***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[ISUCubswin]

Going over the luxury tax leads to a penalty in international spending. Additionally, some of the FAs we were loosely tied to would've led to a reduction in international pool money.

The international pool money is largely based on market size. Big markets have less money, small markets have big money.Of the top 10 markets, zero will have more money than the Cubs (a few are even with the Cubs) to spent on international rookies. The Dodgers have the lowest pool.

I'm curious if there has been a thought process on giving Roki Sosaki the world to come here. You could then go with a starting 5 of Burnes/Steele/Sasaki/Imanaga/One of the young guys. Probably gives you the 2nd best rotation in the MLB.

You can trade for up to 60% of your starting level of bonus money. I wonder how much of the trades we see will include that money as leverage.

 

[spierceisu]

Going over the luxury tax leads to a penalty in international spending. Additionally, some of the FAs we were loosely tied to would've led to a reduction in international pool money.

The international pool money is largely based on market size. Big markets have less money, small markets have big money.Of the top 10 markets, zero will have more money than the Cubs (a few are even with the Cubs) to spent on international rookies. The Dodgers have the lowest pool.

I'm curious if there has been a thought process on giving Roki Sosaki the world to come here. You could then go with a starting 5 of Burnes/Steele/Sasaki/Imanaga/One of the young guys. Probably gives you the 2nd best rotation in the MLB.

You can trade for up to 60% of your starting level of bonus money. I wonder how much of the trades we see will include that money as leverage.

Everyone says pitching is where it is at, but it doesn't matter if you can't score runs. If the cubs had an even mediocre offense, they would be in a great spot now. Pitching is not the problem, the terrible offense is the problem. Even the bullpen has been OK the past few weeks.

 

[GoHawks]

Everyone says pitching is where it is at, but it doesn't matter if you can't score runs. If the cubs had an even mediocre offense, they would be in a great spot now. Pitching is not the problem, the terrible offense is the problem. Even the bullpen has been OK the past few weeks.

That's where I am. We need bats. The best prospects we have are all pitchers too minus PCA

 

[ISUCubswin]

Everyone says pitching is where it is at, but it doesn't matter if you can't score runs. If the cubs had an even mediocre offense, they would be in a great spot now. Pitching is not the problem, the terrible offense is the problem. Even the bullpen has been OK the past few weeks.

I don’t disagree, but offensively, Jed’s ****** us. There are zero free agent bats except Soto that would be worth a damn next year.

The dumb **** created a huge jam in the OF and then gave his high volatility corner outfielders no trade clauses. His highest paid player is arguably the second worst every day bat.

 

[ISUCubswin]

That's where I am. We need bats. The best prospects we have are all pitchers too minus PCA

Caissie, Alcantara, Shaw, Smith, and Triantos are all expected to have above average bats.

The problem is

Caissie and Alcantara are blocked

Shaw and Triantos are being developed very slowly.

And Smith won’t be ready until at least 2026

 

[GoHawks]

Caissie, Alcantara, Shaw, Smith, and Triantos are all expected to have above average bats.

The problem is

Caissie and Alcantara are blocked

Shaw and Triantos are being developed very slowly.

And Smith won’t be ready until at least 2026

I hate going into next year though hoping they're the solution. Especially when starting pitching has been solid. I don't think signing a pitcher and counting for them to out produce Assad, Brown, and other young arms is where are money would be best spent. We need an immediate bat imo if you want to compete in 2025

 

[RoseClone]

Yikes!

 

[Cyforce]

Caissie, Alcantara, Shaw, Smith, and Triantos are all expected to have above average bats.

The problem is

Caissie and Alcantara are blocked

Shaw and Triantos are being developed very slowly.

And Smith won’t be ready until at least 2026

Shaw was drafted in 23, is expected to be promoted to AAA shortly. How is that developing slowly?

 

[ISUCubswin]

Shaw was drafted in 23, is expected to be promoted to AAA shortly. How is that developing slowly?

Meant more so that he should be in Iowa and the FO has no clear direction on where he’ll be playing when he’s up here.

For example, if he’s expected to be your everyday 3B, he probably should be playing 3B more than 50% of his starts.

Which, I guess, maybe he isn’t expected to be the answer there.

 

[Cyforce]

Meant more so that he should be in Iowa and the FO has no clear direction on where he’ll be playing when he’s up here.

For example, if he’s expected to be your everyday 3B, he probably should be playing 3B more than 50% of his starts.

