Cubs Trade Castro to Yankees

[SilenceS]

Two FA pitchers?

They're getting $31 million!

Got older? How abut got smarter? Got better at OBP? And OPS.

And Baez is younger than Castro.

They got toughness, smarts, playoff experience.

They have added a 37 year old and a 35 year old. You are playing with father time and he always wins. Also, you trade Castro for a guy who is 28 and never went past 131 innings.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Went to a Yankees message board hoping they'd feel bad about the trade too...nope...about 90% positivity

 

[czman]

Went to a Yankees message board hoping they'd feel bad about the trade too...nope...about 90% positivity

Do they have cartwheel emotes there? If they do I am sure they are using them.

 

[Diehardfan]

They have added a 37 year old and a 35 year old. You are playing with father time and he always wins. Also, you trade Castro for a guy who is 28 and never went past 131 innings.

I agree. So far, he has aged his young club significantly. Theo just closed the window a bit on this team's WS chances.

Here's my prediction for opening day 2016. Warren will not be in the rotation and Zobrist will not be starting. So for a contract friendly, former All-star they got a middle reliever and a highly paid utility man. Castro had his warts but I think he was worth more than that.

 

[TL1961]

They have added a 37 year old and a 35 year old. You are playing with father time and he always wins. Also, you trade Castro for a guy who is 28 and never went past 131 innings.

Yeah, it's too bad that Zobrist is the only possible guy who can now play 2nd.

We know Father Time wins. Thus the two year commitment to Lackey vs. 6 or 7 to get other pitchers.

I am not saying Lackey is my favorite move or that I hoped that's all they'd do in FA. But it's pretty low risk. And doesn't tie up $ long-term.

Yeah, Zobrist is no spring chicken. And, like lackey, I wasn't praying that we'd sign him. I actually thought we had less need for him than many other teams. But he brings what we are missing. Smart, experienced player. I would have liked to spend the $ on a P or Heyward, but Heyward may get $25 per.

Bottom line is, the Cubs see it as I do. As i have said, Castro makes the plays that kill you. Zobrist brings smarts and OBP. And flexibility - something we already had a lot of, but not something Castro, specifically gave you. (OF possibility, that is).

The wild card here is Warren. I may be overvaluing him, thinking he's a starter with a 3.29 ERA. Most of his appearances were out of the pen, and nobody talks about him like he's Jose Fernandez. But I wouldn't be shocked to see him become a good starter.

The Cubs kept prospects they see as having higher ceilings: Baez and Soler. (Though the team may keep dealing) Castro's ceiling was last Sept. He was great for 7 weeks. But Theo didn't let that fool him.

I wish Starlin well. I hope he keeps piling up the hits. He can accumulate a hell of a lot of them eventually. But he is not a guy this team will miss in 2016.

There is a reason that several teams wanted Zobrist at age 35, and not many cared about Castro.

In other talks, teams were after Baez. These GM's know what they are doing.

 

[TL1961]

Do they have cartwheel emotes there? If they do I am sure they are using them.

Good for them. Check back in May.

 

[TL1961]

I agree. So far, he has aged his young club significantly. Theo just closed the window a bit on this team's WS chances.

Here's my prediction for opening day 2016. Warren will not be in the rotation and Zobrist will not be starting. So for a contract friendly, former All-star they got a middle reliever and a highly paid utility man. Castro had his warts but I think he was worth more than that.

Given what the Cubs have other than Castro, has the Cubs given him his outright release, it would not be a move they'll regret.

Anyone who thinks the Cubs WS chances worsened when Castro was traded is nuts.

 

[czman]

Good for them. Check back in May.

**** may. The Cubs should be playing for October. That is why we had the youth movement and the sucking for years. I thought the plan was to build long term success. I don't think this off season helps. Warren is going to have to start for this to be anything other than a bad move.

 

[Diehardfan]

Given what the Cubs have other than Castro, has the Cubs given him his outright release, it would not be a move they'll regret.

Anyone who thinks the Cubs WS chances worsened when Castro was traded is nuts.

You misunderstand. He closed the window a bit on this team by aging it. Figuring 5 or 6 years window to win, now 3 or 4 IMOP.

Big money on guys on the tale end of their career is not a good investment....you get burned more often than not.

 

[chibears55]

You misunderstand. He closed the window a bit on this team by aging it. Figuring 5 or 6 years window to win, now 3 or 4 IMOP.

Big money on guys on the tale end of their career is not a good investment....you get burned more often than not.

