Schwarber is off the table for me if you are talking minor league talent, for minor league talent. If I am using Schwarber, it will be in a deal similar to when Theo traded mainly H-Ram and Sanchez to the Marlins for Beckett and Lowell.
The only way I include Kyle, is for a ready made pitcher. That is what the Phillies are wanting for Hamels is top end prospects, and you know that Billy Beane would be wanting Schwarber to be in a deal if Sonny Gray were on the table.
There is a bounty of arms going into free agency, and yes, while I would like to have a young stud in the stable, their is nothing wrong with a Price, Fister, Cueto, Zimmerman, Kazmir, and maybe even Greinke until reinforcements start to emerge out of the system. TOR is TOR. What do I care how they get it?
All of these young players keep the payroll in tact, so if you are going to spend now, do it on pitching.
We will see what Edwards brings soon (probably in the bullpen at first), and guys in A ball like Underwood, Martinez, and Skulina.
There are a few in AA too, but nothing outstanding numbers-wise except for Batista, and Jacob Turner is pitching right now, so we will see how he does moving forward
There's no denying Price would be good, but going on 31 next season, how long will he be effective? I also think the Tigers will pay him big money to stay.
Also lets not count chickens, many pitchers listed above Boo can be retained.
As for Schwarber, yes his bat is enticing and projects to be something fierce, not exactly something you want to just give up. But for TOR--you pay the price. Its what wins championships. Stockpiling hitters is great, but it means nothing when your rotation is average at best with a career journeyman overachieving. Hammel cannot keep up this pace.
Let me ask you this, would you give up Schwarber for Kuechel?
Hendricks--who you mention isn't the needle in a haystack. He's a slightly better Randy Wells.
It is about time for the Cubs to find that needle in the haystack in the system. Right now, Hendricks has been the closest thing, but he is a control pitcher and not a power arm. I like Hendricks, but on a good team, he would be pitching depth which is where I hope the Cubs are headed with him
See, I've been harping on this since the Almora draft. In order to find the needle in the haystack you actually have to chance it on the talent. I understand more than anyone here that not every prospect, especially pitching makes it. The cubs have not taken the chance. Stinette blows, CJ Edwards is average at best at AAA right now, Johnson is hurt. Zastrysysny blows. Underwood looks great--in A ball. Tseng is struggling. Skulina is slightly above average in A ball.
The cubs have thrown shit against the wall and have hoped something will stick. Nothing has. They've gotten lucky with Arrieta turning it around. Turner I have no hope for. If he was that good, Detroit wouldn't have dealt him and Miami wouldn't have just cast him aside like a piece of trash. He may be a bullpen guy. Don't buy him as a starter. Thats for sure.
You want the 1 in 1000000. He doesn't exactly come around that often as a pitcher after the 1st round. Some guys are solid, many--the truly talented ones get taken right away, unless you're afraid to shell out money with the new draft rules.
I want the next young stud too. The cubs have to take a fucking chance though. They havent. So that's why we're discussing trades and free agents. No TOR is in the pipeline that can be taken seriously.
I think of what we saw this year, Ryan Kellogg is the best bet, best stuff--however from what I see his routine of setting up for a low in the zone K pitch wont work. He needs to be able to locate everywhere, not finish with stuff low in the zone. Dave Berg is a bullpen guy, a good one at UCLA. This HS kid Hudson is 6'7 and has a mid 80s fastball.
Till Theo/McLeod take TOR potential beyond a Tommy John HS kid, We're going to keep discussing trades and FA signings for the ace of this team. I'd prefer Zimmerman over price long term as we talk about free agents. 400 less IP over career, and the better long term investment for 5+ years at 100 mil+.
By then hopefully we can stop fooling ourselves with garbage like Travis Wood, Wada, Turner, Ejax, and the rest.
