2025 Regular Season IGT

[bamainatlanta]

So....the Nats asked for three guys and you agree with not giving up two of them, but still think they should have acquired Gore?

You're spewing nonsense and doing it at a high rate. Take a walk. Eat a peach. Go to the park. See a movie. Good gravy!

You just keep beating the same drum a hundred times a day. Stop already

Happy Gilmore 2 was decent. Took it awhile to get going but it was better than I thought it would be.

 

[Probie2429]

People get caught up in name recognition. Correa got traded! Umm, he’s worse than Swanson currently at the plate. The Cubs’ bullpen has 3 or 4 guys with ERAs at or below 3. Who are you looking to replace exactly? They got rid of Flexen and Pressley as weak links. Big improvement. None of the available starters were traded so the prices were too high overall. That’s good on Jed to hold the line. If the Cubs aren’t scoring more than 5 per game on average in the playoffs, the pitching doesn’t matter. You win and die by the sword or in this case the bat with how this team is built.

Jed also kept his powder dry for the winter meetings so let’s just let this season play out and go from there.

 

[beckdawg]

I just hate it because it's a brain dead take since pitching didn't move at the deadline. People act like Jed was supposed to conjure a starter out of nothing ignoring the fact that there were probably 10-15 other teams trying to buy pitching and none of them really made an impact either. The same cubs fans complaining now would be complaining in October if Houser was starting a playoff game. If the cubs had signed Houser in the winter it would be the same tired "Cheap ricketts at it again!"

I'm not saying people can't criticize the cubs but at least use a good argument. The criticism should be not signing Fried or Burnes in the offseason though obviously the latter in hindsight would not have mattered. But then I've also seen yankees fans complaining about Fried so maybe people just want to *****.

 

[SilenceS]

People get caught up in name recognition. Correa got traded! Umm, he’s worse than Swanson currently at the plate. The Cubs’ bullpen has 3 or 4 guys with ERAs at or below 3. Who are you looking to replace exactly? They got rid of Flexen and Pressley as weak links. Big improvement. None of the available starters were traded so the prices were too high overall. That’s good on Jed to hold the line. If the Cubs aren’t scoring more than 5 per game on average in the playoffs, the pitching doesn’t matter. You win and die by the sword or in this case the bat with how this team is built.

Jed also kept his powder dry for the winter meetings so let’s just let this season play out and go from there.

People like shiny new toys. They don't realize that the playoffs are expanded so there is not as many trade partners as their once was and so they jack up the price for a player. We have seen players come to a new team and look like a new player. We have seen players come over and shit the bed. It's a crap shoot. The Padres continue to blow their load and can't get over the hump, but somehow they continue to get random players back the become something.

 

[bamainatlanta]

From ESPN:

Padres get:
RHP Mason Miller
LHP JP Sears


Athletics get:
SS Leo De Vries
RHP Braden Nett
RHP Henry Baez
RHP Eduarniel Nunez

Padres grade: B

Miller is no doubt a great talent, and Sears is a consistent source of innings. For now, the Padres' staff looks positively loaded, but the key words in this sentence are "for now" -- because this move was probably as much about payroll as talent. The Padres can prove me wrong by continuing to add, but this doesn't feel like a typical "A.J. Preller going for it" situation.

Miller has been one of baseball's most electric closers since being shifted to the back of the Athletics' bullpen early last year. He might be the best reliever to move at the deadline, surpassing Ryan Helsley and Jhoan Duran, though we can debate that later. But from a pure roster need, this trade accomplishes nothing for the 2025 Padres. Worse, possible deals to come involving Robert Suarez and Dylan Cease could mean Preller's deadline machinations prove to be a short-term net negative for a team with firm grip on a wild-card slot and the talent to go deep in the playoffs.

San Diego's bullpen has been the best in baseball all season. Based on my rankings that rate relievers on game-by-game win probability results, the Padres have the top overall relief staff and four of the top nine individual relievers, including Suarez (No. 1), Adrian Morejon (3), Jason Adam (8) and Jeremiah Estrada(9). Miller ranks 30th, but after a slump earlier in the season, he has been hot of late.

Miller and Sears are both pre-arbitration and so don't cost anything. If the Padres kept everyone intact, the staff would be a beast come October. And it might be anyway, but the savings that would come from moving Suarez and Cease might be enough to get San Diego under the second tax threshold. Even if that doesn't happen, Cease is in a walk year for sure, and Suarez, who can opt out, likely is as well, as he looks to cash in on his strong season. So even if Preller deals that duo, he is still coming out ahead in terms of net controllable years.

