***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

And how would they replace that production in 2025 for a similar size cost? This team HAS TO compete in 2025. They need to add a bat without subtracting one.

Trade Happ and Bellinger and you open up a big chunk of money to spend on Bregman. The farm system is heavy with OF prospects, you hope you hit on 1 or 2 of them. This roster has too many holes to worry about 2025 unless you open up the checkbook in free agency or start making bold moves with trades.

 

[Cyforce]

And how would they replace that production in 2025 for a similar size cost? This team HAS TO compete in 2025. They need to add a bat without subtracting one.

Soto would work.

 

[David Freshman1982]

This team has never recovered from not signing Harper because the owner was too damn cheap. He freaking wanted to come here, he nearly begged the Cubs to sign him, and they took a pass.

 

[ISUCubswin]

The bottom 4 guys in last nights lineup had batting averages of .201, .199, .211, and .195.

Here’s my concerns

You aren’t replacing Dansby or Mastros **** bats but if their defense is saving runs, you’ll take it

I don’t really want to trade Morel when his value is what it probably is, however, I’m also over watching him be an automatic out when there are multiple people in Iowa who can perform better than him right now. Once we trade him, you know he’s going to go on one of his ridiculous streaks.

I’m confidant the catching position will be figured out next year

 

[cyfanatic13]

The bottom 4 guys in last nights lineup had batting averages of .201, .199, .211, and .195.

Here’s my concerns

You aren’t replacing Dansby or Mastros **** bats but if their defense is saving runs, you’ll take it

I don’t really want to trade Morel when his value is what it probably is, however, I’m also over watching him be an automatic out when there are multiple people in Iowa who can perform better than him right now. Once we trade him, you know he’s going to go on one of his ridiculous streaks.

I’m confidant the catching position will be figured out next year

Mastrobuoni at least makes contact. Saw on Twitter this weekend that Dansby has more strikeouts than TOTAL BASES over the last month or something like that. And had three more last night

 

[TClone99]

Trade Happ and Bellinger and you open up a big chunk of money to spend on Bregman. The farm system is heavy with OF prospects, you hope you hit on 1 or 2 of them. This roster has too many holes to worry about 2025 unless you open up the checkbook in free agency or start making bold moves with trades.

If they punt on 2025 I assume this is Jed's last year. Hard to imagine they give him another opportunity to retool.

I won't believe that there's some surplus of OFers until guys are proving it at the big league level. They should do everything they can to sign Soto (if not him the best bat they can possibly acquire). If you believe you're going to have a bunch of young cheap talent coming up soon then go get a superstar for them to surround.

 

[CycloneErik]

If they punt on 2025 I assume this is Jed's last year. Hard to imagine they give him another opportunity to retool.

I won't believe that there's some surplus of OFers until guys are proving it at the big league level. They should do everything they can to sign Soto (if not him the best bat they can possibly acquire). If you believe you're going to have a bunch of young cheap talent coming up soon then go get a superstar for them to surround.

If they punt on 2025, that's another year of saving on Marquee, I guess.
This franchise should never be punting.

 

[Clonefan32]

If they punt on 2025, that's another year of saving on Marquee, I guess.
This franchise should never be punting.

Won't make the Marquee mistake again. It's 3 bucks a month to get Pat and Ron over MLB At Bat. Totally content with just listening until they can put together a respectable club.

I'd be curious how big of dip subscribership took from June to July of this year.

 

[isucy86]

Wish he didn't have that NTC as it comes at a perfect sell high time

Happ has enough of a track record that a hot streak isn't going to up his trade value. GM's aren't that shortsighted. IMO for Happ to void his trade clause, its going to need to be a good long-term option for him to play LF and team built for deep playoff runs over next 3 years. Personally, I feel if Happ is going to get traded, better chance that happens over the winter.

Seems like the best trade candidates for the Cubs are: Bellinger, Hoerner, Taillon or Neris.

 

[isucy86]

The bottom 4 guys in last nights lineup had batting averages of .201, .199, .211, and .195.

