David Price to the Red Sox

[DJMoore_is_fat]

Adding Shelby Miller or Jeff Samardzija to the rotation doesn't get the Cubs to the next level. Nor does replacing Fowler with Heyward in the lineup. But Cubs fans don't seem to mind, so whatever.

If only Theo were smart enough to trade a package of Kris Bryant, Schwarber, Addison Russell and Arrieta for a 5-tool center piece stud like La Roche....

 

[Boobaby1]

I see your smug smilie , but I do wonder if that actually would be an option.

It might be what they could tell the media to not expose their plans is what I am saying.

I mean, couldn't they say that we picked up Heyward to replace Dexter Fowler in the line-up and leave it at that?

That says something, but not really.

 

[Boobaby1]

The Castro for Zobrist "trade" helps the Cubs in four ways

1. They get more flexibility (Zobrist is a guy who even at his age can play 1B/2B/LF)
2. They get a better hitter (Zobrist has a low OPS of .749 the past eight years; Castro has bested that three times in his career but only once the past three seasons)
3. They get a better lead-off guy (Zobrist is a high pitches/PA guy who doesn't strike out and gets on base)
4. The cost of acquiring Zobrist is simply about five-six million a year more than Castro and he clearly projects to be worth it.

Why isn't Tommy LaStella good enough to lead-off and play 2nd base for the Cubs? Is he just a utility player? I mean the hit tools, good eye, and low strikeout totals are obviously there. He projects to be a .254 hitter, with 60 SO's and 54 BB's and a .325 OBP over the course of a 162 games.

I personally feel he would have better stats than those with regular playing time as evidenced by the late surge he had when he was able to hit more after a slow start after coming off of injury where he hit .311, with a .360 OBP, and .849 OPS in September and October.

If it meant him playing there and signing Heyward, I am okay with that.

 

[brett05]

If only Theo were smart enough to trade a package of Kris Bryant, Schwarber, Addison Russell and Arrieta for a 5-tool center piece stud like La Roche....

Could you do that? Please???? It would help the rivalry out quite a bit. Thanks.

 

[knoxville7]

Why isn't Tommy LaStella good enough to lead-off and play 2nd base for the Cubs? Is he just a utility player? I mean the hit tools, good eye, and low strikeout totals are obviously there. He projects to be a .254 hitter, with 60 SO's and 54 BB's and a .325 OBP over the course of a 162 games.

I personally feel he would have better stats than those with regular playing time as evidenced by the late surge he had when he was able to hit more after a slow start after coming off of injury where he hit .311, with a .360 OBP, and .849 OPS in September and October.

If it meant him playing there and signing Heyward, I am okay with that.

this! everyone seems to forget about tommy

 

[DanTown]

Why isn't Tommy LaStella good enough to lead-off and play 2nd base for the Cubs? Is he just a utility player? I mean the hit tools, good eye, and low strikeout totals are obviously there. He projects to be a .254 hitter, with 60 SO's and 54 BB's and a .325 OBP over the course of a 162 games.

I personally feel he would have better stats than those with regular playing time as evidenced by the late surge he had when he was able to hit more after a slow start after coming off of injury where he hit .311, with a .360 OBP, and .849 OPS in September and October.

If it meant him playing there and signing Heyward, I am okay with that.

LaStella is great bottom of the order/PH bat because he doesn't strike out and loves to make contact but .330ish OBP isn't close to being good enough at the top of the order. Also, LaStella simply doesn't slug (career .332) enough to bring a ton of value either as a hitter. And defensively, he's not great. All-in, LaStella is best suited to be a utility guy and not an every day hitter and definitely not at the top of the order.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

Any interest in trading for Adam Eaton? Doesn't he play decent D and have a nice OBP? Wonder what WS would want in return. I know they need a SS because Alexi sucks so bad.

 

[knoxville7]

LaStella is great bottom of the order/PH bat because he doesn't strike out and loves to make contact but .330ish OBP isn't close to being good enough at the top of the order. Also, LaStella simply doesn't slug (career .332) enough to bring a ton of value either as a hitter. And defensively, he's not great. All-in, LaStella is best suited to be a utility guy and not an every day hitter and definitely not at the top of the order.

but I thought everyone was all up in arms saying we need more contact in our lineup?? :shrug:

 

[brett05]

Any interest in trading for Adam Eaton? Doesn't he play decent D and have a nice OBP? Wonder what WS would want in return. I know they need a SS because Alexi sucks so bad.

He's a nice leadoff guy for sure and plays above average defense.

Alexei is already released.

We are not in need of a SS as we have options already. We are in need of a 3b and a RF. We also need a catching prospect.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

He's a nice leadoff guy for sure and plays above average defense.

Alexei is already released.

We are not in need of a SS as we have options already. We are in need of a 3b and a RF. We also need a catching prospect.

Out of curiosity who are they going to play at SS in 2016 with Tim Anderson not ready yet? I had heard they were trying to re-sign Ramirez on a 2 year deal for less money but nothing in a few weeks.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

He's a nice leadoff guy for sure and plays above average defense.

Alexei is already released.

We are not in need of a SS as we have options already. We are in need of a 3b and a RF. We also need a catching prospect.

So all we have do is pony up Bryant and Soler and Eaton is ours?

Ha, I kid. Will the WS accept a package of prospects for Eaton? Or with Reinsdorf being 106 years old, I'm assuming you want major league ready guys?

