2014 Chicago Cubs In-Season Discussion Thread

[dabynsky]

That is 1 year. We can flip that around when talking about the giants in back to back.

Look bottom line is this team needs the best possible lineup and pitching staff to have the best odds. I am not worried about pitching right now because pitching is such a temporary asset at this point in time due to health. When this team gets back to a position to compete for a postseason spot then I will worry about it.

 

[CSF77]

Look bottom line is this team needs the best possible lineup and pitching staff to have the best odds. I am not worried about pitching right now because pitching is such a temporary asset at this point in time due to health. When this team gets back to a position to compete for a postseason spot then I will worry about it.

That could be happening next year. They lack some vets with play off experience but I'll bet that this team could push for a wild card next year.

We are looking right now at:
Rizzo, Castro, Castillo, Alcantara on the team.
Baez most likely on the team in Aug after they trade Bonifacio. That is why they dumped Barney. Hard sell vs Bonifacio who has upside. Easy decision.

Next spring:
Soler RF, Bryant 3B.

So we are looking at out of S/T:
Alcantara CF .5 Mil
Soler RF 2.7 mil
Rizzo 1B 5.3 mil
Baez 2B .5 mill
Bryant 3B .5 mill
Castro SS 6.8 mil
? LF (most likely a platoon of Ruggiano and Coghland 5 mil at most
Castillo C. 2-3 mil

So the every day line up is low resource. 20 mil at the most.
Add 30 mil for Lester. 50 mil team
E. Jax 11 mil
Wood 5 mil
Arrieta 4 mil
Hendricks .5
20.5 mil to 50 mil = 70.5 mil

Pen:
Fuji (I would pull the option for 5.5 mil)
Rondon .5 mil
Ramirez .5 mil
Schlitter .5 mil
Strop 1.5 mil
Wright 1.5 mil
Viz or another arm .5 mil

10.5 mil to 70.5 mil. 81 mil payroll with Lester.
Add 5 mil plus up to 10 mil with all met for Billingslly:
91 mil payroll that could push for a W/C spot.

Like I said front load Lester. By the time Bryant and Baez get into arb he will be into the 25 mil range and they could trade him out by the time they need to start extending.

 

[CSF77]

Last 30 days:

Coghlan 30Hits. .353/.417/.576
Ruggiano 26 Hits (dealing with a groin injury) .366/.395/.535
Rizzo 25 hits .255/.342/.520
Castro 22 hits .229/.306/.271
Barney (gone) 16 hits .308/.308/.423
Sweeney 16 hits .276/.311/.466
Alcantara 14 hits .255/.311/.473
Castillo 14 hits .233/.313/.400
Valbuena 13 hits .181/.250/.389
Baker 11 hits .393/.528/.500
Schierholtz 11 hits .204/.218/.389
Bonifacio 8 hits .400/.400/.500
Lake 3 hits .073/.073/.122
Olt (AAA) 3 hits .107/.212/.357

For the past month Cog and Rugg have carried the O. Wasn't expecting that. Boni doesn't take walks but still .400 BA not complaining yet.

 

[TL1961]

Last 30 days:

Coghlan 30Hits. .353/.417/.576
Ruggiano 26 Hits (dealing with a groin injury) .366/.395/.535
Rizzo 25 hits .255/.342/.520
Castro 22 hits .229/.306/.271
Barney (gone) 16 hits .308/.308/.423
Sweeney 16 hits .276/.311/.466
Alcantara 14 hits .255/.311/.473
Castillo 14 hits .233/.313/.400
Valbuena 13 hits .181/.250/.389
Baker 11 hits .393/.528/.500
Schierholtz 11 hits .204/.218/.389
Bonifacio 8 hits .400/.400/.500
Lake 3 hits .073/.073/.122
Olt (AAA) 3 hits .107/.212/.357

For the past month Cog and Rugg have carried the O. Wasn't expecting that. Boni doesn't take walks but still .400 BA not complaining yet.

Given his defense, or should I say "lack, thereof", Boni could hit .800 and not help the team.

 

[CSF77]

Given his defense, or should I say "lack, thereof", Boni could hit .800 and not help the team.

He is a bench player. His biggest problem has been his BB%. His D is passable.

Some team should pick him up. Guys like him can act like spark plugs in line ups. I personally see him going to a AL team where he can bat 9th where he becomes a 2nd lead off with less AB's due to his OBA lacking.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs Looking To Trade Edwin Jackson
By Jeff Todd [July 24, 2014 at 6:46pm CDT]
The Cubs have attempted to deal away starter Edwin Jackson, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, but initial efforts have not been promising. Jackson, signed before the 2013 season, is playing on a $11MM annual salary this year and is owed the same amount for each of the next two campaigns.

Heyman adds that the Yankees did not seem interested in the 30-year-old righty, who has struggled to a 5.61 ERA through 110 2/3 frames this year. That follows on his poor numbers last year, when he threw 175 1/3 innings of 4.98 ERA ball. Jackson has restored his strikeout totals to the level they were when the Cubs signed him (8.1 K/9), but has struggled with control and has walked four batters per nine.


