Offseason discussion/rumors

[beckdawg]

IMO, they still have nice pieces in minors like OF Jimenez and IF Happ.

You can't really deal Jimenez until you know whether or no Heyward opts out for sure. Because even if you don't expect him to opt out, if he surprises you then you're pretty screwed. And even then I'm not sure Happ and Jimenez brings back say Archer. You'd have to gut the majority of the rest of your system including the young pitching they finally have which to me would be sort of counter productive.

 

[beckdawg]

Without looking at numbers, I felt like Soler played much better in the field this year than last. Do stats back up that eye test?

He only played 412 innings so take the data with a grain of salt but in LF in 2016 he had a DRS of -5 with an UZR/150 of -6.0. That was better than 2015 in RF with -12.7 UZR/150 and -8 DRS but then you're comparing LF to RF.... so who knows. I'd probably argue he was "better" but still not "good" or even average.

 

[FrankieLyrical]

He only played 412 innings so take the data with a grain of salt but in LF in 2016 he had a DRS of -5 with an UZR/150 of -6.0. That was better than 2015 in RF with -12.7 UZR/150 and -8 DRS but then you're comparing LF to RF.... so who knows. I'd probably argue he was "better" but still not "good" or even average.

Right. I just felt like he took much better routes to balls and even remember him making plays into the wall this season. Like I said, all eye test with no stats to back it

 

[chibears55]

Now that it's official... I still don't know how I feel about it. If Davis hadn't been injured with elbow problems last year I'd get it and be happier about it. Presumably the cubs have run over the medicals and feel comfortable so I suppose there is that. If we want to look at upside here, the cubs didn't wait til midseason and get gouged again for bullpen help. If Davis is healthy him for Soler is probably fair and a lot less painful than the Chapman deal. And if Davis bolts after the season the cubs do recoup probably a 3rd round pick.

I guess my biggest annoyance with the issue is they have talked for 5 years now about young pitching. And then when push comes to shove they've continually dealt pieces away for other things. At this point, I honestly feel like we're just in for the long haul of waiting on Clifton and Cease and the rest of the young guys to develop. I could see them maybe gambling on an unproven young guy if the price is cheap(Henry Owens and Archie Bradley come to mind) but I see no realistic way they land a proven young guy right now without something drastic like deal Baez.

Im thinking they'll focus more on pitching early in the draft this time around and probably also with IFA.

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[beckdawg]

Im thinking they'll focus more on pitching early in the draft this time around and probably also with IFA.

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Maybe but you're no going to get a college pitcher with huge upside where the cubs pick. If you want upside you will have to gamble on HS arms. If you go for a college arm you're looking at middle of he rotation. And IFA is so far away it's difficult to count on unless your talking Otani which may or may not happen. I think a more likely case is they are just going to throw money at the problem until some of their young guys develop(hopefully).

 

[beckdawg]

Notably, Davis missed time with a flexor tendon issue that raised red flags. Particularly with just one year left on his contract, the time to get value for the Cubs is right now. Hoyer noted that the team wouldn’t have felt comfortable parting with Soler — and his years of cheap control — were it not for the fact that the Cubs “felt really good” about Davis’s arm health. Chicago’s trainer conducted an in-person physical today. In conjunction with all the other medical information that changed hands, the Cubs obviously feel confident that Davis is ready for a full 2017 season.

Guess that's as good as you can hope on the health front.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Trade Schwarber for Quintana.

 

[brett05]

Trade Schwarber for Quintana.

Not enough

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Not enough

For which side?

 

[anotheridiot]

Trade Schwarber for Quintana.

Didnt you hear, the white sox will not trade with the cubs. #butthurt

 

[beckdawg]

Doesn't feel like there will be much more action after Soler was dealt. Rangers apparently have sniffed around on Szczur which probably should happen. Looking through their arms here's some guys I like

1. Ariel Jurado is a pretty interesting guy near-ish the majors. He's Texas' #6 prospect and MLB.com has a 50 grade on him and he finished in AA last year. He has 8.2 k/9 and 1.7 bb/9 in the minors along with a 2.82 ERA. Doesn't have a ton of upside. MLB.com projects him as a #4.
3. Michael Matuella is Texas' #13 prospect with a 45 grade. He was a candidate for the 2015 #1 overall pick but has had a number of injuries that have set him back. He has #1 potential but it's unsure if he makes it because of said injuries. As a buy low guy he might be intriguing though I feel like texas would probably want to keep him to see how it plays out themselves given they already took the risk.
5. Pedro Payano is Texas' #19 prospect with a 45 grade. He finished in A ball and has a 8.5 k/9 and 2.5 bb/9 over 348.1 innings with a 2.69 ERA.
7. Tyler Phillips is Texas' #25 prospect with a 45 grade. He finished in A- and has a 8.2 k/9 and 2.6 bb/9 over 73.2 innings with a 5.86 ERA.
9. Joe Palumbo is Texas' #29 prospect with a 45 grade. He finished in A ball and has a 9.8 k/9 and 3.7 bb/9 over 217.1 innings with a 2.73 ERA. He's also a lefty.

