Like to see them deal Traintos over Cassie. Cassie is insurance if they can’t extend Tucker. Guessing OC will get an opportunity to play some first as well.
***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter CycloneErik
- Start date
What am i missing about Lazardo? His career high is.....checks notes.....10 wins with a 1.252 career WHIP and 4.29 ERA.
We can do much better if we are giving up Cassie or Triantos.
We can do much better if we are giving up Cassie or Triantos.
I think it’s a bit dangerous to use wins as a stat to factor in a players ability, especially when he has pitched for the A’s and Marlins.
I do not think he’s a front line starter right now, but here’s why I like Luzardo
1) Baseball Savant has his stuff being absolutely filthy - he has the raw talent of an ace, without the numbers to show it. I believe Hottovy and our pitching infrastructure is top of the line, and if anyone can unlock Luzardo, it is them.
2) His numbers are pretty elite his first time through the order, it’s the second time on when his numbers implode. I could see a world the Cubs look at him as the closer, though I don’t think that’s the direction they want to go. I’ll post the direction I think they want to go in a bit.
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Top of the rotation stuff, 3 years of control, 2022-23 was a stud, counting wins for a pitcher on the marlins is a dumb exercise, strikes a lot out, doesn’t walk many
Need to go back through the posts in the summer here and find the ones where people thought we could find someone that would trade for Wisdom. LOL This doesn't shock me, I was pretty certain he wouldn't be on a MLB roster next season and would have to take a minor league deal hoping for another shot but this is more proof he was a flash in the pan like Frank Schwindel was but we just decided to keep him around a bit longer than Frank the Tank because he could hit the ball really far when he wasn't striking out 3 times in a game.
There is high upside with him but a lot of risk too because of injury history. I don't like the idea of having 4 of the 5 starters in the rotation all lefties either. Would much rather do a deal with Seattle for Castillo especially with the prospect capital being rumored. If the best we can do is Lazardo would rather it be Triantos not Caissie traded in the deal as Triantos is kinda blocked by Shaw at 2B unless the plan is to try Shaw or Triantos at another position. Plus if they can't extend or resign Tucker then going to need to have Caissie to fill the spot in 2026.
Also it will be interesting to see what kind of return they get for Bellinger. I am not expecting much if the goal is a salary dump but it would be nice if Jed could somehow turn that deal into a 3 team deal where the Cubs are able to send prospects and possibly even Hoerner with the deal and be able to get back top end SP and a 3B in the deal. Basically a deal where you have a 3rd team that has something you want but you need to include the team you are dealing Bellinger to send that team something in return so all 3 teams are filling a need or multiple needs in the deal but need each other to send something to make it work out for everyone. It feels like Bellinger is going to be traded at some point otherwise he'd have to move to 1B to stay and then you have to figure out what to do with Busch. 3B is still the biggest hole on the roster and unless the plan is to give Shaw a shot there in spring training with Workman as a fallback plan or backup/platoon role trading for a 3B seems like the main need right now along with another top half of the rotation SP and late inning reliever and closer too.
Why Luzardo and another lefty makes sense
Objectively,
1) The other 4 NL Central teams were in the bottom 10 in hitting against LHPs last year
2) The Dodgers (Freeman, Ohtani) and Mets (Soto) are most beatable with a lefty on the mound
My side theory
Part of the pitch to Sasaki is a promise he will get a 6 man rotation TREATMENT, or that he will not ever need to worry about pitching after only 4 days rest. To follow through, they’re grabbing 2 high risk, high reward pitchers that they can also be careful with in terms of watching innings. I’m fairly confident they made a similar deal with Imanaga early on and had to go back on it a bit when we had some injuries in our rotation. Steele and Taillon would then be the only ones on a typical 5 man rotation schedule.
Objectively,
1) The other 4 NL Central teams were in the bottom 10 in hitting against LHPs last year
2) The Dodgers (Freeman, Ohtani) and Mets (Soto) are most beatable with a lefty on the mound
My side theory
Part of the pitch to Sasaki is a promise he will get a 6 man rotation TREATMENT, or that he will not ever need to worry about pitching after only 4 days rest. To follow through, they’re grabbing 2 high risk, high reward pitchers that they can also be careful with in terms of watching innings. I’m fairly confident they made a similar deal with Imanaga early on and had to go back on it a bit when we had some injuries in our rotation. Steele and Taillon would then be the only ones on a typical 5 man rotation schedule.
Has anything been said regarding Lopez. Small sample but he looked like the most legit closer we’ve seen in awhile. I did a quick search and didn’t see anything that indicated he was with a new team
I didn't realize that Canario is out of minor league options so he either has to make the opening day roster else the Cubs need to trade him before having to put him on waivers. He's barely had much time in Chicago so that surprised me. He and Killian were the return for Bryant which is sad we may never see either do anything in Chicago. Killian may have a chance in the bullpen at some point but I would nit be surprised if Canario turns into a decent OF if given a chance to play regularly with his next team.
Wonder if Hoyer is prioritizing frontline bats. And letting market get established for relief arms.
But agree with your take on Jorge Lopez. He was really solid in July/August. Can't imagine they'd get a better 7th/8th inning arm.
Could also be an indicator that Cubs are comfortable with Brown & Little's health going into 2025. And the Cubs plan to move guys like Killian, Wicks and Assad to relief.
Seems like a stresser on the bullpen where all 7 or 8 bullpen arms are 1 inning guys. The back-end guys could be fresher if guys like Assad, Wicks, etc could be 2-3 inning arms in the pen.
Also a quick check of the Cubs 40-man, there are 21 pitchers. That's a lot of bullpen arms to build from.
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I doubt they would but if they acquire Luzardo I’d take a hard look at going with a six man rotation adding Brown. That way you avoid throwing lefties three days in a row. I saw an article where Boyd said he scouted the Cubs last year because he does a lot of the same things as Steele and Imanaga. Sounds like Pearson could also be a candidate here.
We’d still have Wicks and Horton likely at Iowa and Assad doing long relief.
We’d still have Wicks and Horton likely at Iowa and Assad doing long relief.
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Have a buddy in KC and to hear him talk Canario might be a welcome addition to the Royals. If they don’t deal him he’s going to be in competition with Alcantara for the final roster spot. Somebody has to be on the roster as a backup CF.
This is assuming Bellinger gets dealt of course.
Out of those "In" it's not even a given some of them make it to or past spring training either like Thaiss and Zastryzny and probably even Workman being a Rule 5 pick has to stay on the MLB roster the entire season to keep him which is asking lot from a guy that hasn't made it past AA level yet. There will eventually be more 40 man moves if they add more in free agency or need to open up a spot for someone they acquire in a trade. Plenty of more moves coming 1 way or another.
Pretty much a money dump. Wonder what is next?
