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Horton moved to AAA
TL1961
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We will see him by July. I predict earlier.
CSF77
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Cubs promote No. 2 prospect Horton to Triple-A
NEW YORK -- Right-hander Cade Horton, the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs organization according to MLB Pipeline, is a step closer to the big leagues. He was promoted from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. The news was first reported by the Des Moines Register. Horton, 22, dominated
He has earned that promotion. July would be outstanding TL but I would expect September unless something goes down that forces it.
ATM they should be in good shape by early May. But say Assad keeps up this pace you don't yank him. Hendricks may end up DFA if he can not put it back together. But with his history I find that as the outlier. I honestly expect this time off as a reset point for him and he turns it around.
I would be concerned if he was throwing 85 on his fastball. But he is still hoovering 90 still. So this falls into adjustment vs a lost cause.
But this season has been the year of the injury. Having Horton at AAA makes sense as you don't want to have to keep on pushing pen arms into the rotation.
TL1961
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Madrigal came to the cubs as a “singles machine”. No power. No speed. Average defender.
Every time he bats with a runner and scoring position, he fails to get a fucking single.
Every time he bats with a runner and scoring position, he fails to get a fucking single.
TL1961
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There is no place on the field you can hide Patrick Wisdom.
Error that lead to the only run thus far, and critical miss in 6th that could lead to another.
We have to stop kidding ourselves about this guy bringing value to the team. 800 strikeouts in 20 home runs and no defense is not value.
Error that lead to the only run thus far, and critical miss in 6th that could lead to another.
We have to stop kidding ourselves about this guy bringing value to the team. 800 strikeouts in 20 home runs and no defense is not value.
CSF77
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I would rather target a 3B.
Rafael Devers 3b
10 years/$313.5M (2024-33)
- 10 years/$313.5M (2024-33)
- signed extension with Boston 1/11/23
- $20M signing bonus, paid $5M each February, 2023-26
- 24:$27.5M, 25:$27.5M, 26:$27.5M, 27:$31M, 28:$31M, 29:$31M, 30:$31M, 31:$29M, 32:$29M, 33:$29M
- $2M assignment bonus with trade, paid by receiving club
- Devers to defer $75M in salary: $7.5M annually, paid $3.75M each Feb. 1 and Nov. 30, 10 years after it is earned through 2043
- deferrals reduce contract’s average annual value to about $29M
Cubs have the prospect depth to pull this off and Devers would provide stability at 3B while aging into DH.
Just Morel, Caissie and Mervis moves the needle. All 3 would be on Boston this year.
Verlander is a decent rental but I don't see it TBH. They need a closer more. Maybe doing a deal for Hader would be more likely.
- 5 years/$95M (2024-28)
- signed by Houston as a free agent 1/19/24
- 24-28: $19M annually
- award bonus: $1M for Reliever of the Year
- full no-trade protection
Now if they package him with Bergman vs targeting Devers and moving that prospect capital over. It opens the door for a extension for Bregman at 3B.
This is all in theory. As of right now I see Closer and 3B as the big 2 spots needed to be taken serious.
TL1961
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Closer is a need.
But you insist the Cubs don’t need to bolster the rotation. At the rate they are going, arms will be falling off soon if someone doesn’t come in and eat innings.
Verlander does that while nit giving up runs.
Realistic? I don’t know. But Houston is on their way to their 20th loss in the month of April and he’s owed a lot of money. Now might be a good time for them to move him.
But you insist the Cubs don’t need to bolster the rotation. At the rate they are going, arms will be falling off soon if someone doesn’t come in and eat innings.
Verlander does that while nit giving up runs.
Realistic? I don’t know. But Houston is on their way to their 20th loss in the month of April and he’s owed a lot of money. Now might be a good time for them to move him.
CSF77
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I would be good with a Verlander/Bergman/Hader trade.
Justin Verlander rhp
2 years/$86,666,666 (2023-24), plus 2025 option
- 2 years/$86,666,666 (2023-24), plus 2025 conditional player option
- signed by NY Mets as a free agent 12/5/22
- 23:$43,333,333, 24:$43,333,333, 25: conditional player option, triggered at $35M if Verlander pitches 140 innings in 2024 and an independent physical exam determines he does not have a right arm injury that would prevent him from being on the active roster for Opening Day 2025
- full no-trade protection
- award bonuses: $200,000 each for MVP or Cy Young award ($150,000 for second place in either vote, $100,000 for third). $150,000 for World Series MVP. $100,000 each for All-Star, LCS MVP
- perks: hotel suite on road, right to lease Citi Field luxury suite
- acquired by Houston in trade from NY Mets 8/1/23 (Mets to pay $35M of $57,544,802 remaining guaranteed money and $17.5M of $35M salary if conditional player option for 2025 is triggered)
Alex Bregman 3b
5 years/$100M (2020-24)
- 5 years/$100M (2020-24)
- signed extension with Houston 3/22/19
- $10M signing bonus
- 20:$11M, 21:$11M, 22:$11M, 23:$28.5M, 24:$28.5M
- 2023-24 salaries increase based on MVP vote:
- $1.5M for winning MVP in 2020-22 ($750,000 for second place in vote, $500,000 for third)
- $2M for winning 2020 and 2021 MVP awards
- 2024 salary increases $2M with MVP awards in 1) 2021 or 2022, and 2) MVP award in 2023
- limited no-trade protection (may block deals to 10 clubs in 2023-24)
Josh Hader lhp
5 years/$95M (2024-28)
- 5 years/$95M (2024-28)
- signed by Houston as a free agent 1/19/24
- 24-28: $19M annually
- award bonus: $1M for Reliever of the Year
- full no-trade protection
As far as a return. They would want a 3B with control. Pitching pitching pitching. OF they are strong. 1B is a issue for them.
