mlb draft june 8th-10th starts at 6 p.m. ET tomorrow

[beckdawg]

Cause Almora still has value with his D. Has not adjusted in two years in AA. He has the least potential to start out of the OF we could have. You keep talking about trading for young pitching. The cubs have to give up prospects. Almora is a sinking rock. You have Hannenman and Alcantara and other who can play CF. Almora is getting down the list now.

I mean I'm not saying it's implausible they trade Almora I just don't think drafting Happ changes anything. If I'm being honest I don't think they are in a huge hurry to trade anyone unless the right trade presents itself.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I fully expect Happ to DH tomorrow or he's a bust

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I mean I'm not saying it's implausible they trade Almora I just don't think drafting Happ changes anything. If I'm being honest I don't think they are in a huge hurry to trade anyone unless the right trade presents itself.

No but when you go into a contention window you stockpile to trade when you need to. No one really field a a team of strictly homegrown talent.

 

[CSF77]

I can see him in AA next year and AAA later year. Maybe on the team for a play off run.

I see him as a bench player. He gives tons of flexibility with being able to play all of the OF and 2B. Maddon has been looking for those types. Reality we could have Alcantara and Happ on the bench. Both SH both cover plenty of positions.

I see the Cubs drafting for the current team's needs with the first pick. 2nd round and on they are going after the project ability picks. Next year I think they will change it up and not have the same approach in taking the closest to the majors bats.


Now on if they will trade Almora? If the right trade comes up I think they will be open to it. But with Baez's injury I question if they will pull a pass and stay the coarce this year and let the current team's talent develop. Then add in the offseason as needed. As it is they still have Turner on the mend. The answer for the #5 may be already in the fold.

 

[beckdawg]

No but when you go into a contention window you stockpile to trade when you need to. No one really field a a team of strictly homegrown talent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they intend to keep everyone either. What I'm getting at here is it's not like Almora is pounding down the door in AAA. To me that's when you considering making trades if you can't play a guy in the majors. My point here is why trade Almora now unless a good trade presents itself? Maybe things click with him and he starts hitting like they thought he would. Trading Almora now would be trading low.

 

[CSF77]

Aiken went to Cle.

 

[dabears253313]

I like it when the Cubs draft guys in the first round that have played a year or multiple years in college. Better competition so it's probably easier for them to develop. Take high school players later in the draft or at least after round 1.

 

[dabears253313]

Aiken went to Cle.

I was just going to ask what everyone's thoughts were if the Cubs drafted him.

 

[CSF77]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they intend to keep everyone either. What I'm getting at here is it's not like Almora is pounding down the door in AAA. To me that's when you considering making trades if you can't play a guy in the majors. My point here is why trade Almora now unless a good trade presents itself? Maybe things click with him and he starts hitting like they thought he would. Trading Almora now would be trading low.

Too early yo trade him. CF is opening up in 2016 as it is. That job is on him to grab it. My belief is if he gets into a hot streak this year they will bump up his time line for opening day 2016.

Cubs need D in CF if Baez goes to 3B and Bryant to LF. All you want is a guy that can cover ground at CF then. As a lead off? I think it matters little with Maddon using the #9 as a 2nd lead off type. All you are looking at are your top 3 hitters hitting 1-3 to get them more AB's. It is a sound philosophy that Maddon is using. We could see Almora hitting #9 next year with Russell hitting #1.

 

[CSF77]

I was just going to ask what everyone's thoughts were if the Cubs drafted him.

Risky move. I would have done it. But after seeing what they are doing right now with the first pick to get to the current team needs ASAP it made sense. If this was next year with a lower pick and he came up they should have gone there. Cle's pick was fine with risking it.

 

[CSF77]

Really is the year of the SS this year.

 

[dabears253313]

Risky move. I would have done it. But after seeing what they are doing right now with the first pick to get to the current team needs ASAP it made sense. If this was next year with a lower pick and he came up they should have gone there. Cle's pick was fine with risking it.

I agree with that.

 

[TL1961]

What is he a switch hitter? He projects as the next Ben Zorbrist for Maddon. Plays LF, 2B, CF. Sounds like a bench player in reality. Maddon likes that flexiblity on the bench. He should promote fast just like Schwarber and Bryant did. Same thing they have been doing. fastest to the team types.

From those ratings on hit, power, speed, overall what sounds like bench player?

 

[CSF77]

From those ratings on hit, power, speed, overall what sounds like bench player?

He does. The thing is with Maddon the tag bench player means little. Ben Zorbrist was a "bench player" and he got over 500 AB's every year. Maddon likes to mix it up and guys like that are very valuable to him.

His hit is his D doesn't scale as high as the starters do. Bryant projects as a GG in LF. Avg at 3B. Baez projects GG 3B. Almora GG CF. Soler looks the GG part with his arm. Russell same thing at 2B. Castro..well.... Rizzo GG 1B... there is a theme going here.

 

[TL1961]

He does. The thing is with Maddon the tag bench player means little. Ben Zorbrist was a "bench player" and he got over 500 AB's every year. Maddon likes to mix it up and guys like that are very valuable to him.

His hit is his D doesn't scale as high as the starters do. Bryant projects as a GG in LF. Avg at 3B. Baez projects GG 3B. Almora GG CF. Soler looks the GG part with his arm. Russell same thing at 2B. Castro..well.... Rizzo GG 1B... there is a theme going here.

Yes, a theme. Soler and Rizzo and Bryant aren't winning gold gloves any time soon. All are fine defensively, but not GG. And if we have 3 potential Ss, and two arein GG discussion, one of them damn well better be at SS.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I was just going to ask what everyone's thoughts were if the Cubs drafted him.

Depends on the medicals. Obviously Cleveland was encouraged but a lot of other teams, including the Cubs, weren't which tells me the medicals weren't dire but maybe not that optimistic either. With rude not an issue he was the only elite, generational talent in this draft and the Cubs knew him as well as any and didn't take him. I'm ok with that.

 

[SilenceS]

Matt Holiday may have just blew out his knee. I thought he was going to get carted off but he walked off with a major limp. He look like he was in horrible pain.

 

[beckdawg]

From those ratings on hit, power, speed, overall what sounds like bench player?

I think it's honestly far to early to talk about him in any sort of position on the major league team. At this point in development, I think you're just looking for good skill sets. If the player hits well enough you then figure it all out.

 

[TL1961]

Agreed

 

[CSF77]

Yes, a theme. Soler and Rizzo and Bryant aren't winning gold gloves any time soon. All are fine defensively, but not GG. And if we have 3 potential Ss, and two arein GG discussion, one of them damn well better be at SS.

Like I said projects. Bryant is not playing at his strongest D position right now. Even his college coach said he could have GG D in the OF. 3B is more of a challenge for him. Rizzo has been top 3 GG votes every year. so yes he is in the conversation. Soler is way better than I though. Just in his arm alone which can shut down a running game. Time will tell with him.

Baez is good at SS. better at 2B. 3B the feel is he could be a GG talent. Too bad he went down to injury though. He was looking solid D wise up to that point. He is the only guy I would be ok with Bryant moving off 3B. Also they did a rookie D rankings this year. Think it was ESPN not sure. But Bryant was lower end Russell upper end. Don't let the youth errors fool ya. They are looking at skill set for the position. Russell is legit. Castro...he has the talent for it. I question if he is in the now enough to be honest. Seems like his mind wanders and has to work at it vs being a natural thing for him.