Cub's Prospect Watch And Development Discussion Thread

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JZsportsfan

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After the trade deadline they may have no choice but to call up some of these guys. Although no position player on the Cubs has any value outside of maybe Valbuena. Obviously assuming Rizzo and Castro are untouchable.
 

beckdawg

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CSF77 said:
If pressed I would leave Bryant at 3B. Castro at SS, Alcantara 2B. pushed over to RF. He has a strong arm and played CF in HS. His arm would play big in RF. His power plays anywhere on the Cubs.

Looking at it: This year they could promote both Bryant and Alcantara. Their development shows they are major league ready right now. Olt and Lake have shown they have poor strike zone management skills.

The only problem I for see is Valbuena. He has proven to be very solid and I would like to find a spot for him. That is a reason why I wouldn't mind seeing Lake demoted and Alcantara in LF at least.

Interesting situation:

CF: Bonifacio
LF: Alcantara
1B: Rizzo
3B: Bryant
SS: Castro
RF: Baez
2B: Valbuena
C: Castillo

It would be interesting seeing that for next year.
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They might trade Valbuena given the number of teams who are hurting pretty bad at 2B. Even if they don't, what they could do is give Alcantara and Bryant both looks at CF/RF in some off days for other players freeing 3B and 2B for Valbuena to get some looks if they do keep him. That way you're not totally going full position switch on either guy and you get a look at them vs MLB pitchers. I honestly think it would make more sense for Bryant to split about 50/50 there especially if Schierholtz is dealt but the front office has given no indications that they plan to do that while they have with Alcantara.

That's what kind of confuses me because Alcantara has proven to be a better 2B defender than Bryant has at 3B yet they are already considering moving Alcantara. That's also before you consider that the cubs have a number of other good 3B prospects in the system and the fact they've said with other players position wouldn't slow their progression like Schwarber.
 
Boobaby1

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beckdawg said:
I don't think you have to have service clocks even matter. If it were me, I'd give them until August in the minors then call both up. That's more than enough to avoid super two. It leaves Bryant a month or so of AAA pitching to see if he's good enough. It frees roster spots on the 40 man assuming trades happen. And it gives Alcantara a little more time to work on his k rate/bb rate.
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Might want to see if the I-Cubs make the playoffs. If so, playoff experience would be extremely valuable also.

As far as positioning or re-positioning players, I am in the camp that the Cubs need to spend some money on some quality veterans. I see nothing wrong with bringing in Melky Cabrera and/or Sandoval for some left handed pop in the line-up. They would block no one and even if Bryant plays RF, there is no guarantee that Alcantara and Baez will be up at the same time. If they do, then you have CF and 2B available to put them into.

I don't like the idea of no veterans that a lot of people are saying when assembling their line-up. The Cubs will have a 31 million dollar payroll to start the year. Surely they can spend close to the 90 million mark and get 3 to 4 players in here?
 

beckdawg

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Boobaby1 said:
Might want to see if the I-Cubs make the playoffs. If so, playoff experience would be extremely valuable also.

As far as positioning or re-positioning players, I am in the camp that the Cubs need to spend some money on some quality veterans. I see nothing wrong with bringing in Melky Cabrera and/or Sandoval for some left handed pop in the line-up. They would block no one and even if Bryant plays RF, there is no guarantee that Alcantara and Baez will be up at the same time. If they do, then you have CF and 2B available to put them into.

I don't like the idea of no veterans that a lot of people are saying when assembling their line-up. The Cubs will have a 31 million dollar payroll to start the year. Surely they can spend close to the 90 million mark and get 3 to 4 players in here?
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See, I'd prefer they use FA on CF and LF. Denard Span in particular feels like a player the cubs could use as a potential vet FA. He's a left handed bat, only 30 this year, and is a career .282/.348/.388 hitter with some speed and good defense in CF. If you assume something like a 3-4 year deal for him that's a good window to fit in with Almora's development. They also wouldn't likely have to dump much money into him. If they want to go Melky for LF too that'd be fine. Sandoval doesn't make as much sense to me. For one you'd think the Giants would bring him back. For two, they have numerous options at 3B in the relatively near future. You're talking about Baez, Bryant, Olt, Villanueva, Candelaro(sp?) and hell you could even consider throwing Alcantara there if nothing else. Edit: forgot they also have Valbuena and Bonifacio atm.
 
