*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

Boyd is much more likely to turn into a pumpkin.

Exactly my thoughts. First off this is all a pointless discussion if we don't sign Gallen, the Cubs won't have a decision to make for the rotation until Steele returns and even when he does you never know if someone in the rotation will already be hurt or maybe they go with a 6 man rotation finally to keep everyone fresh during the 2nd half of the season.

If they do sign Gallen then the rotation does become crowded but they don't necessarily have to make a move either until Steele returns. There is no denying Boyd had a great bounce back year and stayed healthy, but the previous 5 seasons he couldn't stay healthy and if you look over the bulk of his career he's still a career 4.57 ERA pitcher with 199 starts. Taillon has a career ERA of 3.87 and 223 starts and just 1 season where he hasn't logged over 104+ IP. Much more proven track record and consistency over his career and 1 year younger than Boyd too so I have much more confidence he can stay healthy and consistently productive over a course of a full season than Boyd can.

I doubt you really get much back in a trade for either with expiring contracts at their age other than maybe some kind of salary relief and a low level prospect or 2 that may or may not pan out several years down the road. And for that kind of return would rather just let things play out and decide if someone in the rotation can slide into the bullpen when Steele returns. Beats having to go out and possibly trade for bullpen help if there is a need. Sometimes a guy that moves from the rotation to the bullpen can be very effective when they only have to navigate through 1-2 innings vs trying to go 5+ so they can just let their stuff rip knowing they will not face the lineup more than 1 time through.

 

[Cyforce]

Boyd is much more likely to turn into a pumpkin.

Which gives him less trade value. Let’s say Shota or Boyd regain there past performance. ( but not both) Do you have Taillon in the playoff rotation even if we don’t add Gallen? Here’s my order of probability of starting in October but not necessarily in this order on starts. Meaning I think Horton is a lock but not necessarily as a game one guy.
Horton
Steele
Boyd
Cabrera
Trade deadline pickup
Shota
Wiggins
Rea
Taillon
Assad

 

[ISUCubswin]

Shota can’t be traded until mid-June, so signing Gallen would likely mean it’s Taillon or Boyd who leave.

That being said, I would guess no SP leaves even if we trade for one (Shaw) or sign Gallen. It makes more sense to have 6 healthy SPs in March given no one in this rotation is known for their health

 

[1UNI2ISU]

They're already in the tax and know it's going to reset next year. I think they're all in. Even if they sign Gallen, I think they hold on to everyone. Jed has said repeatedly you have to have 10 guys that you're comfortable with getting starts.

I also think that's why he spent money on the pen, two or three games in April or May could mean having to play in the WC round. Can't wait until June to have the pen figured out

 

[CYdTracked]

Which gives him less trade value. Let’s say Shota or Boyd regain there past performance. ( but not both) Do you have Taillon in the playoff rotation even if we don’t add Gallen? Here’s my order of probability of starting in October but not necessarily in this order on starts. Meaning I think Horton is a lock but not necessarily as a game one guy.
Horton
Steele
Boyd
Cabrera
Trade deadline pickup
Shota
Wiggins
Rea
Taillon
Assad

In the playoffs its usually going to be a 4 man rotation so in this scenario you'd have Horton, Steele, Caberra, and whoever has become the established #4 guy or Gallen if he somehow becomes a Cub. Let's be realistic here, Boyd and Taillon probably do not have a ton of trade value at their age and salary. The Cubs will not get a meaningful prospect back in return it will be either salary relief or some low level prospect package. To me both are worth keeping for now and you let things play out until Steele comes back then you re-evaluate. Before his injury Steele was struggling a bit too so who is to say he comes back and immediately one of the best 3 pitchers in the rotation? Lot of "what if's" to play out.

I hope Wiggins is the real deal and he makes an impact like Horton but they have the luxury of developing him in AAA this year if they need to with the rotation depth. I'm not a fan of Assad. When healthy he's a decent swing guy but not someone I count on to make 20+ starts. He has some trade value as younger cost controlled pitcher that could be a back of the rotation arm for a smaller market team. He probably will be stashed in Iowa this year as a starter unless the bullpen is beat up with injuries or guys that are ineffective.

