***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

We'll see I guess but I don't see Tauchman back next season. We keep talking about needing to clear spots to improve the roster well how is bringing back a 34 year old reserve OF accomplishing that? Especially if Bellinger does not opt out (which is not a given that he will) he's the 5th OF once again on the roster and we have multiple OF prospects waiting for an opportunity. Even if Bellinger opts out I don't see a reason to keep him as you now can use that money to sign or acquire an impact bat for the OF too and still leave a spot for Caissie or Alcantara to potentially make the team coming out of spring training. If we aren't going to clear a path for our prospects to be called up then we may as well start trading those prospects away to improve at another position.

We keep falling in love with these bench players thinking 1 of them is going to break out or something and we keep seeing the same mediocre or crappy results. Time to cut bait with these same mediocre and borderline rosterable vets we keep bringing back every year and upgrade the bench where we can whether that is signing a younger and proven MLB player or taking the next step in development with prospects at the MLB level. I'm tired of the status quo, it's obviously not working and a roster shakeup is needed both with some of the starting positions but also the bench too.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I don't expect Tauchman to 'break out'. He's very good for the role that he has and he's going to cost you less than $2M. It's not him that's holding the roster back, it's Mastrobuoni and Madrigal who are gone.

I get that there are outfielders waiting but you don't pull them up to sit on the bench and get 200 PAs on the year. That doesn't do anybody any good.

Ideally, Bellinger opts out, Seiya is your full time DH and you give Caissie every opportunity to be the opening day right fielder. Alcantara needs some more time in Des Moines.

The money this off season needs to be spent on high level pitching assuming that Soto isn't happening.

 

[Cyforce]

We'll see I guess but I don't see Tauchman back next season. We keep talking about needing to clear spots to improve the roster well how is bringing back a 34 year old reserve OF accomplishing that? Especially if Bellinger does not opt out (which is not a given that he will) he's the 5th OF once again on the roster and we have multiple OF prospects waiting for an opportunity. Even if Bellinger opts out I don't see a reason to keep him as you now can use that money to sign or acquire an impact bat for the OF too and still leave a spot for Caissie or Alcantara to potentially make the team coming out of spring training. If we aren't going to clear a path for our prospects to be called up then we may as well start trading those prospects away to improve at another position.

We keep falling in love with these bench players thinking 1 of them is going to break out or something and we keep seeing the same mediocre or crappy results. Time to cut bait with these same mediocre and borderline rosterable vets we keep bringing back every year and upgrade the bench where we can whether that is signing a younger and proven MLB player or taking the next step in development with prospects at the MLB level. I'm tired of the status quo, it's obviously not working and a roster shakeup is needed both with some of the starting positions but also the bench too.

I guess it depends if you're looking to develop players or build a playoff team. Tauchman is an ideal 4th outfielder. He gives you quality ABs without needing regular time. Caissie or Alcantara need to play everyday. I think one of the 2 will eventually be a starter but as we know that's a complicated situation due to NTCs.

 

[isucy86]

Tauchman will, and should, be back. He's cheap. He's a very good pinch hitter and can play all 3 outfield spots. He's the ideal true 4th outfielder.

Wisdom, Mastrobuoni and Madrigal are gone and Vazquez is gone the minute that Shaw is ready.

I could see Vazquez in role of backup 2B, SS & 3B. Sure Hoerner is a serviceable SS to spell Swanson. But I would rather keep Hoerner at 2B.

Bellinger opt-in/out decision will loom large as his ability to play CF, RF or 1B gives FO a lot of roster flexibility.

 

[isucy86]

I guess it depends if you're looking to develop players or build a playoff team. Tauchman is an ideal 4th outfielder. He gives you quality ABs without needing regular time. Caissie or Alcantara need to play everyday. I think one of the 2 will eventually be a starter but as we know that's a complicated situation due to NTCs.

Feel like there is a bench spot for a player like Tauchman who is patient at plate and can be effective hitter as a PH who only starts in an emergency.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I’d be shocked if Tauchman was not on the 26 man next year. Sounds like he’s a clubhouse leader and he’s exactly what you want in a 5th outfielder. And he’s pretty cheap.

 

[ISUCubswin]

There’s a lot of moves I’d like to see the Cubs look into making that will be completely dependent on what other FAs do, but one that I think would be worth exploring:

Isaac Paredes would have 29 HRs if all his ABs were at Minute Maid Park, but 14 HRs of all his ABs were in Wrigley.

If Alex Bregman leaves Houston, Cubs may be able to offer a cheaper replacement with incredibly similar peripherals.

Not confident it would happen, but I’d be absolutely pounding the door for Bichette or Guerrero.

 

[cyatheart]

Everyone in that lineup is a 7 or 8 hitter on a good team. There isn’t a really good hitter on this team, and that’s a problem. Nothing is going to change until this total mess of mediocrity in the outfield gets fixed.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Everyone in that lineup is a 7 or 8 hitter on a good team. There isn’t a really good hitter on this team, and that’s a problem. Nothing is going to change until this total mess of mediocrity in the outfield gets fixed.

There’s a reason Swanson was batting 8th with the Braves when they were good.

I do think having a true-threat bat like Soto would lift guys like Bellinger and Suzuki.

