Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

ISUCubswin said:
Imagine a world you sign Sasaki and trade Hoerner + Alcantara for Logan Gilbert.

You have the best Starting 5 in the MLB and managed to cut payroll, which gives you $50+ MM to only spend on BP and a big bat.
Click to expand...
I like a rotation where Assad goes back to LR/ spot starts. Adding two blocks the young guys, but Brown in the pen and Horton in Iowa gives us amazing depth. If one of the young guys forces the issue Taillon can always be dealt
 
CYdTracked said:
Doubt this trade would ever happen but no thanks. No benefit for the Cubs here other than maybe saving $10 in payroll.

search.app

search.app
Click to expand...
Obviously Strohman isn’t the guy we’re filling out the rotation with but Bellinger straight up for Spencer has merit and a decent fit. Spencer is said to have Judge type power and still at AA though I believe he’s already 24.

But that deal allows Cassie to play almost every day in right. The Jaguar can compete with Tauchman for the 4th OF spot in 25. Suzuki becomes basically a full time DH.

To me this would henge on if they feel Cam Smith can handle 3B. Giving them a future lineup looking something like this.

1. PCA CF
2. Shaw 2B
3. Smith 3B
4. Spencer LF
5. Caissie RF
6. Busch 1B
7. Alcantara DH/ 4th OF
8. Swanson SS
9. Amaya C ( possible upgrade here)

Bench
Ballestaros ( if he can get to average defensively he’s a middle of the order starter over MA)
Traintos utl inf

To me that’s possibly better than the 2016 group. Infield wise we’d be pushing out an all star at 3rd and a GG at second so if Smith or a Shaw can’t cut it we’d have options.

The other huge plus here if you deal Bellinger you have no excuse not to get Burnes and a top closer.
 
Last edited:
Cyforce said:
Obviously Strohman isn’t the guy we’re filling out the rotation with but Bellinger straight up for Spencer has merit and a decent fit. Spencer is said to have Judge type power and still at AA though I believe he’s already 24.

But that deal allows Cassie to play almost every day in right. The Jaguar can compete with Tauchman for the 4th OF spot in 25. Suzuki becomes basically a full time DH.

To me this would henge on if they feel Cam Smith can handle 3B. Giving them a future lineup looking something like this.

1. PCA CF
2. Shaw 2B
3. Smith 3B
4. Spencer LF
5. Caissie RF
6. Busch 1B
7. Alcantara DH/ 4th OF
8. Swanson SS
9. Amaya C ( possible upgrade here)

Bench
Ballestaros ( if he can get to average defensively he’s a middle of the order starter over MA)
Traintos utl inf

To me that’s possibly better than the 2016 group. Infield wise we’d be pushing out an all star at 3rd and a GG at second so if Smith or a Shaw can’t cut it we’d have options.

The other huge plus here if you deal Bellinger you have no excuse not to get Burnes and a top closer.
Click to expand...
Oh but even if they deal Bellinger I don't have confidence Jed would go out and spend it on Burnes. The front office hasn't shown us anything since blowing up the WS roster that they have any kind of direction or plan to spend big money on top free agents. It's been nothing but let the top guys sign then swoop in and get the next tier or 2 of guys leftover Ata discount
 
  • Agree
Reactions: TheCaptain
CYdTracked said:
Oh but even if they deal Bellinger I don't have confidence Jed would go out and spend it on Burnes. The front office hasn't shown us anything since blowing up the WS roster that they have any kind of direction or plan to spend big money on top free agents. It's been nothing but let the top guys sign then swoop in and get the next tier or 2 of guys leftover Ata discount
Click to expand...
All I said was they wouldn’t have an excuse not to. Never said he would
 
We will be seeing more roster movement by late Tuesday afternoon. 40 man rosters must be set for the purposes of the Rule 5 draft. Anyone in the organization not on the 40 man is eligible for the Rule 5.

Noteable names that are not on the 40 man and are Rule 5 eligible if not on the 40 man in 48 hours.

David Bote
Owen Caissie
Ben Cowles
Christian Franklin
Darius Hill
Ed Howard
B. J. Murray
Reggie Preciado
Chase Strumpf

40 man is currently at 40, so for every name you take from that list, there's a name on the 40 man you must remove, though we have our fair share of guys who don't have much of a future and we can cut ties with whenever. Caissie and Cowles seem like locks. Might also protect Franklin just to keep another team from nabbing him. I think Strumpf is probably grabbed by a team like the White Sox/A's/Angels/Marlins/Rockies if he's available.

Keep in mind, if you/Jed does not believe someone would play on any of the 30 MLB teams opening day roster, there is no reason to protect them. So Ed Howard hitting .225 in the minors last year and not having any elite traits, he likely is not worth rostering for Rule 5 purposes. No one is drafting him.
 
Last edited:
ISUCubswin said:
We will be seeing more roster movement by late Tuesday afternoon. 40 man rosters must be set for the purposes of the Rule 5 draft. Anyone in the organization not on the 40 man is eligible for the Rule 5.

Noteable names that are not on the 40 man and are Rule 5 eligible if not on the 40 man in 48 hours.

