***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

Be interesting to see if Canario at first was real or a smoke screen?

If he can legitimately play 1B I hope they find him some AB there. He was completely mis-managed the past 2 years and now they either have to have him on the roster or lose him for pennies on the dollar in a trade at this point with no options left. He was killing it in Iowa in 2023 before he was called up then Ross let him rot on the bench at the end of the season. Nearly the same thing happened to him last year too. They knew he would be out of options this year yet never really gave him any chance during his call ups to see if he could carry the hot hitting he would show in Iowa to the big league level. He was the main return in the KB trade and while he missed some time with an injury at 1 point he's been pretty healthy since then.

Just another reason why we need to do something with the glut of OF prospects we have because Caissie and Alcantara are going to run into the same problem Canario had if we don't open up some AB for them somewhere once they are called up. Canario probably had some pretty good trade value in 2023 too and we missed on that window and the same could happen again if we don't cash in on them when they have some good trade or make room for them to contribue in Chicago.

 

[dafarmer]

Ricketts’ only interest is making money! Baseball is just a way to hobnob with power people.

 

[isucy86]

Be interesting to see if Canario at first was real or a smoke screen?

Signing Turner gives them an experienced presence at 1B and even at 40 YO he's still batting above league average. Last year he hit .259/.354OBP- so he hasn't slowed down much at bat. I hope the Cubs front office doesn't go into the spring relying on Busch to be their future at 1B. His first half and second half season were vastly different. So Turner fills a couple gaps in the Cubs roster: 1B, DH, Power PH and maybe even 3B.

I will be nervous if the Cubs don't have a couple guys (besides Busch & Turner) working at 1B during spring training. Besides Canario, not sure why the Cubs aren't pushing Suzuki to give 1B a try. It would seem to add value when he enter free agency if he can play RF & 1B.

Maybe they will give Ballesteros and extended look at 1B, but he seems more like a 2nd half add at best.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I like Justin Turner but my guess is his time at 3B will be incredibly limited not only based on only playing 11 games at 3B the last 2 years, but how bad he has been defensively in those limited opportunities.

Love the bat, though.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Spring training opening day tomorrow makes me think of Opening Day. My opening day lineup prediction, assuming all healthy

Hoerner, 2B
Suzuki, DH
Tucker, RF
Happ, LF
Busch, 1B
Swanson, SS
Shaw, 3B
Amaya, C
PCA, CF

 

[RoseClone]

 

[Cyforce]

That means they are confident Alcantara is ready otherwise we don’t have a backup in center.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

That means they are confident Alcantara is ready otherwise we don’t have a backup in center.

Yep. They'll roll with Berti or slide Happ over in an emergency but they trust Alcantara if PCA misses time. That's encouraging.

How bout that Kris Bryant trade, huh?

 

[RivClone23]

If he can legitimately play 1B I hope they find him some AB there. He was completely mis-managed the past 2 years and now they either have to have him on the roster or lose him for pennies on the dollar in a trade at this point with no options left. He was killing it in Iowa in 2023 before he was called up then Ross let him rot on the bench at the end of the season. Nearly the same thing happened to him last year too. They knew he would be out of options this year yet never really gave him any chance during his call ups to see if he could carry the hot hitting he would show in Iowa to the big league level. He was the main return in the KB trade and while he missed some time with an injury at 1 point he's been pretty healthy since then.

Just another reason why we need to do something with the glut of OF prospects we have because Caissie and Alcantara are going to run into the same problem Canario had if we don't open up some AB for them somewhere once they are called up. Canario probably had some pretty good trade value in 2023 too and we missed on that window and the same could happen again if we don't cash in on them when they have some good trade or make room for them to contribue in Chicago.

I just don't get the hand wringing over Canario. He was never a tip top prospect and he got injured at the height of his value.
I'm sure he could have got a few more AB's the last couple years but his 2023 didn't start until July and then he came up in a playoff race. Last year he was behind our 2 best hitters and Bellinger.

Shaw is a big time prospect and he's getting a chance. PCA was a big time prospect and he got a chance. Caissie and Alcantara are big time prospects and we'll see what happens with them. Hopefully Canario can find a spot on the roster and contribute. I like him.

Edit: just saw he was DFAd.

 

[RoseClone]

That means they are confident Alcantara is ready otherwise we don’t have a backup in center.

There's gotta be some 40 year old out there we can pick up.

 

[Cyforce]

If he can legitimately play 1B I hope they find him some AB there. He was completely mis-managed the past 2 years and now they either have to have him on the roster or lose him for pennies on the dollar in a trade at this point with no options left. He was killing it in Iowa in 2023 before he was called up then Ross let him rot on the bench at the end of the season. Nearly the same thing happened to him last year too. They knew he would be out of options this year yet never really gave him any chance during his call ups to see if he could carry the hot hitting he would show in Iowa to the big league level. He was the main return in the KB trade and while he missed some time with an injury at 1 point he's been pretty healthy since then.

Just another reason why we need to do something with the glut of OF prospects we have because Caissie and Alcantara are going to run into the same problem Canario had if we don't open up some AB for them somewhere once they are called up. Canario probably had some pretty good trade value in 2023 too and we missed on that window and the same could happen again if we don't cash in on them when they have some good trade or make room for them to contribue in Chicago.

Basically we just moved the clock back as Alcantara and Caissie are just entering the option phase. Having those two and PCA gives us a dollar cost averaging approach to being able to afford Tucker. I think we’ll still need to find a way to deal Suzuki or Happ in order for it to happen.

You can do the same with starting pitching as well if Brown and Horton stay healthy you can trade Tallion and extend Imanaga and Steele.

 

[RivClone23]

Basically we just moved the clock back as Alcantara and Caissie are just entering the option phase. Having those two and PCA gives us a dollar cost averaging approach to being able to afford Tucker. I think we’ll still need to find a way to deal Suzuki or Happ in order for it to happen.

With only a year overlap on Tuckers new deal and Happ/Suzuki, I would hope that wouldn't be the deal breaker. Especially with other money coming off the books.

But, Ricketts...

 

[CycloneErik]

There's gotta be some 40 year old out there we can pick up.

I'm way past 40. Can I have a shot?

 

[CYdTracked]

Bummer, was hoping he'd get a shot during spring training then if there was not a spot trade him then. He definitely won't clear waivers so hopefully get some decent lower level guy in return.

He hit 37 HR in 2022 and 18 HR in 64 games in Iowa last year and is only 24 years old so I hope he crushes it at his next stop. Felt like he was never given a fair chance when he was called up to see what he could do.

 

[RoseClone]

I was watching on MLB Network and wowza!

 

[isucy86]

Cubs are WS Bound!! Clubbing the Dodger 12-4.

Busch was the only regular hitter to play. Alcantara hit the ball hard.

 

[CycloneErik]

Looks like we're going undefeated, now and forever.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[CYdTracked]

We've seen this play out before with injury news it feels like. He'll probably start out on the IL and maybe turn into a 60 day stint if it doesn't heal quickly. Seems like Alcantara has the path now for the opening day bench OF spot with the Canario DFA news and now this.

 

[BigJCy]