***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

It's a pretty unique approach to say "hey, you're playing too well at AAA. Let's get you up here to cool off a bit", but they seem committed to it.
After how they have handled Canario so far I am content with letting PCA stay in Iowa till their season is over. I get that the Cubs are in a pennant race so Ross is playing the guys that have been up all year. But if this is the mentality you are going to take with a top prospect while continuing to give Wisdom and Morel regular opportunities from a development standpoint its detrimental to take a hot bat from Iowa then tell him to sit a week. My guess is when Ross does finally use him it will be a pinch hit and you have probably set him up for failure in that spot by not seeing any live game action in a week now. He should have started 1 of the 2 DH games either in the field or at very least DH just to get those 1st game jitters out of the way.

Seen it too much this year when calling guys up, they said they were going to commit to Mervis then they still basically platooned him and he looked frustrated at the plate as a result. Saw him in Iowa last month and he looked confident and relaxed at the plate so not sure he's worth messing up again with a late callup if all he'll see are pinch hit opportunities. I mentioned Velazquez last not, he would be red hot at Iowa these past 2 years and would have a big game in Chicago then Ross would bench him the next day or so. He'd never get consistent at bats then get sent back down and get hot again. Now that he is with KC they brought him up and he's playing nearly everyday right now and while he isn't exactly on fire he's been a lot more productive with regular playing time it would appear.

If they want to shuffle any position players from Iowa may as well be guys like Jared Young, Bote, Higgins, heck Rios is still down there too or fringe 40 many guys like Slaughter, Strumpf, and Perlaza. I don't see a benefit of calling up any guys that might have a regular role in 2024 at this point if this is the way Ross is going to use them as its better for their development to finish out the season in Iowa IMG.
 
I think Gomes wants the Giants to hit
When you look at the roster, it’s essentially just a bunch of role/platoon players, with the exception of Bellinger and Swanson. Maybe Happ is in that Belli/Swanson echelon, but it can be argued either way.

It really is incredible.

I think you are a selling several players a bit short. In this era of baseball Hoerner is a very good every day player (defense, base running, enough at the plate) as is Candy. Amaya is a pretty good regular at catcher. When Suzuki is hitting like he has the last month he's valuable.

A better phrase is this is a team without stars. Belly is the only offensive "star" we've had an he was a reclamation project. Maybe Steele is a star now as he's been exceptional. In general we have a team that makes the opposition throw a lot of pitches, that runs the bases well, and plays solid to great defense. This year (at least) that's been enough.
 
Take a deep breath

I take it you didn't watch the game. The Cubs kept giving up homers and Gomes kept setting up high. You simply can't keep doing that with the wind blowing out. To repeatedly do that AFTER having given up several bombs was deplorable. I have no idea what Gomes was doing out there.
 
I support it but am surprised Little is coming up with Fulmer expected to come off this weekend and I believe Boxberger will be coming any day now.

Moves I could see

- Leiter to the IL to get that splitter back
- Thompson or Palencia sent down
- Greene DFA’d
 
When you look at the roster, it’s essentially just a bunch of role/platoon players, with the exception of Bellinger and Swanson. Maybe Happ is in that Belli/Swanson echelon, but it can be argued either way.

It really is incredible.
I would add Hoerner to that elite group of players. He's among top 2B in baseball.

A lot of time deep playoff runs are about 2nd tier players who get hot and can propel a team. The Cubs have those guys in Happy, Suzuki and Candelario.
 
Here's my prediction for the off season for our position players.

Resign Bellinger. That's a must.

Don't resign Candelario, disappointing but I think they go with Madrigal with Shaw starting the year in Iowa.

Wisdom likely keeping a spot warm for Shaw. He usually starts the season strong.

Mervis makes the opening day. Probably mostly DHs. Belly gets the bulk at 1B

Canario on the opening day. DHs v lefties.

PCA, begins season in Iowa. AAA has figured him out last couple weeks so he will need to make some adjustments.

Morel gets the opportunity to DH v righties. Hopefully shows he has improved at 3rd and they can part ways with Wisdom. Christopher should get some time in winter ball to play 3rd.

So here's my 13.

Gomes
Amaya
Bellinger
Hoerner
Madrigal
Swanson
Happ
Tauchman
Suzuki
Morel
Mervis
Canario
Wisdom unfortunate but hopefully temporary.

With the price of pitching going up due to both issues in LA. By only resigning Belly we can afford another top of the rotation guy plus Stroman or Hendricks returning.

Rotation

1.Steele
2. Free agent (Snell)
3.Stroman or Hendricks
4.Wicks
5. Brown if not then Assad, would like to see him back as #1 long reliever/ spot starter for depth.