 

[Boobaby1]

but I thought everyone was all up in arms saying we need more contact in our lineup?? :shrug:

Exactly.

If you can have LaStella and Heyward at the top, you will have probably just cut the number of strikeouts in half in the top two positions, and one would cost you the league minimum.

The idea here is to find a way to get Heyward on the team, while still having the assets to trade for a pitcher.

I think everyone is enamored with the Cubs having to have the perfect line-up and a ton of power. Bill Mueller was no hall of famer and didn't have power numbers, but on the Red Sox, was a great fit for the WS team.

David Eckstein also comes to mind. Not great on defense, but a damn tough out at the top of the line-up. Wasn't he the MVP of the WS one year? :yep:

 

[brett05]

So all we have do is pony up Bryant and Soler and Eaton is ours?

Ha, I kid. Will the WS accept a package of prospects for Eaton? Or with Reinsdorf being 106 years old, I'm assuming you want major league ready guys?

There is the three year plan. Year 1 just passed. I think specs could do it but they'd have to be in the positions that the Sox need and the Cubs don't seem to have that. I don't think the two are a match.

 

[DanTown]

Exactly.

If you can have LaStella and Heyward at the top, you will have probably just cut the number of strikeouts in half in the top two positions, and one would cost you the league minimum.

The idea here is to find a way to get Heyward on the team, while still having the assets to trade for a pitcher.

I think everyone is enamored with the Cubs having to have the perfect line-up and a ton of power. Bill Mueller was no hall of famer and didn't have power numbers, but on the Red Sox, was a great fit for the WS team.

David Eckstein also comes to mind. Not great on defense, but a damn tough out at the top of the line-up. Wasn't he the MVP of the WS one year? :yep:

This isn't about power or SO or anything like that; LaStella simply doesn't hit well enough to be at the top of an order. 260 with limited walks is a fairly bad hitter. If he takes a jump to .285-.290 with a similar walk rate giving him a OBP of around .350 or .360, that's a different conversation. And replacing Castro with LaStella is basically shuffling deck chairs as they both are middling averages / low walks / low strikeouts / not a ton of power but Starlin has at least his first few years in the league as a glimmer he's a high value hitter.

 

[Diehardfan]

This isn't about power or SO or anything like that; LaStella simply doesn't hit well enough to be at the top of an order. 260 with limited walks is a fairly bad hitter. If he takes a jump to .285-.290 with a similar walk rate giving him a OBP of around .350 or .360, that's a different conversation. And replacing Castro with LaStella is basically shuffling deck chairs as they both are middling averages / low walks / low strikeouts / not a ton of power but Starlin has at least his first few years in the league as a glimmer he's a high value hitter.

I don't think LaStella fits anywhere in this lineup. He's a ham n egger with a limited ceiling. He makes this team only as a backup IFer/PH. He can play a few positions and that helps but he shouldn't even be mentioned as far a regular position player.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Enjoy those new ticket prices.

You get what you pay for... unless you're a Cubs fan. :cubspalm:

Three WS wins over an 11 year period, four separate playoff appearances over the same time span , & now Price to lead them back to the promised land. I'll pay the Fenway ticket prices with a few Beers to boot 8 days a week & twice on Sunday. No Red Sox fan in their right mind should complain about ticket prices. Plus I love that the Sox are a young team that have a lot of young promising players pointing towards upside, so their season shouldn't hinge on his success, & they don't lose a draft pick for signing Price.

In 3 years this contract won't look so big when almost excellent pitchers are being paid the same type of money. I love the deal.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I don't think LaStella fits anywhere in this lineup. He's a ham n egger with a limited ceiling. He makes this team only as a backup IFer/PH. He can play a few positions and that helps but he shouldn't even be mentioned as far a regular position player.

My guess is that he's part of a platoon with Baez if the latter stays and Castro goes.

 

[CSF77]

My guess is that he's part of a platoon with Baez if the latter stays and Castro goes.

He has a spot on the bench. Can play 2nd or 3B. Just depth on the bench. I expect the bench able to fill many roles to keep the line up flexible.

Now on Baez/Castro. You would expect that Theo and Jed would prefer to trade either over Soler to give the other 2B full time.

 

[Parade_Rain]

He has a spot on the bench. Can play 2nd or 3B. Just depth on the bench. I expect the bench able to fill many roles to keep the line up flexible.

Now on Baez/Castro. You would expect that Theo and Jed would prefer to trade either over Soler to give the other 2B full time.

If a bunch of trades don't happen, Baez is going to be given a shot in CF, IMHO.

 

[TL1961]

Three WS wins over an 11 year period, four separate playoff appearances over the same time span , & now Price to lead them back to the promised land. I'll pay the Fenway ticket prices with a few Beers to boot 8 days a week & twice on Sunday. No Red Sox fan in their right mind should complain about ticket prices. Plus I love that the Sox are a young team that have a lot of young promising players pointing towards upside, so their season shouldn't hinge on his success, & they don't lose a draft pick for signing Price.

In 3 years this contract won't look so big when almost excellent pitchers are being paid the same type of money. I love the deal.

Every year some fans say a team overpaid, but salaries only go up. And up. And up.

Lester was "overpaid" a year ago to many, and is now $6 million less than Price, and will be $10 million less than Greinke. Not that he is quite at that level, but $10 million is a lot.