I'd like carraway to figure out how to throw a strike because he is unhittable. Vizcaino, carraway and Jensen once they give up on him starting could be a nasty back end of the pen.
Rotation by next year should have Hendricks, Steele, Thompson possibly Kilian, Mills and I'd guess they bring in some flip options.
I agree with the rotation.
I see it as:
Hendricks
Steel
Thompson
Mills
Adbert they push into set up as lefties are holding him back. Situational high leverage he could be dominate.
With the opening I would target Rondon. They can afford it.
Killian should be at Iowa to start the season. Marquez might lose 2 years combined. Repeating Tenn might be a reality.
So Killian is a 4 pitch pitcher. 98 fastball. cutter. (Ditched the slider) Solid curve and a changeup. I see him pushing Mills out and if his walk rates continue he might end up a solid #3 starter behind Rondon.
With the time frames going on CF we are talking Davis at AAA for a year. Ortega David loved like a baby. I see him sticking next year. Armstrong will be at SB and 4 years out.
LF Happ and I really hope Jed trades him.
RF Heyward. I would hold him unless they can get 2 corner OF. Then eat his remainder and move on.
Those two opening the best players are Castillanos and Confronto. Either can play RF. It matters little. Davis would be up late year and Ortega moved. The next closest is Armstrong and he would push Davis to RF. At that point Castillanos moves to 1B and Confronto to LF.
so we are talking about 1 year to Davis, Armstrong 4 years.
I would be down to offer Castellanos (30) a 8 year deal. 30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37 25 AAV. Front load it. He slides to 1B late contract or earlier if Wisdom takes a dump.
Michael Conforto (29) same thing 8 year deal.
Now I wouldn't worry about blocking anything. Players are traded all of the time. This is a non issue.
But this makes the Cubs interesting in 2022. Then you add Davis and Killian later year and if Marquez starts pushing the dial the time line might jump even faster.
So I see this as stage 1. and stage 2. Not wait 5 years for stage 1.