We all know Tailion will be there as well. Likely to be #5 but on a short leash. Brown will at minimum be in the pen. If Tailion doesn't drastically improve he flips spots with Brown.

I think they can find someone to take a flyer on Smyly albeit at a reduced rate.
Whoever is in that 3 spot is essentially a rental holding a spot for Horton. Having all this young controllable starting pitching allows you to aggressively seek an extension with Steele. Have 4 more years now, would love to see them add a couple to that.
 
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I think Gomes wants the Giants to hit


I think you are a selling several players a bit short. In this era of baseball Hoerner is a very good every day player (defense, base running, enough at the plate) as is Candy. Amaya is a pretty good regular at catcher. When Suzuki is hitting like he has the last month he's valuable.

A better phrase is this is a team without stars. Belly is the only offensive "star" we've had an he was a reclamation project. Maybe Steele is a star now as he's been exceptional. In general we have a team that makes the opposition throw a lot of pitches, that runs the bases well, and plays solid to great defense. This year (at least) that's been enough.
I’ll give you Hoerner. He’s not a top shelf 2nd baseman (there really aren’t many of them in today’s game. Altuve and Semien might be it), but he is a really good every day player.
 
Here's my prediction for the off season for our position players.

Resign Bellinger. That's a must.

Don't resign Candelario, disappointing but I think they go with Madrigal with Shaw starting the year in Iowa.

Wisdom likely keeping a spot warm for Shaw. He usually starts the season strong.

Mervis makes the opening day. Probably mostly DHs. Belly gets the bulk at 1B

Canario on the opening day. DHs v lefties.

PCA, begins season in Iowa. AAA has figured him out last couple weeks so he will need to make some adjustments.

Morel gets the opportunity to DH v righties. Hopefully shows he has improved at 3rd and they can part ways with Wisdom. Christopher should get some time in winter ball to play 3rd.

So here's my 13.

Gomes
Amaya
Bellinger
Hoerner
Madrigal
Swanson
Happ
Tauchman
Suzuki
Morel
Mervis
Canario
Wisdom unfortunate but hopefully temporary.

With the price of pitching going up due to both issues in LA. By only resigning Belly we can afford another top of the rotation guy plus Stroman or Hendricks returning.

Rotation

1.Steele
2. Free agent (Snell)
3.Stroman or Hendricks
4.Wicks
5. Brown if not then Assad, would like to see him back as #1 long reliever/ spot starter for depth.

We all know Tailion will be there as well. Likely to be #5 but on a short leash. Brown will at minimum be in the pen. If Tailion doesn't drastically improve he flips spots with Brown.

I think they can find someone to take a flyer on Smyly albeit at a reduced rate.
Whoever is in that 3 spot is essentially a rental holding a spot for Horton. Having all this young controllable starting pitching allows you to aggressively seek an extension with Steele. Have 4 more years now, would love to see them add a couple to that.
I think we see some trades.

You need to fill Candy's spot from outside the org imo, whether by trade or FA signing.

I could see any of Morel, Canario, or Mervis getting traded. Potentially Happ but I think you need to replace him with someone who is established.

I agree with adding a SP.
 
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I think we see some trades.

You need to fill Candy's spot from outside the org imo, whether by trade or FA signing.

I could see any of Morel, Canario, or Mervis getting traded. Potentially Happ but I think you need to replace him with someone who is established.

I agree with adding a SP.
Yeah I think the Cubs will be very active in the trade market given their depth in the minors right now and also in free agency. What they do in free agency will depend on if they can resign Bellinger. If he signs elsewhere that will dramatically change how they target guys as they have OF depth and can shift their focus to the corner infield spots and Belli could still fill the need at 1B too if he's resigned. Matt Chapman would be a big target at 3B if they aren't able to resign Belli and they may still be in on him even if they do. A lot will depend on what player and club options are picked up too on who may be available. Lot of starting pitching on the free agent market to target as well.

As for Happ he has a full no trade clause so I doubt they trade him. They should of traded him during last season's sell off when he was at peak value instead of extending him IMO. Was a short-sighted decision considering OF is where they are going to have a logjam of prospects coming up and we're already seeing that right now.
 
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Happ's numbers are almost identical to last season but his walk rate has skyrocketed. He's more valuable than he's ever been but doesn't pass the eye test. The deal he signed is probably under market.
 
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Yeah I think the Cubs will be very active in the trade market given their depth in the minors right now and also in free agency. What they do in free agency will depend on if they can resign Bellinger. If he signs elsewhere that will dramatically change how they target guys as they have OF depth and can shift their focus to the corner infield spots and Belli could still fill the need at 1B too if he's resigned. Matt Chapman would be a big target at 3B if they aren't able to resign Belli and they may still be in on him even if they do. A lot will depend on what player and club options are picked up too on who may be available. Lot of starting pitching on the free agent market to target as well.