Which, I guess, maybe he isn’t expected to be the answer there.

Probably has a lot to do with the next week. If they deal Hoerner he probably focuses on 2nd unless they move Morel.

 

[isucy86]

Selling Taillon and Hendricks expiring contract makes Burnes very attainable.

Top 3 Steele Burnes Imanaga is pretty solid.
Depth with Assad, Brown Wicks Wesneski and eventually Horton sets us up pretty good in 25.

Just need to fix a position for 25 if you deal Taillon.

If I'm an elite pitcher like Burnes, not sure I would be interested in signing with Cubs unless the Cubs significantly rework their position talent. I'm not talking 1 or 2 new position players, but 4-5 new bats in the lineup. Not only do the Cubs need a talent upgrade, but they also need an attitude re-boot. Part of that would be new hitting coaches.

Summer trade deadline is probably time to make a couple tweaks. But the bold moves the Cubs FO will need to make, will take time and be complex- more likely winter roster moves because of long-term player contracts. IMO no sacred cows, everyone from Busch to Swanson to Suzuki should be open to trade discussion.

 

[isucy86]

I don’t disagree, but offensively, Jed’s ****** us. There are zero free agent bats except Soto that would be worth a damn next year.

The dumb **** created a huge jam in the OF and then gave his high volatility corner outfielders no trade clauses. His highest paid player is arguably the second worst every day bat.

A player like Soto would be a great add, but the core re-tool by the Cubs FO needs to be with mid-tier players whose talent goes under the radar. Hitters that don't shrink with RISP.

Easier said than done, but some GM's have a knack for finding those guys.

 

[Cyforce]

If I'm an elite pitcher like Burnes, not sure I would be interested in signing with Cubs unless the Cubs significantly rework their position talent. I'm not talking 1 or 2 new position players, but 4-5 new bats in the lineup. Not only do the Cubs need a talent upgrade, but they also need an attitude re-boot. Part of that would be new hitting coaches.

Summer trade deadline is probably time to make a couple tweaks. But the bold moves the Cubs FO will need to make, will take time and be complex- more likely winter roster moves because of long-term player contracts. IMO no sacred cows, everyone from Busch to Swanson to Suzuki should be open to trade discussion.

Definitely not a one move fix. But 4-5 new bats seems extreme. I think you Definitely keep Busch, Hoerner, Suzuki and Happ. Probably stuck with Swanson hopefully his struggles can turn around back to what he was. PCA is probably the one non productive bat you live with. Hopefully he figures it out soon. Has Amaya figured out how to be a productive bat only time will tell but at this point I'd rather see us add 3B over catcher in a Taillon trade.

So basically I'd like to see Taillon + for Mayo. Add another bat in free agency and sign Burnes in the offseason. To me that's about the best you can hope for in 25.

 

[Cyforce]

Steele the last couple starts has been visibly upset with the lack of offense as well as Suzuki's defense. I personally think we need a bit more of this. Someone needs to light a fire under this team.

 

[CYdTracked]

I just hope that after the trade deadline passes and it's obvious, we are not going to make that run needed to make a wild card spot they start tinkering around a bit with the roster and lineups and give some guys opportunities to see who might be part of the 2025 mix. If they aren't traded away in a few weeks in some kind of deal guys like Canario, Mervis, Vazquez are at a point where they need some extended opportunities in Chicago and I am not talking like some random pinch hit at bats and spots starts I'm talking need to get them in the lineup multiple days a week and see if they can make the adjustment or not. If they aren't going to be part of the future than so be it. Caissie is probably ready for a taste of the bigs too. Maybe give Busch some starts at 3B too and see what happens. Then you have the pitchers, some of that will be based on health and if Taillon or Hendricks get traded but guys like Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski are guys that either need to be given some turns in the rotation or start preparing them for bullpen roles. Give some of the young guys in the pen some high leverage opportunities too.

Just don't want to waste the post-deadline stretch running out the same mediocre lineup that can't win games. Commit to the rebuild and figure out what you have in the system that might be able to contribute next season or at worse figure out of some of these guys need to be moved because there is not a path forward for them in the organization.

 

[isucy86]

Definitely not a one move fix. But 4-5 new bats seems extreme. I think you Definitely keep Busch, Hoerner, Suzuki and Happ. Probably stuck with Swanson hopefully his struggles can turn around back to what he was. PCA is probably the one non productive bat you live with. Hopefully he figures it out soon. Has Amaya figured out how to be a productive bat only time will tell but at this point I'd rather see us add 3B over catcher in a Taillon trade.

