***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

Here is my wild idea. Sign Joey Votto to a veteran minimum with the understanding that it’s a DH, platoon 1B, and mentor role with the team. His wisdom and the fact he hit .308 in Wrigley in his career could go a long way with the team in terms of leadership.

Go ahead and sign Bellinger to play CF, RF, and 1B until PCA is ready or Mervis pans out.

Take a flyer on Trevor Bauer, Michael Lorenzen, or Woodruff.

Sign Hader to close and Gio Urshela on a 1 year deal to play 3B.

Wouldn't totally be against signing Votto if it was a minimal 1 year deal so they could dump him if it doesn't pan out. I think they'll eventually sign Hoskins to a 1 year deal with an option like Bellinger did last season.

Things seem to be trending a lot like recent years where the front office goes cheap and hopes to catch lightning in a bottle on a cheap 1 year band aid at a position of need. At this point may as well hold out on Bellinger until Bora caves on the demands and maybe sign him to a shorter deal like Correa got with the Twins before signing his current deal where there were multiple options on the deal to allow him to enter the market again if he has a big year. The market seems pretty cool on him at the moment so there is no reason for the Cubs to come in and overpay at this point. Guessing they've told Boras if someone offers a deal check in with us to see if the Cubs are willing to match or beat it but they aren't going to be the team to set his market at this point.

Ursehla is a player I hadn't thought about yet. Dunno what kind of fit he'd be, has good career batting average but is he really significantly better than the platoon options we have there already? Bringing Wisdom back to me signals they are punting the position again this year and going with whoever is healthy and a hot bat at the time between Madrigal, Wisdom, and Mastrobouni or possibly making Morel the full time 3B for now.

As for pitching who knows but it's gotta be someone as there is a need for at least 1 veteran starter right now. Woodruff could very well be signed as a piece for 2025. As a fan I am not really sure I want to deal with the Bauer bagged even if talent wise he could be a solid pitcher. Wouldn't be shocked if they go cheap and sign a 1 year deal with someone than pay for longer deals for Snell or Montgomery.

 

[cycloneworld]

Seeing them promote Cubs Convention despite having done literally nothing this offseason is enough to make my blood boil.

In my Cubs group text with some buddies, I just sent this this morning "Remember when the Cubs were going to go all in on spending this offseason to win? That was cute."

I realize the FA signings aren't over but there isn't much left to get excited for that will move this team from fringe to contender.

 

[RoseClone]

The Cubs front office saying they are going to spend is like Campbell saying the OL is looking great in camp and is much improved.

I.DONT.BELIEVE.YOU. I won't believe you until you do it.

Now: "We are going to spend"
In a month: "We are going to spend but are going to be smart" (aka CHEAP)

There's still a lot of time but my post from Oct 3 is still valid.

 

[ScottyP]

I remember a few years ago when the Cubs touted their big FA signing of Daniel Descalso.

 

[Cyforce]

Votto has barely been above the Mendoza line the past two seasons. Doubt that improves with part-time ABs. I think this team is beyond this type of signing. I'd rather see Mervis get the ABs.

Currently the 40 sits at 38 still needing a starter, another receiver and an impact hitter. Why part with a true prospect to add a guy way past his prime?

 

[CYdTracked]

Votto has barely been above the Mendoza line the past two seasons. Doubt that improves with part-time ABs. I think this team is beyond this type of signing. I'd rather see Mervis get the ABs.

Currently the 40 sits at 38 still needing a starter, another receiver and an impact hitter. Why part with a true prospect to add a guy way past his prime?

Probably some 40 man moves to be made if they need to open more spots. Could probably try to pass some guys through waivers to outright if needed or make a minor trade to clear a spot. Cuas is one that comes to mind as a DFA candidate. Rucker and Palencia have had their struggles so far with the big league team too and could be minor trade candidates or try to slip through waivers too. Keegan Thompson could be running out of chances soon too as bad as he was last season in both Chicago and Iowa. As for position players even though they claimed Serven off waivers they've already added some minor league catching depth so he's another guy that could be put back through waivers. I doubt Mastrobuoni or Wisdom would get DFA before the season over any of the ones mentioned above. There are currently 20 pitchers on the 40 man so if they sign any relief help and get in a 40 man crunch those fringe guys like Cuas, Rucker, Thompson, and Palencia could be placed on waivers or moved for a minor league piece not on a 40 man.