As for Happ he has a full no trade clause so I doubt they trade him. They should of traded him during last season's sell off when he was at peak value instead of extending him IMO. Was a short-sighted decision considering OF is where they are going to have a logjam of prospects coming up and we're already seeing that right now.
Yeah I don't expect Happ to get traded, partially due to the no trade clause. I think I would plug him into LF and hope one of the young guys really makes a push next year. Then you can deal the logjam at that point. None of the young guys are proven enough right now to displace him on a team that has playoff aspirations.
 
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I think we see some trades.

You need to fill Candy's spot from outside the org imo, whether by trade or FA signing.

I could see any of Morel, Canario, or Mervis getting traded. Potentially Happ but I think you need to replace him with someone who is established.

I agree with adding a SP.
I think Mervis and Bellinger at first then Madrigal, Morel and Wisdom will be the short-term at 3rd mainly because Shaw is a guy you don't want to block. If it doesn't pan out you can grab a rental before the deadline.

Unless you can aquire a slugger like Alonzo I'm not sure they trade for offense. Then the question is how much you willing to pay for a rental?

Here's my free agent wishlist. I think you do all 3 in one year to cut down on the draft capital you lose long term.

Just guessing on the cost per year.
Bellinger 30 mil
Snell 25 mil
Hader 15 mil

The rest of the pitching can be resigned or coming from within the system.
 
Yeah I don't expect Happ to get traded, partially due to the no trade clause. I think I would plug him into LF and hope one of the young guys really makes a push next year. Then you can deal the logjam at that point. None of the young guys are proven enough right now to displace him on a team that has playoff aspirations.

If Davis stays healthy he's a cheap option that if takes over left might make Happ request a trade. However. I believe the longterm answer in LF is the Jaguar. Who is probably a 2025 guy.
 
When you look at the roster, it’s essentially just a bunch of role/platoon players, with the exception of Bellinger and Swanson. Maybe Happ is in that Belli/Swanson echelon, but it can be argued either way.

It really is incredible.

I'd also argue that the collection of role players don't have the "homerun or bust" mentality which means baserunners, timely hits, etc. which is a very welcomed change of pace after the last 8 years of Cubs baseball. This team is REALLY fun to watch whereas even the playoff/WS team was frustrating at times.

Add in the amount of late inning runs this team is scoring and I'm having the most fun watching this team since 2016.
 
I'd also argue that the collection of role players don't have the "homerun or bust" mentality which means baserunners, timely hits, etc. which is a very welcomed change of pace after the last 8 years of Cubs baseball. This team is REALLY fun to watch whereas even the playoff/WS team was frustrating at times.

Add in the amount of late inning runs this team is scoring and I'm having the most fun watching this team since 2016.
I agree 100% with this!! This team is very fun to watch. I can’t stand what baseball has become. This Cub team reminds me of when baseball was the greatest game going.
 
I'd also argue that the collection of role players don't have the "homerun or bust" mentality which means baserunners, timely hits, etc. which is a very welcomed change of pace after the last 8 years of Cubs baseball. This team is REALLY fun to watch whereas even the playoff/WS team was frustrating at times.

Add in the amount of late inning runs this team is scoring and I'm having the most fun watching this team since 2016.

Yesterday on the broadcast they said 7 or our 9 starters were above league average and the other two were something like .94 and .95.
 
I think Mervis and Bellinger at first then Madrigal, Morel and Wisdom will be the short-term at 3rd mainly because Shaw is a guy you don't want to block. If it doesn't pan out you can grab a rental before the deadline.

Unless you can aquire a slugger like Alonzo I'm not sure they trade for offense. Then the question is how much you willing to pay for a rental?

Here's my free agent wishlist. I think you do all 3 in one year to cut down on the draft capital you lose long term.

Just guessing on the cost per year.
Bellinger 30 mil
Snell 25 mil
Hader 15 mil

The rest of the pitching can be resigned or coming from within the system.

I really hope we are done with Wisdom after this season and don't tender him a contract. Time to move on from him if we are serious about competing. There are more consistent bats than him that I would rather see get a chance than waste a roster spot on him. He seems to be the type of player that we used to have too many of when we were underachieving which is guys with power but strike out a lot and don't get on base enough otherwise either. He'll be 33 next year too so can't count on him to be any better than what he is now. In 3 seasons his batting average and WAR continue to decline and his strikeout rate is still horrible. I'll toast a beer the day he's no longer a Cub
 
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