I don't think we can judge anything based on a home run in the 8th inning of the 3rd spring training game.
He's played 5 total games above A-ball.
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I don't think we can judge anything based on a home run in the 8th inning of the 3rd spring training game.
He's played 5 total games above A-ball.
It was his second homer of the game, so an impressive day - but I agree. Way too early to tell what kind of player he is going to be.
Wow, Cassie didn't last long. Weren't there people who expected him to make the opening day roster since they released Canario?
No. No one expected that. Plus, he's rehabbing from a surgery and a groin injury.
He needs consistent ABs in Des Moines.
Think he was going to be out quite awhile with an injury so they just went ahead and did it now.
Alcantara seems to be the early favorite to win the roster spot but the question is do they want him up or get ABs everyday?
Cubs looked like they’ve done a pretty good job filling the bench options but Traintos could be the future so not really worried.
Kind of assume Alcantara is going to make opening day roster right? Brujan can play some CF I guess but he doesn't excite me. Its probably a given that Nico won't play in Japan and Shaw is still up in the air there too with his injury status. Shaw still needs to be added to the 40 man roster too which means some fringe player without minor league options will likely have to be DFA to add him. If Nico and Shaw both don't make the Japan trip roster than that would buy some time to figure out what to do with Workman and Brujan too. Berti and Turner are already taking up 2 bench infield spots so they aren't going to carry both Workman and Brujan too when Nico and Shaw are both on the roster. Kind of hope they can trade for Workman's rights and send him to Iowa to develop some more. If Alcantara is the backup OF that could lead to Brujan being DFA too possibly. Trying to get a count here on what the position numbers look like with everyone healthy
C: Amaya, Kelly
Starting INF: Busch, Hoerner, Swanson, Shaw
Starting OF: Happ, PCA, Tucker
DH: Suzuki
Bench: Turner, Berti
That's 12 right there that are locks to make the roster if all are healthy. Assume they will only carry 13 position players so it really just comes down to Alcantara or Brujan right?
Curious to see how the bullpen plays out too. Keegan Thompson is out of options so he either makes opening day roster or is a DFA victim. May even be a guy or 2 that was a non-roster invitee like Keller that could earn their way into the conversation too.
Agree #13 has to be able to play center. But if it’s Alcantara how you going to get him ABs without an injury? It would be a same if he makes the team but doesn’t play
I know it is early Spring Training but I just don't see it with Jordan Wicks.
We're going to have the same problem with Caissie when he's healthy and crushing pitchers at AAA at some point too. Sucks because you have 2 of the 4 OF locked in through next season with NTC in their contracts, your future in CF with PCA, and one of the best OF in baseball in Tucker you have to play damn near every day. And my guess is there will be days they play Suzuki in RF and Turner will be the DH as got to find him AB somewhere too other than backing up 1B and probably some 3B although it is yet to be seen what he can still do at 3B defensively. My gut feeling is they may have to use 1 of the 2 between Alcantara and Caissie as a main piece in a trade at some point to fill another need because we have already seen it with Canario and Velazquez before him that there just is not many AB to go around in the OF with this current roster. Not saying Canario and Velazquez are every going to much more than bench OF from what we have seen but Alcantara and Caissie look like they could be solid everyday guys eventually so where are the Cubs going to have an opportunity for either without an injury in the OF?
Hopefully Caissie and Alcantara are crushing AAA at some point this season. I would say they both had good years last year, but both still have stuff to work on and I'd rather have Seiya or Happ for strictly this year. Then you potentially have an OF spot opening up after this year and then 2 more the year after that.
If you have 0 injuries this year and these guys are crushing it then thats a good problem to have and you deal with it midseason. We have one of the best OF groups in ML and we would not be a better team right now if we had an open spot for one of these guys.
Agree he is going to primarily DH but I would not be surprised to see him in RF for about 20 games this year as I doubt he completely shutout from playing the field this season. For that reason I still count him in the OF mix but only on a rare appearance. I can see some scenarios where Tucker gets a day off so Suzuki gets a start in RF and Turner DH or maybe they want to have Tucker's bat in the lineup but give him a break from the field so Tucker DH for a day. I think we'll see him in the field once in awhile but not on a regular basis. Happ and PCA are going to need some days off at some point which is why I think they could maybe figure out a way to get Alcantara in the lineup for more than 1 game at a time if you figure in some rest for Happ, PCA, and Tucker when there is a long stretch without an off day or something. If Alcantara can be effective as the 4th OF with inconsistent playing time I like his upside there more than Brujan. We'll see what they think coming out of camp I guess.
Unless the Cubs FO is confident they can re-sign Tucker, there should be a plan to start Alcantara around 60 games in 2025 and get him close to 300 PA. Happ should start around 130 games in LF. Tucker & PCA should get around 145 starts.
Barring injury issues for Happ, PCA & Tucker- no reason for Cubs to play Suzuki in OF. Other than Alcantara getting hurt.
2025 is the season Alcantara proves he's a Cubs corner OF of the future. And 2026 that should be the Cubs development plan for Cassie.
Would still like to see the Cubs push Suzuki to play some 1B.
Barring injury issues for Happ, PCA & Tucker- no reason for Cubs to play Suzuki in OF. Other than Alcantara getting hurt.
2025 is the season Alcantara proves he's a Cubs corner OF of the future. And 2026 that should be the Cubs development plan for Cassie.
Would still like to see the Cubs push Suzuki to play some 1B.
I was just pointing out out two of our spots aren’t locked up by vets. Hopefully Tucker resigns and that comes true.
I wonder if Alcantara really is ready what Happ would do if they told him he’d be platooning with the kid? Honestly it’s possible unless they decide to sit PCA v. Tough lefties.
