2016 position players

[CSF77]

San Diego. Aren't you from there? I watch Kemp miss a fly ball the other day. Just whiffed on it. They have no range.

I don't follow them. Only times I went to Petco or Jack Murphy (Qualcom now) was when the Cubs were in town. Saw Wood then Price dominate them in 2003. That was when I believed that they were a force.

That park has shrunk. But I'm not a fan of a small market selling the farm for rentals. Was just plain stupid. No legit CF. Just about every move they made was ass backwards for the market type.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Almora is not one of the chosen any longer. Happ will be a CF in Wrigley before Almora.

I don't agree. They're going to move Happ to second base and see how Almora does in AAA. His second half turnaround has been huge for him. Scouts are starting to gaga over Almora again. It's pretty likely that he will be up by the end of next year. Of course his increased value could help in a trade scenario as well.

 

[CSF77]

It isn't any worse than what they've thrown out there this year. Your response indicates that Fowler is Gold Glover or something. I'd rather trade Schwarber, but that isn't likely to happen, so he's in LF.

Schwarber's bat should be equal to Rizzo's when he fully adjusts. They both get on base and Strike out little. The thing about Schwarber is he has a high morter that he is able to max out his talent. Just watch how he plays. He is 100% 100% of the time. That is a keeper. Other players feed off of that shit.

Fowler is not GG at all but he is a CF. Bryant is not a CF. I see him as a young Braun (not the ****** bag part). Started at 3B moved to LF now RF. But Bryant should adapt faster and should not be a liability hiding in LF.

 

[CSF77]

I don't agree. They're going to move Happ to second base and see how Almora does in AAA. His second half turnaround has been huge for him. Scouts are starting to gaga over Almora again. It's pretty likely that he will be up by the end of next year. Of course his increased value could help in a trade scenario as well.

Almora started to take walks this year. That was holding him back before. He is at 32 BB and 47 SO in 405 AB's. His high water was 17 in 272 AB at KC. That is accually a big deal right now. The biggest knock on him has been that and his DL trips.

I see him as Castro's hit tool with better D and now better BB skills. Can't argue his potential worth.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Schwarber's bat should be equal to Rizzo's when he fully adjusts. They both get on base and Strike out little. The thing about Schwarber is he has a high morter that he is able to max out his talent. Just watch how he plays. He is 100% 100% of the time. That is a keeper. Other players feed off of that shit.

I watch how he plays. I'm sure he gives 100% behind the plate. Does that make him a good catcher? This club was feeding a long time this season before Schwarber showed up. If the organization goes after a Sonny Gray in a trade, he is on the list as a potential headliner.

Fowler is not GG at all but he is a CF. Bryant is not a CF. I see him as a young Braun (not the ****** bag part). Started at 3B moved to LF now RF. But Bryant should adapt faster and should not be a liability hiding in LF.

I don't know what you've been watching but Bryant is a superior athlete. He doesn't need to be "hidden" in the OF. He needs experience.

 

[CSF77]

Who knows. They rushed Russell and plugged him in at the 9 hole. They may just do the same with Almora. Get him past his window and mote him. Let him bat 9 until he adjusts. Russell has had a trying year but now has shown progress for it. The bottom line is you do thing like this if the D warrants it. In Russell and Almora's case it does.

 

[CSF77]

I watch how he plays. I'm sure he gives 100% behind the plate. Does that make him a good catcher? This club was feeding a long time this season before Schwarber showed up. If the organization goes after a Sonny Gray in a trade, he is on the list as a potential headliner.

I don't know what you've been watching but Bryant is a superior athlete. He doesn't need to be "hidden" in the OF. He needs experience.

I never said you hide Bryant. But Schwarber's limits in LF with Soler running bad routes in RF then toss in a inexperienced CF in Bryant....recipe for disaster

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I watch how he plays. I'm sure he gives 100% behind the plate. Does that make him a good catcher? This club was feeding a long time this season before Schwarber showed up. If the organization goes after a Sonny Gray in a trade, he is on the list as a potential headliner.

I don't know what you've been watching but Bryant is a superior athlete. He doesn't need to be "hidden" in the OF. He needs experience.

I think Schwarber is untouchable. There are many in the Cubs organization that think he's ultimately the best hitter of the bunch. He'll be a fixture in LF for years. He might catch part time but I'm not even certain of that.

As far a Gray goes, I would love him but right now all indications are that Beane has no intentions of moving him. If I'm going to bet on a young pitcher coming back this winter I think Carlos Carrasco might be the guy with Soler as the key piece. Maybe McKinney in that deal.

