MLB trade deadline 2023: Cubs, Mets and more bubble teams
For many front offices, the standings make their Aug. 1 deadline direction clear. We've got advice for the others that are caught in the middle.
***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter BigJCy
- Start date
I went to the Iowa Cubs game last night. A couple observations.
Jordan Wicks got absolutely lit up by AAA hitters, im talking the hardest consistent contact I've seen in many years going to games. He better develop some kind of movement in the future or he won't last long. He is the #5 prospect.
Canario is up now, he looks like he has some raw talent but is completely lost at the plate. He made some really soft contact all night then made a couple nice defensive plays. I realize he can develop but I would have expected a little higher level prospect for Kris Bryant. He is currently their #8 prospect.
Doesn't inspire alot of hope when 2 of our top 10 prospects look so bad at the AAA level so far.
Jordan Wicks got absolutely lit up by AAA hitters, im talking the hardest consistent contact I've seen in many years going to games. He better develop some kind of movement in the future or he won't last long. He is the #5 prospect.
Canario is up now, he looks like he has some raw talent but is completely lost at the plate. He made some really soft contact all night then made a couple nice defensive plays. I realize he can develop but I would have expected a little higher level prospect for Kris Bryant. He is currently their #8 prospect.
Doesn't inspire alot of hope when 2 of our top 10 prospects look so bad at the AAA level so far.
For some reason this quote by Carter Hawkins is bothering me. Getting to the playoffs is an accomplishment. It's good for fans, it's good for the team, it's good for free agent signings, etc. I understand the percentages of being below .500 and making a World Series aren't high, but at least you have a chance.
You’re joking about Canario right? It’s like his 3rd game at AAA coming back from a gruesome ankle injury last winter. Of course it will take time to get all the way back.
Canario has played 4 games since coming back from 2 separate surgeries. He showed last year he can play at the AAA level. Honestly just happy hes able to get into games at all this year.
It was Wicks first start at that level and the first start he's had this year without the pre-tacked ball. Absolutely no need to come anywhere near the panic button at this point. His stuff will play. He gave up 3 runs in 4 innings, it's not like he got shelled and didn't get out of the first.
So you are going to base your analysis off of just 1 game you saw? Rios went 2-4 last night with a HR so let's call him back up after that performance! Wicks has just 3 games at AAA level now and just his 3rd year in the minors so he is still developing. Canario just got activated and is knocking of the rust. He hit 6 HR in 20 games at Iowa last year before getting hurt and 37 combined between 3 levels in 125 games. Talent is there and if he gets hot he probably will get a look in Chicago by end of the season. Way too soon to call either a bust when they are both just 23 years old and have moved up through the minors fairly quick so far.
Cubs are still the only team in the NL Central with a positive run differential. The fact of the matter is the Division should not be that hard to win, and it wouldn't take much to upgrade. I'm just not sure selling is going to net much of a return, and could set the Team back more than it would help.
I do understand not keeping Bellinger because he can be so up and down from year to year hitting-wise. It seems like he is either a decent/MVP hitter one year and an offensive liability the next.
His defensive versatility though should be enough to sign him long term though. Not too many players can play gold-glove caliber defense at multiple positions.
His defensive versatility though should be enough to sign him long term though. Not too many players can play gold-glove caliber defense at multiple positions.
The run differential thing to me is a little over-rated. I mean look at last night, they blew out a team 17-3 that added +14 to that stat. The roster they have right now just doesn't perform consistently which is why they are 6 games under .500 right now and go through stretches where they lose 7 of 10 games. If run differential were an indicator of how good this team is then they wouldn't be 7.5 games back in a terrible division right now. The reason Milwaukee and Cincy are ahead in the standings even with a negative run differential is they tend to win the close games that the Cubs don't. Coming into this season just to be in the position they have been in at times in the standing I didn't think they'd be in the race at all to be honest so maybe that's just been my mindset of a good part of the season that I'm looking at the Cubs situation that they weren't intending to compete this year and they've done just enough in a bad division to give some fans some hope they maybe turned a corner.
Did you go to the game? You can tell how hard guys are squaring up the ball by the sound coming off his bat regardless of the box looked like. It was the hardest I've ever seen a pitcher get hit in person.
I'm not calling either a bust or panicking, I'm simply reporting what I saw last night. Both look like they have some major improvements to make.
If there's a way to extend Bellinger you have to do it. We'll have youth at 1B and CF next year plus Suzuki is a head scratcher. Having Bellinger everyday with his versatility is so invaluable.
I was at the game and didn’t think he got hit hard at all. The same guy squared him up twice but other than that, he pitched really well.
If you were referring to the other pitcher, he got rocked by hard hit balls.
You must have not been paying attention then, both pitchers were getting squared up.
You said Wicks got hit harder than anybody you’ve ever seen…the opposing pitcher got hit way harder—-I counted 8 warning track balls from him alone.
Nobody is projecting him to be an ace of a staff so he will occasionally pitch to contact.
The Cubs are gearing up for an epic log jam in the OF here in 2025 and maybe as early as 2024.
Suzuki and Happ are locked in with their contracts.
Next wave of guys includes PCA, Davis (if he stays healthy), Canario, Velazquez, Caissie, and Perlaza (who should get called up in September).
Throw in Alcantara who is swinging a hot bat and could advance to the big leagues in two years and the FO now has a major log jam for some talented dudes.
Suzuki and Happ are locked in with their contracts.
Next wave of guys includes PCA, Davis (if he stays healthy), Canario, Velazquez, Caissie, and Perlaza (who should get called up in September).
Throw in Alcantara who is swinging a hot bat and could advance to the big leagues in two years and the FO now has a major log jam for some talented dudes.
I have a feeling some of those guys get traded eventually to fill another need. Davis's injury woes are starting to become a bit of a concern, he hasn't made it through 100+ games in a season yet, already has had back surgery and has been shutdown again since June with a core muscle injury. He needs to get healthy and productive again soon else he's going to get squeezed out by those other guys. Velazquez has some raw power and pretty good defensively but consistency seems to be the issue with him. When they added Tachman to the 40 man and called him up instead when Bellinger went on the IL that was pretty telling that they think he needs more time in Iowa as he has been the 1st OF up lately when there is an injury. Will be interesting to see how Caissie translates as he continues up through the minors. He's the 1 guy from the Darvish trade that has panned out so far, looks like he has some power but defense is where the question seems to be. Perlaza sure looks like he's ready for a look in Chicago later this season with how he's doing in Iowa right now.
If the Cubs do sell hoping some of these guys in Iowa get a good look in Chicago in August and September. A sell off means you need to start seeing what these guys can do so you can make some decisions in the offseason on what direction to go. Jake Slaughter and Yonathan Perlaza are 2 guys on a tear right now and if Canario gets it going he's another they could take a look at this year too. Mervis is probably getting another shot too as he's hitting well right now. I'm surprised PCA has not been moved to Iowa yet, maybe they will wait till after the deadline as if they deal Bellinger then an OF from Iowa will likely come up to take the roster spot and create a spot.
I guess what I'm saying is I don't think this division is going to be that hard to win in the end. However, I wouldn't expect the NL Central to really do anything come playoff time.
Also, in that same regard, I think the Cubs 100% expected to contend for the division this year. I don't think they were looking at a possibility of a world series title, however.
This team sucks and everyone even remotely associated with the front office should be fired.
Happy Friday everyone.
Happy Friday everyone.
