*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CloneIce]

Cubs won’t trade Caissie just to trade Caissie. But the Royals and Marlins both really like Caissie. The Cubs really like Cabrera and Bubic. Both are cheap and controlled.

I do not see a world Caissie is traded for guys like Keller or Sandy, where the Cubs are not only trading a top prospect but also eating $18M/Year.

I also do not see a world Cais

Royals fan here. I don’t know if it makes that much sense for a contender to trade for Bubic this year as a move to win it all this year. He is in his first full year back from Tommy John’s. I think he’ll have innings limitations down the the stretch and into the postseason.

On the positive side, he is under team control for next year too so he’s not a rental and should have no limitations next year. I expect it would take a lot to get him.

 

[NoCreativity]

And it’s not like even making the playoffs is a given with Tucker as-is, given the state of the pitching staff.

Tied for 2nd best record in the majors right now with a 99.7% chance of making playoffs. Good grief some of you guys need to get a grip.

 

[Pharmacy99]

Depends on just how aggressive they get with pitching acquisitions really. Kriske would be the first to go, he's already been DFA once and cleared waivers. Brown has minor league options but other than that the next likely to get sent down as no one else has minor league options. Honestly I would rather get rid of Pressly before Flexen. Flexen has been pretty good up until July and I think part of that is because of how they have been using him lately. Last 3 outings where he's been roughed up have been 3.2 4.0 and 3.2 innings as he's being asked to go multiple innings in these ridiculous bullpen days because we don't have 5 healthy and capable starters right now. He's been best in that 1-2 inning role up to this point. Pressly just feels washed up and can't throw clean innings consistently enough to trust as a late inning guy he was supposed to be. Always some kind of runners on the bases before he gets 3 outs it feels like more often than not. Pomeranz really has only had 4 bad games since becoming a Cub and 2 of them just happen to been this week. Prior to July he had not given up a run and allowed just 13 hits and 6 walks in 25 appearances. If he keeps trending the wrong way then maybe he gets cut but like Flexen I'm not over-reacting over a couple recent bad outings when outside of that they have been pretty good. Plus both have been asked to pitch as openers in these bullpen games that we should not have to be doing right now if they would of addressed the starting pitching issues sooner.

I think Brown is headed back to Iowa soon. I would not mind if he and Wicks are part of a trade package but neither have helped their trade value with how they have pitched in Chicago so far. They both just feel like AAAA kind of guys much like Wesneski and Killian were. They can look great in AAA but it never translates in Chicago. Brown probably just needs to be converted to a reliever since he can't throw 3 pitches consistently for strikes and try to develop him that way. They made the decision with Palencia to move him to the bullpen and develop him as a reliever and that is finally paying off. Unless Brown can develop a 3rd or 4th pitch he can throw consistently for strikes I don't see how he'll ever be successful as a starter.

I am not holding my breath that we see Assad this season as he's had set backs each time they ramped him up to return. If he is finally healthy at least that gives them some late season pitching depth. If they shore up the rotation at the deadline then leave Assad in Iowa to get him regular work as a starter then if they have a double header or injury he is ready to go.

I hope we don’t give up on Brown. He has what it takes to be a great relief pitcher. He has good fastball and knuckle curve just like Trevor Megill. Megill is basically a two pitch pitcher like Brown.

 

[Cyforce]

Even if you don't resign Tucker this offseason....They would not trade him at the deadline with the assets you gave up to acquire him in this past offseason. That would go down as the two worse trades of all time

Not if you can get better assets that fit your long and short term needs.

 

[ISUCubswin]

There are some really weird takes in here today. First we are making an ultimatum that Tucker resigns right now or he's being traded, and now we are claiming that 2 guys with a WHIP right around 1.0 out of the bullpen will just get DFA'd soon.

Bizarre stuff.

The Tucker take was objectively weird but disagree on the reliever situation.

Sharma said last week that the Cubs want a high velo lefty reliever. In the 4.2 innings he has thrown in July, Pomeranz has given up 7 earned runs on 6 hits and 4 walks.

Not pounding the table for it, but my guess is the FO is looking to improve that spot if they can.

In 11.2 IP in July, Flexen has given up 9 ER on 14 hits and 4 walks. His job was to replace Rae’s intended multi-inning relief role when Rae was made a starter. I would guess once Assad, Taillon, and a starter or two are traded for, Rae and/or Assad will become the multi-inning eater and Flexen will walk.

Based on Counsells urgency in management this year, I don’t think he nor this FO really cares about how great a guy was in April/May. Especially if theyre cheap, which I believe both are vet minimum so very easy to let walk.