But that doesn't mean the Padres come out ahead in either short-term or future value. For this season, Miller plus Sears is likely a lesser combination than Suarez plus Cease. That's rough if that's how it turns out. And longer term, to make this deal, Preller has again pillaged his minor league system, giving up a truly elite talent in Leo De Vries (preseason No. 15 by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and current No. 3 by MLB Pipeline), just to start.

If the Padres don't unload Cease and Suarez, this grade bumps up to a B on the strength of 2025 championship probability added. It doesn't become an A, though, because De Vries is that strong of a prospect.

Update: As suggested, the fact that the Padres did not deal either Cease or Suarez -- as the rumors and tea leaves suggested they might -- changes the way this trade should be considered. Basically, the Padres have gone all-in and have done so with gusto. I still think dealing De Vries to add to a position of strength holds down the grade a bit, but it looks a lot better now than it did this morning. Payroll be damned -- AJ Preller is going for it. (And we've raised the grade from a D- to a B.)

Athletics grade: A

I love Miller, but come on. I never wanted the Athletics to pigeonhole Miller as a short reliever, but they did, and it feels like he's fixed there. (Though conversions, such as the Mets with Clay Holmes, have shown it's never too late). Still, to land De Vries, just 18 and already at High-A, for a reliever is a coup. Exciting power potential, plus plate discipline, a strong arm -- he's the stuff that stars are made of. Shortly after news of this deal dropped, I received a text predicting that someday both the AL MVP (De Vries) and NL MVP (James Wood) will be prospects Preller traded. It could happen. The fans in Vegas are going to love him.

Meanwhile, the A's add three pitching prospects. Baez and Nunez both rank in the 10 to 20 range in San Diego's system, according to analysts, but Nett was their No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, behind De Vries and talented young catcher Ethan Salas, who at last check of my text messages remains a prospect in the San Diego system, but stay tuned.

Nett has a high-end fastball (up to 99 mph, per MLB Pipeline) to headline a five-pitch arsenal. He has struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings in the minors, albeit with ugly walk rates that underscore so-so grades for command. But those walk rates have improved each season, and he's not far off from his big league debut. It's an impressive haul for the A's. -- Doolittle

 

[beckdawg]

Here's where I'm at. Cubs have dumped a ton of money into the developmental side of things and rightfully so. We've started to see small wins on the pitching side. We've also seen large wins on the hitting side with PCA and Amaya's marked improvements. And frankly their drafting since they brought Dan K over has been fantastic. They have already traded 4 of their 2024 picks which is kind of crazy(Smith, Gallagher, Cruz and i'm forgetting the fourth).

I just want them to let the development play out. If there's a truly elite talent like tucker was and you can get him then fine pay what you have to reasonably pay. If Gore had a Crochet level price on him then sure go for it. But outside that and outside smaller moves like they actually made i'd rather see them bring up guys through their own system rather than selling early to get vets.

The reason for this is the amount of value you get from developing someone like say Palencia is enormous. He's top 5 in reliever ERA and has 7 years of control. And it becomes a virtuous cycle because when you aren't constantly dealing away your depth you have the guys to make offers when someone like Betts randomly becomes available. You also will have more internal guys to plug your own holes. It's how it always seems like MIL is plugging in some random guy who becomes great in their bullpen.

 

[beckdawg]

@TalkinYanks
·
9m



The Yankees’ three new bullpen acquisitions: Bird, Bednar, and Doval combine to allow 9 earned runs in just 2.1 innings. The team blew leads of 6-0, 9-4, and 12-10, ultimately losing to the Marlins 13-12.


Fucking OOF

 

[CSF77]

So....the Nats asked for three guys and you agree with not giving up two of them, but still think they should have acquired Gore?

You're spewing nonsense and doing it at a high rate. Take a walk. Eat a peach. Go to the park. See a movie. Good gravy!

You just keep beating the same drum a hundred times a day. Stop already

WTF you talking about. I said they should have won Suarez or got Cease, Houser or Kelly. Gaillon did not get traded either.

Stop being a ass. Just because you love stroking off Jed doesn't mean that he did not screwed up and put 2025 in Jeopardy because other contenders went all in and he went eh.

Regardless. I was noticing that Soroka is starting on monday. That is Brown's day. Rea is listed for Sunday. Soroka is on the 40 and not on the 26. So I am guessing that Brown goes back to Iowa for now.

Like I said marginal improvements so far. But solid game today. Balt is depleted but Horton is doing that a lot. From what Kap said. He has done this 6 time so far. 5 innings of shut out ball. Leads the league. Last 6 games 1.40 ERA.