Boobaby1

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beckdawg said:
See, I'd prefer they use FA on CF and LF. Denard Span in particular feels like a player the cubs could use as a potential vet FA. He's a left handed bat, only 30 this year, and is a career .282/.348/.388 hitter with some speed and good defense in CF. If you assume something like a 3-4 year deal for him that's a good window to fit in with Almora's development. They also wouldn't likely have to dump much money into him. If they want to go Melky for LF too that'd be fine. Sandoval doesn't make as much sense to me. For one you'd think the Giants would bring him back. For two, they have numerous options at 3B in the relatively near future. You're talking about Baez, Bryant, Olt, Villanueva, Candelaro(sp?) and hell you could even consider throwing Alcantara there if nothing else. Edit: forgot they also have Valbuena and Bonifacio atm.
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And the Cubs have only Rizzo as power from the left side. Bryant, Baez, Soler, are all righties. They need to find some balance as most staffs are 80% right handed if you want to play averages.

Like I said, I want more veterans. Castro and Rizzo are starting to qualify, but they aren't nearly enough and the Cubs should find a couple to lean on when things go south for the current core players.

Again, people to me are putting way too many youngsters in the line-up at the same time. There is too much that can go wrong. Look what Rizzo had to experience and overcome?
 

beckdawg

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Boobaby1 said:
And the Cubs have only Rizzo as power from the left side. Bryant, Baez, Soler, are all righties. They need to find some balance as most staffs are 80% right handed if you want to play averages.

Like I said, I want more veterans. Castro and Rizzo are starting to qualify, but they aren't nearly enough and the Cubs should find a couple to lean on when things go south for the current core players.

Again, people to me are putting way too many youngsters in the line-up at the same time. There is too much that can go wrong. Look what Rizzo had to experience and overcome?
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You're suggesting 2 vets. I'm suggesting 2 vets. I don't see the difference here. And Span is a left handed hitter. That's not relying on youngsters anymore than what you're suggesting. Perhaps Span isn't the power hitter someone like Sandoval is but in theory you could place Span, Alcantara, Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and get a mix of hitters 1-5 and that's before you consider adding in Melky who also switch hits. That's more than enough mix in your 1-6.
 
JZsportsfan

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The only prospects I would be comfortable penciling in for next year would be just Bryant and Baez. I think they should go after a veteran OF, and maybe take a run at the next big time Cuban coming up in Tomas.

But also depends on what position Bryant and Baez are going to play long term. If Bryant is going into RF, with Baez at 3B, I'd be comfortable with Valbuena playing 2B. Make Alcantra take the spot from him
 

theberserkfury

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Hey, anyone know what happened to Trey McNutt? It seems like he's still with the organization but I'm not seeing much else...
 

brett05

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theberserkfury said:
Hey, anyone know what happened to Trey McNutt? It seems like he's still with the organization but I'm not seeing much else...
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following standard cubs prospect protocol...:cubstroll:

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beckdawg

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dabynsky said:
I asked on twitter and he responded with that just now.
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If fairness, Mcnutt really hadn't been much of a prospect since A+ in 2010 and really his seasons before that weren't that spectacular either. He did pitch last year but it was rather minimal and not that great.
 
SilenceS

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Mcnutt and archer were same type of prospects. The cubs chose to keep mcnutt. It was 50/50 then. They both had great arms with control problems


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dabynsky

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SilenceS said:
Mcnutt and archer were same type of prospects. The cubs chose to keep mcnutt. It was 50/50 then. They both had great arms with control problems


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It is just the Cubs luck that they choose to keep the one that developed arm problems and traded the one that took a huge jump forward.
 

brett05

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SilenceS said:
Mcnutt and archer were same type of prospects. The cubs chose to keep mcnutt. It was 50/50 then. They both had great arms with control problems


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thats not how I remember that

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