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***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

Have a fairly easy stretch coming out of the all star break with 13 of the 16 games against teams well below .500. It’ll be interesting to see what the FO does if they go like 11-5 or so in that stretch and make up some ground. Brutal first half of August though with the Reds (feels weird to say that), Braves, Mets, and Blue Jays.

I really hope they don’t trade Stroman and can get an extension worked out.
 
cyfanatic13 said:
Have a fairly easy stretch coming out of the all star break with 13 of the 16 games against teams well below .500. It’ll be interesting to see what the FO does if they go like 11-5 or so in that stretch and make up some ground. Brutal first half of August though with the Reds (feels weird to say that), Braves, Mets, and Blue Jays.

I really hope they don’t trade Stroman and can get an extension worked out.
Click to expand...
If we're buyers i think the 1st move would be Candelario. Yanks will likely be in the market at 3rd as well.
 
It'll be interesting to see how both of our draft picks pan out.

I love Shaw but it's a clear "just sign the best guy available" signing and tells me either the Cubs don't view Hoerner at 2B long term or will be using Shaw as trade bait in the future.
 
Per Baseball Reference

Jeimier Candelario - 2.8 WAR
Willson Contreras - 1.5 WAR
Anthony Rizzo - 1.2 WAR
Javier Baez - 0.4 WAR
Kris Bryant - -0.6 WAR
Kyle Schwarber - -1.2 WAR

Candelario is making the same amount of money this season as David Bote

I was surprised we didn't make a push for Candelario but it confirms one thing for us - This FO will reward mediocrity with starting roles at the expense of the franchise. We saw it going into this year with Patrick Wisdom. Saw it in 2021 with Schwindel and Ortega.Fortunatly, I don't think we have anyone this year that we will be running the same risk for next year.
 
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ISUCubswin said:
Per Baseball Reference

Jeimier Candelario - 2.8 WAR
Willson Contreras - 1.5 WAR
Anthony Rizzo - 1.2 WAR
Javier Baez - 0.4 WAR
Kris Bryant - -0.6 WAR
Kyle Schwarber - -1.2 WAR

Candelario is making the same amount of money this season as David Bote

I was surprised we didn't make a push for Candelario but it confirms one thing for us - This FO will reward mediocrity with starting roles at the expense of the franchise. We saw it going into this year with Patrick Wisdom. Saw it in 2021 with Schwindel and Ortega.Fortunatly, I don't think we have anyone this year that we will be running the same risk for next year.
Click to expand...
Lol, is this the same Candelario that I saw play for the Iowa Cubs for years? He should tell them to take a hike now.
 
ISUCubswin said:
It'll be interesting to see how both of our draft picks pan out.

I love Shaw but it's a clear "just sign the best guy available" signing and tells me either the Cubs don't view Hoerner at 2B long term or will be using Shaw as trade bait in the future.
Click to expand...

I read somewhere they thought he could play third, which is an obvious area of immediate need.
 
cyfanatic13 said:
Have a fairly easy stretch coming out of the all star break with 13 of the 16 games against teams well below .500. It’ll be interesting to see what the FO does if they go like 11-5 or so in that stretch and make up some ground. Brutal first half of August though with the Reds (feels weird to say that), Braves, Mets, and Blue Jays.

I really hope they don’t trade Stroman and can get an extension worked out.
Click to expand...

It's going to take a stretch like that to give the FO any reason to buy. 5 games under .500 right now and 7 back from the division they'd need to come out hot right after the break and get over .500 and close that gap to give them reason to buy I think. And I would not expect any big splashes for buys either, they aren't going to trade off any big pieces on the farm for a chance to make the playoffs this year. Candelario is having a good season but is he just having a hot streak as he had a WAR of 0.5 last year and never really has had much sustained success over his career. I sure wouldn't break the bank on him as a rental and 3B is not the only hole they have to fill too. I'm still of the mindset the Cubs likely will be sellers especially if they stumble out of the gate after the All Star break.
 
ISUCubswin said:
It'll be interesting to see how both of our draft picks pan out.

I love Shaw but it's a clear "just sign the best guy available" signing and tells me either the Cubs don't view Hoerner at 2B long term or will be using Shaw as trade bait in the future.
Click to expand...
with baseball, I'm always for drafting the best guy available. Even if Hoerner is with the team and Shaw is ready for the majors, they will move somebody around to make it work.
 
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Well the Cardinals are going to be sellers:
Cardinals potential Trade Deadline moves as sellers (mlb.com)
Ranking the St. Louis Cardinals' 8 most tradeable assets (redbirdrants.com)

I doubt the Cards would want to trade with the Cubs but if they would entertain trading either Arenado or Goldschmidt within the division I'd be all in on send a top end prospect not named PCA to acquire 1 of them and take care of upgrading at least 1 of the corner infield spots that is needed. Goldschmidt is signed through 2024 at $26 mil and Arenado (has a full no-trade clause he would have to waive) through 2027 with decreasing amounts as his contract is structured to pay him $35 mil this year and next, then 32, 27, and 15 mil the last 3 years of his contract. Granted age could be a factor here too, Goldy is 35 Arenado 32. It's a pipedream that the Cubs could find a way to get one of these guys but a guy can wish right? Not really anyone else on their roster the Cubs would have interest in I would guess.

I still think the Cubs will be sellers too but I can see a situation where they could still sell but also buy some longer term pieces for next year too that are under contract if the right players were to come available that won't be free agents after the season. I don't see a scenario where if they buy it will be for a rental that will require significant pieces to send in return as it's not a given this team will make the playoffs if they keep it intact and try to add a few cheap pieces. Just don't see the FO sending any top end prospects away for rentals this year when they can free up salary to either sign or trade for big pieces in the offseason to improve the roster without subtracting significant pieces from the farm system right now.
 
I'm going to officially start the trade Suzuki train.

- You can't spend a quarter of your salary on two corner outfielders that have zero pop.
- Is hitting .227 with RISP
- Has a negative WAR defensively
- Surely a team that wants Ohtani will take Ohtani's best friend for a bag of balls
- Brennan Davis will be in a **** or get off the pot situation next year, PCA will be ready, Canario, if healed right, will be ready.

Save the $21 million and find someone who can do something worth a **** next year
 
Barnhart getting thrown out at second trying to stretch a blooper. We have too many guys that play too stupid to win.
 
Here's the moves I'm making by August 1 with the focus on competing in 2024. I'm fully aware our FO isn't competent enough to make some of this work.

- Trade Suzuki, Morel, and Hendricks for whatever you can get, save $40 million.
- Extend Bellinger and Stroman; they're proven individual winners within your organization. If you can't find a solution at 1B, move Belly there when PCA comes up. If you find a 1B solution,
- Call White Sox (Vaughn) and Tigers (Torkelson) and see if any would be willing to part with their former top prospect 1B who have not been great, yet. Can they be productive for the Cubs the last 2 months and be built around? If not, repackage this offseason.

Holes heading into 2024 - 2 SPs, 3B, RF with $120 million to find solutions.

The WRONG MOVE is to trade Bellinger and Stroman and hope you can find guys like them next year.
 
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