I couldn't agree more with you thoughts on Bryant. He won't be hidden in the OF. I think he has all the tools to be a superior RF in this league. Might take him a couple of years but he's got a great arm and can run. I do think he could man CF for a year if he had to. i'm more concerned with replacing Fowler's table setting abilities than I am his CF defense.

 

[CSF77]

I don't know if they go for Grey. If it is for Castro and Soler then I would say they would do it. To be fair a Soler that figures it out and a good year from Castro justifies the deal. Beene would be buying affordable control which is what a small market is looking at.

Grey has 4 years of control left. That value has been shown with what the Reds paid to Padres for Latos. Basically a starting 1B, C and some arms.

If I'm Beene I'm looking at getting 4 prime prospects in return. We are talking Almora, McKinney, Underwood, Torres. Guys that they can develop some. like they did with Josh Donaldson. Came to them from the Cubs as a catcher in 2008. They converted him to 3B and now he is a MVP runner. You give that team talent and time they have a proven history.

That said Theo will not deplete the future for the now. They would rather buy the answer. Why lose talent when you have cash? Makes little sense.

 

[Parade_Rain]

But Bryant should adapt faster and should not be a liability hiding in LF.

I never said you hide Bryant.

Gotcha. As long as he adapts he won't need to be hidden.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Who knows. They rushed Russell and plugged him in at the 9 hole. They may just do the same with Almora. Get him past his window and mote him. Let him bat 9 until he adjusts. Russell has had a trying year but now has shown progress for it. The bottom line is you do thing like this if the D warrants it. In Russell and Almora's case it does.

Could be, but the rebuild is over this year. Next year is the true window for winning. I don't know why they would do that with Almora when this team is loaded with versatility.

 

[CSF77]

If I'm going to bet on a young pitcher coming back this winter I think Carlos Carrasco might be the guy with Soler as the key piece. Maybe McKinney in that deal.

Think I looked him over earlier year. I would be 100% behind that deal.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I think Schwarber is untouchable. There are many in the Cubs organization that think he's ultimately the best hitter of the bunch. He'll be a fixture in LF for years. He might catch part time but I'm not even certain of that.

As far a Gray goes, I would love him but right now all indications are that Beane has no intentions of moving him. If I'm going to bet on a young pitcher coming back this winter I think Carlos Carrasco might be the guy with Soler as the key piece. Maybe McKinney in that deal.

I couldn't agree more with you thoughts on Bryant. He won't be hidden in the OF. I think he has all the tools to be a superior RF in this league. Might take him a couple of years but he's got a great arm and can run. I do think he could man CF for a year if he had to. i'm more concerned with replacing Fowler's table setting abilities than I am his CF defense.

Schwarber is a more mobile vogelbach, IMHO. He may be the best hitter of the bunch, but you can't keep everything. Pitching costs the most. He's a better fit in the AL than NL which is why I mentioned SG in Oakland. There are other solid young pitchers in the AL. That's where I would be looking for a deal, if it were to happen. And yes, I want to make it clear that I am just throwing that possibility out there. I also agree that the Club loves him.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

That's great that you think that the Cubs need to have three aces in their rotation but it's simply not going to happen dollar wise without major cuts at other positions. If the Cubs were the Dodgers and money wasn't an object then sure, go nuts. But since Ricketts isn't going to spend that kind of money, get a decent SP who won't cost you a draft pick and a ton of years. You have to remember that you also don't have a great bull-pen so while Price would be great, I'd rather get Clippard+a decent starter than Price+some Motte like bullpen arm.

First, I see you're new/not a huge poster; but I'm adamant in how I define "ace." I don't define an "ace" as the first guy of a rotation the way people do. Ace is a term for a pitcher who every 5 days goes out and dominates. There are very few in the MLB.

I'm not the only one who does think the cubs need 3 damn good pitchers. Every GM does so. Last year it killed Detroit. It killed Anaheim (even with Richards not hurt, they likely still would have lost). It killed KC (who would not have gone to the WS without that bullpen.)

Almost every year in the past 5-6 we've seen San Fran and St. Louis go far into the playoffs. Why? Starting pitching. Whether it was Wainwright, Carpenter, Wacha, Shelby Miller, Lohse, Lackey. Baumgartner, Lincecum, Cain, Hudson, Vogelsong, Zito.

Is every one a 5 star, ace? God no. But what do they all have in common? Each pitcher went out and put their team in a position to win by pitching well.