 

[Cyforce]

In the playoffs its usually going to be a 4 man rotation so in this scenario you'd have Horton, Steele, Caberra, and whoever has become the established #4 guy or Gallen if he somehow becomes a Cub. Let's be realistic here, Boyd and Taillon probably do not have a ton of trade value at their age and salary. The Cubs will not get a meaningful prospect back in return it will be either salary relief or some low level prospect package. To me both are worth keeping for now and you let things play out until Steele comes back then you re-evaluate. Before his injury Steele was struggling a bit too so who is to say he comes back and immediately one of the best 3 pitchers in the rotation? Lot of "what if's" to play out.

I hope Wiggins is the real deal and he makes an impact like Horton but they have the luxury of developing him in AAA this year if they need to with the rotation depth. I'm not a fan of Assad. When healthy he's a decent swing guy but not someone I count on to make 20+ starts. He has some trade value as younger cost controlled pitcher that could be a back of the rotation arm for a smaller market team. He probably will be stashed in Iowa this year as a starter unless the bullpen is beat up with injuries or guys that are ineffective.

More or less I agree with all of this. But from what Levine hinted I took it more that the trade of a starter post signing Gallen would be more about cutting back salary allowing them to have some deadline flexibility while staying under tier two.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[CYdTracked]

Cubs sure dodged a bullet nit extending KB

Kris Bryant already on 60-day IL for Rockies as brutal contract somehow gets worse - Yahoo Sports https://share.google/uYXJ61LRZm9Uu2SNz

Can you imagine the financial and competitive mess.the Cubs would be in right now had they extended Rizzo, Bryant, and Baez for what they were seeking? Sad to see this, KB looked like he was going to be a star for a long time.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[mred]

Cubs sure dodged a bullet nit extending KB

Kris Bryant already on 60-day IL for Rockies as brutal contract somehow gets worse - Yahoo Sports https://share.google/uYXJ61LRZm9Uu2SNz

Basically the non-pitcher version of Mark Prior.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[BigJCy]

The first question is about the volume of Cubs players participating in the WBC, and whether it’s a disadvantage for the Cubs. Hoyer sees the upside for the players and the fans, and notes that it does give a lot of opportunities for other players – veterans, minor league signings, prospects – to get a lot more spring action.

The attitude around camp is that there’s a hunger. Unfinished business. Not anxiety tied to expectations.

Everyday there’s going to be an injury report, and you have to work through the season to deal with it. You have to think about every possible pitfall, every possible issue in advance. The Cubs will continue talking to agents even now, thinking about what might happen.

Carter says the expectation is that the group that emerges to open the season is probably reflected in the group that’s going to be in camp – i.e., not necessarily expecting more big moves – but he also hedges with the standard note that talks continue, you never know, etc., etc.

No concerns about Matt Shaw being able to adjust to new positions, because of the athleticism, the work, and the fact that he just did it last year at third base.

Cubs are internally very excited about the reclamation arms they brought in this offseason, even if they couldn’t say today who is going to break out, what their role might be, etc. There’s confidence that talent will emerge again.

Need guys like Daniel Palencia to step forward like that every year. Need him to keep doing it, yes, but also have to have other guys step forward, because injuries and underperformance are inevitable.

Cubs appreciate being able to point to their success stories on this front so that they can use it in the future as proof that they’re a good place to be for pitchers who are looking to get the most out of themselves. But also a reminder that player development isn’t just the breakout stuff, but also veterans getting better (i.e., Jameson Taillon adding the kick-change last year).

No new or surprising injuries to note!!! WOO HOO!!! THAT’S the biggest win of the day.

Jed doesn’t take the bait on an obvious question about whether there’s financial flexibility to add another “$18 million pitcher.” He says only that he won’t comment on specifics, and there’s flexibility to make additions at the deadline and/or throughout the season.

It’s rare that a veteran is as invested in making young players better as Alex Bregman is, and it’s already showing.

Moises Ballesteros is a very gifted hitter who’ll have to come in and earn playing time, and other guys can rotate through DH, but he does have a chance to compete and earn a lot of those ABs.

LIVE: Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins Spring Opening Press Conference

Cubs President Jed Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins on the offseason that was, and the season that lies ahead.

www.bleachernation.com

 

[CYdTracked]

Good breakdown of the bullpen in the article too

Daniel Palencia Named Cubs Closer, What About the Rest of the Bullpen?