 

[RivClone23]

I think the point is that, if ownership isn’t willing to act like the mega-money team that the Cubs are, then **** it. Might as well try to just roll the dice with more prospects, if spending real money on a proven asset isn’t an option. And it’s not like even making the playoffs is a given with Tucker as-is, given the state of the pitching staff.

The Cubs are tied for the 2nd best record in baseball. Milwaukee has been super hot for the last two months and that's annoying as hell but nothing we can do about it.

We have managed to do all of that without 3 of our top 4 pitchers for extended periods of time. The FO will make moves in the next week to address needs and then we can obviously discuss if they did enough, but I digress.

The Cubs haven't won a playoff game since 2017 and people want to trade the best player?!?! Is this reality?

 

[RivClone23]

I think/hope Brown comes down to Iowa after an addition is made and is moved to the bullpen.

The bullpen could look very different in a few weeks. I'm not ready to ship Flexen or Pomerantz off yet, but its likely we've seen the best from them. Make an addition or two, add Brown or Assad or Rea potentially and we should be in a good spot for the rest of the year.

 

[NoCreativity]

The Tucker take was objectively weird but disagree on the reliever situation.

Sharma said last week that the Cubs want a high velo lefty reliever. In the 4.2 innings he has thrown in July, Pomeranz has given up 7 earned runs on 6 hits and 4 walks.

Not pounding the table for it, but my guess is the FO is looking to improve that spot if they can.

In 11.2 IP in July, Flexen has given up 9 ER on 14 hits and 4 walks. His job was to replace Rae’s intended multi-inning relief role when Rae was made a starter. I would guess once Assad, Taillon, and a starter or two are traded for, Rae and/or Assad will become the multi-inning eater and Flexen will walk.

Based on Counsells urgency in management this year, I don’t think he nor this FO really cares about how great a guy was in April/May. Especially if theyre cheap, which I believe both are vet minimum so very easy to let walk.

So a couple guys have been unhittable all year and have a couple rough outings in garbage time and they are gone just like that?

 

[ISUCubswin]

So a couple guys have been unhittable all year and have a couple rough outings in garbage time and they are gone just like that?

Eh, I wouldn’t put it like that. A couple of guys have considerably outperformed their projections and are now regressing to the mean.

For example, it would’ve been silly to expect Carson Kelly to put up Barry Bonds numbers a month into the season.

There’s a reason Flexen took a minors deal with the Cubs and Pomeranz went almost 4 years away from the MLB.

 

[ISUCubswin]

And again, Taillon, Assad, and Hodge will all be back, and we’re expected to bring in at least 1 SP and 1 RP. That’s a minimum of 5 of 13 pitching spots being taken up. Who on the current active roster is definitively safe?

 

[CYdTracked]

I think/hope Brown comes down to Iowa after an addition is made and is moved to the bullpen.

The bullpen could look very different in a few weeks. I'm not ready to ship Flexen or Pomerantz off yet, but its likely we've seen the best from them. Make an addition or two, add Brown or Assad or Rea potentially and we should be in a good spot for the rest of the year.

Getting some pitchers healthy along with adding some at the deadline will go a long ways to shoring up the current pitching problems they are having especially not having a 5th starter right now they can rely on. Guess we will see if Hoyer has the balls to pull off some good trades soon that will force these conversations about who needs to go or not.

As for Brown, unless they send him back to Iowa and commit to him as a reliever I don't really know if he's going to be someone they can trust even out of the bullpen for this year based on what we have seen so far. Really need to get him locked in with a reliever mentality and approach instead of being a starter and try to maximize his pitches that way. Not saying he is a lost cause but he's not high on my list even as a reliever as a guy I trust to get outs without giving up some damage when he's in. Even with an opener his last outing he got knocked around. I know some say "he looks good other than 1 or 2 bad mistakes" most times he's out there but even as a reliever you can't leave your stuff hanging for guys to crush. Looking through his game logs on the season and he's had just 3 outings with 0 runs and just a few with 2 or less runs then a lot of ugly with at least 6 outings of 5+ runs given up. His WHIP in 55.1 innings last season was 1.08, this year it is up to 1.54 in 83.1 so is allowing a lot more traffic on the bases as hitters have figured out his limitations. Same problem with BA against, .208 last season and .292 this season.

 

[RivClone23]

Getting some pitchers healthy along with adding some at the deadline will go a long ways to shoring up the current pitching problems they are having especially not having a 5th starter right now they can rely on. Guess we will see if Hoyer has the balls to pull off some good trades soon that will force these conversations about who needs to go or not.

