I get the feeling that Busch just isn't a MLB level defender anywhere but first.
Alcantara is ready. Too many Ks sure, but his K% in 2022 was 24.8%, in 2023 it was 24.1%, so far in 2024 it is 24.6%. It's not great, but it's consistent with who he's been at every level thus far. Last year before he got the promotion to AA he was at 19% over his last 100 ABs at A+ ball. This year he's at 18% over is last 100 ABs at AA before getting the bump to AAA.
Busch has shown a good glove at 1B. But his arm has been scary wild. Probably why he's at first.
I was the most vocal about Busch's defensive deficiencies early in the year. The issue i saw was his receiving throws something he's corrected. I think fielding has always been solid. As for his arm if he played 3rd on his way through the Dodgers system you'd think he can handle 2nd.
Yeah I understand he came up as a 3rd baseman. I don't have any inside knowledge, it just feels like a situation where the FO and coaches just think he's not able to do them at the MLB level. But that is based on nothing other than the way I'm reading the situation.
That speed would be nice, but HR's seem to be the key to winning games. So not sure Cubs could play more than 2 of those guys in same lineup unless Shaw develops into a 20+ HR guy at 3rd.
I have no delusions of us getting Soto, but if Busch can play 2nd our lineup gets really long and we have more options on where we can add a bat in the offseason. Plus if Caissie forces his way onto the big club next spring we have options.
How many times in the past few years has someone here used this and a few years later said prospect didn't pan out as well as we thought? I'm at the point where you can never say never as he may have more value now as a prospect than he might if he is called up and doesn't perform at the level we hope he can. I'm not saying we need to trade him but if an offer that improves a big need of ours comes along and it's too good to pass on then you make the deal. It's not certain yet what position he eventually will play in Chicago but Paredes is under team control through 2027, Nico is signed through 2026 and we have plenty of potential options at 2B in the system as well so there is flexibility on who can be dealt from the depth in the system to fill another need. I'm not sure there is a single guy in the entire organization I would call untouchable if the return in the trade makes the roster better by filling a bigger need and trading from positional depth.
Jed needs to start spending some of his prospect stockpile to fill holes on the roster. The upcoming FA market for the positions the Cubs need (C, Closer, big bat) is pretty weak. The prospects that are coming generally don't fill those positions of need and are far from certain to be successful major leaguers. He should deal them before the shine wears off.
Hoerner was the full time SS in 2022 and was a top 5 defender at the position in all of baseball. Even if he regressed a bit from there, he'd still be at least average, probably a bit above average, at the position. Good to have option though!
I don't think Shaw is untouchable necessarily, but he is a better prospect than we've had come up (outside of PCA) since the last core.
I don't think we get Soto either obviously, and if we do we'll just have to figure it out. Will be a good problem to have.
Issue is he is married to a Chicago girl. Guessing she doesn't want to leave her family. Maybe the only way is trading him to his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. Which then I'm sure he will probably come back to haunt us when he plays us 13 times a year.