So we have a young ace on our hands. I really hope that they don't burn him up because he is in uncharted territory right now. Total innings for the year around 100 and they are dropping him to 70 pitches per game.

Cade is the x factor this year.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

WTF you talking about. I said they should have won Suarez or got Cease, Houser or Kelly. Gaillon did not get traded either.

Stop being a ass. Just because you love stroking off Jed doesn't mean that he did not screwed up and put 2025 in Jeopardy because other contenders went all in and he went eh.

Regardless. I was noticing that Soroka is starting on monday. That is Brown's day. Rea is listed for Sunday. Soroka is on the 40 and not on the 26. So I am guessing that Brown goes back to Iowa for now.

Like I said marginal improvements so far. But solid game today. Balt is depleted but Horton is doing that a lot. From what Kap said. He has done this 6 time so far. 5 innings of shut out ball. Leads the league. Last 6 games 1.40 ERA.

So we have a young ace on our hands. I really hope that they don't burn him up because he is in uncharted territory right now. Total innings for the year around 100 and they are dropping him to 70 pitches per game.

Cade is the x factor this year.

Cease didn't get traded either and houser is actually garbage, no thanks on him. I'd have taken Charlie Morton with everything else being too expensive to keep soroka in the pen where he actually adds value.

Cade still has a lot to prove to be considered an ace. He's been great lately. But he's likely going to need to improve his K rate going forward. I'm not 100% confident he can be as successful pitching to contact when he faces some better lineups than he's faced in his recent stretch.

 

[CSF77]

Cease didn't get traded either and houser is actually garbage, no thanks on him. I'd have taken Charlie Morton with everything else being too expensive to keep soroka in the pen where he actually adds value.

Cade still has a lot to prove to be considered an ace. He's been great lately. But he's likely going to need to improve his K rate going forward. I'm not 100% confident he can be as successful pitching to contact when he faces some better lineups than he's faced in his recent stretch.

That is why I said 'young' ace. Most pitchers his age are hot trash. Then after they finally learn how to not be hot trash they become vets.

He is developing at the major league level. That is not a easy thing to do. Most pitchers do that in the off season. Work on new pitches and train themselves. Even Brown has to shut down for 2 weeks to learn the kick change then put it to use vs AAA hitters.

Cade is doing this at the highest level.

So maybe we need to look at Cade as a unicorn. High upside and doing stuff that is outside the norm. He has pretty much honed a kick change off of major league hitters.


Now the K rate I get it as a fan
You want more

But if you look at his situation.

He is on a pitch limit. 85 now down to 70.

How many guys are you going to get out having to work the strike out?

How many guys are you going to get out utilizing your gold glove D?

Like I said. Cade is trying to max out his usefulness in a smaller box.

I'm pretty sure that he is just following the game plan.

Give me 70. Try to get through the 5th. Use your D.

 

[CSF77]

Going in. If it was just rental. Kelly. My heart says Cease. But I would rather have Jed target Cease and Schwarber and take the QO on Tucker

On paper next year

Rotation:

Top 3 in any order

Steele
Boyd
Shota

Then
Horton
Taillon

You really don't need a TOR. here. 2026 Wiggins should be ready and Taillon in his final year. 2027 we might lose all together at this rate. Typical that Cubs get the ASG on a sour note year.

So retaining both Horton and Wiggins really removes the need of a SP. Tweener is fine. But Rea has a opt in 26 and Assad and Brown still around.

So signing Cease would depend on Steele being able to work out normal in the off season. If there are complications then yes. You go there



Line up.

If you lose Tucker and platoon Alcantara and Caissie. It is more flexible. I can see more total HR out of the position.. OPS and wRC+. No. In Tuckers 'slump' he was putting up a 129 wRC+. Which is still 29% better than league avg context matters here. You are paying 450M for a reason



Long at 1B with Busch. You can pretty much say that anything is better than picking up Turner's 10M opt at 41 YO.

Losing Tucker will hurt the team. I can't see any prospect replacing it. Schwarber yes he can but Suzuki is a hack in RF. LF yes you can survive that.


Belli to me makes sense from a budget perspective and he plays a solid RF. Fans will torch Jed for this one.

 

[Probie2429]

I wouldn’t give up on Brown. First year as a starter. It’s a process. He’s got the tools.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

That is why I said 'young' ace. Most pitchers his age are hot trash. Then after they finally learn how to not be hot trash they become vets.

He is developing at the major league level. That is not a easy thing to do. Most pitchers do that in the off season. Work on new pitches and train themselves. Even Brown has to shut down for 2 weeks to learn the kick change then put it to use vs AAA hitters.

Cade is doing this at the highest level.

