Cubs offseason rumors/transactions

[CSF77]

Talent was the issue. If he were worthy of playing time he would have gotten playing time. As for no opportunity the guy has 718 PAs in the majors and has hit .229/.309/.329. You want to trade a PTBNL and give him a shot in camp to "change scene"? Fine. But you're handing not only lead off but a starting position at 2B where the cubs have multiple options already to a career .229 hitter with a .309 OBP. Just because he was once a #1 prospect doesn't mean anything. Ok so he hit in AAA last year but it was the PCL and everyone hits in the PCL. You're talking about a guy who has very low power and who hasn't hit for a high average even in the minors. He's hit .279 in the minors over 2151 PAs and texas' farm teams all play in hitter friendly environments.

I wouldn't give up anything of value for him. You want to trade Zagunis and hope for the best fine but the guys not worth any real prospect in his current form.

They would have to create playing time to make it worth it. And I agree that you would have to trade lower value. I’m thinking Butler myself.

But to create that playing time it would have to be in the aftermath of a trade to get a SP. most likely Baez and or Happ would be gone and Zobrist would be left alone.

I honestly believe it will cost 2 of Baez/Happ/Schwarber to acquire a controlled TOR pitcher. And Theo pretty much said that they are out of the business of selling long term control for 1 year of control. That stuff made sense going into a WS drought. Soler was a offload. Any other buy would have control attached to it.

Edit: as far as the lead off I’m down with resigning Jay and platooning him and Almora. Then let Profar start at 2B batting #9. Ya back to that but opens up more RBI’s for Bryant. After that Zobrist goes back to 6th man and his numbers suggest a age regression. It makes sense to use him and Profar to give days off at 3B and SS

 

[CSF77]

Yet, no one acknowlegdes Schwarbers refusal to go with the pitch and pull everything into shifts

His spray charts show he hits to all fields. But yes a chunk go into the shift. This is nothing new with the history of it. If I recal right Rizzo would just bunt to 3B as it was open. Basically I’ll take it cause you gave it to me. He is not stupid.

 

[TL1961]

Well saw that Jurickson Profar is on the market. Now I did look at his BB rate and it has been pretty close to 10%. His issue has been playing time for the most part. He is only 24 still and honestly a full time gig may turn it around for him. Seeing how he was the #1 ranked prospect at one point his issues were not a talent thing.

Now I would almost do a even Schwarber/Profar swap. Lead off with Jurickson at 2B and start Happ in LF.

Baez becomes the primary UI.

Now it is sketchy I know this but my gut feel is Profar is not this dud. I believe he never got a opertunity and the Rangers miss played by not trading him.

So.....Schwarber gone, and Baez on the bench, while Profar and Happ start? What is the goal here? To lose more games?

 

[TL1961]

His spray charts show he hits to all fields. But yes a chunk go into the shift. This is nothing new with the history of it. If I recal right Rizzo would just bunt to 3B as it was open. Basically I’ll take it cause you gave it to me. He is not stupid.

Rizzo did that once or twice. And grounded out to shallow RF 100 times.

 

[CSF77]

So.....Schwarber gone, and Baez on the bench, while Profar and Happ start? What is the goal here? To lose more games?

No I’m thinking Baez would be the headliner of any trade myself and the system is a void at SS. Profar would be protection

 

[Omeletpants]

His spray charts show he hits to all fields. But yes a chunk go into the shift.

The only time Schwarber goes opposite field is when he swings late. He doesnt do it on purpose. The sad part is that he has crazy power to the opposite field.

When he was the worst hitter in the league, he should have hit every ball to left field to get back on track and force the defense out of the shift. But NOOOOOOOOOOOO like an egomaniac ahole he has to continue to pull everything. He is a selfish player and it's all about him. His Adam Dunn ass needs to go

 

[CSF77]

The only time Schwarber goes opposite field is when he swings late. He doesnt do it on purpose. The sad part is that he has crazy power to the opposite field.

When he was the worst hitter in the league, he should have hit every ball to left field to get back on track and force the defense out of the shift. But NOOOOOOOOOOOO like an egomaniac ahole he has to continue to pull everything. He is a selfish player and it's all about him. His Adam Dunn ass needs to go

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sb...-schwarber-milwaukee-brewers-amazing-bunt-mlb

 

[Omeletpants]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sb...-schwarber-milwaukee-brewers-amazing-bunt-mlb

Yes, cause 1 bunt changes the entire narrative

 

[beckdawg]

They would have to create playing time to make it worth it. And I agree that you would have to trade lower value. I’m thinking Butler myself.

But to create that playing time it would have to be in the aftermath of a trade to get a SP. most likely Baez and or Happ would be gone and Zobrist would be left alone.

I honestly believe it will cost 2 of Baez/Happ/Schwarber to acquire a controlled TOR pitcher. And Theo pretty much said that they are out of the business of selling long term control for 1 year of control. That stuff made sense going into a WS drought. Soler was a offload. Any other buy would have control attached to it.

