*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[cycloneman003]

For all the (justified) fellating over Skenes, this kid with the Brewers looks even better. He is going to be a problem for us for a long time.

Yeah I’m not going to say he’s going to be better than Skenes. Skenes has been better over 40+ starts than he has in less than 10.

But yes, he’ll be a pain. For 6 years anyways. Positive side is neither guy will likely sign long term with those cheap franchises.

 

[Cyforce]

Yeah I’m not going to say he’s going to be better than Skenes. Skenes has been better over 40+ starts than he has in less than 10.

But yes, he’ll be a pain. For 6 years anyways. Positive side is neither guy will likely sign long term with those cheap franchises.

Here’s my follow up trade idea to my previous post.

We get Keller and Bendar from Pitt
Yankees get Tucker
Pittsburgh drains New York’s farm system

 

[ISUCubswin]

You’re trading a top 5 bat in the MLB for a volatile, rental bullpen arm and a younger, yet just as expensive, Jameson Taillon.

I can say very confidently every Cubs regular is safe, except maybe Shaw, and even then I’d put it at a 5% chance of trade.

Aside from prospects, here’s the list of 40 Man guys that could be traded

Luke Little
Porter Hodge
Jack Neely
Ethan Roberts
Jordan Wicks
Ben Cowles
Kevin Alcantara
Owen Caissie

Most confident Caissie, Wicks, Hodge will be moved, in that order.

 

[TheCaptain]

Sounds like we’re pretty zero’d in on Cabrera as our top SP target. Zombro and Tread love the analytics and he’s cheap (looking at you, Tom.) You can probably expect Caissie to head the package.

Didnt he just leave his last start with an arm issue?

 

[Cyforce]

You’re trading a top 5 bat in the MLB for a volatile, rental bullpen arm and a younger, yet just as expensive, Jameson Taillon.

I can say very confidently every Cubs regular is safe, except maybe Shaw, and even then I’d put it at a 5% chance of trade.

Aside from prospects, here’s the list of 40 Man guys that could be traded

Luke Little
Porter Hodge
Jack Neely
Ethan Roberts
Jordan Wicks
Ben Cowles
Kevin Alcantara
Owen Caissie

Most confident Caissie, Wicks, Hodge will be moved, in that order.

Both those guys have team control. Plus you’re replacing Tucker with Suarez. And I did say if you have no confidence in resigning Kyle. Plus I did say it wouldn’t be a popular move. End of the day if Tucker ends up being a rental you’ll be one of the biggest detractors

 

[ISUCubswin]

Didnt he just leave his last start with an arm issue?

Previous start, yes. Marlins came out and said it was nothing major. He then threw last night against the Padres 5.2 IP, 5H, 1 ER, 6 Ks. 13 whiffs, which the Cubs are looking to add

 

[ISUCubswin]

Both those guys have team control. Plus you’re replacing Tucker with Suarez. And I did say if you have no confidence in resigning Kyle. Plus I did say it wouldn’t be a popular move. End of the day if Tucker ends up being a rental you’ll be one of the biggest detractors

From people I trust, Owen Caissie would be too much for Keller and Bednar. And I can promise you our FO values Tucker these last 50 games more than Caissie.

 

[Cyforce]

From people I trust, Owen Caissie would be too much for Keller and Bednar. And I can promise you our FO values Tucker these last 50 games more than Caissie.

That’s fine but IF and only IF you have no confidence in resigning him ( this is the scenario I’m reacting to) why not deal him? We have Busch, Suzuki, PCA, Kelly all with +800 OPS. Suarez is there for the taking to comp his production.

 

[cycloneman003]

That’s fine but IF and only IF you have no confidence in resigning him ( this is the scenario I’m reacting to) why not deal him? We have Busch, Suzuki, PCA, Kelly all with +800 OPS. Suarez is there for the taking to comp his production.

The home run numbers are glamorous but Tucker is definitely better than Suarez. Suarez is also much more likely a regression candidate in the 2nd half if you look how above his career numbers he’s performing. You also have an acquisition cost to get Suarez, which will be high.

There is no rational reason to trade Tucker, regardless of how likely he is to resign.

 

[Cyforce]

Last night
Caissie was 5/5
HR
2 doubles
I’m not dealing him unless I’m confident about Tucker

 

[Cyforce]

The home run numbers are glamorous but Tucker is definitely better than Suarez. Suarez is also much more likely a regression candidate in the 2nd half if you look how above his career numbers he’s performing. You also have an acquisition cost to get Suarez, which will be high.

There is no rational reason to trade Tucker, regardless of how likely he is to resign.

Remember this was your stance when he signs somewhere else for over $500 mil

 

[CYdTracked]

Probably not a popular opinion but if you could land an ace and a back of the bullpen hammer that are both controllable for a few years I’d be ok with dealing Tucker if they don’t think we have a realistic shot at resigning him.