The cubs dont have that after Lester and Arrieta. That will make a difference in a 5 and 7 game series. And as I stated before, the cubs have nothing near MLB ready in the pipeline.

No. I dont want David Price at 30 mil a year. I'd love Jordan Zimmerman or Shark back. Shark will get flat out paid, Zimmerman isn't having a spectacular year, nor bad--but isn't getting 30 mil a year. Or I'd love to see some of this talented depth and kids in the pipeline now go to Houston or NY Mets for one of their young pitchers. No, they're not getting the creme de la creme from either side, but I think Bosio could take a guy like Collin McHugh and get him to the next level.

Unless we find another Arrieta laying around somewhere.

 

[CSF77]

Could be, but the rebuild is over this year. Next year is the true window for winning. I don't know why they would do that with Almora when this team is loaded with versatility.

Lets take some of these inputs and draw something up:

Say they do trade Soler and McKenny for Carrasco. That puts the rotation at Arrieta, Lester, Carrasco, Hammel and Hendricks (little too RH but I digress)

That puts Bryant in RF and Schwarber in LF.

Payroll to Carrasco 4.5 mil in 2016. minus what Soler is owed basically a 1 mil wind fall. Not even worth mentioning.

Now what this does is open payroll towards CF. They could pay Fowler. They could run a 1 year on Jackson and let Almora get more time in.

To be honest that trade make the most sense I've seen to this point.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Interesting piece about this exact discussion over at Cubs Den

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2015/09/cubs-may-spend-big-again-next-offseason/

 

[CSF77]

Unless we find another Arrieta laying around somewhere.

Stuff like that is rare. Arrieta all ready had great stuff. He had to harness his talent. But even Maddon said his was some of the best stuff in the Div back then. Now it is coming together.

That is the thing. The pitcher has to already have to tools. Bosio can't just make a pitcher have tools. On the buy low: Latos fits the bill. If Bucholtz is not picked up you have to go there. Gallardo would be another to look at. He might be a prime target.

This year is really not short on talent. We are talking about Price and Cueto as legit aces. Zimmerman and Gallardo as 2nd tier. Shark and Latos as projects. (doubt they rehash Shark though)

Then Leake, Kazmir, Linecum, Fister, Kendrick.

I see it as Cueto and Price costing too much. Greinke hits the market and he defaults to the #1 target. Rest fall in line.

With Arrieta's emergence as a league ace then the need becomes #3 vs #1 pitcher. Basally a upgrade to Hammel. Zimmerman, Leake or Gallardo falls into that target zone. Kaz would fall into equal to Hammel and I do not believe they are shooting that low.

IDK almost tempted to say Gallardo as he has plenty of exposure to pitching at Wriggly. Running a 3.18 ERA in hitter friendly Rangers in a tougher league. I wouldn't be against it. Rather them trade soler for a cheaper and pretty much equal level talent in Carrasco.

Zimmerman: 100-150 mil
Gallardo+ 85 mil (ish)
Shark same. Number blew up but IP near league tops. Should keep his value good.
Leake can see Garza cash. He is a MR starter.

Carraso 16:$4.5M, 17:$6.5M, 18:$8M, 19:$9M club option ($0.6625M buyout), 20:$9.5M club option ($0.6625M buyout) Total bargain.

 

[chibears55]

It isn't any worse than what they've thrown out there this year. Your response indicates that Fowler is Gold Glover or something. I'd rather trade Schwarber, but that isn't likely to happen, so he's in LF.

They would have minimal range out there with Bryant in CF.. he got decent speed but not for running balls down in gaps, etc..

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[TC in Mississippi]

Kazmir is a better pitcher than Hammel and he allows you to trade for a younger righty like Tyson Ross or Carlos Carrasco, the latter of whom is on a nice cost controlled deal and could be that guy who has the ability to be better than he is. I think they'll take a stab at Price but the won't be the high bidder. I can't see them going $220-$230 million for him. I think then they go for the next lefty up which is Kazmir. Then trade for that righty, the Carrasco or Ross deal. A rotation of Arrieta, Lester, Kazmir, Carrasco or Ross and Hendricks or Hammel would be a marked improvement over what they have now. You could go into a playoff series with those first 4 without biting your knuckles.

 

[Parade_Rain]

They would have minimal range out there with Bryant in CF.. he got decent speed but not for running balls down in gaps, etc..

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Kri Bryant is faster than you think -

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/kris-bryant-is-faster-than-everyone-thinks/