Some of these 40 man spots are guys they need to decide if they are part of the long term plan or move on from as with the depth in the farm system will be a need to protect some more guys from the rule 5 draft next year too. Horton, Caissie, Shaw, and McGeary aren't on the 40 man yet and are guys who could potentially get a look late in the season if they have a big year and the right opportunity is there to give them a look. Wouldn't surprise me if at least 1 of those 4 is in the conversation for a late season call up.

 

[CyState85]

Votto has barely been above the Mendoza line the past two seasons. Doubt that improves with part-time ABs. I think this team is beyond this type of signing. I'd rather see Mervis get the ABs.

Currently the 40 sits at 38 still needing a starter, another receiver and an impact hitter. Why part with a true prospect to add a guy way past his prime?

Votto is a free agent so you aren’t giving up a prospect. I think his presence alone is worth a roster spot and if he can produce in a small roll, that’s a win. Low risk, high reward move.

Wisdom, Mastrobuoni, Tauchman, Cuas, Plalencia, and Keegan Thompson aren’t in the long term plans. I thought the Cubs could have traded Wisdom to a team like the A’s for a bullpen arm.

 

[Cyforce]

Votto is a free agent so you aren’t giving up a prospect. I think his presence alone is worth a roster spot and if he can produce in a small roll, that’s a win. Low risk, high reward move.

Wisdom, Mastrobuoni, Tauchman, Cuas, Plalencia, and Keegan Thompson aren’t in the long term plans. I thought the Cubs could have traded Wisdom to a team like the A’s for a bullpen arm.

By giving up a prospect i was referring to limited space on the 40 man roster. Every player you listed is more valuable to us in 24 than Votto.

 

[CyState85]

By giving up a prospect i was referring to limited space on the 40 man roster. Every player you listed is more valuable to us in 24 than Votto.

None of those guys are prospects and I’d be shocked if even two of them made it through the year on the active roster. Votto doesn’t have to hit .260 to valuable to the roster. He walks a lot and serves a roll beyond just a plug in guy. He could mentor several guys at first while serving as a DH. I’m thinking likely no more than 350 AB’s and a high IQ hitter in high leverage spots.

Wisdom hitting 20 bombs in April and May and striking out 170 times doesn’t help the team at all. The other five I mentioned are expendable and AAAA guys.

 

[cycloneman003]

Votto is a free agent so you aren’t giving up a prospect. I think his presence alone is worth a roster spot and if he can produce in a small roll, that’s a win. Low risk, high reward move.

Wisdom, Mastrobuoni, Tauchman, Cuas, Plalencia, and Keegan Thompson aren’t in the long term plans. I thought the Cubs could have traded Wisdom to a team like the A’s for a bullpen arm.

I wouldn't say those arms are for certain to be written off. A healthy Keegan Thompson can have a lot of value as a multi-inning reliever if he can get back to 2022 form. Daniel Palencia has a ton of arm talent is only 23, still essentially a prospect that you want to bet on getting it right with those tools. Jose Cuas maybe less so, but he proved useful after aquiring him last year and you can never have too many proven solid relievers. I wouldnt give up any of those for a Votto.

Wisdom we need to move on from. Tauchman you can't really until we address CF in some fashion. Mastrobuoni didn't hit, but he can at least play well in the field at multiple positions.

Votto just doesnt make any sense. No real reason to think he's suddenly going to hit again at age 40 after two dreadful years and you can't afford to play him in the field hardly at all without him being a net negative due to declining defense.

 

[CyState85]

I don’t think the Cubs are built to win a World Series next year regardless of who they sign. I know fans want to spend money but there are so many guys in AA and AAA that are knocking on the door. Some insiders say they have the second best farm system behind the Orioles which is probably the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. I don’t want to sign Chapman, Bellinger, Hoskins, or Snell/Montgomery to 4-7 year deals just to block a cheaper, possibly better option that needs a real shot. Heyward and Suzuki’s deals have left a bad taste in my mouth I guess.

 

[Clonefan32]

I don’t think the Cubs are built to win a World Series next year regardless of who they sign. I know fans want to spend money but there are so many guys in AA and AAA that are knocking on the door. Some insiders say they have the second best farm system behind the Orioles which is probably the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. I don’t want to sign Chapman, Bellinger, Hoskins, or Snell/Montgomery to 4-7 year deals just to block a cheaper, possibly better option that needs a real shot. Heyward and Suzuki’s deals have left a bad taste in my mouth I guess.

