*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
- Start date
I think it will be a wait and see how Shaw performs in a new role before we come to any conclusions. Recall how PCA struggled to hit a bit when he first came up then had a huge surge in power to start the season last year before he tailed off a bit. It's an adjustment period and Shaw will have to go through another adjustment not playing every day too while still being productive with his bat.
We don't need every player on the team to be power hitters, we need some more guys like Nico that are just solid contact hitters that get on base and can put a ball in play with runners on base. I'd be perfectly fine if Shaw can be a guy with that kind of approach at the plate and not necessarily have to mash 20+ homers to be effective. Zobrist wasn't exactly a power hitter when he was the super utility guy. He did hit 18 HR in 523 AB in 2016 but he never really was a 20+ HR hitter throughout his career. Hard to tell what kind of hitter Shaw will eventually be until we get a larger sample size. He definitely struggled at times last year before making some adjustments and so has PCA at times.
We don't need every player on the team to be power hitters, we need some more guys like Nico that are just solid contact hitters that get on base and can put a ball in play with runners on base. I'd be perfectly fine if Shaw can be a guy with that kind of approach at the plate and not necessarily have to mash 20+ homers to be effective. Zobrist wasn't exactly a power hitter when he was the super utility guy. He did hit 18 HR in 523 AB in 2016 but he never really was a 20+ HR hitter throughout his career. Hard to tell what kind of hitter Shaw will eventually be until we get a larger sample size. He definitely struggled at times last year before making some adjustments and so has PCA at times.
Agree. Would be nice if Shaw can hit 20+ HR's in 2026. It's realistic.
But the key to his power numbers is going to be high rate of doubles. It means he's hitting the ball hard. And he definitely has the speed/hustle.
Felt like playing let’s spend Tom’s money.
2027 edition
Start with the pushes.
Bullpen. Too much volatility to try and figure out individual so I’m just going to go with. Budget in 27 what they paid in 26.
Rea and Kelly. Old guys are tough but if they remain productive definitely do Kelly’s mutual extension and resign Rea for same money.
Off the books:
Taillion $18 mil
Happ $19 mil
Boyd $17 mil
Shota $22 mil
Saving $76 mil
Resign with my uneducated estimate of 27 value
Suzuki $19 mil to $24 mil + $5 mil
Hoerner $12 mil to $18 mil + $6 mil
76-11= $65 million open but almost half that goes to arbitration ( lot more guys hitting) baseball reference estimate
How do I fill those loses?
Taillon- Wiggins
Happ- Shaw ( there’s a reason)
Boyd- Skobal BA-BAM!!!
I’m estimating that takes about $45 mil per
Shota- that’s your 6th so Rea or Assad.
To do this I think you start with a lot of the bench being filled from within and add at the deadline as needed. Those three spots excluding #2 catcher should be Alcantara. Traintos and Long by 27. Maybe Conrad is ready by then to be in the mix in left. But my point is if you can add Skobal I think you can start 27 with internal options on the bench.
I just love the idea of sending out Skobal Horton Steele Cabrera and Wiggins. That matches anybody even the Dodgers.
2027 edition
Start with the pushes.
Bullpen. Too much volatility to try and figure out individual so I’m just going to go with. Budget in 27 what they paid in 26.
Rea and Kelly. Old guys are tough but if they remain productive definitely do Kelly’s mutual extension and resign Rea for same money.
Off the books:
Taillion $18 mil
Happ $19 mil
Boyd $17 mil
Shota $22 mil
Saving $76 mil
Resign with my uneducated estimate of 27 value
Suzuki $19 mil to $24 mil + $5 mil
Hoerner $12 mil to $18 mil + $6 mil
76-11= $65 million open but almost half that goes to arbitration ( lot more guys hitting) baseball reference estimate
How do I fill those loses?
Taillon- Wiggins
Happ- Shaw ( there’s a reason)
Boyd- Skobal BA-BAM!!!
I’m estimating that takes about $45 mil per
Shota- that’s your 6th so Rea or Assad.
To do this I think you start with a lot of the bench being filled from within and add at the deadline as needed. Those three spots excluding #2 catcher should be Alcantara. Traintos and Long by 27. Maybe Conrad is ready by then to be in the mix in left. But my point is if you can add Skobal I think you can start 27 with internal options on the bench.