Edit: as far as the lead off I’m down with resigning Jay and platooning him and Almora. Then let Profar start at 2B batting #9. Ya back to that but opens up more RBI’s for Bryant. After that Zobrist goes back to 6th man and his numbers suggest a age regression. It makes sense to use him and Profar to give days off at 3B and SS

I'll try to put this nicely because sometimes I probably come off too aggressive. Why would you deal for Profar when you have La Stella? If the idea is you lose both Baez and Happ for whatever reason to trade you'd still have Zobrist who seemingly would be your starting 2B and you'd still have La Stella who hit .390 OBP vs RHP last year. You mix and match him and Almora who had a .410 OBP vs LHP last year and you have a rather ridiculously strong lead off. Granted La Stella has basically no power and speed and his defense is a tier below average but even if you expect Profar to get better he has a rather big split between LHP and RHP and he's only been roughly average between SS/2B. He would give you some more speed... but only if he got on base. And like La Stella he basically has no power.

A question I can't answer is how do you play Baez vs RHP when he hits RHP(.258/.304/.443 85 wRC+) over Zobrist(.249/.336/.401 94 wRC+ with 113 wRC+ on his career), La Stella(.277/.390/.455 122 wRC+) or Happ(.243/.334/.529 118 wRC+)? It'd be one thing if that were the small side of a platoon but 68% of his PAs in 2017 were vs RHP. And while I get the idea that he's fantastic defensively you're talking about a 33% drop between his hitting vs RHP and Happ and a 37% drop between him and La Stella. Even if the idea is Almora struggles vs RHP so you bat Happ in CF and play Baez rather than Almora, Almora hit .319/.311/.583(123 wRC+) in the second half this year vs RHP over 75 PAs and in 2016 he hit .286/.324/.400 vs RHP overall(93 wRC+). Baez is even worse if you look at his career numbers vs RHP at .242/.282/.398(76 wRC+).

I don't see how you can platoon Baez. That makes no sense to me because I have to believe what he gives you vs LHP you can find in another bench bat and his trade value would be far superior to what value you get out of him as a defensive replacement/LHP split guy. And Russell hits RHP better than Baez(.249/.311/.408 wRC+ of 90). It's not like you even slide him over to SS. So, honestly I can understand if that idea makes people mad but I really think if the cubs move anything for pitching Baez makes the most sense. We can sit here and talk about Schwarber's lack of defense and his hitting issues but the thing he has going for him is that he's a career .238/.344/.513(128 wRC+) vs RHP and RHP is the the vast majority of any split. Logistically he's just more useful because there's more pitchers you're going to want to play him vs. Like wise Happ's better vs RHP than LHP. And Almora who would potentially be the other young guy you might deal has shown more ability to hit RHP and also happens to be the best defensive CF they have on the roster.

 

[TL1961]

No I’m thinking Baez would be the headliner of any trade myself and the system is a void at SS. Profar would be protection

This is all contradicion.

You suggest a benefit of getting Profar is protection at SS while putting him at 2b as a starter and trading Baez. (Seem to also be falling back on the old idea that becausevhis offense is worse than Baez’ he becomes a better SS backup option. )

You suggested Baez to UI role, and now say your plan was he would be the headliner in a trade. All contradictions.

 

[anotheridiot]

The only time Schwarber goes opposite field is when he swings late. He doesnt do it on purpose. The sad part is that he has crazy power to the opposite field.

When he was the worst hitter in the league, he should have hit every ball to left field to get back on track and force the defense out of the shift. But NOOOOOOOOOOOO like an egomaniac ahole he has to continue to pull everything. He is a selfish player and it's all about him. His Adam Dunn ass needs to go

Right, but at least accept the point the cubs are the most shifted against team in baseball and Schwarber is not the only one. Addison russells big hits are to right, Baez had some big hits to right, Rizzo had a memorable bloop hit to left, KB can drive the ball to the right center gap. NONE OF THEM DO IT ENOUGH. That is why I said none of these guys will ever be considered great hitters until the approach is changed and apparently, the approach with Mailee and company is hit it to your most power, even if there are 8 guys on that side of the field.

You cannot, just simply cannot expect a 560K guy to do what a 25 million dollar guy is not doing. No strikes, one strike, sure drive the cover off the ball if you can, they cant catch it if its unwraveling yarn or over the wall, but sometimes getting to two strikes is too far for these guys. Strike one and hit the ball where its pitched. Its just amazing watching these pitchers CONSTANTLY pitch to the outside with a shift on when thats the easiest ball to hit the other way.

My bet is they still get 40 home runs just swinging out of their pants at one pitch per at bat. This team should be scoring 7 runs a game.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

The only time Schwarber goes opposite field is when he swings late. He doesnt do it on purpose. The sad part is that he has crazy power to the opposite field.

When he was the worst hitter in the league, he should have hit every ball to left field to get back on track and force the defense out of the shift. But NOOOOOOOOOOOO like an egomaniac ahole he has to continue to pull everything. He is a selfish player and it's all about him. His Adam Dunn ass needs to go

Your accusations against Schwarber go against everything we know about this kid. You act like his failures with the shift are intentional and somehow willful disobedience. Do you realize how asinine you sound? He's considered to be one of the most humble and hardest workers on the team. Do you ever think that some of the struggles are mental blocks? How about just lack of experience or knowledge? Now, I'm prepared for him to be traded if he's part of a deal for starting pitching but I also think, again based on everything we know about him and his character, that he's going to be a hell of a player. You on the other hand have written him off as selfish and egotistical, despite evidence to the contrary, after 800 PA. It's ridiculous.

