***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter CycloneErik
- Start date
When Hendricks is bad, he's horrible. But he's been a serviceable 5th starter over the last couple months and has been critical in saving the bullpen. Think where the bullpen would be if Cubs had to use an opener for their 5th starter. Sure it would be great if Wicks, Wesneski or Brown could fill the 5th starter spot, but injuries happen.
Here are Hendricks last 5 starts before today:
Mia 4.2innings/ 3 runs
Tor 5.0 / 2
Min 6.0 / 2
Cin 5.0 / 3
KC 5.0 / 6
But when Hendricks goes bad, like KC or today, Counsell has to have a quick pull. I was puzzled when Cubs made their recent call-ups. It would have seemed to make more sense to call up Wicks or Killian over Palencia. With Ethan Roberts leaving game with ankle issue, will be curious if he ends up on IL.
Seems wise to pair Killian or Wicks with Hendricks. Ride Hendricks until he gets into trouble and then bring in Killian/Wicks for 3-5 innings.
Here are Hendricks last 5 starts before today:
Mia 4.2innings/ 3 runs
Tor 5.0 / 2
Min 6.0 / 2
Cin 5.0 / 3
KC 5.0 / 6
But when Hendricks goes bad, like KC or today, Counsell has to have a quick pull. I was puzzled when Cubs made their recent call-ups. It would have seemed to make more sense to call up Wicks or Killian over Palencia. With Ethan Roberts leaving game with ankle issue, will be curious if he ends up on IL.
Seems wise to pair Killian or Wicks with Hendricks. Ride Hendricks until he gets into trouble and then bring in Killian/Wicks for 3-5 innings.
And with 2 being added 9/1, I wouldn't be shocked to see Killian be the new #5 as a tryout.
While Hoyer said he's evaluating the offense the last 60 games for what moves he'll make this offseason, I'm hopeful he puts as much, if not more, weight on the 60 game stretch we were one of the worst teams in the MLB, and putting the two together to find solutions.
Really only 3 position spots I'm looking hard at this offseason:
C - Sharma is indicating we're planning on upgrading here. My hope is O'Hoppe.
1B - Not sure I want to commit to Busch as the 2025 sole first basemen.
2B - Madrigal was a better offensive player in 2023 than Hoerner this year. Zero pop, poor average. It we want a GG who is a mediocre hitter, lets call Mike Fontenot.
Still think Jed's solution will be Alonso
1B = Alonso/Belli/Busch
2B = Busch/Shaw
Hoerner and Triantos traded for pitching.
Really only 3 position spots I'm looking hard at this offseason:
C - Sharma is indicating we're planning on upgrading here. My hope is O'Hoppe.
1B - Not sure I want to commit to Busch as the 2025 sole first basemen.
2B - Madrigal was a better offensive player in 2023 than Hoerner this year. Zero pop, poor average. It we want a GG who is a mediocre hitter, lets call Mike Fontenot.
Still think Jed's solution will be Alonso
1B = Alonso/Belli/Busch
2B = Busch/Shaw
Hoerner and Triantos traded for pitching.
Offseason trade thought
Blue Jays didn't sell off this year because they want to compete in 2025.
Maybe you go for one year of Bichette, who's value has never been lower and doesn't want to be in Toronto. Put him at 3B, if he sucks, you have Cam Smith in 2026. If he's great, you have him in your system.
In return, give up Paredes and one of the OF prospects.
Blue Jays didn't sell off this year because they want to compete in 2025.
Maybe you go for one year of Bichette, who's value has never been lower and doesn't want to be in Toronto. Put him at 3B, if he sucks, you have Cam Smith in 2026. If he's great, you have him in your system.
In return, give up Paredes and one of the OF prospects.
Done with my train of posts after this
Roster Resource projects we are $400,000 over the luxury tax. We would go under if Smyly is claimed tonight.
If he is not claimed tonight, my guess is others (Tauchman, Wisdom) will be placed in the next 24 hours. It is very, very hard to justify spending just $400,000 over the luxury tax when you can spend up to $20 MM over without any penalty.
Roster Resource projects we are $400,000 over the luxury tax. We would go under if Smyly is claimed tonight.
If he is not claimed tonight, my guess is others (Tauchman, Wisdom) will be placed in the next 24 hours. It is very, very hard to justify spending just $400,000 over the luxury tax when you can spend up to $20 MM over without any penalty.
Seems like deja vu with the 2023 season. When this offense is clicking, it's very good. We saw a strong July/August in 2023 and this year it's been April/August. Too many boom or bust hitters.
Catcher has been the obvious add, but the tandem of Amaya and Bethancourt seem to work well as a platoon. Maybe that's betting too much on less than 2 months production. But, unless Hoyer can add a clear hitting upgrade. If those 2 can hit .230ish and cost less than $3M, it might be tough to justify $7-10M annually for a .250 hitter. I'd rather spend the incremental $5M on an elite hitter/pitcher.
1B could be the Cubs biggest need depending on where the coaches/FO project Busch. Is he the pre All-Star break player who hit .271 with an OPS of .823 or post All-Star break of .212/.668? Cubs need to make sure they have a BIG POWER BAT(30+ HR) at 1B in 2025. Doesn't matter if they get it from one guy: Busch or Alonso or a platoon.
2B seems like Cubs have seen Hoerner's best. Great glove, average hitter. But no power and mediocre OBP. Trading Hoerner could make a lot of sense. The Cubs could lean into Shaw, Vazquez and/or Triantos in 2025. They could also add a proven 2B FA like Brandon Lowe who has some slug.