I just love the idea of sending out Skobal Horton Steele Cabrera and Wiggins. That matches anybody even the Dodgers.
- On Friday, MLB Pipeline revealed their new Top-100 Prospect Rankings, and like Baseball America’s list, this one featured just two Cubs, both of whom are likely to graduate this season: Moises Ballesteros (#55) and Jaxon Wiggins (#58).
- On the one hand, being a few months away from (potentially) having zero top-100 prospects is a pretty big concern. Even if you’re happy with the current crop of young, cheap players on the big league team, having a big cache of well-liked prospects can pay dividends in other ways (say, at the deadline of a competitive season when you may need to fill a significant hole or push further in for the World Series). But at the same time, I’m not worried about it yet.
- For one, you can’t just completely ignore all the young, cost-controlled Cubs starters and impactful players. Michael Busch (2030), Miguel Amaya (2030), Cade Horton (2031), Pete Crow-Armstrong (2031), Daniel Palencia, Matt Shaw (2032), and Moises Ballesteros (likely 2032) are all under control through the decade and then some. That should buy the Cubs plenty of time to draft, develop, and rebuild their farm system. You shouldn’t be dinged (in terms of future outlook) just for having recently graduated a bunch of top prospects. That is the goal, after all.
- For another, there are a few breakout candidates in the making: For example, last year’s first and second round picks, Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley, plus Jefferson Rojas. And then there’s some close-to-the-majors guys like Kevin Alcantara, Johnny Long, and Brandon Birdsell (among others) who could soon contribute.
- So while I would definitely not say the Cubs minor league system is in a good place – it’s simply not – I would say the Cubs’ current collection of young, cost-controlled talent is.
Worried About the Lack of Top-100 Cubs Prospects? Kudos for Kimbrel, and Other Cubs Bullets
The former Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel is not done yet.
www.bleachernation.com
At least a third of the top 100 graduate off the list. My guess is Conrad and Rojas will be there in the near future.
- On Friday, MLB Pipeline revealed their new Top-100 Prospect Rankings, and like Baseball America’s list, this one featured just two Cubs, both of whom are likely to graduate this season: Moises Ballesteros (#55) and Jaxon Wiggins (#58).
- On the one hand, being a few months away from (potentially) having zero top-100 prospects is a pretty big concern. Even if you’re happy with the current crop of young, cheap players on the big league team, having a big cache of well-liked prospects can pay dividends in other ways (say, at the deadline of a competitive season when you may need to fill a significant hole or push further in for the World Series). But at the same time, I’m not worried about it yet.
- For one, you can’t just completely ignore all the young, cost-controlled Cubs starters and impactful players. Michael Busch (2030), Miguel Amaya (2030), Cade Horton (2031), Pete Crow-Armstrong (2031), Daniel Palencia, Matt Shaw (2032), and Moises Ballesteros (likely 2032) are all under control through the decade and then some. That should buy the Cubs plenty of time to draft, develop, and rebuild their farm system. You shouldn’t be dinged (in terms of future outlook) just for having recently graduated a bunch of top prospects. That is the goal, after all.
- For another, there are a few breakout candidates in the making: For example, last year’s first and second round picks, Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley, plus Jefferson Rojas. And then there’s some close-to-the-majors guys like Kevin Alcantara, Johnny Long, and Brandon Birdsell (among others) who could soon contribute.
- So while I would definitely not say the Cubs minor league system is in a good place – it’s simply not – I would say the Cubs’ current collection of young, cost-controlled talent is.
Worried About the Lack of Top-100 Cubs Prospects? Kudos for Kimbrel, and Other Cubs Bullets
The former Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel is not done yet.
This year might be make or break for some of our AAA prospects. Alcantara Traintos and Long could make up the bulk of our bench in 27 otherwise they might be ready for a change of scenery
Like taking a flier on Carlson and McCormick. Ideal scenario for the Cubs would be for one of those two to play their way onto the roster so Alcantara can go back to Iowa and play every day for a month or two to start the year. Would love to see Alcantara get that opportunity to go beat up on AAA pitching for a little longer then join the roster rather than starting the season with limited opportunities off the bench.