Then you have to go get Suarez to replace his production. Give Caissie a shot at DH/ 4th OF. It would allow Shaw to be super utility letting starters get a breaks down the stretch rotating the DH ABs.

End of the day if we get more for Tucker than we gave up Hoyer looks like a genius.

If we were borderline playoff team or likely sellers I would be all for exploring a Tucker trade but we are clearly buyers so this is not going to happen. You aren't going to trade one of your best players away from a contending team and then call up Caissie who has not had a MLB at bat yet and risk him struggling just like PCA, Shaw, and Ballesteros all did when first called up even if you did go out and get Suarez.

At the start of the season I posted several times how if we had another repeat of the last 2 seasons where it was clear we were not good enough to compete in the playoffs we would have to look at trading Tucker to recoup some prospects but we clearly are not in that situation. It would send a terrible message too selling him off now. If I had to bet anything, Hoyer is going to overpay in prospects for a big splash trade at the deadline whether that is starting pitching, Suarez, or some big name we are not even talking about at the moment because his job is on the line this season. If this team goes into a spiral and winds up as a wild card or possibly even miss the playoffs he's not getting another contract if he sits on his hands and goes cheap at the deadline unless the Ricketts handcuffed him on how much salary they are willing to take on.

 

[cycloneman003]

Remember this was your stance when he signs somewhere else for over $500 mil

Will do. If the two options are keep Tucker and he walks, or trade Tucker and then have to spend comparable assets on a Suarez rental, the I have no issues saying I’m on the keep Tucker side. He’s just a significantly better player to have around on this team.

 

[JP4CY]

Snagged a good photo of PCA diving. Dude is fun to watch. Loves the crowd.

 

[NoCreativity]

That’s fine but IF and only IF you have no confidence in resigning him ( this is the scenario I’m reacting to) why not deal him? We have Busch, Suzuki, PCA, Kelly all with +800 OPS. Suarez is there for the taking to comp his production.

Suarez isn't anywhere close to the overall player Tucker is.

I'd be ok with shipping out Ballesteros and Alcantara for some pitching, anything beyond that makes zero sense. I like Ballesteros but I don't think he has a future here.

 

[cyfanatic13]

Remember this was your stance when he signs somewhere else for over $500 mil

Remember you had the dumbest possible idea of all time

 

[Cyforce]

Will do. If the two options are keep Tucker and he walks, or trade Tucker and then have to spend comparable assets on a Suarez rental, the I have no issues saying I’m on the keep Tucker side. He’s just a significantly better player to have around on this team.

Not what I suggested. I suggested two controllable pitchers for Tucker, Keller and Bendar. Suarez can be had for far less than Caissie, but if you deal Tucker Suarez can get you comparable production.

Personally I’d rather keep Tucker as well but if we gut our system to fill our needs then lose Tucker in free agency I’m going to be sick for a long long time.

 

[Pharmacy99]

From people I trust, Owen Caissie would be too much for Keller and Bednar. And I can promise you our FO values Tucker these last 50 games more than Caissie.

Caissie is hitting 0.282 at AAA. He struck out 101 times in 292 at bats. He is a good prospect but not a can’t miss prospect. If we can get Keller and Badnarik for Caissie, we should trade Caissie it the Pirates.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Trading your best player in a year where you're one of the best teams in baseball and an obvious World Series contender would be a top 5 dumbest move in the history of baseball level choice.

Busch, PCA, Suzuki, etcs numbers look like they do because of Tucker's presence in the lineup. You take him out and all of a sudden they see far fewer fastballs and anything near the zone. You don't replace a guy that doesn't strike out with a guy with a giant strike out rate for two more homers over the course of 60 games.

As for Caissie, he's probably an overpay for about anybody that's going to be available other than a package that gets you Joe Ryan AND Jhoan Duran.

 

[Clonefan32]

Trading your best player in a year where you're one of the best teams in baseball and an obvious World Series contender would be a top 5 dumbest move in the history of baseball level choice.

Busch, PCA, Suzuki, etcs numbers look like they do because of Tucker's presence in the lineup. You take him out and all of a sudden they see far fewer fastballs and anything near the zone. You don't replace a guy that doesn't strike out with a guy with a giant strike out rate for two more homers over the course of 60 games.

As for Caissie, he's probably an overpay for about anybody that's going to be available other than a package that gets you Joe Ryan AND Jhoan Duran.

The bolded is incredibly important. I'm sure part of it is individual work they've put it, but these guys didn't just magically become elite sluggers over the offseason. They have protection hitting behind a top 5 hitter in baseball. You have a guy that's on base constantly making the pitcher be more deliberate pitching in the zone. Tucker's presence every day in the 3 spot is a huge reason we are doing what we are doing.