Yep, although now they will have some room with Barnhart’s DFA. I was shocked when I found out he wasn’t on the 40-man though.
***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter BigJCy
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Bote hasn't played 1B since 2017. He wouldn't get any time anywhere else in the infield
Reds have really closed the gap the last couple days. Espn playoff odds show Cubs at 43% and Reds at 34%. It was 4 or 5 points higher for the Cubs earlier in the week.
Correct. Candelario was at 3B and Wisdom at 1B Friday. Which is even weirder…Hoyer said they acquired Candelario to primarily be 1B because they were happy with 3B between Madrigal and Wisdom, which is more evidence management is struggling with identity.
My solution if Bote were up would simply be play Candelario at 1B and Bote can play 3B.
He's not on the 40 man so not sure they really want to add him back at this point as I don't think he's a long term piece and will likely have to be DFA again. Not to say he couldn't take Wisdoms spot on the 40 man and cut him again after the season. Seems like a great clubhouse guy for the AAA players right now.
I'm not sure how much 3B Bote is even playing these days. Both I Cubs games I have been to Madrigal and Slaughter were playing 3B and Bote was at 2B.
Sounds like PCA could be in the conversation for a promotion to Chicago based on this development
Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to add versatility to his resume
Chicago Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong will start playing the corner outfield spots next week for the Iowa Cubs.
www.desmoinesregister.com
So I'm in KC, came down for the Billy Joel concert. I watched Marquee on the way down. (Wife drove) when we got in our room i decided to watch the final couple innings on the Royal broadcast. (Not nearly as annoying as Stoney) anyway they said we were 22/32 in save opportunities this year. Man if we had the bullpen figured out early we'd be chasing the Dodgers for the 2 seed rather than scrambling to just get in. That doesn't even count the failures our pen had in early games when they were tied or still in winnable games.
Point is after resigning Bellinger and adding another ace. I hope we steal a couple high end relievers from the have nots that can no longer afford the luxury.
Point is after resigning Bellinger and adding another ace. I hope we steal a couple high end relievers from the have nots that can no longer afford the luxury.
It'll be interesting to see what the plan is with the bullpen next year. I believe Jed has said before that he wants the bullpen to be built through the farm. Typically carry 8 relievers. It's probably safe to say Alzolay, Merryweather, Leiter Jr., and Cuas have spots. Probably Wesneski or Killian as long relievers.
Boxberger has a mutual option for $5 million. If he pitches like he did in April, I could see the Cubs taking the deal.
Fulmer will be a FA.
Chapman, Hader, and Kimbrel are probably your biggest name FAs.
As I said yesterday, I'm not anti-PCA, but I'm curious what the teams philosophy is on getting him some time in the corner spots.
Suzuki is hitting .316 with a .632 slg in the month of August. I may be in the minority, but I'm not big on benching him, unless the idea is he becomes a DH.
Happ is hitting .217 since May and makes sense to be benched for PCA, but management has shown complete loyalty and zero interest in moving him from perhaps the most important run-producing spot in our lineup. I'd rather see Happ move to a 7/8/9 spot before being benched.
I did see a comment (Bleacher Nation, maybe?) that mentioned Bellinger wants to be a CF long-term. Maybe the move is to prepare for the offseason so you can promise that to Bellinger, but as we've referenced before, Happ and Suzuki have no-trade clauses. The "problem" with Bellinger in CF and PCA in a corner in 2024 is, if you make a play for Ohtani, Suzuki or Happ will be relegated to no role.
Suzuki is hitting .316 with a .632 slg in the month of August. I may be in the minority, but I'm not big on benching him, unless the idea is he becomes a DH.
Happ is hitting .217 since May and makes sense to be benched for PCA, but management has shown complete loyalty and zero interest in moving him from perhaps the most important run-producing spot in our lineup. I'd rather see Happ move to a 7/8/9 spot before being benched.
I did see a comment (Bleacher Nation, maybe?) that mentioned Bellinger wants to be a CF long-term. Maybe the move is to prepare for the offseason so you can promise that to Bellinger, but as we've referenced before, Happ and Suzuki have no-trade clauses. The "problem" with Bellinger in CF and PCA in a corner in 2024 is, if you make a play for Ohtani, Suzuki or Happ will be relegated to no role.
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Happ at 1B??? I throw it out all the time but I think he could play an average 1B
I don't have a name off the top of my head but I'd rather grab a guy or two that have been elite for a small market team that's just entering FA.
Bellinger wants to be PAID like a center fielder long term. You can afford to do that with a cost controlled PCA. You'll also save some costs at catcher and with Matt Shaw in the near term.
Something in the neighborhood of Dansby's deal probably gets you Bellinger and you'd be crazy not to do it.
Just 61 innings at the MLB level but no errors in that time. I wouldn't say it's impossible.
My only pushback is not a lot of balls are dropping if your outfield has Happ-Bellinger-PCA.
I'm going to guess Bellinger will be getting more than $30 AAV. His deal this year was essentially $18 million for his name alone and there isn't another free agent bat particularly close to his quality.
I'd try to deal Happ. You'll have have Tauchman, PCA, Suzuki, and Bellinger. Then you have Canario and Cassie in the system.
Mervis at first but Bellinger plays somewhere basically everyday. That's what makes him so valuable
Damn, I forgot The Jaguar, he's going to be our OF version on De La Cruz.
CBT next year is set at $237 million and the first tier, which is just a 20% tax for every dollar over the CBT, is set at $257 million.
Cubs currently have $80 million in space, and that doesn't include the $7 million saved when Bellinger opts out nor the money saved if Stroman and/or Hendricks opt out.
I get it's psychotic, but financially, there is zero reason we should be beat out on Ohtani AND Bellinger for financial reasons. If they go elsewhere because they don't like Chicago, cool. But the FO will easily be able to afford both players.
The question will be can you cover the holes at 1B and 3B if Belli wants to stay in the grass.
Cubs currently have $80 million in space, and that doesn't include the $7 million saved when Bellinger opts out nor the money saved if Stroman and/or Hendricks opt out.
I get it's psychotic, but financially, there is zero reason we should be beat out on Ohtani AND Bellinger for financial reasons. If they go elsewhere because they don't like Chicago, cool. But the FO will easily be able to afford both players.
The question will be can you cover the holes at 1B and 3B if Belli wants to stay in the grass.
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