Central Links: Cubs, Twins, Prospects, Sox
By Steve Adams [July 25, 2014 at 3:55pm CDT]
While the Cubs are among the most clear-cut sellers at this year’s deadline, the team may hang onto Justin Ruggiano and Luis Valbuena, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Both are enjoying solid seasons and both are controlled through 2016. While the team wants to get as much young talent in the door as possible, each provides a veteran presence to help with the club’s impending influx of young talent.

 

[CSF77]

It would be a mistake to retain Valbuena. He is expendable and if a team makes a legit offer they would be dumb to turn it down.

Ruggiano has had a strong season. He has a spot but with Soler, Bryant and Baez in the line up I don't see a major need for another RH bat. I would field offers for him.

Jackson is wishful thinking. I would make him into a over paid long man but W/E. If Villienueva found success at it Jackson who is more talented should excels at 2 inning stints. Seems he is 5 and out anyways. Not much of a loss.

 

[Parade_Rain]

With Valbuena gone who would be your until, CSF? Also, interesting thought about Jackson. Who knows if they would make that move or not, but it makes some sense.

 

[CSF77]

With Valbuena gone who would be your until, CSF? Also, interesting thought about Jackson. Who knows if they would make that move or not, but it makes some sense.

I would pull the switch with Bryant. I see no reason to hold him back. This team can be good next year. They will have plenty of payroll flexibility to add quality SP.

Jackson was just a toss in the dark. But I've thought for a while that he would excel in the pen. His stuff is good but he has been gassing after 5 with high pitch counts. I would toss the idea around in the off season and add 2 SP. I've been saying go big and sign Lester, add Hendricks then Wood and Arrieta final spot would be a 3 quality starter. I like Chad Billingsley. Kyle Kendrick is another. Brandon McCarthy and Justin Masterson are at the 30 YO age. Bringing back Hammel is another option or maybe Dempster on a retirement year.

But I believe Lester and Scherzer will be looking at 150 mil on the market and the
Cubs need to be making a play for them.

Getting Bryant and Baez active Aug-Sept. is a selling point vs them in AAA.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I would pull the switch with Bryant. I see no reason to hold him back. This team can be good next year. They will have plenty of payroll flexibility to add quality SP.

Jackson was just a toss in the dark. But I've thought for a while that he would excel in the pen. His stuff is good but he has been gassing after 5 with high pitch counts. I would toss the idea around in the off season and add 2 SP. I've been saying go big and sign Lester, add Hendricks then Wood and Arrieta final spot would be a 3 quality starter. I like Chad Billingsley. Kyle Kendrick is another. Brandon McCarthy and Justin Masterson are at the 30 YO age. Bringing back Hammel is another option or maybe Dempster on a retirement year.

But I believe Lester and Scherzer will be looking at 150 mil on the market and the
Cubs need to be making a play for them.

Getting Bryant and Baez active Aug-Sept. is a selling point vs them in AAA.

Auto-Spellcheck FTL. My bad. "Until" was meant to be "util". I agree that Bryant should be up next season at 3B. I'm wondering if/when they trade Valbuena who the Util would be. He covers several spots. Who else do that have that could be that player, at least in IF?

 

[CSF77]

Auto-Spellcheck FTL. My bad. "Until" was meant to be "util". I agree that Bryant should be up next season at 3B. I'm wondering if/when they trade Valbuena who the Util would be. He covers several spots. Who else do that have that could be that player, at least in IF?

What I was thinking:

LF: Coghlan (I wouldn't lock this up with Schwarber on fast track)
CF: Alcantara
RF: Soler
3B: Bryant
SS: Castro (Traded in July replaced by
2B: Baez
1B: Rizzo
C: Castillo

UI: Logan Watkins (500k commitment)
UI: Chris Valaika (500k commitment)
OF: Matt Szczur (500k commitment)
BC: Baker

I would go with 8 in the pen. Unless the SP starts to avg closer to 7 IP per then you go with 7 and add a bat.

 

[TL1961]

They need some vets next year. I would certainly be OK with Ruggiano, Coghlan, even Schierholtz depending on salary. (I don't know what they make)

Valbuena? I'd rather not. He could be a utility IF, but he isn't good with the glove. But at least he has a decent bat off the bench. But I think I'd rather see him traded to someone looking to bolster their bench between now and Thursday.

I would be pretty happy seeing all youngsters opening day 2015. We know there would be ups and downs. We know they'll struggle at times. But a lineup of

LF: Bryant
CF: Alcantara
RF: Soler
3B: Castro
SS: Russell
2B: Baez
1B: Rizzo
C: Castillo

would be preferable to any we have had in along time, and, as noted, would cost very little.

Looking forward to it.

 

[TL1961]

By "preferable to" other lineups, I don't mean they'll all be immediately better than what we had previously.

But it will be preferable to watch, as these are talented young guys on the rise. Not so-so vets who aren't getting any better.