OF its time to move on from Happ or Suzuki. They are similar streaky hitters. Easy to love when they are hitting, but they also go through extended struggles. Both are above average but not GREAT. The Cubs need to add a GREAT bat for 2025.
Suzuki is 9th in the NL in OPS. Really don't see us moving on from him, but he's going to be a primary DH unless they make a move such as trade Hoerner, move Busch to 2nd and Bellinger to 1st ( i think it would be a big mistake on his part to opt out). Caissie should be the 4th OF next year, but they have to get him ABs so him or Suzuki should be the DH most nights Ballesteros is a guy that can really lengthen our lineup, DH/ 3rd C/ emergency 1B. His bat just looks so ready for the bigs. He'd also be a great lefty off the bench, like Caissie just need to find him ABs.
I really hope the big add is a 3rd ace in the rotation, then trade Taillon.
I just think everything works better if Suzuki can play right field. Wasn't he an above-average defender in the Japanese league? Hopefully they can put in some work this offseason to get him back to even average. Having him in right field opens up alot.
He was whatever their version of a gold glover is. Statcast also rates him above average. He's a solid outfielder that gets crapped on because of the ball he lost in the lights/dropped at Atlanta last year. The only reason that he's not playing right field is because Bellinger is gold glove caliber out there.
Busch is the 1B of the future and tying up a bunch of money in an aging Alonso doesn't make any sense, especially when he's going to end up a primary DH by the end of the deal and that completely blocks Ballesteros. We're getting to the point with Amaya where this isn't small sample size noise, this might be close to who he actually is and in that case, there is no need to waste prospect capital on a catcher, roll with the same tandem.
I'd consider buying low on Bichette to see if a change of scenery works. I'd use Hoerner plus prospects to go get pitching. I'd be all over Burnes and/or Soto but we know that's not how this FO rolls.
Like I said Caissie needs ABs if he's called up I'd imagine they'd both play right and DH.
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I think there's a really small chance they move on from Suzuki or Happ.
That being said, some pop needs to be added. I'd like to say I'm excited to see what they do, but they'll need to get creative. I agree with whoever said its time to move on from Hoerner. Love the guy but this team needs upgrades offensively and that seems like a good spot.
I've said before that I think Busch is probably just a 1B defensively at this point, but him being able to play a passable 2nd would open things up. And you obviously have the young guys there too.
Will be an interesting offseason. I've loved what I've seen out of PCA and Amaya lately. The PCA we've see last month is a 7-8 WAR player over the course of a season.
That being said, some pop needs to be added. I'd like to say I'm excited to see what they do, but they'll need to get creative. I agree with whoever said its time to move on from Hoerner. Love the guy but this team needs upgrades offensively and that seems like a good spot.
I've said before that I think Busch is probably just a 1B defensively at this point, but him being able to play a passable 2nd would open things up. And you obviously have the young guys there too.
Will be an interesting offseason. I've loved what I've seen out of PCA and Amaya lately. The PCA we've see last month is a 7-8 WAR player over the course of a season.
If PCA continues like this I'm guessing they'll take a look in September of him leading off. I know it's probably a rush but is the Braves never lose they might want to get a small sample for the offseason.
Unless you guys have some inside info thinking that there is a chance to trade Happ or Suzuki when both have full no trade clauses that option doesn't seem very likely to happen IMO. First either of them have to be remotely open to considering a trade then they both likely would have a short list of teams they would accept a trade to which is probably going to be winning teams in certain geographical locations. Between what is left on their contracts and the small amount of potential trade partners the Cubs likely are not going to get as good of value back in return. So the question is are they more valuable still on the roster or if either were open to a trade do you ship them for whatever you can get even if you still have to eat some of their salary? I'd be perfectly fine trading either of them if they can but for now, I am under the assumption they will finish out their contracts a Cub so not wasting my time contemplating scenarios where they are not on the roster.
The real failure with this situation is squarely on the front office for putting them in this situation in the first place. They didn't need to give Happ a no trade clause when they extended him knowing that he eventually was going to block some prospects. They should of traded him at the 2022 trade deadline instead of extending him and probably had multiple chances to trade him before that too.
The real failure with this situation is squarely on the front office for putting them in this situation in the first place. They didn't need to give Happ a no trade clause when they extended him knowing that he eventually was going to block some prospects. They should of traded him at the 2022 trade deadline instead of extending him and probably had multiple chances to trade him before that too.
Its a tough call as you want him to continue on his heater but at the same time he has the skill set to be the leadoff guy if he can keep hitting like this so ideally you want to see if he can handle it going into the offseason. I get why they aren't messing with the lineup right now because it's been on a roll lately but should still be in the mode of figuring out 2025 roles too as regardless if they pull off the longshot of making the playoffs this year they aren't going far if they do. Still holes in this roster and this will be a crucial offseason of they want to take that next step forward in 2025.
Happ's defense and division dominance makes him playable in left, but we need a lineup that has him in the lower half.
Having Happ and Suzuki in the same lineup is perfectly fine. It makes it harder to keep Busch and Paredes in the lineup. The same could be said in reverse.
You need some guys hitting 30+ HR's in the lineup and those positions + DH are the ideal spots and we don't have any of that right now.
Other than Alonzo where you going to find 30+? Honestly his numbers have looked like Wisdom if he played full-time.
