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***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

Seems like Cubs and Mariners are destined to make a trade. Per Jim Bowden, Mariners are looking to trade from within their rotation to add bats. 2B and 3B are their weakest spots.

I'm not sure what level of game-changing talent you'd be able to acquire. Logan Gilbert or George Kirby would be nice but I'm not sure we could put enough of a package together.
 
Seems like the Cubs are all-in on waiting for Bellinger to say No. It appears Boras and Cubs are playing a game of chicken- Boras blinks vs. Cubs willing to move on.

But that puts the Cubs in a difficult spot because Bellinger's role is 1B/CF split guy. Allowing the Cubs to bring a couple prospects among Mevis, Busch, Canaro or PCA along slowly as platoon or +match-up guys.

I have a feeling if the Cubs don't sign Bellinger, they'll end up trying the Hosmer/Mancini approach with high risk, former big name players.
 
May as well wait on Bellinger. If he doesn't have a better offer out there then there is no reason to cave to Boras just to sign him. If I'm Hoyer I tell Boras bring me the best offer another team gives you and we'll talk otherwise here's my best offer take it or leave it. I honestly feel like this is headed down the path of some kind of short term prove-it deal that maybe has a multiple years term but options for both to opt out if they want. He would have signed somewhere by now like the other top free agents if other teams were sold on his 2023 being more the norm going forward. I mentioned it earlier I could see this playing out like Carlos Correra where he signed a 3 year deal with the Twins with opt outs after each season which he ultimately opted out of that one after the 1st year to sign his current deal. Gives them the flexibility to re-enter the market but also provides some kind of multi-year financial options too.

Bellinger is more of a short term need than a long term piece IMO. We have prospects at the positions he plays and while maybe they aren't quite ready yet and are some questions on their ceilings at the MLB level either you commit to them and be strategic with how long of a window you think you really need Bellinger as I view him more of a short term piece or even a luxury at this point. I don't want to go 7 years in on him, too much risk and too much money when you have internal options for the long term.
 
CYdTracked said:
May as well wait on Bellinger. If he doesn't have a better offer out there then there is no reason to cave to Boras just to sign him. If I'm Hoyer I tell Boras bring me the best offer another team gives you and we'll talk otherwise here's my best offer take it or leave it. I honestly feel like this is headed down the path of some kind of short term prove-it deal that maybe has a multiple years term but options for both to opt out if they want. He would have signed somewhere by now like the other top free agents if other teams were sold on his 2023 being more the norm going forward. I mentioned it earlier I could see this playing out like Carlos Correra where he signed a 3 year deal with the Twins with opt outs after each season which he ultimately opted out of that one after the 1st year to sign his current deal. Gives them the flexibility to re-enter the market but also provides some kind of multi-year financial options too.

Bellinger is more of a short term need than a long term piece IMO. We have prospects at the positions he plays and while maybe they aren't quite ready yet and are some questions on their ceilings at the MLB level either you commit to them and be strategic with how long of a window you think you really need Bellinger as I view him more of a short term piece or even a luxury at this point. I don't want to go 7 years in on him, too much risk and too much money when you have internal options for the long term.
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If we sign Bellinger, it's going to be for six or seven years. Wouldn't doubt if there aren't a couple opt outs. Is that ideal, no but can work.

I think Bellinger slides to RF when PCA takes over everyday. Making Happ/Suzuki an expensive platoon in left. Obviously, one can always DH but my guess is someone would ask for a trade.

Here's my sleeper guy that's going to push for ABs this year, Brennan Davis. When healthy he was our top prospect. Hopefully he gets back to that level again.
 
isucy86 said:
Seems like the Cubs are all-in on waiting for Bellinger to say No. It appears Boras and Cubs are playing a game of chicken- Boras blinks vs. Cubs willing to move on.

But that puts the Cubs in a difficult spot because Bellinger's role is 1B/CF split guy. Allowing the Cubs to bring a couple prospects among Mevis, Busch, Canaro or PCA along slowly as platoon or +match-up guys.

