*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
- Start date
He'd still have to play by the rules that ownership is setting up and it wouldn't surprise me that part of the reason he left was that he could see how things were going to be, the philosoply of ownership didn't align with how he wanted to handle things. Jed is running things just the way the Ricketts want, which leaves us fans perplexed and frustrated, and the ownership making boatloads of money, which they've never had a shortage of in the first place, sigh.
I highly doubt the ownership is involved on the in how these injuries have been handled.
He'd be a disaster at this point. He can't build a roster without an unlimited check book and we know that's gone now.
He left a smoldering landfill of a farm system behind and the Ricketts would never allow him to do that again.
Theo works for the ownership group for the Red Sox now so that isn't going to happen.
Theo Epstein joins Fenway Sports Group
I remember David Kaplan talking to Ken Miller years ago on KXNO how when Theo was hired by the Cubs he assessed the org top to bottom and basically told the Ricketts they needed to gut the current MLB team to stock the then bad farm system then focus on drafting and acquiring cost controlled position talent. Then once they were ready to compete then would go out and buy the pitching that would be needed. Lester was the first big signing that signaled the Cubs were starting to build something and we all know how the next few seasons played out because they weren't scared to go out and sign or trade for pitching once that core group of position players were making an impact in Chicago. The problem was they essentially wiped out the farm system in 2016 and 2017 and then went cheap again with the pitching while the core group of players also regressed. They had a golden window there after 2016 to compete for multiple WS but instead of reinforcing the MLB team with quality players they went bargain bin shopping. We all know how it fell apart when the core position players all regressed and thankfully we didn't extend them, but they waited too long to blow up that team and didn't get as good of return on them as they might of with a year or 2 remaining on their contracts. I've always felt they missed the window to trade Happ too when he had value and instead extended him with a NTC for some reason. Happ has been around for some bad teams when he was cost controlled and for some reason they never would pull the trigger on trading him.
My issue right now is I don't see any vision on what this front office is trying to do with roster construction. The big sell off of 2021 I thought was a signal of restocking the farm system and taking a similar approach to how they built the 2016 team. Then some of the moves they made like Bellinger and Tucker made it feel like they were expediting the rebuild a little and all we keep hearing every offeseaon is how they are going to open up the checkbook to fill in the missing pieces but they never do. And now that the farm system has some guys ready for an opportunity in Chicago but are blocked by veterans they either need to commit to the prospects soon or start trading them while they have value for other needs like quality pitching or an upgrade at a position if the opportunity arises. Really feel like they should have let this season play out before extending Hoyer but like someone said Jed is doing exactly what the ownership wants him to do so why change that.
Theo Epstein joins Fenway Sports Group
I remember David Kaplan talking to Ken Miller years ago on KXNO how when Theo was hired by the Cubs he assessed the org top to bottom and basically told the Ricketts they needed to gut the current MLB team to stock the then bad farm system then focus on drafting and acquiring cost controlled position talent. Then once they were ready to compete then would go out and buy the pitching that would be needed. Lester was the first big signing that signaled the Cubs were starting to build something and we all know how the next few seasons played out because they weren't scared to go out and sign or trade for pitching once that core group of position players were making an impact in Chicago. The problem was they essentially wiped out the farm system in 2016 and 2017 and then went cheap again with the pitching while the core group of players also regressed. They had a golden window there after 2016 to compete for multiple WS but instead of reinforcing the MLB team with quality players they went bargain bin shopping. We all know how it fell apart when the core position players all regressed and thankfully we didn't extend them, but they waited too long to blow up that team and didn't get as good of return on them as they might of with a year or 2 remaining on their contracts. I've always felt they missed the window to trade Happ too when he had value and instead extended him with a NTC for some reason. Happ has been around for some bad teams when he was cost controlled and for some reason they never would pull the trigger on trading him.
My issue right now is I don't see any vision on what this front office is trying to do with roster construction. The big sell off of 2021 I thought was a signal of restocking the farm system and taking a similar approach to how they built the 2016 team. Then some of the moves they made like Bellinger and Tucker made it feel like they were expediting the rebuild a little and all we keep hearing every offeseaon is how they are going to open up the checkbook to fill in the missing pieces but they never do. And now that the farm system has some guys ready for an opportunity in Chicago but are blocked by veterans they either need to commit to the prospects soon or start trading them while they have value for other needs like quality pitching or an upgrade at a position if the opportunity arises. Really feel like they should have let this season play out before extending Hoyer but like someone said Jed is doing exactly what the ownership wants him to do so why change that.
