*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[isucy86]

You haven’t answered my question. Why is Kelly better than McGuire? Is he much better defensively? Kelly is a lifetime .229 hitter. McGuire is slightly better at .251. What Kelly has done early in the season is way out of his norm.

The fact Kelly was on the Cubs opening day roster tells you something about what the Cubs think of the 2 players. Plus you are deluding yourself if you believe the Cubs will send a player down to Iowa whose making $5M a year for 2025 & 2026. Whereas the Cubs are paying McGuire $523k.

Sure Kelly has only been a .200 hitter in May/June & if he's a .240 hitter, my guess is the Cubs would be content. But if not, the answer is Amaya getting a higher share of starts once he returns vs. keeping McGuire over Kelly.

Personally, I'd keep McGuire and DFA Bruhan when Amaya is ready to return. If the Cubs don't want to keep 3 catchers, then maybe there is a trade market for McGuire to pick up a utility infielder.

 

[Cyforce]

The fact Kelly was on the Cubs opening day roster tells you something about what the Cubs think of the 2 players. Plus you are deluding yourself if you believe the Cubs will send a player down to Iowa whose making $5M a year for 2025 & 2026. Whereas the Cubs are paying McGuire $523k.

Bote played a couple years in Des Moines making $5 mil a year but I agree Kelly isn’t getting sent down.

 

[Cyclone90]

Personally, I'd keep McGuire and DFA Bruhan when Amaya is ready to return. If the Cubs don't want to keep 3 catchers, then maybe there is a trade market for McGuire to pick up a utility infielder.

You need at least 2 backup infielders and need to keep McGuire in case they have another catcher injury after the trade deadline. He was a great pickup for a 3rd catcher and you can't just let that go.

 

[Cyclone90]

And totally off topic, Score radio guy Zach Zaidmen's loud laughing/cackling at every Pat Hughes joke like a 70s TV laugh track is driving me nuts.

 

[chuckd4735]

And totally off topic, Score radio guy Zach Zaidmen's loud laughing/cackling at every Pat Hughes joke like a 70s TV laugh track is driving me nuts.

That's been going on for years.

 

[CYdTracked]

Bote played a couple years in Des Moines making $5 mil a year but I agree Kelly isn’t getting sent down.

He does not have a minor league option so he'd have to be DFA and he is signed for 2026 with a mutual 2027 option so he's not going anywhere.

 

[CYdTracked]

You need at least 2 backup infielders and need to keep McGuire in case they have another catcher injury after the trade deadline. He was a great pickup for a 3rd catcher and you can't just let that go.

He's a better bench option than Brujan and as little as he has played I'd DFA Brujan to keep him for now. The bench is general is nothing to be feared for a late inning PH or day off for someone.

 

[cyatheart]

Swanson at 5th? How about Busch at 5, Hoerner at 6, McGuire at 7, and Swanson at 8?

Man McGuire been playing pretty well, hate to send him down.

 

[CYdTracked]

Man McGuire been playing pretty well, hate to send him down.

That's the problem, both him and Kelly do not have minor league options so when they activate Amaya they either carry 3 catchers or have to DFA one. Kelly is signed for next year so he won't be DFA. Sucks that someone will be the odd man out but you'd rather have too much positional depth than not enough.

 

[cyfanatic13]

And totally off topic, Score radio guy Zach Zaidmen's loud laughing/cackling at every Pat Hughes joke like a 70s TV laugh track is driving me nuts.

That's been going on for years.

Zaidman is the worst. If he gets the job whenever Pat hangs it up, I’ll be so pissed. I watch way more than I listen, but listening to Pat Hughes call a baseball game is like art.

 

[Cyclone90]

He's a better bench option than Brujan and as little as he has played I'd DFA Brujan to keep him for now. The bench is general is nothing to be feared for a late inning PH or day off for someone.

McGuire needs a mysteries injury until the roster expands in Sept.

 

[NoCreativity]

McGuire needs a mysteries injury until the roster expands in Sept.

On MLB The Show 25 I just put them on the 15 day DL with a "Stomach Ache" so I don't have to DFA guys.

 

[RoseClone]

Zaidman is the worst. If he gets the job whenever Pat hangs it up, I’ll be so pissed. I watch way more than I listen, but listening to Pat Hughes call a baseball game is like art.

That would be freaking horrible if he got the job. His call is beyond irritating.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[RivClone23]

You haven’t answered my question. Why is Kelly better than McGuire? Is he much better defensively? Kelly is a lifetime .229 hitter. McGuire is slightly better at .251. What Kelly has done early in the season is way out of his norm.

Carson Kelly is a proven veteran, who the Cubs paid 11+ million to come be the 2nd catcher. He has done nothing but exceed what you want out of him over the 1st half. McGuire has been a great addition when needed and I'd be fine with him staying up as the 3rd catcher for a while.

Carson Kelly is better than Reese McGuire. I'm not going to dive into all the stats, but despite a higher average, he has a lower OBP and SLG over their careers in half the plate appearances. CK has been worth more WAR this season than RM has in his career. What RM has done this year is not sustainable, just as CK's hot start wasn't sustainable. Let's just enjoy the ride and then we can all remember the Reese McGuire era fondly.

 

[cyfanatic13]

That would be freaking horrible if he got the job. His call is beyond irritating.

I'm not sure if he would come back, but would be pretty sweet if Len Kasper came back to the Cubs after Pat retires. According to him, he only really left cause he wanted to do radio over TV and I can't imagine he's had a ton of fun doing White Sox games over the past few years

 

[Pharmacy99]

Carson Kelly is a proven veteran, who the Cubs paid 11+ million to come be the 2nd catcher. He has done nothing but exceed what you want out of him over the 1st half. McGuire has been a great addition when needed and I'd be fine with him staying up as the 3rd catcher for a while.

Carson Kelly is better than Reese McGuire. I'm not going to dive into all the stats, but despite a higher average, he has a lower OBP and SLG over their careers in half the plate appearances. CK has been worth more WAR this season than RM has in his career. What RM has done this year is not sustainable, just as CK's hot start wasn't sustainable. Let's just enjoy the ride and then we can all remember the Reese McGuire era fondly.

We paid Kelly so we have to use him but I am not sure he is better than McGuire offensively. I guess Kelly is a better catcher than McGuire. When Amaya comes back, he should be the everyday catcher as he has more upside than both Kelly and McGuire

 

[RivClone23]

We paid Kelly so we have to use him but I am not sure he is better than McGuire offensively. I guess Kelly is a better catcher than McGuire. When Amaya comes back, he should be the everyday catcher as he has more upside than both Kelly and McGuire

Ok, I said I wasn't going to use all the stats, but here are some. Yes, the money matters, but we'll keep Carson Kelly bc he is better and he will continue to split time with Miguel Amaya, as he should.

Here you'll see he has been the best defensively of the 3 (defense is hard to quantify but whatever.
Also, CK walks the most and strikes out the least. CK has 4 times the PA and has the same wRC+ as RM and better than MA. That includes his cold stretch which RM hasn't had yet. RM is doing nothing outside of hitting homeruns, which are great but won't continue at the same clip. Then what?

Like I said, enjoy Reese McGuire while he's hot and then we can move on.

 

[mred]

I'm not sure if he would come back, but would be pretty sweet if Len Kasper came back to the Cubs after Pat retires. According to him, he only really left cause he wanted to do radio over TV and I can't imagine he's had a ton of fun doing White Sox games over the past few years

This has been my exact thought the past few years.