I have a feeling if the Cubs don't sign Bellinger, they'll end up trying the Hosmer/Mancini approach with high risk, former big name players.
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Not sure they can find better options then what they have in house. Busch will be given every opportunity to win the 1B job regardless of what Bellinger does. Tauchman is basically league average but the amount of pitches he sees per AB single handedly causes opponents to look early at the bullpen. I know he isn't ideal but PCA is likely going to take over mid-season anyway.
 
Cyforce said:
If we sign Bellinger, it's going to be for six or seven years. Wouldn't doubt if there aren't a couple opt outs. Is that ideal, no but can work.

I think Bellinger slides to RF when PCA takes over everyday. Making Happ/Suzuki an expensive platoon in left. Obviously, one can always DH but my guess is someone would ask for a trade.

Here's my sleeper guy that's going to push for ABs this year, Brennan Davis. When healthy he was our top prospect. Hopefully he gets back to that level again.
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6 or 7 years at $25mil AAV is just fine IMO. Bellinger is going to have defensive value at CF/1B no matter what. I'd think he'd be moved around a bunch if/when PCA takes over. He'd get CF starts on off days for PCA, both corner OF spots on occasion along with DH/1B. There's enough lineup room to go around where I wouldnt worry about not finding enough at bats for Happ/Suzuki/Belli.

On Brennan, man I'd be ecstatic if we ever get anything out of him. Seems like that back is going to stop us from ever seeing what he could have been.
 
Cyforce said:
If we sign Bellinger, it's going to be for six or seven years. Wouldn't doubt if there aren't a couple opt outs. Is that ideal, no but can work.

I think Bellinger slides to RF when PCA takes over everyday. Making Happ/Suzuki an expensive platoon in left. Obviously, one can always DH but my guess is someone would ask for a trade.

Here's my sleeper guy that's going to push for ABs this year, Brennan Davis. When healthy he was our top prospect. Hopefully he gets back to that level again.
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Just my personal opinion but I sure hope we don't give Bellinger a 7 year deal unless the Cubs have some kind of clause or option to get of out it in the middle of that deal if he is injured or doesn't meet certain performance benchmarks. I'm sure the reason he hasn't signed a big deal already is because teams can't look past the years before last season where he was not good so that's a big gamble on last year being more the trend going forward. Already been snakebit once with Heyward, not saying Belli is the next Heyward but some similarities there signing a guy with a great glove coming off a good season that also had a stretch of mediocre ones before it.

When was the last time Davis was healthy and productive though, 2021 maybe? I hope he finally can put it together but I think the other OF prospects have probably passed him by now and he's trade bait if he can stay healthy and play well in Iowa. I will be shocked if he winds up a long term piece or even gets called up this season as Canario and PCA already have passed him by and Alcantara and Caissie are going to be competing with him for a callup sooner than later too.
 
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CYdTracked said:
Just my personal opinion but I sure hope we don't give Bellinger a 7 year deal unless the Cubs have some kind of clause or option to get of out it in the middle of that deal if he is injured or doesn't meet certain performance benchmarks. I'm sure the reason he hasn't signed a big deal already is because teams can't look past the years before last season where he was not good so that's a big gamble on last year being more the trend going forward. Already been snakebit once with Heyward, not saying Belli is the next Heyward but some similarities there signing a guy with a great glove coming off a good season that also had a stretch of mediocre ones before it.

When was the last time Davis was healthy and productive though, 2021 maybe? I hope he finally can put it together but I think the other OF prospects have probably passed him by now and he's trade bait if he can stay healthy and play well in Iowa. I will be shocked if he winds up a long term piece or even gets called up this season as Canario and PCA already have passed him by and Alcantara and Caissie are going to be competing with him for a callup sooner than later too.
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He's going to be a 6 or 7 year contract unless they overpay AAV. I'm fine with passing on him as long as they add an ace instead.

I'd hate to see Chapman be our big add. He'll be 31 and the bat isn't much anyway.
 
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Cyforce said:
Here's my sleeper guy that's going to push for ABs this year, Brennan Davis. When healthy he was our top prospect. Hopefully he gets back to that level again.
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I hope so. Caissie and Alcantara will likely be ready by 2025 so this seems to be the year for Davis to show if he can be a contributor or if he needs to rebuild himself elsewhere.