As for Brown, unless they send him back to Iowa and commit to him as a reliever I don't really know if he's going to be someone they can trust even out of the bullpen for this year based on what we have seen so far. Really need to get him locked in with a reliever mentality and approach instead of being a starter and try to maximize his pitches that way. Not saying he is a lost cause but he's not high on my list even as a reliever as a guy I trust to get outs without giving up some damage when he's in. Even with an opener his last outing he got knocked around. I know some say "he looks good other than 1 or 2 bad mistakes" most times he's out there but even as a reliever you can't leave your stuff hanging for guys to crush. Looking through his game logs on the season and he's had just 3 outings with 0 runs and just a few with 2 or less runs then a lot of ugly with at least 6 outings of 5+ runs given up. His WHIP in 55.1 innings last season was 1.08, this year it is up to 1.54 in 83.1 so is allowing a lot more traffic on the bases as hitters have figured out his limitations. Same problem with BA against, .208 last season and .292 this season.

I don't disagree. Definitely will have to see how the transition goes. It would have been ideal to put him in the bullpen when he originally got sent down but our SP situation didn't allow that.

I won't be counting on him out of the bullpen but I'm certainly not counting him out.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

And again, Taillon, Assad, and Hodge will all be back, and we’re expected to bring in at least 1 SP and 1 RP. That’s a minimum of 5 of 13 pitching spots being taken up. Who on the current active roster is definitively safe?

Palencia, Thielbar, Brasier are the only relievers that I would say are 100% safe as of today and, unfortunately, I think it would take a lot for them to pull the plug on Pressley.

 

[NoCreativity]

And again, Taillon, Assad, and Hodge will all be back, and we’re expected to bring in at least 1 SP and 1 RP. That’s a minimum of 5 of 13 pitching spots being taken up. Who on the current active roster is definitively safe?

There's zero evidence right now Assad and Hodge will provide anything this season.

 

[TheCaptain]

We can expect some bad news about Ryne Sandberg soon. He has always been my favorite player.

 

[CYdTracked]

And again, Taillon, Assad, and Hodge will all be back, and we’re expected to bring in at least 1 SP and 1 RP. That’s a minimum of 5 of 13 pitching spots being taken up. Who on the current active roster is definitively safe?

Of those 3 Taillon is the only guaranteed to have a spot IMO. Assad and Hodge both have options and both need to prove healthy and effective. In the bullpen you can say that Palencia, Thielbar, Braisier and probably Keller are safe. Kriske will be the first to go. Flexen and Pomeranz have had their recent struggles they will need to get right else they will be the first gone. And I've said it already but I don't trust Pressly other than with a big lead or mop up duty either.

So not counting for additions right now the rotation of Shota, Boyd, Taillon, Horton, and Rea. Bullpen Palencia, Theilbar, Braisier, Keller that is 9 safe. Let's say they get 1 SP and 1 RP that makes 11 so 2 spots up for grabs where you have to DFA someone if you don't send the guys with options down like Brown, Hodge, and Assad. Honestly I would leave Assad in Iowa to keep him stretched out as a starter as even with a trade for a SP likely going to need him to start some games if there is an injury or doubleheader to cover.

 

[ISUCubswin]

There's zero evidence right now Assad and Hodge will provide anything this season.

I see a world where Hodge is traded in the next week. I do not see a world Assad is not on the MLB roster in the next 3 weeks.

 

[Cyforce]

I think/hope Brown comes down to Iowa after an addition is made and is moved to the bullpen.

The bullpen could look very different in a few weeks. I'm not ready to ship Flexen or Pomerantz off yet, but its likely we've seen the best from them. Make an addition or two, add Brown or Assad or Rea potentially and we should be in a good spot for the rest of the year.

I think they should see if he can be more effective this year out of the pen, send him down and let him close in Iowa. Taillon Assad and whatever we get at the deadline will make him unnecessary starting depth in 25. 26 is a new year hopefully by then he’s mastered a splitter or a kick change

 

[RivClone23]

I see a world where Hodge is traded in the next week. I do not see a world Assad is not on the MLB roster in the next 3 weeks.

The world where he is not on the roster is if he has another set back.

 

[CYdTracked]

The world where he is not on the roster is if he has another set back.

Yup, he's had 2 setbacks already this season so while I hope they can finally get him healthy to help down the stretch I gotta see some results in his rehab outings first. I don't view him as a vital part of the staff this year at this point either but more of a luxury if they can get him right. That's why I would like to see them ease him back in rehab outings then leave him in Iowa for a bit to get stretched out as a starter as he'd have the most value as a starter if we have any injuries happen which we've seen multiple guys already in the rotation miss time or out entirely like Steele to think that we'll be immune from any more injuries the rest of the season.