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***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

CYdTracked said:
I'm not against it but they would need to get at least 1 near MLB ready prospect back in return if the do. For as much as we Cubs fans were hating the deal we gave him after the terrible 1st half of 2023 he had, since then he has been the guy we thought we signed to be an innings eater in the middle of the rotation. 3.10 ERA this year with 1.8 WAR which is 3rd on the pitching staff behind Shota at 2.0 and Assad at 1.9. Steele is right behind him at 1.7 and if it were not for his injury in the 1st game of the season then Taillon is easily the #3 guy in the rotation behind Steele and Shota. It also has him ranked near the top 50 in WAR for all pitchers in the MLB this season as well.

On a playoff team I want Taillon on the roster but the Cubs would be foolish not to consider trading him this year if the return is worth it. Good starting pitching is always a premium and he would probably be one of the better available arms out there with 2 more years of control at a reasonable price too so if you can shed salary while bringing in at least 1 or 2 quality prospects then its worth it to make a trade this year. If you can't get at least 1 solid prospect in a trade then you stay the course and he's still a useful starting pitcher next season that probably will cost less than a comparable free agent replacement would.

The Cubs as currently constructed need to lay out a roadmap to what they think this roster will look like in 1 to 2 years if they plan to compete in the playoffs. What guys on the current roster are expendable at the deadline that could bring back a good return of talent while not sacrificing the short term window to compete and what guys have no future with this team that they either need to move on from to give other guys opportunities that may be a part of the longer term future. I think this current front office may over value the guys they have and as a result didn't move on from guys that are blocking prospects or not trading prospects that won't be given an opportunity while they still have a lot of trade value. If this farm system is really as talented as the rankings have them we should be seeing more of an influx of talent making an impact at the MLB level like we did right before the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
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Red Sox and Yankees both showing most interest….

But I wonder if those specific teams were leaked to get a third team *cough*Orioles*cough* to jump and give up Mayo who would be our 3B.

Though I wouldnt be opposed to the Red Sox Kyle Teel, who would shore up our C position for the next few years
 
ISUCubswin said:
Red Sox and Yankees both showing most interest….

But I wonder if those specific teams were leaked to get a third team *cough*Orioles*cough* to jump and give up Mayo who would be our 3B.

Though I wouldnt be opposed to the Red Sox Kyle Teel, who would shore up our C position for the next few years
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Be nice to have an infield that was fixed. Busch and Mayo on the corners. Swanson and Hoerner up the middle but top prospects knocking on the door that can allow us to slide Nico to short if Dansby doesn't figure it out. With the unrest at 3rd it feels difficult to weaken the middle thus giving up much needed offense.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Jesse Rogers: Thinking of the 7th inning when Morel has a tying run at second and it looked like he was swinging for the lake, what do you think about some of those at bats?

Counsell: C'mon Jesse. C'mon. That's your comment?

Jesse Rogers: Well, yeah, I'm wondering about the-

Counsell: That's a bad take. That's a bad take. He's swinging for the lake? That's a bad take.

Jesse Rogers: Why is that a bad take?

Counsell: He's having a good at bat trying to hit the ball hard. The pitcher made a good pitch. He made an out.

If this were a one time thing I'd agree with Craig but it's been all season long for multiple players. I think the question is incredibly warranted - why do these guys have their worst at-bats in Baseball 101 just put the ******* ball in play situations?
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I'm just glad to have learned that Counsell is capable of emotion.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Red Sox and Yankees both showing most interest….

But I wonder if those specific teams were leaked to get a third team *cough*Orioles*cough* to jump and give up Mayo who would be our 3B.

Though I wouldnt be opposed to the Red Sox Kyle Teel, who would shore up our C position for the next few years
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Mayo seems like a really high price tag for Tailion.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Jesse Rogers: Thinking of the 7th inning when Morel has a tying run at second and it looked like he was swinging for the lake, what do you think about some of those at bats?

Counsell: C'mon Jesse. C'mon. That's your comment?

Jesse Rogers: Well, yeah, I'm wondering about the-

Counsell: That's a bad take. That's a bad take. He's swinging for the lake? That's a bad take.

Jesse Rogers: Why is that a bad take?

Counsell: He's having a good at bat trying to hit the ball hard. The pitcher made a good pitch. He made an out.

If this were a one time thing I'd agree with Craig but it's been all season long for multiple players. I think the question is incredibly warranted - why do these guys have their worst at-bats in Baseball 101 just put the ******* ball in play situations?
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In watching the game, that wasn't an at bat that stood out to me. I felt the Diamondback pitcher made a couple nice throws resulting in Morel's K.

Sure it would be nice if Morel was more of a hitter who adjusts swing to ball/strike count. And a guy who has an opposite field swing in certain situations. It's easy to forget Morel is only 25 YO. His plate discipline is a lot better this season and I have feeling his bat/glove will continue to get better as he matures.

If I question at bats yesterday, I would have asked about a couple other at bats:
  • Tauchman swinging at first pitch in 9th with Suzuki on 3rd. Martinez was bouncing pitches- a patient at-bat could have led to situation where runner scored on WP.
  • Mastrobuoni PH for Nido in 8th. He's hitting better recently, but still around .200. If that isn't a situation for Bote or Wisdom- not sure what is. I understand lefty on righty, but if Bote & Wisdom can't hit righties- they shouldn't be in majors.
  • I would have questioned why PCA didn't lay down safety squeeze bunt with bases loaded in 10th. I like percentages on good bunt vs. sac fly.
 
