The Cubs Hot Stove Action Thread

[CSF77]

I like the insurance the Cubs have built up, and being able to keep Vizcaino and Hector Rondon in Iowa to start the year gives the Cubs depth for the inevitable injuries that will happen. Villanueva will start the year in the pen most likely, but he will probably grab starts here and there. Being able to bring one of those two up is a huge difference than the past several seasons.

Rodon's weakness from last year was his walks. His hits matched his IP and he had decent SO/9. I see him as a MR next year on the Cubs. He has a power arm and needs more major league exposure. I don't see the reason to demote him. This isn't Lendy we are talking about and trying to convert him to a starter.

Viz I get. Just to weather his arm some.

The goal should to get the SP on a 6 inning routine. So the next SP has to have proven durability.

Vill and Grimm early inning guys where the starter falters or they need to give the rotation an extra day of rest. Less needed with current scheduling. Don't see too many 14 day runs anymore.

They picked up the LH who project more of a situational LH than Russell did. I would plug Russell into set up work now.

Now the question is: Do you want to give the closer role to Pedro. If yes then they need a RH set up to complement Russell. If Rondon is that guy then they should look into a situational RH pitcher for MR (sidewinder type)

If not I would put Rondon into the situational RH MR role and ink Axe while Viz proves he is ready in AAA. He has been out for 2 years and he needs a year to get his arm into shape. The ML's is the worst spot to do it. Too much on the line.

But if Strop improves and Viz gets back to playing shape. They will have some serious gas going on in the 8-9th.

 

[beckdawg]

Yankees Receiving Significant Interest In Brett Gardner

After inking outfielder Carlos Beltran last night, the Yankees have received "significant interest" in Brett Gardner, reports Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter). The club is willing to deal Gardner, says McCullough, though it is not actively shopping him.

Like with Span, Gardner's a guy I would like to see the cubs try to trade for.

 

[patg006]

Like with Span, Gardner's a guy I would like to see the cubs try to trade for.

I'd like Gardner too, but who are you gonna give up?

Have to imagine they want pitching. Definitely see them interested in James Russell with the inconsistencies of lefty reliever Cesar Cabral and lefty starter/reliever Vidal Nuno--who looked good through 20 innings of September work.

 

[beckdawg]

I'd like Gardner too, but who are you gonna give up?

Have to imagine they want pitching. Definitely see them interested in James Russell with the inconsistencies of lefty reliever Cesar Cabral and lefty starter/reliever Vidal Nuno--who looked good through 20 innings of September work.

That's a good question. I thought about Russell with regard to Span in Washington cuz they are looking for a lefty for their pen. Only problem is Russell the only lefty the cubs have in AAA/MLB AFIAK. Maybe it's not a huge deal since the cubs are gonna be crappy anyways but still is a concern.

I'd mentioned the Yanks before as a possible sneaky team to target Shark. They want to keep under the luxury tax threshold and Shark being $5 mil would really be helpful to that. The problem is they don't really have good pitching prospects that the cubs would like. However, if the cubs and yanks could find a third team like say the Marlins who might want some of the Yanks higher tier bats they might be able to work something out. For example, if the cubs could get Andrew Heaney from the Marlins, Gardner from the Yanks and maybe one other half way decent prospect for Shark like say Rafael DePaula with various parts going to the Marlins I am sort of ok with that return. At that point the cubs would be getting Gardner who's pretty good MLB OF and would fit into the cubs plans for the next 5 or so years along with 2 decent young pitching prospects. The pitching prospects wouldn't be a Archie Bradley type but they could be decent middle of the rotation types if they progressed.

Another possibility I suppose would be Edwin Jackson for Gardner.

 

[CSF77]

Another possibility I suppose would be Edwin Jackson for Gardner.

that would be very nice if that happened. Sign me up on that one

I would rather extend Shark at this point. His SO and 200 IP have real value that a prospect may never achieve

The have too many gambles going on, they need more proven and trading 200 proven for a maybe is not a solid game plan.

Treading Jackson gets them out of contract with a so so pitcher. He has always been meh

 

[beckdawg]

Treading Jackson gets them out of contract with a so so pitcher. He has always been meh

I think Jackson is in line to rebound well this year. That being said, I think Gardner provides something the cubs are really missing in a guy who can hit lead off and steal some bases. And that's just not really on the market. As for Jackson, I think there are guys out there who can be interesting buy low guys. For example, is Jackson providing so much more than say Maholm, Hammel or Arroyo?

 

[jooo83]

Well if they don't (I'm not saying they will), any elite Japanese pitchers and players from here on out are screwed and might as well stay in Japan then because they will never play in the states if they don't abide by this.

Not saying it is fair for them, but it was also getting ridiculous and only benefitting the big boys and unfair for the lower echelon teams in the states. After all, we are playing in America, and if they don't like it, oh well.

This wouldn't apply to Japanese free agents, right?

 

[SilenceS]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 1h

The other thing not mentioned with Arodys Vizcaino's 98 mph FB and electric stuff is that he also showed good command. #giddy

 

[SilenceS]

Dave (PHX)

Is Bryant and Baez being up in July '14 reasonable ?

