Every player goes through hot and cold stretches during the season. He will work his way out of this slump and likely finish around .270–.280 with 25–30 home runs and 90–100 RBIs.
*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
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The Tucker trade was fine. The Tucker trade without other FA moves or trades during the season makes no sense. I think the Cubs biggest issue is we suck at small market stuff, and we don't spend like a big market. You trade away an MLB ready guy in Cam Smith who is years away from even being arbitration eligible for one year of Tucker. Great I get it, haven't been to the playoffs in 5 years you are trying to make a push. Then you spend the rest of free agency doing absolutely nothing. You don't make a trade when Steele goes down. You don't make a trade when Imanaga goes down. You spend 1/2 the season without an actual third basemen. They dip their toe into making a competitive push then chicken out. All. The. Time.
It doesn't make sense until you realize what the ownership and FO's goal is. They don't give a **** about a winner. They are trying to create optimism, sell inflated tickets and build hotels while having to spend as little as possible to create that optimism. It's always next free agency, next trade deadline or just wait until this new prospect comes up. It's all about manufacturing enough optimism that people stay engaged, knowing full well they wont commit the resources they need to be competitive.
If you go back to June 30 (I don't know the exact date his slump started) here is what these guys looked like:
Judge - 30 HR, .458 OBP, .717 SLG, 6 WAR
Ohtani - 29 HR, .388 OBP, .633 SLG 4 WAR
Tucker - 17 HR, .395 OBP, .537 SLG 4 WAR
Kyle Tucker was a ~top 5 player in the game at that point but no one should have thought he was on the Judge/Ohtani level.
*The only reason the WARs are the same is because of defense.
It would be the same as if he made the team at the start of next season. It's only a year sooner if he'd otherwise be starting next season in the minors.
And it still could be an extra year before free agency if he spends more time in the minors next season than he spends in the majors this season.
So, to add to that, the earliest he could be a FA is after the 2031 season.
Thank you, I'm hoping unnecessary manipulation doesn't place next season if he plays well
So my assumption would be Ben Brown and Cade Horton in the doubleheader Monday, then Boyd, Rea and Imanaga Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see Taillon on Monday and push Cade an extra day.
Maybe go Brown/Taillon, Horton, Boyd, Shota?
Edit: Obviously we want Shota to go in that series but we know he's been better with more rest. Maybe you let Rea make the start on Thursday
You can also make Taillon the 27th man on Monday so that you don't have to make a roster move. I expect him to get one of the games.
Good point, I had forgotten about the doubleheader rule. Then Sept 1 can bump up to 28.
Don't think we will. Believe he is scheduled for next Monday vs. Toronto.
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Would love to see what statcast says about catch probability on that. I'm not an outfield expert by any stretch of the imagination but that seems like an awful route saved by a hell of a catch