So maybe we need to look at Cade as a unicorn. High upside and doing stuff that is outside the norm. He has pretty much honed a kick change off of major league hitters.


Now the K rate I get it as a fan
You want more

But if you look at his situation.

He is on a pitch limit. 85 now down to 70.

How many guys are you going to get out having to work the strike out?

How many guys are you going to get out utilizing your gold glove D?

Like I said. Cade is trying to max out his usefulness in a smaller box.

I'm pretty sure that he is just following the game plan.

Give me 70. Try to get through the 5th. Use your D.

Lol im sure cade is trying not to strike guys out.

Also idk that he's got a 70 pitch limit. I think they are just kind of cutting him off at 5 innings regardless of his pitch count. I'm guessing if he was above 80ish before 5, then he'd just get pulled then. Whereas I think they'd probably have pulled him at 5 even if he had like 60 pitches.

 

[CSF77]

Lol im sure cade is trying not to strike guys out.

Also idk that he's got a 70 pitch limit. I think they are just kind of cutting him off at 5 innings regardless of his pitch count. I'm guessing if he was above 80ish before 5, then he'd just get pulled then. Whereas I think they'd probably have pulled him at 5 even if he had like 60 pitches.

No they are not going by innings limits. It is a pitch limit.

If you archive his games the pitch count is pretty consistent

 

[CSF77]

I wouldn’t give up on Brown. First year as a starter. It’s a process. He’s got the tools.

I am in the trade him or make him the main 8th inning guy

Could he be a TOR? IDK. Too much all or nothing. Last game he had was boring. I will take that with him.

 

[Probie2429]

Trading a young pitcher after a half season of starting because he’s struggling is dumb AF.

 

[TL1961]

When the Cubs get Taillon and Assad back, Brown is going to move into the bullpen and he will be better in that role than most people expect.

 

[TL1961]

Going in. If it was just rental. Kelly. My heart says Cease. But I would rather have Jed target Cease and Schwarber and take the QO on Tucker

On paper next year

Rotation:

Top 3 in any order

Steele
Boyd
Shota

Then
Horton
Taillon

You really don't need a TOR. here. 2026 Wiggins should be ready and Taillon in his final year. 2027 we might lose all together at this rate. Typical that Cubs get the ASG on a sour note year.

So retaining both Horton and Wiggins really removes the need of a SP. Tweener is fine. But Rea has a opt in 26 and Assad and Brown still around.

So signing Cease would depend on Steele being able to work out normal in the off season. If there are complications then yes. You go there



Line up.

If you lose Tucker and platoon Alcantara and Caissie. It is more flexible. I can see more total HR out of the position.. OPS and wRC+. No. In Tuckers 'slump' he was putting up a 129 wRC+. Which is still 29% better than league avg context matters here. You are paying 450M for a reason



Long at 1B with Busch. You can pretty much say that anything is better than picking up Turner's 10M opt at 41 YO.

Losing Tucker will hurt the team. I can't see any prospect replacing it. Schwarber yes he can but Suzuki is a hack in RF. LF yes you can survive that.


Belli to me makes sense from a budget perspective and he plays a solid RF. Fans will torch Jed for this one.

May I ask a request?

It is clear from the minute Suarez went to Seattle that you have given up on the 2025 season. You made that very clear in your “postcards from the ledge” that we’ve read over the past 48 hours.

You like to post all these different personnel scenarios for the future and that’s fine. That’s your Wright and you enjoy doing it by all means go ahead and do it.

But may we kindly ask you to move them out of the 2025 in season thread so the rest of us don’t have to weed through the daily lineup changes and trade scenarios, etc.?

We all talked trade deadline in the 2025 thread but now that that’s passed can we move the speculation for the future out of the 2025 in season thread please?

 

[CSF77]

Trading a young pitcher after a half season of starting because he’s struggling is dumb AF.

Trade deadline is past. Not sure on your point?

 

[CSF77]

May I ask a request?

It is clear from the minute Suarez went to Seattle that you have given up on the 2025 season. You made that very clear in your “postcards from the ledge” that we’ve read over the past 48 hours.

You like to post all these different personnel scenarios for the future and that’s fine. That’s your Wright and you enjoy doing it by all means go ahead and do it.

But may we kindly ask you to move them out of the 2025 in season thread so the rest of us don’t have to weed through the daily lineup changes and trade scenarios, etc.?

We all talked trade deadline in the 2025 thread but now that that’s passed can we move the speculation for the future out of the 2025 in season thread please?

Do I get a Orville too?

I think your request is fair. I am past my diatribe.

but I usually respond to you guys.......so goes both ways bro. Stop finger pointing