Klaw
(12:21 PM)

As good as Bryant is, it's very rare for a college position player to reach the majors twelve months after signing, and would be very surprising for the Cubs to move him so aggressively when they're in long-term build mode. Baez I could see getting there this year, depending on whether the patience he showed in July/August of this year carries over.

 

[Jntg4]

Dave (PHX)

Is Bryant and Baez being up in July '14 reasonable ?

Klaw
(12:21 PM)

As good as Bryant is, it's very rare for a college position player to reach the majors twelve months after signing, and would be very surprising for the Cubs to move him so aggressively when they're in long-term build mode. Baez I could see getting there this year, depending on whether the patience he showed in July/August of this year carries over.

They'll be called up 17 seconds apart, leading the Cubs to the World Series. :blackhawks:

 

[beckdawg]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 1h

The other thing not mentioned with Arodys Vizcaino's 98 mph FB and electric stuff is that he also showed good command. #giddy

I'm really hoping he makes it as a starter. If he does it can change a lot of how we view the current cubs farm prospects. If he's a bullpen arm he still can be good but the impact wont be the same.

 

[CSF77]

I'm really hoping he makes it as a starter. If he does it can change a lot of how we view the current cubs farm prospects. If he's a bullpen arm he still can be good but the impact wont be the same.

Rather keep him in the pen.

Converting into a starter brings up questions of durability vs talent.

The Cubs are better off getting their SP via F/A or trade vs risking blowing up a arm. He was questionable pre injury on his durability.

 

[patg006]

According to Heyman on CBS and twitter, Axford's final teams are Orioles, Cubs, and Mariners.

My bet is not the cubs. Too cheap.

 

[beckdawg]

According to Heyman on CBS and twitter, Axford's final teams are Orioles, Cubs, and Mariners.

My bet is not the cubs. Too cheap.

Why the hell would the O's want him when they just traded away Jim Johnson? Don't get that one at all...

 

[patg006]

Why the hell would the O's want him when they just traded away Jim Johnson? Don't get that one at all...

**** if I know

 

[dabynsky]

Rodon's weakness from last year was his walks. His hits matched his IP and he had decent SO/9. I see him as a MR next year on the Cubs. He has a power arm and needs more major league exposure. I don't see the reason to demote him. This isn't Lendy we are talking about and trying to convert him to a starter.

Viz I get. Just to weather his arm some.

The goal should to get the SP on a 6 inning routine. So the next SP has to have proven durability.

Vill and Grimm early inning guys where the starter falters or they need to give the rotation an extra day of rest. Less needed with current scheduling. Don't see too many 14 day runs anymore.

They picked up the LH who project more of a situational LH than Russell did. I would plug Russell into set up work now.

Now the question is: Do you want to give the closer role to Pedro. If yes then they need a RH set up to complement Russell. If Rondon is that guy then they should look into a situational RH pitcher for MR (sidewinder type)

If not I would put Rondon into the situational RH MR role and ink Axe while Viz proves he is ready in AAA. He has been out for 2 years and he needs a year to get his arm into shape. The ML's is the worst spot to do it. Too much on the line.

But if Strop improves and Viz gets back to playing shape. They will have some serious gas going on in the 8-9th.

The issue with Rondon is that there is a roster crunch on the pitching staff right now. Lets assume the pitching staff is Shark, Wood, EJax and Arrieta. They probably will add another starter. The bullpen has Strop, Wright, Russell, Blake Parker, Villanueva and Alberto Cabrera that can't be sent down without risk of losing them. If the Cubs go out and pick up another reliever there simply isn't a roster spot for Rondon despite performance last year. Granted the Cubs might make some trades and so Villanueva or Cabrera swing into the rotation which opens a spot for Rondon, but as the roster appears to be shaking out I would guess Rusin, Grimm, Vizcaino, Rondon and Hendricks all start in AAA as insurance which is a hell of lot of depth that the Cubs haven't had in years.

 

[beckdawg]

Not sure why people are worried about a roster crunch at this point. The majority of the relievers aren't that valuable that they should be afraid of exposing them to waviers.

 

[Jntg4]

According to Heyman on CBS and twitter, Axford's final teams are Orioles, Cubs, and Mariners.

My bet is not the cubs. Too cheap.

If it's strictly a money thing, I would bet on Seattle since they seem to be doing the spend a ton to sell for more thing right now.

 

[dabynsky]

Not sure why people are worried about a roster crunch at this point. The majority of the relievers aren't that valuable that they should be afraid of exposing them to waviers.

They aren't that valuable but the question is Rondon that much more valuable than say Blake Parker that they should risk losing Parker. I don't think the answer is yes, and hence why I wouldn't be shocked to see all of those arms I listed start the year in AAA regardless of spring training performances.

 

[beckdawg]

They aren't that valuable but the question is Rondon that much more valuable than say Blake Parker that they should risk losing Parker. I don't think the answer is yes, and hence why I wouldn't be shocked to see all of those arms I listed start the year in AAA regardless of spring training performances.

Fair enough. All I'm saying is if the cubs see a FA they think can help the team there's no reason they will worry about exposing any of those guys to waviers.