Nice to have little question coming into spring training on the makeup of the bullpen. Barring an injury there maybe is 1 spot to be determined with these essentially locks:

Palencia
Maton
Harvey
Thielbar
Milner
Webb
Rea

My guess is Assad and Brown start the year in Iowa and either 1 of the non-roster guys earns a spot or Hodge or Hollowell look too good not to have on the opening day roster. I kinda hope they just commit to Brown as a reliever in Iowa this year. Have Assad and Wiggins as next up if a starter is needed or I guess even Rea fills that role 1st as the swing man on the staff. The guys mentioned later in the article basically are going to be up/down guys from Iowa this year unless they just really figure it out for once and stick when they get their opportunity.

 

[BigJCy]

"Three Cubs are not yet in camp due to visa issues: Moisés Ballesteros, Javier Assad and Christian Bethancourt.

Counsell said they are expected to arrive shortly but won’t be in AZ today for Cubs first pitchers and catchers workout."

 

[Cyforce]

Just saw Castellanos got released. Be a nice RH bat off the bench. For it to work. Shaw or Suzuki would need to be emergency CF. He can barely hand left so he’d likely be a ph or righty platoon at DH. I know carrying two bat only might cause a strain but if Shaw can pull off super utility it’s plausible. Besides how many games is PCA gonna sit anyway. Alcantara is only an hour flight away.

 

[isucy86]

Just saw Castellanos got released. Be a nice RH bat off the bench. For it to work. Shaw or Suzuki would need to be emergency CF. He can barely hand left so he’d likely be a ph or righty platoon at DH. I know carrying two bat only might cause a strain but if Shaw can pull off super utility it’s plausible. Besides how many games is PCA gonna sit anyway. Alcantara is only an hour flight away.

Also saw that he was mad about being pulled and grabbed a can of beer from Clubhouse and brought it to dugout and sat down next to the Phils manager. He said his teammates took it away before he drank. Sounds a little Bill Clinton-ish. aka I took a puff, but never inhaled so it's OK!

Don't know whether to laugh about it or think he's a complete idiot and headcase. Regardless, the Cubs moved on from him pretty quickly the 1st time around, my guess they "know better".

 

[CYdTracked]

Just saw Castellanos got released. Be a nice RH bat off the bench. For it to work. Shaw or Suzuki would need to be emergency CF. He can barely hand left so he’d likely be a ph or righty platoon at DH. I know carrying two bat only might cause a strain but if Shaw can pull off super utility it’s plausible. Besides how many games is PCA gonna sit anyway. Alcantara is only an hour flight away.

Not gonna happen. I bet he goes somewhere like back to Detroit or could even see him going somewhere like the Brewers or Pirates too. Dude was a -1.0 WAR last season and not very good defensively. Strikes out too much to be a bench bat at this point of his career. If the Cubs sign anyone it's probably going to be a guy that is more of a glove first player that can play multiple positions.

 

[CYdTracked]

Also saw that he was mad about being pulled and grabbed a can of beer from Clubhouse and brought it to dugout and sat down next to the Phils manager. He said his teammates took it away before he drank. Sounds a little Bill Clinton-ish. aka I took a puff, but never inhaled so it's OK!

Don't know whether to laugh about it or think he's a complete idiot and headcase. Regardless, the Cubs moved on from him pretty quickly the 1st time around, my guess they "know better".

Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up on some beer league softball team after he retires, lol! Not sure if hes still playing but Jose Canseco was on some sponsored slow pitch team as recent as a few years ago I know.

 

[Cyforce]

Not gonna happen. I bet he goes somewhere like back to Detroit or could even see him going somewhere like the Brewers or Pirates too. Dude was a -1.0 WAR last season and not very good defensively. Strikes out too much to be a bench bat at this point of his career. If the Cubs sign anyone it's probably going to be a guy that is more of a glove first player that can play multiple positions.

He’s getting paid by the Phillies this year so he might take a minor league deal with a big league invite to spring training. Why not take a flier? And at this point in his career why wouldn’t he go with his best opportunity to go deep into the postseason.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

If he has his stuff rolling he’s one of the best