I get what you are saying, and it's probably the most realistic approach, albeit maddening at the same time. Give it a year or two to see what you have coming up through the farm system so as to not block anyone in. By then you'll know if you are truly a contender and you can spend big to fill in the gaps.

 

[ScottyP]

I wouldn't say those arms are for certain to be written off. A healthy Keegan Thompson can have a lot of value as a multi-inning reliever if he can get back to 2022 form. Daniel Palencia has a ton of arm talent is only 23, still essentially a prospect that you want to bet on getting it right with those tools. Jose Cuas maybe less so, but he proved useful after aquiring him last year and you can never have too many proven solid relievers. I wouldnt give up any of those for a Votto.

Wisdom we need to move on from. Tauchman you can't really until we address CF in some fashion. Mastrobuoni didn't hit, but he can at least play well in the field at multiple positions.

Votto just doesnt make any sense. No real reason to think he's suddenly going to hit again at age 40 after two dreadful years and you can't afford to play him in the field hardly at all without him being a net negative due to declining defense.

Thompson's stuff looks electric at times, when his is right.

 

[isucy86]

I don’t think the Cubs are built to win a World Series next year regardless of who they sign. I know fans want to spend money but there are so many guys in AA and AAA that are knocking on the door. Some insiders say they have the second best farm system behind the Orioles which is probably the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. I don’t want to sign Chapman, Bellinger, Hoskins, or Snell/Montgomery to 4-7 year deals just to block a cheaper, possibly better option that needs a real shot. Heyward and Suzuki’s deals have left a bad taste in my mouth I guess.

I get what you are saying. But young players need to learn how to win at the ML level from proven players. Plus, if the Cubs farm system has 10 studs in AA/AAA, only 5 will end up being everyday players in Chicago.

The Rangers and D-backs showed that getting to a WS doesn't require having a $250M payroll. The Chicago front office needs to be smart in their FA signings. Go long on one position player (Bellinger) and a top starting pitcher (Snell/Montgomery). Add another position player and reliever on 1 or 2 year deals. Then hope that 2 prospects among Mevis, Canario, Crow-Armstrong, Alcantara are ready to play 80+ games in 2024.

 

[CYdTracked]

I wouldn't say those arms are for certain to be written off. A healthy Keegan Thompson can have a lot of value as a multi-inning reliever if he can get back to 2022 form. Daniel Palencia has a ton of arm talent is only 23, still essentially a prospect that you want to bet on getting it right with those tools. Jose Cuas maybe less so, but he proved useful after aquiring him last year and you can never have too many proven solid relievers. I wouldnt give up any of those for a Votto.

Wisdom we need to move on from. Tauchman you can't really until we address CF in some fashion. Mastrobuoni didn't hit, but he can at least play well in the field at multiple positions.

Votto just doesnt make any sense. No real reason to think he's suddenly going to hit again at age 40 after two dreadful years and you can't afford to play him in the field hardly at all without him being a net negative due to declining defense.

Yeah Votto probably not a great option the more you look at it.

Of the relievers Palencia has the biggest upside for sure. I think Rucker is probably on his last chance this year, he seems like a AAAA type of arm where he does well at Iowa but can't get that success to translate in Chicago so far. I hope it was just an injury thing with Thompson and he gets it right this year but I saw him at least twice in Iowa last year and he had horrible command of the strike zone, one game he walked 5 batters in his appearance before they finally yanked him.. He actually had worse stats at Iowa than he did in Chicago last season. Cuas is another guy with some control issues, he's got to figure it out too but they don't really have much invested in him as a cheap deadline acquisition so my guess is if they need to open up a 40 man spot at some point he's probably the most likely reliever to get DFA followed by Rucker, Thompson, and Palencia in that order. Doubt they have to waive anymore than 1 of those guys this season if there is a 40 man crunch and there are some position players that could get cut ahead of them too possibly.

I've been saying it for a long time I don't know why we have stuck with Wisdom this long. He's not a prospect at age 32 and I get that he's still cheap but I'd rather give his AB to Mastrobouni who is 4 years younger with a lot less MLB experience at this point. He may not have the power Wisdom has at times but in some stretches last year strung together some good games and is a better platoon option. Still would like to see them just commit to developing Morel as the regular 3B and you still have Madrigal and Mastrobouni as platoon options if that doesn't work out. Morel has the offensive potential you want to see at 3B and just needs to be serviceable with the glove.