I'm really not sure what the front office strategy is right now. They are holding tight to position player prospects who are blocked by veterans.
The front office has also drafted really poorly regarding pitching. Horton is really the only solid pitcher they have developed.
I think Caissie will be the everyday RF in 26 and Mo will take Turner’s bench spot and also serve as a 3rd catcher. Who else do you feel is blocked?
It will be great to see if Caissie can grow with this team. His AB yesterday with bases loaded made the rest of the team this past month look good.
I brought this up awhile back to. Even during the Theo years can you name me 5 starting pitchers this team has drafted and developed into a quality starter? We've had some success with relief pitchers but we've really missed on starters and they don't seem to want to spend on proven guys to fill the need either. Hendricks was not drafted by the Cubs so he doesn't really count but other than him and Horton can you name any starters that have come up through the system in the past 10 years that have had sustained success? And I don't get holding onto prospects that have no place to play in Chicago when they are ready either. They lose value and we end up trading them for next to nothing or cutting them once they run out of options or we've messed up their development by playing the up/down game with them. Shaw is finally coming around and he's the first prospect in a while they actually cleared a path for to come up and get a real shot at playing every day.
The front office was unwilling to give up Mo for a decent starting pitcher, but he will only be a bench player? Doesn't seem like the best plan for the 2nd highest prospect in the organization.
Caissie would be blocked if they try to re-sign Tucker.
Alcantara (#5 prospect) is blocked as well by the other outfielders.
Jonathan Long (#7 prospect) blocked by Busch
Triantos (#10 prospect) blocked by Nico at 2nd and the outfielders.
Exactly. I like Mo's bat potential but he has career DH written all over right now unless he can prove he can handle catching duties at the MLB level. Right now his bat is ahead of his development behind the plate.
Busch is under control for several years so Long seems expendable in the right deal. Nico may be the most consistent player we have on the roster and I am all for extending him past 2026 at this point. and I'm not confident Triantos is going to be an every day starter in the big leagues. Even without Tucker still have Happ, PCA, and to some extent Suzuki in the OF picture next year and 2 of those guys have NTC. Caissie is at the point he doesn't have much to prove at AAA being his 2nd season there and Alcantara is not far behind so either these guys are your future or you move them before they potentially turn into AAAA players that lost trade value.
My expectation is we'll see a churn of our everyday position guys over the next couple years.
- The only way I see the Cubs resigning Tucker is if they can sign him at a sub $25M AAV, which isn't going to happen as some owner will give him $30M+. So I expect the Cubs give Caissie a shot at everyday OF in LF or RF.
- Plus, if the Cubs flame-out continues, they need to blowup the roster a bit this off-season. IMO that means trading Happ. If they can't trade him, I'd still make him a platoon OF. That would give Alcantara a shot at significant at bats in 2026. And prepare him to be an everyday OF in 2027 when Happ and Suzuki's contracts run out.
- Long might have the clearest path if he has a strong spring training. He gets overshadowed by Ballesteros, but Long is hitting .312 at Iowa and his metrics like SLG and OPS are better than Ballesteros. Plus as a RH batter, Long could be a natural platoon at 1B to replace Turner on the roster.
- Triantos is likely blocked as a starter, but if the Cubs don't sign Castro- then Triantos can step into the role Castro has played over the last month. Even if that roll is more limited, it gives Triantos the chance to prove himself and create value as a trade piece next July.
Yeah, I dont think he has a future here. I've seen him play in Des Moines all summer and he doesn't look the part of an MLB player right now.
Alcantara and Traintos have not had good seasons Alcantara is likely 27 after Happ is gone. Traintos is probably utility at best but I’m sure we’ll have a vet there he has to win the job over. Long won’t have Turner to compete with but unless we move Amaya and lose McGuire making Mo #2 ( unlikely) Long will have to beat out Ballestareos as #2 1B which I doubt would happen.