David Bote
Owen Caissie
Ben Cowles
Christian Franklin
Darius Hill
Ed Howard
B. J. Murray
Reggie Preciado
Chase Strumpf

40 man is currently at 40, so for every name you take from that list, there's a name on the 40 man you must remove, though we have our fair share of guys who don't have much of a future and we can cut ties with whenever. Caissie and Cowles seem like locks. Might also protect Franklin just to keep another team from nabbing him. I think Strumpf is probably grabbed by a team like the White Sox/A's/Angels/Marlins/Rockies if he's available.

Keep in mind, if you/Jed does not believe someone would play on any of the 30 MLB teams opening day roster, there is no reason to protect them. So Ed Howard hitting .225 in the minors last year and not having any elite traits, he likely is not worth rostering for Rule 5 purposes. No one is drafting him.
Click to expand...
To me only way they add Bote is if he replaces Masterbouni. I think both are gone if we add a vet.

Strumpf isn’t a priority so don’t see him being added
 
Cyforce said:
I’m just saying if we don’t sign an upgrade utl inf id rather have Bote than c
Click to expand...

He'll be 32 in April. Invite him to spring training on a minor league deal and if he looks like the best option then add him to the 40 man then. If Jed adds him to the 40 man now all the more reason he needs to be fired. If I am reading this right he has a club option for 2025 for $7 mil or a $1 mil buyout so just more reason why he won't be kept around on the 40 man as they are not picking up that option. If another team is willing to give him a 40 man spot now then you wish him well and move on as he probably will get more opportunity somewhere other than the Cubs.

David Bote | MLB Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com
 
CYdTracked said:
He'll be 32 in April. Invite him to spring training on a minor league deal and if he looks like the best option then add him to the 40 man then. If Jed adds him to the 40 man now all the more reason he needs to be fired. If I am reading this right he has a club option for 2025 for $7 mil or a $1 mil buyout so just more reason why he won't be kept around on the 40 man as they are not picking up that option. If another team is willing to give him a 40 man spot now then you wish him well and move on as he probably will get more opportunity somewhere other than the Cubs.

David Bote | MLB Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com
Click to expand...
No reason to add him to the 40, my point was he’s a better option for the 26 than Masterbouni Madrigal or Wisdom but it sounds lik they are looking for a guy with ml experience to play utility
 
Cyforce said:
No reason to add him to the 40, my point was he’s a better option for the 26 than Masterbouni Madrigal or Wisdom but it sounds lik they are looking for a guy with ml experience to play utility
Click to expand...
Honestly I put Bote in the same group as all 3 of those guys, they all have had their ups and downs as a Cub and no 1 really stands out as a great bench option at this point. Not one should be on a roster of a team trying to compete for the playoffs. It feels like a decade ago since Bote had that huge HR but 2 of the last 4 years he's had time in the MLB he's been a negative WAR. After running basically the same group of players out there the past 2 years with the same results I'm ready to purge as much of the deadweight as possible and try something different and that includes fringe bench players that haven't amounted to much.
 
CYdTracked said:
Honestly I put Bote in the same group as all 3 of those guys, they all have had their ups and downs as a Cub and no 1 really stands out as a great bench option at this point. Not one should be on a roster of a team trying to compete for the playoffs. It feels like a decade ago since Bote had that huge HR but 2 of the last 4 years he's had time in the MLB he's been a negative WAR. After running basically the same group of players out there the past 2 years with the same results I'm ready to purge as much of the deadweight as possible and try something different and that includes fringe bench players that haven't amounted to much.
Click to expand...
Bote is a solid pinch hitter. I believe he was over 300 in that role this year. I think they will add a vet but he’s definitely not in that group production wise.

Actually 417 ba and 917 ops as a ph
 
Last edited:
Cyforce said:
Bote is a solid pinch hitter. I believe he was over 300 in that role this year. I think they will add a vet but he’s definitely not in that group production wise.

Actually 417 ba and 917 ops as a ph
Click to expand...
Feel like the Cubs have to move on from Bote, Wisdom, Madrigal and Mastrobuoni. But if one has to be on the Cubs 2025 roster, I'd take Bote.

I was hoping the Cubs would have landed Newman in FA, but that's out since he signed with the Angels last week. That was probably more wishful thinking as I'm sure Newman was looking for a chance to start.

Part of me hopes the Cubs giving Vazquez, Shaw or Triantos a chance to be a 2-3 start a week option as utility infielder. Let them get significant MLB at bats and not have the spotlight focused on them.

Not sure the Cubs need 2 back-up infielders with the position flexibility they have or could develop during spring training. Instead try to find a bigger slug PH/utility DH in FA. Or give that role to an OF prospect like Caissie, Cannario or Alcantara.
  • Bellinger: CF, RF, 1B
  • Paredes: 3B, 1B, 2B
  • Busch: 1B, 2B, 3B
  • Hoerner: 2B, SS
  • Vazquez (2B, SS, 3B) or Shaw (2B, 3B) or Triantos (2B, 3B)
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheCaptain and CYdTracked
I think my final prediction for today is Cowles and Caissie are added.

No idea who we cut loose. Hopefully Madrigal just so we can remove that as an option.
 
In that scenario, I think it's Mervis and an arm (Hollowell) that get dumped. Davis and Alzolay are also there.

I'm guessing there's an arm or two they want to protect as well. They always seem to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom