Cubs offseason needs/ Talk

[knoxville7]

Recap: Feels Correa and Cubs are best match up. He wants in the spotlight again after his successor won the MVP. Cubs are a iconic franchies and it puts him into the spotlight.

Abreu signed with the Astros. So that one was off.

Kodai Senga makes sense. Has a shoot pitch that most ML hitters have not had to deal with.

So the Cubs have a bunch of holes to fill but targeting Correa, Senga then use the rest of their resources towards plugging holes with short term F/A while waiting for the farm to replace.

What??

 

[CSF77]

What??

World series MVP.

 

[CSF77]

Too me a win this year:

1. Mervis plays 1B all year and is legit
2. Cubs go big on Correa.
3. Cubs sign a mid tier starter.

This would cost around 50M and is with in the Cubs budget.

Most holes on the team can be delt with internal. Closer, set up, 3B, DH. Cubs have Wisdom, Morel that can play 3B and DH. Morel can play CF and has a plus arm. Then Davis should be in the mix depending on his health.


Pitching Cubs need a mid tier arm. Walker comes to mind here. Push Stroman to recruit him. This adds stable innings to the rotation and lessening the wear on the pen.

So Cubs could just target 2 guys and then prep for spring training.

 

[CSF77]

Off the board

The Rangers have made their huge rotation splash, announcing agreement with Jacob deGrom on a five-year contract. It’s a $185MM guarantee, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal includes a full no-trade clause and a conditional option for the 2028 campaign that could take its total value to $222MM, according to Passan.

 

[CSF77]

37M AAV. Things might get crazy

 

[Discus fish salesman]

37M AAV. Things might get crazy

I'm not sure how this affects the market at all? He was expected to get 40-45 million but took a longer deal for less per year. If anything this should guarantee rodon doesn't get the $35 mill/yr he was supposedly seeking. Degrom has a much better track record and they both have a history of injuries.

 

[Anytime23]

i agree about the stuff you guys said about Cubs baseball

 

[knoxville7]

i agree about the stuff you guys said about Cubs baseball

Minus the things @CSF77 says

 

[CSF77]

Here is a breakdown of where things stand for the Cubs ahead of the Winter Meetings:

Key Events

• Sunday, Dec. 4: HOF Contemporary Era ballot results released (Albert Belle, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling)

• Monday, Dec. 5: All-MLB Team announced

• Tuesday, Dec. 6: Inaugural Draft Lottery, AL/NL Relievers of Year announced

• Wednesday, Dec. 7: Rule 5 Draft

Club Needs

The Cubs’ moves to date this winter have been around the edges of the roster, leaving the main areas of need still unaddressed. Chicago is in the market for an impact offensive player (signing one of the big-ticket shortstops is one avenue), rotation help, bullpen depth, a first baseman, a center fielder and a backup catcher. Is that all? There’s still a lot of work to be done for the North Siders.

Potential Trade Candidates

Left fielder Ian Happ – an All-Star and Gold Glove winner last season – had his name in rumors at the Trade Deadline last summer. Given that Happ is entering the final year of his contract, he might still be a target for teams. That said, Chicago may also use this offseason to try to extend Happ, who is growing into a leadership role for a roster undergoing a youth movement.

Beyond Happ, there are not many obvious trade candidates on the MLB roster. Veteran Kyle Hendricks has one year left on his deal (plus an option for ’24), but he is coming off an injury-marred campaign. Underneath the MLB group, the Cubs have a more robust farm system to pull from in trade talks, but Chicago is also still balancing competing now with building for the future.

Prospects to Know

For most of their free-agent talks, the Cubs will likely focus on shorter-term contracts, especially given the prospects who are coming soon. Outfielder Brennen Davis (No. 2 on Pipeline's Top 30 Cubs list) is coming off a year filled with health setbacks, but could reach the big leagues next season. The Cubs are looking for help at first base, but they're balancing that with the expected arrival of slugging prospect Matt Mervis (No. 21). There are also a host of pitching prospects who could impact the rotation and/or bullpen in 2023.

Rule 5 Draft

Given the Cubs’ long list of needs, this could be a year to roll the dice on a Rule 5 selection (perhaps in the bullpen) to scout up close in Spring Training with the possibility of cracking the roster. Chicago did not protect a long list of players, including four from its Top 30 list: OF Yohendrick Pinango (No. 18), INF Chase Strumpf (No. 25), RHP Luis Devers (No. 26) and RHP Kohl Franklin (No. 29).

 

[TL1961]

Too me a win this year:

1. Mervis plays 1B all year and is legit
2. Cubs go big on Correa.
3. Cubs sign a mid tier starter.

This would cost around 50M and is with in the Cubs budget.

Most holes on the team can be delt with internal. Closer, set up, 3B, DH. Cubs have Wisdom, Morel that can play 3B and DH. Morel can play CF and has a plus arm. Then Davis should be in the mix depending on his health.


Pitching Cubs need a mid tier arm. Walker comes to mind here. Push Stroman to recruit him. This adds stable innings to the rotation and lessening the wear on the pen.

So Cubs could just target 2 guys and then prep for spring training.

Morel was a pleasant surprise last year, but tends to be overrated because his results are compared to expectations which were mot high.

His versatility is a plus. But the minute you slot him in as DH or at 3B, you need to take a closer look at those offensive numbers. They’re not great for someone playing those positions.