So basically I'd like to see Taillon + for Mayo. Add another bat in free agency and sign Burnes in the offseason. To me that's about the best you can hope for in 25.

Maybe a new hitting coach will solve a lot of problems. But the reality is the core returning players have struggled to hit consistently for 2 straight seasons. Too many of the core players are streaky hitters- they will hit around .300 for an extended period and then hit .180 for an extended period.

Even a newby like Busch shows those traits- he's played 96 games with 12 HRs. He hit 5 of those HR's in consecutive games. So 7 HR's in the other 91 games.

I hope the FO can plug a few holes with deadline roster moves or unblock some minor league prospect by trading Hoerner or Motel.

A big part of my issue with Cubs everyday position player is the lack of top 4/5 hitters on what would be a good team.

Leadoff - nobody
2: Hoerner
3: Nobody
4: Nobody
5: Bellinger or Happ/Suzuki (when hot)
6: Busch or Morel (hot)
7: Swanson (hot)
8: Amaya
9: PCA

 

[Carlisle Clone]

Definitely not a one move fix. But 4-5 new bats seems extreme. I think you Definitely keep Busch, Hoerner, Suzuki and Happ. Probably stuck with Swanson hopefully his struggles can turn around back to what he was. PCA is probably the one non productive bat you live with. Hopefully he figures it out soon. Has Amaya figured out how to be a productive bat only time will tell but at this point I'd rather see us add 3B over catcher in a Taillon trade.

So basically I'd like to see Taillon + for Mayo. Add another bat in free agency and sign Burnes in the offseason. To me that's about the best you can hope for in 25.

Everyone has a wish list but Taillon and another arent getting it done for Mayo. Mountcastle probably gets moved at some point to open a spot for him. As far as Burnes goes, I have read that he is looking to head west where he is from now that he has newborn twins.

 

[CYdTracked]

Everyone has a wish list but Taillon and another arent getting it done for Mayo. Mountcastle probably gets moved at some point to open a spot for him. As far as Burnes goes, I have read that he is looking to head west where he is from now that he has newborn twins.

It happens every time around the deadline, just like the front office has we fans also over-value our own players sometimes and think it's going to be as simple as plucking a certain player from another system that fits our needs while dumping some salary or a player not in the plans for the next season. Just like when we traded away the big 3 from the core, what we got back was probably the best we could get as all 3 had expiring contracts and were not playing as well as they had in the past so they weren't exactly elite guys or guys with some cost control left that teams would let you pick from top end prospects. Tallion is a nice middle to back half of the rotation pitcher with a reasonable contract for the next 2 years but any team acquiring him may ask for some money to offset his salary or offer lesser prospects too. Even paying a good chunk of what he is owed probably is not going to open up the door to pick from the top end of prospects in a system and if anyone is paying attention to how our prospects have done once they got a shot in Chicago lately not sure there is much outside of the top end of our prospects either that you could add to pry someone like Mayo in trade. Steele is probably about the only guy in Chicago right now that would net a big return in a trade because he is cost controlled and quality top half of the rotation pitcher and I don't want to see him traded unless it was such a great return we'd be stupid to turn it down. Steele is one of the pieces on the roster that is set for awhile that you would not be able to easily replace.

 

[Cyforce]

Everyone has a wish list but Taillon and another arent getting it done for Mayo. Mountcastle probably gets moved at some point to open a spot for him. As far as Burnes goes, I have read that he is looking to head west where he is from now that he has newborn twins.

If they target Mayo we have the prospects to make a Taillon + deal work. As for Burnes CC is a huge plus. We've all ready they're in regular contact. Isn't it tiring to constantly shoot down everything. You you start an Orioles threat and post there.

 

[Carlisle Clone]

If they target Mayo we have the prospects to make a Taillon + deal work. As for Burnes CC is a huge plus. We've all ready they're in regular contact. Isn't it tiring to constantly shoot down everything. You you start an Orioles threat and post there.

Your post is a mess to try and read but i will try-

Tiring? What else have I shot down? You started talking about Oriole players so I responded since you obviously dont know what you are talking about.

Who cares about your prospects. The Orioles have the best farm in baseball. They dont need prospects and are in win now mode. If you are looking to argue at least do some research so you dont look so stupid.