Vazquez and Canario are not elite prospects (I will add Mervis since some here seem to think he was treated unfairly) and they have been treated as such. The only elite prospect that has come up and sat on the bench was PCA and that was bc we were in a playoff race and his speed is unique.
***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***
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And with the new September call up limits really no reason to make drastic changes.
If Jed and Counsell aren't going to give prospects a chance at the big league level, then Jed needs to be using them as currency to trade for upgrades. Unfortunately, I don't really see any of the current AAA non-pitching prospects (other than Shaw) getting much of a chance in Chicago next year, so it's probably time to sell on Caissie, Canario, Vazquez, etc. Ballesteros and Alcantara could probably use a full 2025 in Iowa, so the urgency to sell them is less.
The main Mervis argument isn’t that he was ever an elite prospect - it’s that he was, for an entire season, the best hitter in the minors. At the end of a clear rebuild year in 2022, in which he was the best hitter in the minors, a non-idiotic front office would’ve
A) Traded him at his peak value
Or
B) Seen if he had any future in Chicago by playing him in September in a throwaway year.
An idiotic front office chooses option C: Not trading him, holding him in AAA, not knowing what he can do in MLB, so you sign 2 vets clearly in decline (one of which they’re still paying to not play on the team) with somehow more questions than answers at 1B.
At the end of 2022, Mervis’ future in the organization should’ve been known - he’s either the 1B of the future or he’s going to be traded. Instead, because we lack any sense of urgency in roster management within this organization, he is still in Iowa and has zero value.
What is an appropriate equivalent to Patrick Wisdom remaining the lefty specialist despite hitting .150 off lefties?
Hiring a plumber to do a colonoscopy?
Hiring a plumber to do a colonoscopy?
Well Kilian got lit up tonight I see. Sucks that he and Canario were supposed the big return for Bryant and neither may ever make an impact. I remember getting a text from a friend that is a Giants fan and he thought the Cubs fleeced the Giants by getting Kilian in that deal. Maybe he figures it out but PCA seems to be the only win we have to show for that deadline fire sale. Caissie is the only prospect that has panned out in the Darvish deal and even he has no path to make an impact in Chicago right now.
Mervis should have been traded. Someone probably would have taken a chance on him at his peak now he's probably a 40 man casualty. This front office does not manage prospects well. Either they have no path to the majors or they fail to trade them when they have value still. Even the top guys in the system right now are pretty much blocked unless they make some roster moves.
Alcantara called up and starting in RF tonight. My guess is they'll sit Suzuki the rest of the year with a tweaked ankle.
For what it's worth, I can't find any reason NOT to give Alcantara a shot right now, but I definitely thought Caissie would get an opportunity first.
Only poopy thing is it's just a 4 game window for him so we're not going to get a great read on him next year.
For what it's worth, I can't find any reason NOT to give Alcantara a shot right now, but I definitely thought Caissie would get an opportunity first.
Only poopy thing is it's just a 4 game window for him so we're not going to get a great read on him next year.
Alcantara is on the 40, Caissie isn't. That's the whole story.
Don't have to make a decision on a DFA.
They could DFA Wisdom and bring up Caissie to DH too IMO. He's 2 for 27 this month, he must have naked pictures of Jed or something to still be on this roster.
Also, is Busch day-to-day after being HBP yesterday or he's done for year?
If the Cubs are going to call up Alcantara, they might as well play him. But I figured they would do so with Vazquez over the last 6.
3 games and both of them are gone probably. Glad nobody else has been 0 for 4 in a game lately or in a 2 for 27 slump this year. since I didn't look it up why don't you tell me about slumps and going 0 for the day. I am sure that everyday when they go to the ball park they try to decide who to pizz of today and not try. They are professional and if you don't think they want to do good maybe you should rethink that.
JFC, What exactly has Tauchman done to merit all this scorn? Just pulled his stats on baseball reference. Last 5, 4/11 with 4 walks.
I don't hate Tauchman, just don't see the point of him on the roster at this point with all the OF prospects we have. He probably won't be back next season.
Wisdom on the other hand I have loathed for a long time and don't understand why he's getting starts let alone why he was brought back in the first place. He's now 5 for 44 with 19 K since Aug 1, 4 of those 5 hits were HR but otherwise he's been nearly an automatic out when he's been out there not to mention he isn't that good defensively either. I'd be surprised if he makes an opening day roster next season, if he doesn't it won't be on a playoff contending team.
Tauchman will, and should, be back. He's cheap. He's a very good pinch hitter and can play all 3 outfield spots. He's the ideal true 4th outfielder.
Wisdom, Mastrobuoni and Madrigal are gone and Vazquez is gone the minute that Shaw is ready.
Wisdom, Mastrobuoni and Madrigal are gone and Vazquez is gone the minute that Shaw is ready.
Tauchman isn't a starter on a playoff team but none of the prospects are going to be as productive as him as a reserve.
Caissie and Suzuki can split RF and DH if Bellinger opts out. Alcantara likely gets a big part of 2025 back in Des Moines. But I think both will get a fair share to see if they become full-time.
Caissie and Suzuki can split RF and DH if Bellinger opts out. Alcantara likely gets a big part of 2025 back in Des Moines. But I think both will get a fair share to see if they become full-time.