I hope Mervis can continue his hitting at the major league level and prove to be a viable option at first base. But to say the least, that is a very iffy proposition at this point. For one he’s not considered a real high prospect in spite of his production in AAA and secondly we don’t know if he really can handle the position defensively.

Opening the season with an infield with Morel and Mervis at the corners is really hoping for miracles.

 

[Diehardfan]

Morel was a pleasant surprise last year, but tends to be overrated because his results are compared to expectations which were mot high.

His versatility is a plus. But the minute you slot him in as DH or at 3B, you need to take a closer look at those offensive numbers. They’re not great for someone playing those positions.

I hope Mervis can continue his hitting at the major league level and prove to be a viable option at first base. But to say the least, that is a very iffy proposition at this point. For one he’s not considered a real high prospect in spite of his production in AAA and secondly we don’t know if he really can handle the position defensively.

Opening the season with an infield with Morel and Mervis at the corners is really hoping for miracles.

Call me crazy, but why not? Sorry to say, that no matter who they sign......this team is still a ways away from being a championship contender. Sure, they could leak into the playoffs by virtue of a weak division or the obscene amount of Wild Cards....but they won't get far. Although I'm not crazy enough to want to see the team's Swiss Army knife taking a regular position....let him do what he does best. Super Sub. If they can sign one of the SS and if Mervis is the real deal....you can hide Wisdom's 200Ks in the lineup a bit better As much as I've blasted him, I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd rather have him at third than Morel. Mervis can't do anymore than he's already done in the minors....plug him in and see what he's got. Filling the 1B slot shouldn't be that difficult should he be a bust.

 

[Adipost]

The Chicago Cubs, who have boldly said they plan to build a contender, significantly raising their payroll, have Bogaerts as their top priority. Yet they are also exploring the market for Correa. The Cubs jumped into the Correa sweepstakes late in February before he signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, and opted out after the season. — Bob Nightengale

MLB Winter Meetings return with prospect of pandemonium on the horizon

 

[SilenceS]

First big SS chip falls. Trea Turner to the Phillies

 

[Discus fish salesman]

First big SS chip falls. Trea Turner to the Phillies

11 years. Phillies trying to be the most washed up team with him and harper in about 7-8 years

 

[knoxville7]

It’s too bad the cubs missed out on Turner. He’s someone that could of solved that lead off spot nicely. The rest of the SS market ain’t doing that

 

[Castor76]

It’s too bad the cubs missed out on Turner. He’s someone that could of solved that lead off spot nicely. The rest of the SS market ain’t doing that

I wouldn't have been crazy about the years, but at an AAV of less than 28M, I would have liked to have seen the Cubs at least make on offer to him. Lead off is going to be a plague for them unless someone just surprises us and get the job done.

 

[SilenceS]

I wouldn't have been crazy about the years, but at an AAV of less than 28M, I would have liked to have seen the Cubs at least make on offer to him. Lead off is going to be a plague for them unless someone just surprises us and get the job done.

PCA is the future leadoff. But, thats a couple years out. I am also not one that believes in a leadoff needing to be a certain type. I need a guy who gets on base. Turner fits a need cause Schwarbs led the league in K's. Thats something you dont want in the one.

Cubs are meeting with Correa in the next 24 hours. The Cubs seem to have a huge thing for Boegy. Swanson seems to be the lead for who we land.

Braves didnt match their counter offer to them which I think was 140 million if I read correct.

Word on the street is the Cubs are looking to add a starter with upside, 3 to 4 bullpen guys, and 3 or so position players.

 

[SilenceS]

As for the sp with upside. Taillon is a big name for the Cubs. He has a lot of suitors since the Yankees didnt offer him a QO. But, thats def. someone Jed and them would go after

 

[Discus fish salesman]

PCA is the future leadoff. But, thats a couple years out. I am also not one that believes in a leadoff needing to be a certain type. I need a guy who gets on base. Turner fits a need cause Schwarbs led the league in K's. Thats something you dont want in the one.

Cubs are meeting with Correa in the next 24 hours. The Cubs seem to have a huge thing for Boegy. Swanson seems to be the lead for who we land.

Braves didnt match their counter offer to them which I think was 140 million if I read correct.

Word on the street is the Cubs are looking to add a starter with upside, 3 to 4 bullpen guys, and 3 or so position players.

Swanson probably gets signed last because he's everyone's consolation prize. I hope they get bogaerts

 

[TL1961]

Call me crazy, but why not? Sorry to say, that no matter who they sign......this team is still a ways away from being a championship contender. Sure, they could leak into the playoffs by virtue of a weak division or the obscene amount of Wild Cards....but they won't get far. Although I'm not crazy enough to want to see the team's Swiss Army knife taking a regular position....let him do what he does best. Super Sub. If they can sign one of the SS and if Mervis is the real deal....you can hide Wisdom's 200Ks in the lineup a bit better As much as I've blasted him, I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd rather have him at third than Morel. Mervis can't do anymore than he's already done in the minors....plug him in and see what he's got. Filling the 1B slot shouldn't be that difficult should he be a bust.

Given the other holes that the Cubs have to fill, I certainly have no qualms about giving Mervis a shot at first base. I just think you expecting Mervis and Morel at the corners to compete with Goldie and Arenado is a little bit crazy. My main concern is Morel at third he’s just not a regular third baseman that’s going to win you any games. You call him super sub only because he is versatile but you know who else was versatile and played multiple positions? David Bote. That’s not leading you to championships.