A guy we haven't mentioned yet is Brennen Davis. With PCA Canario Alcantara and Caissie all on the rise he's starting to look like the odd man out and it wasn't all that long ago he was the top prospect in the system. He's had injury problems and didn't hit well at Iowa last year either. He's going to run out of chances soon, either needs to play well in Iowa next year to get a look in Chicago or at least be good enough to flip in a deal for help elsewhere.

 

[isucy86]

Yeah Votto probably not a great option the more you look at it.

Of the relievers Palencia has the biggest upside for sure. I think Rucker is probably on his last chance this year, he seems like a AAAA type of arm where he does well at Iowa but can't get that success to translate in Chicago so far. I hope it was just an injury thing with Thompson and he gets it right this year but I saw him at least twice in Iowa last year and he had horrible command of the strike zone, one game he walked 5 batters in his appearance before they finally yanked him.. He actually had worse stats at Iowa than he did in Chicago last season. Cuas is another guy with some control issues, he's got to figure it out too but they don't really have much invested in him as a cheap deadline acquisition so my guess is if they need to open up a 40 man spot at some point he's probably the most likely reliever to get DFA followed by Rucker, Thompson, and Palencia in that order. Doubt they have to waive anymore than 1 of those guys this season if there is a 40 man crunch and there are some position players that could get cut ahead of them too possibly.

I've been saying it for a long time I don't know why we have stuck with Wisdom this long. He's not a prospect at age 32 and I get that he's still cheap but I'd rather give his AB to Mastrobouni who is 4 years younger with a lot less MLB experience at this point. He may not have the power Wisdom has at times but in some stretches last year strung together some good games and is a better platoon option. Still would like to see them just commit to developing Morel as the regular 3B and you still have Madrigal and Mastrobouni as platoon options if that doesn't work out. Morel has the offensive potential you want to see at 3B and just needs to be serviceable with the glove.

A guy we haven't mentioned yet is Brennen Davis. With PCA Canario Alcantara and Caissie all on the rise he's starting to look like the odd man out and it wasn't all that long ago he was the top prospect in the system. He's had injury problems and didn't hit well at Iowa last year either. He's going to run out of chances soon, either needs to play well in Iowa next year to get a look in Chicago or at least be good enough to flip in a deal for help elsewhere.

I have to believe the Cubs traded for Cuas, with 2024 in mind. I will be curious what they have had him work on during the offseason. His delivery is somewhat unique and sidearmers tend to be able to throw a lot of innings.

I am also eager to see what they do with Morel. I am a big fan of his tools and personality. Hope they they can make a 3B out of him.

The other player that needs to take the next step is Amaya. He's going to be 25 in March, so he's getting to the point where he needs to show he can be the everyday catcher. The good thing for 2024, is that he doesn't have to be with Gomes.

Going into 2024, I would be happy if 1 prospect can end up being an everyday player out of spring training. And then have another prospect be a platoon bat or utility guy. But spring training is a time of hope, so optimism about young guys is always fun.

 

[CYdTracked]

I have to believe the Cubs traded for Cuas, with 2024 in mind. I will be curious what they have had him work on during the offseason. His delivery is somewhat unique and sidearmers tend to be able to throw a lot of innings.

I am also eager to see what they do with Morel. I am a big fan of his tools and personality. Hope they they can make a 3B out of him.

The other player that needs to take the next step is Amaya. He's going to be 25 in March, so he's getting to the point where he needs to show he can be the everyday catcher. The good thing for 2024, is that he doesn't have to be with Gomes.

Going into 2024, I would be happy if 1 prospect can end up being an everyday player out of spring training. And then have another prospect be a platoon bat or utility guy. But spring training is a time of hope, so optimism about young guys is always fun.

My guess is they want Amaya to become the everyday catcher in 2024 and use Gomes less than they did in 2023. Gomes will turn 37 in May and last year was the 2nd most games he's played in his career so if you want to keep him healthy and fresh he can't be the primary guy for the bulk of the season. Would think early in the season it's closer to a 50/50 split but as the season goes on ideally would like to see Amaya at least get 3/5 or 4/5 of the starts by end of the season and show he's capable of being the main guy.

 

[ISUCubswin]

We should know about Imanaga by the end of the day today. He has to have his physical completed by Thursday

 

[BigJCy]

 

[Cyforce]

The way Gomes produced last year it's crazy to think he'll play less then he's physically able. As long as he's productive he's going to get the bulk of the PT. However, it's likely he'll start DHing more as the season goes on. 2025 I can see them sign him on again. Maybe that's the year he can no longer able to eat up major innings.