I think this is exactly what they are hoping for. The AAA roster was lacking OF to begin with after trading Caissie and Alcantara as kind of the default bench OF at the moment. So regardless they need to fill those roster spots 1 way or another as don't think they have anyone else ready to promote to AAA yet for the OF. Long and Triantos may get some playing time in the Iowa OF this year too I think.
Yeah I like how the the goal in Iowa is strictly development. Find out how many positions each player can comfortably handle. Basically the Zobrist affect. First two to benefit were Bryant and Baez.
Would have been nice if we could have kept him in the organization for depth. Sucks he's going to a division rival to boot.
www.espn.com
Brewers sign veteran catcher McGuire to minor league deal
Veteran catcher Reese McGuire has signed a minor league contract with the Brewers that includes an invitation to major league camp.
He’s on a minor league deal I’m sure he has the opt out clause so if we need him he properly can be had.Would have been nice if we could have kept him in the organization for depth. Sucks he's going to a division rival to boot.
Brewers sign veteran catcher McGuire to minor league deal
Veteran catcher Reese McGuire has signed a minor league contract with the Brewers that includes an invitation to major league camp.
Just not a good enough bat to even have on the bench with Kelly/Amaya/MoBaller likely making the squad.Would have been nice if we could have kept him in the organization for depth. Sucks he's going to a division rival to boot.
Brewers sign veteran catcher McGuire to minor league deal
Veteran catcher Reese McGuire has signed a minor league contract with the Brewers that includes an invitation to major league camp.
Cubs #25:
www.espn.com
2026 MLB farm system rankings: Prospect insights, analysis
How bright is your favorite club's future? Here's how every organization stacks up entering the 2026 season.
Cubs #25:
2026 MLB farm system rankings: Prospect insights, analysis
How bright is your favorite club's future? Here's how every organization stacks up entering the 2026 season.
Probably about right. We just traded away our #1 prospect in Caissie and our previous top guys are no longer prospects either regular contributors in Chicago now or toiling as possible 4A kind of player. Mo won't be for long either if he sticks with the big club. They are going to need to restock through the draft or hope some guys in the lower minors take a big step forward in development to improve the ranking.
The question going forward is how do the Cubs manage the roster and fill in the gaps after 2026 when Bregman and Swanson are the only 2 veterans on long term deals. They have a lot of team controlled guys still and a few guys that have options for 2027 but a lot of veteran guys coming off the books that will have to make offers to or move on from. Wiggins is the only big prospect on the radar at the moment to be the next guy up that could provide an impact.
Something else to pay attention to is where our in-division rivals rank on that list. Brewers at #1, Pirates #3, Cardinals #9 and Reds #15. They are going to have options whether their prospects provide impact help in the big leagues or are used piece in a trade for an impact veteran player. We know the Cardinals are trying to turn over their roster right now but the Brewers are still trying to field a competitive team and have the prospects to either supplement a need or use in a trade to acquire it. Pirates and Reds are so up and down on if they are trying to compete or not as they don't like spending a ton on payroll.
Yea it was interesting the Cubs moved quickly to sign Bethancourt to a minor league deal instead of McGuire.
But then maybe they we just being realistic about what McGuire would command from a salary perspective after a pretty solid year in Chicago.
Also have to believe if there is any chance Ballesteros can develop into a platoon MLB catcher (even if it's only 40 games a season), the Cubs need to figure that out in 2026.
Nothing wrong if he is a full time DH.
I'm skeptical that Mo will ever be anything but a DH with the Cubs. May get some occasional work at C or even 1B like he played some at Iowa but his defense likely will limit his usage at C in the big leagues unless he takes a huge step forward in development there. And to stick as a full time DH he's going to need to mash too. The Cubs like to use the DH for positional flexibility in order to give guys kind of a 1/2 day off at times and if the long term outlook for him is DH he's going to have to really hit the ball well to make up for potentially keeping another bat out of the lineup.
I hope he is the real deal but part of me has always wondered if he would be more valuable in a trade given he doesn't really have positional flexibility on this roster and that is something the Cubs seem to like with how they have used the DH position.