I'm rooting for him to pull it off. Speculation is that his injuries have stemmed off each other (I believe it was a serious back injury led to lack of core work, which led to a serious core injury) Hopefully a full offseason of being healthy will help.

Extrapolating his 100 game 2021 season to 162 games (I realize its much easier in A/AA/AAA than MLB, but just let me dream) - 31 HRs, 41 Doubles, 81 BBs, 13 SBs. Superstar numbers.
 
CycloneErik said:
Weird for Dom not to say "act like you're the goddamn Chicago Cubs," but he's got something of a point here.
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Dom's take seems misguided because I assume Bellinger will split his at bats between 1B and CF, platooning with Busch, Crow-Armstrong and maybe even Mevis. IMO not signing Bellinger up to this point isn't about Cubs front office willingness to rest their playoff hopes on unproven players like PCA (or Busch). But Bellinger/Boras' asking price/years.

The Cubs have 4 open spots in their batting order at: 1B, 3B, CF and DH. Enough at bats for Bellinger, PCA, Busch, Morel and probably a couple other guys (Madrigal/Tauchman/Canaro/etc) in spot duty.
 
So if the Cubs don't sign Bellinger, what direction do they go? Chapman's name is thrown out a lot and fills a need at 3B and hits for power.

But are there sleeper names that make sense to fill positional needs? Hell, maybe not even make sense but either have a history of being a strong hitter or a new home might jump start their careers.

Some intriguing names for me would be:
  • Brandon Belt (1B)
  • Tim Anderson (Could & would he be willing to play 3B?)
  • Whit Merrifield (Proven hitter, SB guy, positional flexibility)
  • Adam Frazier (Pro hitter, positional flexibility)
  • Jurickson Profar (Solid hitter/Playoff Exp)
  • Austin Meadows (Does he want to play?)
  • Aaron Hicks (Solid with O's in 2H 2023- DH/OF)
  • Michael Taylor (CF)
  • Jorge Soler (High Slug DH)
 
isucy86 said:
So if the Cubs don't sign Bellinger, what direction do they go? Chapman's name is thrown out a lot and fills a need at 3B and hits for power.

But are there sleeper names that make sense to fill positional needs? Hell, maybe not even make sense but either have a history of being a strong hitter or a new home might jump start their careers.

Some intriguing names for me would be:
  • Brandon Belt (1B)
  • Tim Anderson (Could & would he be willing to play 3B?)
  • Whit Merrifield (Proven hitter, SB guy, positional flexibility)
  • Adam Frazier (Pro hitter, positional flexibility)
  • Jurickson Profar (Solid hitter/Playoff Exp)
  • Austin Meadows (Does he want to play?)
  • Aaron Hicks (Solid with O's in 2H 2023- DH/OF)
  • Michael Taylor (CF)
  • Jorge Soler (High Slug DH)
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I think if you don't get Bellinger or Chapman or trade for an impact bat, this can be chalked up as a failed offseason no matter what happens in-season.

That being said, my guess is if we miss out on Bellinger and Chapman, the Cubs pivot to a direction of making sure all our MLB-ready prospects will have opportunities with the big boys and end up signing a couple one year deals with vets. Maybe a Justin Turner/Michael Taylor to mentor for a year.

Either way, you HAVE to provide a pillow for our prospects in which they aren't forced to be great from day one. If they are, awesome! But let them have the chance to learn the ropes.
 
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CYdTracked said:
There is not really a Chicago Bulls thread on CF but assume some here probably were/are Bulls fans. I guess i could post in the NBA thread possibly. What the crowd did when they unveiled the Ring of Honor when they got to Jerry Krause was just pathetic. Like him or not he built a team that won 6 championships and his widow deserved better as she was clearly shaken by the boos. Krause also has some ties in the baseball world too as a scout. I grew up as a Bulls fan during that era and even I wouldn't boo a deceased man that built possibly the greatest NBA team ever even if he did break it up eventually.

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And the beat reporters at the time, those closest to everything happening, will tell you it wasn’t just him. But Jordan has won that particular battle for history.

It truly was a shameful display. Broke my heart to see that happen, having boos needlessly raining down on the man’s widow. Just awful. And for what? 6 titles not enough for you? Bastards.
 
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