Here’s my concerns

You aren’t replacing Dansby or Mastros **** bats but if their defense is saving runs, you’ll take it

I don’t really want to trade Morel when his value is what it probably is, however, I’m also over watching him be an automatic out when there are multiple people in Iowa who can perform better than him right now. Once we trade him, you know he’s going to go on one of his ridiculous streaks.

I’m confidant the catching position will be figured out next year

Swanson is tough pill to swallow as a defense only shortstop. He's making around $28M annually through 2029.

I watch him hit and there's something wrong with his upper/lower body coordination during the swing. I'd like to believe he's playing through a knee injury that's impacting his legs. But if Swanson is a sub .225 hitting shortstop over the next 5 years, that means Hoyer's going to need elite bats at positions where they have OK bats (Busch, Hoerner, Morel, Happ, Suzuki). Especially from a slug perspective.

 

[Cyforce]

So the 4 v. St Louis. Wesneski gets one Taillon will go Sunday. Who gets the other two. I'd hate to tax our relievers with a bullpen day. Probably land 2 on the IL.

 

[isucy86]

If they punt on 2025 I assume this is Jed's last year. Hard to imagine they give him another opportunity to retool.

I won't believe that there's some surplus of OFers until guys are proving it at the big league level. They should do everything they can to sign Soto (if not him the best bat they can possibly acquire). If you believe you're going to have a bunch of young cheap talent coming up soon then go get a superstar for them to surround.

I agree about your statement on Cubs "elite" OF prospects. Caissie has been solid at Iowa, but he's hitting .279 and striking out about 33% of at bats. And reality is, unless Happ or Suzuki are traded, there are limited opportunities for guys like Caissie or Canario in Chicago. They (or PCA) might have more trade value if the Cubs are going to compete over the next couple years.

As much as fans point to Cubs punting on 2025, I don't see it. Even if there is a new front office. There is too much starting pitching talent on this roster at low salaries to not make big moves for bats in 2025.

 

[isucy86]

So the 4 v. St Louis. Wesneski gets one Taillon will go Sunday. Who gets the other two. I'd hate to tax our relievers with a bullpen day. Probably land 2 on the IL.

It's going to be tough if Hendricks can't take one of the games, but it sounds like his sessions on the side have been going well. Feel like with the All-Star break after the Cardinals series that a reliever game on Saturday wouldn't be that big a deal. Especially if they can get 3 innings out of Smiley. Seems like they could also get 2 innings out of Hodge, Lopez, Miller & Neris.

It would be ideal if the Cubs starters can get quality starts in the next 3 games.

 

[Rabbuk]

Cody bellinger taking 97 off the knuckles wasn't the move I wanted to see.

 

[BigJCy]

Watch, Cubs going to finally be on a good roll right when the break happens.

 

[Cyforce]

Probably the best overall game of the season. All facets tonight.

 

[Clonefan32]

I imagine if the Cubs can keep within 4-5 games of the WC they just hold at the deadline. None of our tradeable assets were probably bringing a huge return anyway. But I'm not sure that you're close enough to contention to waste any prospects on improving your roster.

 

[GoHawks]

I imagine if the Cubs can keep within 4-5 games of the WC they just hold at the deadline. None of our tradeable assets were probably bringing a huge return anyway. But I'm not sure that you're close enough to contention to waste any prospects on improving your roster.

Very similar position to last year

 

[Clonefan32]

Very similar position to last year

Beli definitely had more value last year than he does this year, especially if he's going to be out for a while with the finger. But other than that, very similar trajectories the last 2 years.

 

[GoHawks]

Trade Happ and Bellinger and you open up a big chunk of money to spend on Bregman. The farm system is heavy with OF prospects, you hope you hit on 1 or 2 of them. This roster has too many holes to worry about 2025 unless you open up the checkbook in free agency or start making bold moves with trades.

I don't think it's unreasonable for this team to be a playoff team in 2025 with the right moves. Rotation should be very good with Imanaga, Steele, Tallion, Brown, Assad, wesneski, Wicks, and possibly Horton depending on health and development. There's no way the bullpen will be as bad as it was this year. You can find affordable bullpen arms. The hard part is the need for a big bat. That won't be cheap or easy.