So I would start with Morel for 3B. Canario to add a RH bat. They are set with LH hitting OF. 1B Mervis. Pitching Little and Brown. Call it a day.
CSF77
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Skittles2100
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We need to cut alzolay from ANY high leverage moment. He knows how to give up a Home Run. I feel like its Ted "Launchpad" Lilly out there when Adbert Blozalayte Lead on Home Runs
TL1961
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Huh?
TL1961
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“Mr. Ricketts, are you cool taking on a bazillion dollars in salary for three guys on the downward slope?”
Man! Verlander with the Astros retaining a bunch of salary is one thing.
The ghost of Alex Bregman snd Josh Hader, too?
TL1961
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Not that the Cubs have options at the moment but…
Ian Happ’s just not very good, is he?
Career .248 hitter with sub .800 OPS.
I guess I will get pushback because he won two gold gloves but does anyone think he plays D at a level - or position- that justifies his complete inability to help the offense?
Ian Happ’s just not very good, is he?
Career .248 hitter with sub .800 OPS.
I guess I will get pushback because he won two gold gloves but does anyone think he plays D at a level - or position- that justifies his complete inability to help the offense?
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This seems dumb to talk about on may first but.... is Shota the best pitcher in the NL? This mother ****** has 4 walks in 34.2 innings for a 0.12 bb/9. A 2 bb/9 is great. You pair that with 35 k's(9.09 k/9) and it puts him at a 23.1% k-bb %. Spencer Strider lead baseball last year with a 29.2% k-bb%. Gausman was #2 at 23.8%. Pablo Lopez was #3 at 23.2%. And for reference k-bb% is a pretty good measure of a pitcher analytically speaking since it's two things he has control on.
TL1961
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He has started six games, and has been scored upon in two of them. 3 ER in 6 starts. 2 runs allowed to the Marlins, and a solo HR against the Red Sox (by the MLB HR leader)
He is 5-0, and the one start in which he did not get a win was delayed by rain after 4 innings, and he was unable to continue. At that point, he had held the Dodgers to 0 R on 2 hits.
TL1961
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Meanwhile......the Cubs have played three games in this series, and the only ER scored by the Mets was a solo HR by their first batter of the series.
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So... my wandering thoughts of the night... what if any impact will Shota succeeding so well have on the potential of someone like roki sasaki? Because I'm not gonna lie, if the cubs can get Sasaki at 23(will be next year) with Steele, Shota and horton and all you're giving up is money..... things look very very different and if there is a time to go in it's looking like next year they are past the conservative point given the way they currently are playing. He'd be a potential difference making player at a perfect age for a team that looks like it's near the end of a rebuild and should be competitive.
TL1961
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It would be terrific if the Cubs could sign Sasaki, and hopefully Shota and Suzuki could help.
After last off season, with the Dodgers having both unlimited money and apparently no cap/luxury tax considerations, they'll always be lurking. But they do actually have to stop spending, don't they? Don't they?
That rotation would be tough. And the starter with the lowest ERA in MLB over the past 365 days, Javier Assad, would be #5, and Taillon #6? That would be deep.
After last off season, with the Dodgers having both unlimited money and apparently no cap/luxury tax considerations, they'll always be lurking. But they do actually have to stop spending, don't they? Don't they?
That rotation would be tough. And the starter with the lowest ERA in MLB over the past 365 days, Javier Assad, would be #5, and Taillon #6? That would be deep.
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So was Amaya blocking the plate? Seems to be a lot of people saying he was because they have new rules
CSF77
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It would be playing for 2024. All 3 have a track record of success and it is a safer bet to put money down on that then be co dependant on players that are not established
This is all theory of course but if you look at it:
Hader: Houston pays half. So Chi would be paying 9.5M per on a closer. Over the contract it would be hard to bet against his track record and a apr blip should not be over magnified.
Bregman becomes a F/A. 3B becomes open again but that gives Matt Shaw a year to develop into a everyday 3B. Resigning Bregman is also on the table at a more reasonable price tag. I doubt that he will be getting 30M per. 20-25 or lower is far more expected
Verlander is not the ace that he was. But he knows how to max out what is left. I would expect to see that opt pulled and him to retire a Cub
So long term this would cost 9.5M per. I am not saying that Hader pitches at his top capacity but I don't see him at the current level either. TBH this could end up being going back to a known league and a known manager who can get him back on track at half the cost of a league closer
It is a gamble be not as bad as it seems.