Castro the only young guy they moved and Zobrist is the only new old guy signed past 2 yrs..

Not sure how this closes the WS window any
If anything they added 2 veterans in Lackey and Zobrist that
helps improve their chances now

 

[Diehardfan]

Castro the only young guy they moved and Zobrist is the only new old guy signed past 2 yrs..

Not sure how this closes the WS window any
If anything they added 2 veterans in Lackey and Zobrist that
helps improve their chances now

Lackey not so much with a 2 yr deal but a younger signing would have been ideal. But check out the little extras included for Zobrist....signing bonuses, no-trade stips. They'll be stuck with this clown till he's 39...and his games played has been steadily declining for the last 4 years as it is.

 

[TL1961]

**** may. The Cubs should be playing for October. That is why we had the youth movement and the sucking for years. I thought the plan was to build long term success. I don't think this off season helps. Warren is going to have to start for this to be anything other than a bad move.

Check the Yankee message board in May!

 

[TL1961]

Lackey not so much with a 2 yr deal but a younger signing would have been ideal. But check out the little extras included for Zobrist....signing bonuses, no-trade stips. They'll be stuck with this clown till he's 39...and his games played has been steadily declining for the last 4 years as it is.

Now we've seen it all: We miss Castro, and call Zobrist a "clown".

The world is upside down.

 

[Diehardfan]

Now we've seen it all: We miss Castro, and call Zobrist a "clown".

The world is upside down.

Oh, my bad.

That's "utility clown".

 

[SilenceS]

Theo preached players not getting a no trade clause and he gives it to Zobrist? Wtf is going on?

 

[SilenceS]

Oh, my bad.

That's "utility clown".

Don't worry. He is just happy Castro is gone.

 

[czman]

Check the Yankee message board in May!

Again, why would I check shit in May. The season is still young. I can promise you I am not checking the Yankee board ever. If you like the deal that is great. I think they could have done better for Castro; especially if they had been willing to send two guys out.

 

[beckdawg]

Looks like most here severely overrated Castro's value

Not sure this is the case. I mean trading him after last year shouldn't really have been the move if value is what you're after. I think it just comes down to the fact that the cubs needed a lead off hitter and if not Fowler, Zobrist makes a **** load of sense there. And with the corner OF slots already crowded 2B became the only place for him. I think these series of moves make the cubs better over the next 2-3 years but I'm not 100% sure they do over a longer period. Lot depends on the PTBNL if that is anyone of consequence. I've heard reports of it being Brenden Ryan but not sure that makes sense and I think that broke prior to them later saying PTBNL.

With that being said, I think some are under selling Adam Warren. He by no means is as big a name as Miller was but then Castro was never getting you miller. He's 27 and has a career 7.62 k/9 2.96 bb/9 with a 3.39 ERA and a 3.69 FIP over 289.1 IP. Miller is 7.56 k/9 3.24 bb/9 with a 3.22 ERA and a 3.82 FIP over 575.1 IP. I don't have a scouting report on Warren handy but given he's never been a big prospect AFAIK my guess is he's probably Hendricks. That is to say he's a pitcher who's probably better than people realize but isn't ever going to jump off the page at you. More over, he's depth. You now have a number of guys who realistically can compete with Hammel/Hendricks for the #4/5 slot in the rotation and if one of the starters go down you're not relying on someone like Jokish to fill in.

 

[chibears55]

Lackey not so much with a 2 yr deal but a younger signing would have been ideal. But check out the little extras included for Zobrist....signing bonuses, no-trade stips. They'll be stuck with this clown till he's 39...and his games played has been steadily declining for the last 4 years as it is.

He will be 38 in final season but who cares it 1 guy
He will start at 2B for the most part and hopefully continue to be a very good hitter all 4 yrs, even if it 2 yrs as a starter and 2 yrs as a utility player...
Point is, their going for it all this year and he improve the lineup

 

[JZsportsfan]

You misunderstand. He closed the window a bit on this team by aging it. Figuring 5 or 6 years window to win, now 3 or 4 IMOP.

Big money on guys on the tale end of their career is not a good investment....you get burned more often than not.

Disagree here big time. If anything, this opens the window wider for 2016/2017, and does nothing beyond. Had they traded for Zobrist, or Lackey then a different discussion could be there, but they just signed them, so nothing really lost.

The core is already in place with all the young guys. They can go around and sign veterans to 2,3,4 year deals every year offseason to fill in some of the holes and keep things flowing.