As for return, I think Szczur is probably worth 2 45 grade type arms especially considering most of them are in A ball. Jurado for Szczur straight up might also be fair.

 

[beckdawg]

The Nationals and White Sox have agreed to a trade that will send outfielder Adam Eaton from Chicago to D.C., reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Right-hander Lucas Giolito is going to Chicago, as are other pieces. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi first said the two sides had talked earlier today, and MLB.com’s Scott Merkin said a trade was in the works. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the deal was close to being finalized.

Sox are really loading up on guys.

 

[fatbeard]

The White Sox are conducting themselves like a competent organization with a plan. Stunning.

 

[beckdawg]

The White Sox are conducting themselves like a competent organization with a plan. Stunning.

If they deal Quintana to say Atlanta for Ozzie Albies+ their farm system suddenly is crazy.

 

[beckdawg]

Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports that right-handers Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning are also in the deal.

So between Eaton and Sale thus far WS have added the #1, #3, #30, and the #38 prospects + others.

 

[SilenceS]

Davis forearm strain was on top of the forearm. It wasnt where there has been correlation with Tommy John. I believe thats why the Cubs feel confident in his medicals. Also, Davis is probably a top 5 reliever when healthy for Soler who didnt have much room on the team to grow. Also, Soler is injury prone. He has been injured every season he has been with the Cubs. Add in that Jiminez is like the spitting image of him in tools and size. I am fine with this trade.

 

[beckdawg]

Davis forearm strain was on top of the forearm. It wasnt where there has been correlation with Tommy John. I believe thats why the Cubs feel confident in his medicals. Also, Davis is probably a top 5 reliever when healthy for Soler who didnt have much room on the team to grow. Also, Soler is injury prone. He has been injured every season he has been with the Cubs. Add in that Jiminez is like the spitting image of him in tools and size. I am fine with this trade.

I wasn't really upset about losing Soler but idk I'm not a fan of dumping so much in prospects on Chapman and Davis both being rentals. I mean surely what they gave up for 1.5 years of Chapman/Davis they could have got 3 years out of Kimbrel no? I suppose we'll see if they plan to re-sign Davis or not but if they don't you're in the same situation in 2018. From a value stand point it doesn't bother me but I don't feel like they are trading pieces away all that logically. I get the idea of wanting to save money for the FA class after 2018 and possibly Otani/Bryant/Russell. I just wish they were acquiring pieces with more control.

 

[TL1961]

The White Sox are conducting themselves like a competent organization with a plan. Stunning.

Give 'em time.

 

[DanTown]

So the White Sox have gotten what I'd say is good value for Eaton/Sale but I question the fit of how it plays with their system. They have gotten one guy I really like in terms of potential at the top of a rotation in Giolito but I question that with the rest of the guys plus what they've recently spent in draft capital, have they limited their upside? Hopefully they can flip Quintana for some long term hitting prospects because while they have potential arms, they have a LOT of potential arms and very few bats.

 

[beckdawg]

So the White Sox have gotten what I'd say is good value for Eaton/Sale but I question the fit of how it plays with their system. They have gotten one guy I really like in terms of potential at the top of a rotation in Giolito but I question that with the rest of the guys plus what they've recently spent in draft capital, have they limited their upside? Hopefully they can flip Quintana for some long term hitting prospects because while they have potential arms, they have a LOT of potential arms and very few bats.

Hard to say. I mean they can also deal Robertson and Frazier if they choose. Abreu could also go but he's worth building on. They could have Abreu at 1B/DH, Moncada at 2B, and Tim Anderson at SS. 3B is a bit of a question as are C and OF. Zack Collins might fill C for them though he's a bat first C rather than a defensive guy. Basabe long term probably fills CF. They could also in theory play Moncada at 3B and deal Quintana for Ozzie Albies and play him at 2B.

Regardless, if they can use Frazier Robertson and Quintana to plug a few more holes their future looks bright.