less innings on his arm.
 
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I’d trade Hendricks over Stroman.
I think Stroman is the guy you need to resign if you're serious about adding a big name free agent in the offseason. Now suddenly back in the thick of the division hunt I wouldn't be surprised if we add a 3B if there's one to be had that makes sense longterm.
 
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