But I agree - aside from Suzuki, Belli, and Happ, everyone else on this roster would benefit more batting in the 7/8/9 spots.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

There’s a lot of moves I’d like to see the Cubs look into making that will be completely dependent on what other FAs do, but one that I think would be worth exploring:

Isaac Paredes would have 29 HRs if all his ABs were at Minute Maid Park, but 14 HRs of all his ABs were in Wrigley.

If Alex Bregman leaves Houston, Cubs may be able to offer a cheaper replacement with incredibly similar peripherals.

Not confident it would happen, but I’d be absolutely pounding the door for Bichette or Guerrero.

Berrios and Guerrero for Hoerner, Horton, Triantos, Canario and another lottery ticket arm of Toronto's choice.

Never, ever going to happen but the Cubs absolutely have the capital to make a monster deal like that.

I also happen to think Horton is a reliever so I'm all about selling high right now before he turns into a pumpkin.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[BigJCy]

The teams want the season over it appears. Quick one today. 1 hour 50 minute 1-0 Cubs win.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Not trading Taillon was absolutely the right move. Now you've got a solid mid-rotation guy on a team friendly short contract. He's looked great in the 2nd half.

 

[BigJCy]

If you haven't seen it here is the Greg Maddux doc. It's a good watch. The Cubs not re-signing him part makes you want to puke.

 

[isucy86]

Not trading Taillon was absolutely the right move. Now you've got a solid mid-rotation guy on a team friendly short contract. He's looked great in the 2nd half.

He's been really steady the 2nd half of season. With Assad's 2nd half performance, keeping Taillon seems like a forego conclusion for 2025. Pretty solid rotation of:

ST1 - FA
ST2 - Steele (L)
ST3 - Taillon (R)
ST4 - Imanaga (L)
ST5 - Assad (R) or Brown (R) or Wesneski (R) or Wicks (L) or Kilian (R)

Depending on the development of that ST5 group, I could still see the Cubs package a proven starter at the 2025 trade deadline for a missing position player piece. I could also see the Cubs trade a couple of the ST5 group this off season for A/AA prospects too.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I like Taillon, but I do think his $18 MM contract will keep us from getting a true ace in FA and instead force us to trade. Which we have the ability to do, but I’d rather trade AND use FA. I absolutely believe he is worth the $18 MM. But I think it makes it harder to justify a mega contract for a true ace.

It’s the typical Jed conundrum of preferring to have a bunch of $15 MM, SP3/4 types instead of 2-3 bonafied studs and figuring out the rest later.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Why I was an advocate, and will still be one, of trading Taillon, is that I think his deal will keep us from going after any true aces and instead having to trade for one.

Don’t spend time thinking about specific order of pitchers - If you had the choice, would you rather have:

Burnes ($35 MM) via FA, $18 of that MM saved from a Taillon trade
Shota ($13 MM)
Steele ($10 MM)
George Kirby ($2 MM - I think we trade for a big time guy this offseason)
Assad/Brown/Wicks

OR

Shota ($13 MM)
Steele ($10 MM)
Taillon ($18 MM)
Kirby ($2 MM)
Assad/Brown/Wicks

 

[ISUCubswin]

And while I am blown away with his 0.84 ERA in September, Taillon rocked a 6.54 ERA from the trade deadline through August as we were attempting to make a final push, and has a career 6.23 ERA in the playoffs, which makes me question if he has that dawg in him.

Burnes has a 2.84 ERA in the postseason.

 

[whatthewhat]

Why I was an advocate, and will still be one, of trading Taillon, is that I think his deal will keep us from going after any true aces and instead having to trade for one.

Don’t spend time thinking about specific order of pitchers - If you had the choice, would you rather have:

Burnes ($35 MM) via FA, $18 of that MM saved from a Taillon trade
Shota ($13 MM)
Steele ($10 MM)
George Kirby ($2 MM - I think we trade for a big time guy this offseason)
Assad/Brown/Wicks

OR

Shota ($13 MM)
Steele ($10 MM)
Taillon ($18 MM)
Kirby ($2 MM)
Assad/Brown/Wicks

The only estimate I have seen for Burnes' contract is 8 years at $36 million per. That will be a ton of money in is 35, 36 and 37 year seasons.

Also, what are you going to do with that extra $17 million if you just keep Taillon? That has to be figured into the equation. The fact that Taillon only has two years left means you have $35 million a year to spend after his contract ends in two years.

I'm not saying I'm against the idea of replacing Taillon with Burnes, but it is far from a no brainer. I would be willing to bet that Burnes' contract will be compared to Heyward's at the end of it, if he gets the eight years they are predicting.

 

[isucy86]

The only estimate I have seen for Burnes' contract is 8 years at $36 million per. That will be a ton of money in is 35, 36 and 37 year seasons.

Also, what are you going to do with that extra $17 million if you just keep Taillon? That has to be figured into the equation. The fact that Taillon only has two years left means you have $35 million a year to spend after his contract ends in two years.

I'm not saying I'm against the idea of replacing Taillon with Burnes, but it is far from a no brainer. I would be willing to bet that Burnes' contract will be compared to Heyward's at the end of it, if he gets the eight years they are predicting.

Feel like the Cubs will end up adding a 2nd tier FA starter. More a 5 year @ $25M each guy

Don't have an issue adding 2nd tier starter since IMO the primary need is elite bat. And $ saved vs. 1st tier starter should be spent on closer.