*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[mred]

He strikes less than the league average so what? He has career on base percentage of .358 which is good but not elite. He is a good player but $60 million per year good?

Adjusted OPS+ measures offensive performance adjusted to league average (Adj OPS+ = 100), taking into account how hitter-friendly the ballparks they play in.

Over the past five seasons, three players have had an Adj OPS+ over 140 all five years:
Judge
Ohtani
Soto

Four players have had an Adj OPS+ over 140 four of the last five seasons:
Freeman
Harper
Seager
Tucker (only "miss" was Adj OPS+ of 129 in 2022)

That consistency is worth a lot to a team.

Source: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/yQWix

 

[Pharmacy99]

Adjusted OPS+ measures offensive performance adjusted to league average (Adj OPS+ = 100), taking into account how hitter-friendly the ballparks they play in.

Over the past five seasons, three players have had an Adj OPS+ over 140 all five years:
Judge
Ohtani
Soto

Four players have had an Adj OPS+ over 140 four of the last five seasons:
Freeman
Harper
Seager
Tucker (only "miss" was Adj OPS+ of 129 in 2022)

That consistency is worth a lot to a team.

Source: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/yQWix

OK, do you think Tucker is better than Bobby Witt Jr or Acunia Jr?

 

[3TrueFans]

OK, do you think Tucker is better than Bobby Witt Jr or Acunia Jr?

Even if the answer is no would that make him not elite in your mind?

 

[cycloneman003]

He strikes less than the league average so what? He has career on base percentage of .358 which is good but not elite. He is a good player but $60 million per year good?

You are ******* dumb

 

[Pharmacy99]

Even if the answer is no would that make him not elite in your mind?

He is a good player not elite. I can easily name 10 players that are better than him.

 

[Pharmacy99]

You are ******* dumb

OK, do you think he is worth $60/year?

 

[3TrueFans]

He is a good player not elite. I can easily name 10 players that are better than him.

What's the cut off for elite for you? Top 5?

 

[Pharmacy99]

What's the cut off for elite for you? Top 5?

Maybe top 10? Or a player who can carry a team like Judge, Otani, Soto, and Harper?

 

[Cyforce]

This is what he thinks will happen? Hopes will happen?

Probably reading the tea leaves. I’ve read from another source that Shaw may see some OF this year.

 

[3TrueFans]

OK, do you think he is worth $60/year?

He's worth $60m to the Dodgers, but this is a completely different argument anyways.

Maybe top 10? Or a player who can carry a team like Judge, Otani, Soto, and Harper?

Oh, well he's not Judge, Soto or Ohtani, so yeah. I think the argument could be made that he's a top 10 hitter over the last 3 seasons. 7th in OBP, 8th in OPS, 7th wRC+, 7th in walk %, 20th K%

 

[Cyforce]

OK, do you think Tucker is better than Bobby Witt Jr or Acunia Jr?

Yes if healthy all year which is a huge if.

 

[ISUCubswin]

One year was enough of Tucker. The dude was not a baseball rat and does not philosophically align with the FO and what they're looking for in the clubhouse.

But the dude finished top 15 in WAR for AL players in 2024 despite playing in just 78 games.

Hit .291 with 19 homeruns and a .933 OPS in his first 82 games as a Cub, placing him second in the NL.

He is an elite ball player. He's also just kind of a *****. (I mean that nicely.)

 

[CycloneT]

OK, do you think he is worth $60/year?

Rather pay any player 60M for 29-32 seasons then 40M on the back end of a 10 year contract

 

[Pharmacy99]

Yes if healthy all year which is a huge if.

Not even he is healthy. Acunia Jr won MVP and Witt Jr hit .332 with 32 HR

 

[David Freshman1982]

One year was enough of Tucker. The dude was not a baseball rat and does not philosophically align with the FO and what they're looking for in the clubhouse.

But the dude finished top 15 in WAR for AL players in 2024 despite playing in just 78 games.

Hit .291 with 19 homeruns and a .933 OPS in his first 82 games as a Cub, placing him second in the NL.

He is an elite ball player. He's also just kind of a *****. (I mean that nicely.)

This. Tucker just never seemed to give two f’s about the Cubs, most fans never warmed up to him and he’s definitely not the type of player the front office wants to spend serious money on, that’s why Bregman is such an interesting ( and telling) alternative.

 

[GP4ISU]

There were lots of scouts who believed Shaws future was in the OF coming out of college, so there absolutely is a world he moves to a corner after the 26 season.

That being said, I think if I’m a betting man, he is moved before that can happen

What am I missing? I know his first half and his playoffs weren’t good, but his second half was pretty solid offensively. All rookies struggle somewhat. Maybe other than Nico, was arguably our best hitter in the second half. Top prospect. Gold glove type D. Fast as all get out. Pretty solid adjustments. Would hate to give up on him.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[GP4ISU]

Rockies refused to let Bryant attend per reports from The Score in Chicago..

 

[BigJCy]

 

[CYdTracked]

Joe Maddon doesn't get the fandom he probably deserves as being the manager to break the long WS drought. For that alone he probably deserves something at Wrigley but I don't know of the magnitude of a statue or flag in the OF as he was only manager for 5 seasons. Hate how it ended with him and a lot of that had to do with the core group of guys from that team that stayed not improving or even consistently performing at the same level that they did after 2016. Joe had his mistakes managing that bunch before he was let go but those rosters in 2018 and 2019 especially felt like many players underachieved and that was not all on Joe.

Crazy that the Rockies would not let Bryant attend. That probably doesn't sit well with the current situation going on with him there either. So glad the Cubs aren't the ones having to foot the bill for his lack of productivity and health issues. As much as it sucked to trade him, Rizzo, and Baez at the time the Cubs in hindsight really dodged a bullet not giving those 3 long term deals.