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isucy86 said:
In watching the game, that wasn't an at bat that stood out to me. I felt the Diamondback pitcher made a couple nice throws resulting in Morel's K.

Sure it would be nice if Morel was more of a hitter who adjusts swing to ball/strike count. And a guy who has an opposite field swing in certain situations. It's easy to forget Morel is only 25 YO. His plate discipline is a lot better this season and I have feeling his bat/glove will continue to get better as he matures.

If I question at bats yesterday, I would have asked about a couple other at bats:
  • Tauchman swinging at first pitch in 9th with Suzuki on 3rd. Martinez was bouncing pitches- a patient at-bat could have led to situation where runner scored on WP.
  • Mastrobuoni PH for Nido in 8th. He's hitting better recently, but still around .200. If that isn't a situation for Bote or Wisdom- not sure what is. I understand lefty on righty, but if Bote & Wisdom can't hit righties- they shouldn't be in majors.
  • I would have questioned why PCA didn't lay down safety squeeze bunt with bases loaded in 10th. I like percentages on good bunt vs. sac fly.
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I agree completely, but I think the guy was more getting at how this has been a team issue the whole season and Morel was just the scapegoat
 
Clonefan32 said:
Mayo seems like a really high price tag for Tailion.
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In a vacuum I agree. But given he's highly sought after by division rivals and they're pretty set long term in their infield until 2027, I think it's possible, unless the Orioles want Mayo to replace Mountcastle, but he's under control until 2027 and I don't see many teams going after him.
 
CyState85 said:
So if Cubs lose 2 of 3 this week to the Brewers, are they 100% selling at the deadline?
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I think they should but I agree with David Kaplan that they don't have anything really worth trading. Their pieces are either very young and cheap so no point in trading them, or old and don't have trade value, or have no trade clauses.
 
And some of the idiotic contracts Jed gave out (Neris getting a player option) makes it hard to get any value for what you'd trade anyway.

Smyly is the only one that is definitely gone but you won't get much more than a lottery ticket. I think they'll also give Hendricks the option to be shopped if he chooses to try and chase a ring one more time.

Other than that, it's not worth trading anybody unless somebody overwhelms you with a deal for Hoerner or Steele or Taillon.
 
ISUCubswin said:
I agree completely, but I think the guy was more getting at how this has been a team issue the whole season and Morel was just the scapegoat
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Counsell is going to be supportive during the season, but I expect coaching staff changes during the off season. Hopefully, a different approach by hitters.

Morel is a good example of too much emphasis on HR slug. It seems like there is something wrong when a player with his bat speed has only 7 doubles in 408 plate appearances. And he isn't unique- it looks like Happ, Suzuki and Bellinger' double rates are all down.
 
My ranking of who I think is traded from most likely to least. Not mentioned means not traded.

Neris - Saves $9 MM next year but my guess is return is poor

Smyly - Saves $2.5 MM next year but my guess is return is poor

Taillon - Saves $19 MM next year. I think the return can be high.

Nico - Return would be nice and you have Triantos and Shaw waiting in 2025.

Belli or Happ but not both - I'd prefer Happ but just don't see him waiving.

Morel - Many argue his value is at it's lowest, but it'll be much lower when Shaw/Triantos/Smith are up. See if a team will buy his analytics.

Hendricks - Rental with postseason experience but I don't see the Cubs trading a guy who's been this loyal.
 
1UNI2ISU said:
And some of the idiotic contracts Jed gave out (Neris getting a player option) makes it hard to get any value for what you'd trade anyway.

Smyly is the only one that is definitely gone but you won't get much more than a lottery ticket. I think they'll also give Hendricks the option to be shopped if he chooses to try and chase a ring one more time.

Other than that, it's not worth trading anybody unless somebody overwhelms you with a deal for Hoerner or Steele or Taillon.
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Feel like the Cubs are going to have to trade some frontline 2024 talent with an eye on giving guys like Caissie, Shaw, Vazquez and Triantos a path for significant at bats in Chicago to start 2025.

Hoerner is one of my favorite Cubs, but if the Cubs can trade for catching or 3B prospect who projects to be major leaguer in 2025, I make the trade. Also feel that starting pitching depth is strong suite. And Cubs should be willing to trade an elite major leaguer like Steele to get an elite slug prospect.
 
ISUCubswin said:
My ranking of who I think is traded from most likely to least. Not mentioned means not traded.

Neris - Saves $9 MM next year but my guess is return is poor

Smyly - Saves $2.5 MM next year but my guess is return is poor

Taillon - Saves $19 MM next year. I think the return can be high.

Nico - Return would be nice and you have Triantos and Shaw waiting in 2025.

Belli or Happ but not both - I'd prefer Happ but just don't see him waiving.

Morel - Many argue his value is at it's lowest, but it'll be much lower when Shaw/Triantos/Smith are up. See if a team will buy his analytics.

Hendricks - Rental with postseason experience but I don't see the Cubs trading a guy who's been this loyal.
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Unless Smith projects to be 2025 ready, have my doubts Shaw, Triantos or Vazquez have the slug to be the answer in Chicago at 3B. Barring a trade before 2025, it seems like Morel is Cubs best answer at 3B. IMO the value proposition of Morel is far different if he is batting 6-8 vs. #4.
 
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