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*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

I'm fine keeping both Nico and Shaw. Nico was probably our best position player last year and combine him with Bregman's approach at the plate I like a couple guys that are baseball junkies that just consistently do good things. Nico has a team high 6.1 WAR last season, you don't just trade a guy like that away for the sake of clearing a position. He was 3rd on the team in 2024 at 3.7 and in 2023 1st with a 5.0 WAR. Even if he is in his last year of his contract you need a guy like him in the lineup if you are serious about competing this season which the last 2 moves the Cubs made sure signals like they are all in now. You'd have to get a HUGE haul back to even entertain moving Nico IMO.

If Shaw is as good as we all think he can be they will find a way to get him regular playing time. Injuries are bound to happen too and it's nice to have him as a fall back option when that happens than the players we had on the bench last year.
 
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My opinion is we don't trade anyone and roll with Shaw as a utility guy. Brendan did a great job showing how you can get him 500+ ABs pretty easily while still optimizing the lineup. Basically he's taking a lot of Caissie and Mo vs lefty at bats while giving others rest.

Great job, Jed. Great job, Tom. Lets go!
 
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RivClone23 said:


My opinion is we don't trade anyone and roll with Shaw as a utility guy. Brendan did a great job showing how you can get him 500+ ABs pretty easily while still optimizing the lineup. Basically a lot of Caissie and Mo vs lefty at bats while giving others rest.

Great job, Jed. Great job, Tom. Lets go!
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Complete agree with all this, but Caissie just got traded to the Marlins.
 
1UNI2ISU said:
I didn't include Seiya because extending him is a no brainer. I would be shocked if that didn't happen.

Two years for Happ gives Conrad and Kepley time to develop.
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To sign both Happ would have give us a sweetheart deal. Imanaga Boyd Taillon Suzuki Happ Hoerner Kelly and a chunk of the bullpen come off the books.

If Seya is a no brainer ( hope you’re right)
Hopefully we use a nice piece of the money freeing up on an Ace. Then Hoerner and reloading the bullpen.

To me Happ isn’t long term anymore so you cut him loose.
 
Cyforce said:
To sign both Happ would have give us a sweetheart deal. Imanaga Boyd Taillon Suzuki Happ Hoerner Kelly and a chunk of the bullpen come off the books.

If Seya is a no brainer ( hope you’re right)
Hopefully we use a nice piece of the money freeing up on an Ace. Then Hoerner and reloading the bullpen.

To me Happ isn’t long term anymore so you cut him loose.
Click to expand...
I hope we have multiple aces after this year for cheap. Horton and Cabrera. With Wiggins not far behind.

I'm only half joking.
 
RivClone23 said:
Yes, so some of Shaws at bats would have been Caissies

The left column is before the last two moves, and the right is after.
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If Mo doesn’t play v lefties you are looking at about 40 starts that they can DH Bregman Hoerner or Swanson. That would be under 200 PAs for Hoerner. The rest have to come from Ballestareos or an infielder completely out of the lineup.
 
Saw a Cardinal beat writers article stating we’re tied up money wise and will be so until St Louis is competitive again. They sited Bregman and Happ likely downward trajectory due to age.

A. Not sure why he’d include a guy in an expiring contract ( sorry Swanson that makes more sense)

B. Glad to hear he thinks they’ll suck that long.

redbirdrants.com

Cardinals fans should rejoice after Cubs' latest move cripples Chicago's future

Alex Bregman will not lead the Chicago Cubs to long-term glory.
redbirdrants.com redbirdrants.com
 
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Cyforce said:
Saw a Cardinal beat writers article stating we’re tied up money wise and will be so until St Louis is competitive again. They sited Bregman and Happ likely downward trajectory due to age.

A. Not sure why he’d include a guy in an expiring contract

B. Glad to hear he thinks they’ll suck that long.

redbirdrants.com

Cardinals fans should rejoice after Cubs' latest move cripples Chicago's future

Alex Bregman will not lead the Chicago Cubs to long-term glory.
redbirdrants.com redbirdrants.com
Click to expand...
Guy is clearly clueless as the Cubs have mountains of money coming off the books after 2026 lol

With the Bregman signing, there are actually only three guaranteed contracts on the books after this season. Swanson, Bregman and Maton. Everyone else is either pending FA, or Arb/Pre-arb.
 
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Cyforce said:
To sign both Happ would have give us a sweetheart deal. Imanaga Boyd Taillon Suzuki Happ Hoerner Kelly and a chunk of the bullpen come off the books.

If Seya is a no brainer ( hope you’re right)
Hopefully we use a nice piece of the money freeing up on an Ace. Then Hoerner and reloading the bullpen.

To me Happ isn’t long term anymore so you cut him loose.
Click to expand...

I don't see the Cubs resigning both Happ and Suzuki, likely will be 1 or the other based on 2026 performance and price tag. And I sure as hell would not give either another full no-trade clause again. Most years there is usually a good corner OF available on the free agent or trade market so don't see a reason to overspend or over-think contract terms with either of them and let their markets play out a bit. If both have great seasons that probably means so will the Cubs as a team and that is not a bad problem to have.
 
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I'd really like to keep Nico. I think fans are forgetting he was about the only thing that we had offensively for a good stretch this summer. Sure, the power numbers suck but he puts the ball in play and he hits for average. Plus he's elite defensively.

I'd float Shaw and see what you can get for prospects. If the return isn't great, you make him a utility guy. It's a nice position to be in.
 
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Clonefan32 said:
I'd really like to keep Nico. I think fans are forgetting he was about the only thing that we had offensively for a good stretch this summer. Sure, the power numbers suck but he puts the ball in play and he hits for average. Plus he's elite defensively.

I'd float Shaw and see what you can get for prospects. If the return isn't great, you make him a utility guy. It's a nice position to be in.
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Yep, and then you would also have Shaw for 2027 at 2B IF Hoerner goes elsewhere...which I hope he doesn't.
 
BigJCy said:
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This is basically where I am at. Sure, there are risks to keeping everyone but I would rather maximize the opportunity to win this year.

There is always uncertainty 2, 3, 4 years down the road and that is especially so right now with the new CBA.

I'd rather have too many good players. Matt Shaw will get his chances.
 
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Cyforce said:
Saw a Cardinal beat writers article stating we’re tied up money wise and will be so until St Louis is competitive again. They sited Bregman and Happ likely downward trajectory due to age.

A. Not sure why he’d include a guy in an expiring contract ( sorry Swanson that makes more sense)

B. Glad to hear he thinks they’ll suck that long.

redbirdrants.com

Cardinals fans should rejoice after Cubs' latest move cripples Chicago's future

Alex Bregman will not lead the Chicago Cubs to long-term glory.
redbirdrants.com redbirdrants.com
Click to expand...
This may be the dumbest thing I've ever read.
 
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I’d be interested to know if the organization views Ballestareos as a legitimate option as one of our two primary catchers in the future.
 
Cyforce said:
I’d be interested to know if the organization views Ballestareos as a legitimate option as one of our two primary catchers in the future.
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I doubt it. Even with framing going away, he's a below average blocker and has a well below average arm. With the way the Cubs are built, you can't put a poor defensive catcher out there on a regular basis.
 
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