 

[CSF77]

They need some vets next year. I would certainly be OK with Ruggiano, Coghlan, even Schierholtz depending on salary. (I don't know what they make)

Valbuena? I'd rather not. He could be a utility IF, but he isn't good with the glove. But at least he has a decent bat off the bench. But I think I'd rather see him traded to someone looking to bolster their bench between now and Thursday.

I would be pretty happy seeing all youngsters opening day 2015. We know there would be ups and downs. We know they'll struggle at times. But a lineup of

LF: Bryant
CF: Alcantara
RF: Soler
3B: Castro
SS: Russell
2B: Baez
1B: Rizzo
C: Castillo

would be preferable to any we have had in along time, and, as noted, would cost very little.

Looking forward to it.

Lets start with: Bryant is going to be the long term 3B. Lets just stop the nonsense of Bryant in the OF. That idea has been bounced around in the management meeting talks but the final decision was Bryant is a 3B not a OF. If they thought he was a OF he would be like Baez. Off position right now and Olt at 3B not 1B.

So please just accept that Bryant is the 3B of the future. Stop trying to find a spot for Castro. Castro IMO will be use as a trade chip to get a pitching prospect "or" they will make a play for Price this off season and use Russell and Almora to get him. That is what I see happening.

There was a reason why they took the Russell offer. He had the most value. Also there is a reason why they moved Alcantara to CF. It created a few trade options. With excess depth you trade for needs. The biggest need is TOR.

 

[TL1961]

I won't be unhappy seeing Bryant at 3rd.

Yes, I am "trying to find a place for Castro" because he is better than the OF option we would have if Bryant stays at 3rd.

Hell, Castro in LF would be better than the other options we'd have.

 

[CSF77]

Another trade candidate:
Cole Hammels

2015 31 Philadelphia Phillies $22,500,000
2016 32 Philadelphia Phillies $22,500,000
2017 33 Philadelphia Phillies $22,500,000
2018 34 Philadelphia Phillies $22,500,000
2019 35 Philadelphia Phillies *$20,000,000 $20M Team Option, $24M Vesting Option Vests if he 1) has 400 IP in 2017-18, including 200 IP in 2018, and 2) is not on the disabled list with a shoulder or elbow injury at the end of the 2018 season

The Phillies are the next team that everyone is watching, with nine players that could be moved but contractual problems surrounding many of them. Most execs feel the Phillies will eat money to facilitate deals and aren’t looking to just dump players on other clubs. Specifically, the team is in need of position-player prospects, one exec who has spoken with Philadelphia tells Stark.

Cole Hamels isn’t likely to be dealt either. It’s not that the Phillies aren’t willing to move him, it’s just that the prices they’ve specified consist of packages “that no one would possibly give up.”

So if they are looking at young positional players I believe the Cubs are a natural match here. The Cubs have the depth to make a legit offer and they would be buying 5 years of control at a reasonable price tag. IMO that is worth looking into.

I would even consider centering the deal around Baez for Hammels. Talking about a TOR at the low end 22 mil vs high end 32 mil going on now. Play off tested and 5 years of control. Ya at that point I'm moving Castro to 2B when Russel promotes.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Hell, Castro in LF would be better than the other options we'd have.

He's putting up decent numbers, hasn't entered peak power numbers years, etc. I would consider this move, if Russell does pan out. You can't have too many proven hitters in your lineup. Unless he is part of some package for a big-time pitcher, why trade him until a real stud looks ready in Iowa? I'd rather have his stick in LF than a short-timer FA signed as a gap filler.

 

[Boobaby1]

He's putting up decent numbers, hasn't entered peak power numbers years, etc. I would consider this move, if Russell does pan out. You can't have too many proven hitters in your lineup. Unless he is part of some package for a big-time pitcher, why trade him until a real stud looks ready in Iowa? I'd rather have his stick in LF than a short-timer FA signed as a gap filler.

I kind of have a hard time with Castro in the outfield.

Part of me thinks that if he is out there, he will lose focus and fall asleep.

 

[TL1961]

I kind of have a hard time with Castro in the outfield.

Part of me thinks that if he is out there, he will lose focus and fall asleep.

Yeah, I could see that. He'd chase butterflies.

 

[brett05]

Another trade candidate:
Cole Hammels

201531Philadelphia Phillies$22,500,000
201632Philadelphia Phillies$22,500,000
201733Philadelphia Phillies$22,500,000
201834Philadelphia Phillies$22,500,000
201935Philadelphia Phillies*$20,000,000$20M Team Option, $24M Vesting OptionVests if he 1) has 400 IP in 2017-18, including 200 IP in 2018, and 2) is not on the disabled list with a shoulder or elbow injury at the end of the 2018 season




So if they are looking at young positional players I believe the Cubs are a natural match here. The Cubs have the depth to make a legit offer and they would be buying 5 years of control at a reasonable price tag. IMO that is worth looking into.

I would even consider centering the deal around Baez for Hammels. Talking about a TOR at the low end 22 mil vs high end 32 mil going on now. Play off tested and 5 years of control. Ya at that point I'm moving Castro to 2B when Russel promotes.

That would be just a piece for Hamels. I think almora or soler would also have to be in on it