 

[Omeletpants]

Your accusations against Schwarber go against everything we know about this kid. You act like his failures with the shift are intentional and somehow willful disobedience. Do you realize how asinine you sound? He's considered to be one of the most humble and hardest workers on the team. Do you ever think that some of the struggles are mental blocks? How about just lack of experience or knowledge? Now, I'm prepared for him to be traded if he's part of a deal for starting pitching but I also think, again based on everything we know about him and his character, that he's going to be a hell of a player. You on the other hand have written him off as selfish and egotistical, despite evidence to the contrary, after 800 PA. It's ridiculous.

Nonsense

You place the blame on mental blocks? WTF is a mental block? It's just an excuse for doing what he wants. He has a choice and he chooses to pull everything, even pitches out of the strike zone. I'm betting the coaches have had many discussions with him yet he still does his own thing to the detriment of the team. That's the definition of selfishness and obstinance

Now, if he has so many mental issues he should have a psychologist, not a hitting coach. Plus they should park his ass in Iowa for a few years where he can beat up on 3rd rate pitcher and be the Babe Ruth of Iowa

 

[brett05]

Ask Steve Sax

 

[CSF77]

Steve Sax Syndrome

 

[Diehardfan]

Ask Steve Sax

or Steve Blass

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Ask Steve Sax

Or Rick Ankiel or any number of guys who got the "thing". I think Dillon Bettances is the latest victim of that. Those are only the extreme instances though there are a lot of guys with various degrees of mental blocks. Heyward went from being a 6 WAR and 120 plus wRC+ player to being no better than an 88 wRC+ player and nobody doubts his work ethic or think he's "arrogant", well I guess you might ommy. Plus Schwarber is a kid with 800 PA and, again, no one questions how hard he works. Sometimes things just click for guys sometimes they don't. Byron Buxton looked like a bust, now he looks like an All Star. Assigning poor play to arrogance or not taking coaching without considering the mental aspect of the game is silly.

 

[Iceman2385]

Yet, no one acknowlegdes Schwarbers refusal to go with the pitch and pull everything into shifts

Umm it seemed to me schwarber made some adjustments in the 2nd half and went the other way a lot more often. I remember a lot of opposite field jacks in the 2nd half. Im really not worried about Schwarbs, he has an incredible eye, incredible power, and has already shown an ability to make adjustments (2nd half last season). Schwarbs is gna be s monster. Trading Schwarbd now would be selling low and a huuuuuugggggge mistake.

Baez is the guy to trade...trading him would be selling high! He's the guy I think he is what he is. To me his problem is pitch recognition, when watching him he seems to be guessing at the plate. Pitch recognition seems like something that would be very hard to improve on. He has a decent floor value w his Defense and power, but I could see him regressjng if pitchers attack him appropriately.

 

[beckdawg]

Your accusations against Schwarber go against everything we know about this kid. You act like his failures with the shift are intentional and somehow willful disobedience. Do you realize how asinine you sound? He's considered to be one of the most humble and hardest workers on the team. Do you ever think that some of the struggles are mental blocks? How about just lack of experience or knowledge? Now, I'm prepared for him to be traded if he's part of a deal for starting pitching but I also think, again based on everything we know about him and his character, that he's going to be a hell of a player. You on the other hand have written him off as selfish and egotistical, despite evidence to the contrary, after 800 PA. It's ridiculous.

I'm not sure i buy the logic that Schwarbers issue relate to a mental block. Like I've said before he was rushed through the minors and never really challenged while there. Think a more likely explanation is that no one above likely AAA could hit spots with enough consistency to work his weak areas of the zone. You might even argue most AAA pitchers can't but he did see his K rate tick up slightly there. Think this is just a case of the game adjusting to him and he has yet to adjust back. At the major league level if you have a flaw teams are going to find it and have players who can exploit it. He needs to come up with a way to counter the flaw.

I've said for awhile now but I'd love for Schwarber to work out with Votto this offseason. Rizzo looked like a totally different hitter after one offseason with him.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I'm not sure i buy the logic that Schwarbers issue relate to a mental block. Like I've said before he was rushed through the minors and never really challenged while there. Think a more likely explanation is that no one above likely AAA could hit spots with enough consistency to work his weak areas of the zone. You might even argue most AAA pitchers can't but he did see his K rate tick up slightly there. Think this is just a case of the game adjusting to him and he has yet to adjust back. At the major league level if you have a flaw teams are going to find it and have players who can exploit it. He needs to come up with a way to counter the flaw.

I've said for awhile now but I'd love for Schwarber to work out with Votto this offseason. Rizzo looked like a totally different hitter after one offseason with him.

It could be something he just can get right now, I'm not saying it's a total block but I am saying that it doesn't having anything to do with being arrogant. I agree with you though, he needs to spend time with someone and Votto is a great idea.