Trade deadline banter

[SilenceS]

Eventually Baez Schwarber Happ or Russell will be traded to open up a position for the others..

Baez too young and talented to be tied down as a UI, he going to play everyday for someone.

Love to see Harper come here..
Epstein has to make sure any deals between now n then aren't crazy .

Why it would be great to be able to have a couple stud cost controlled SP like Quintana under their belt..


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Completely agree on Baez. No way he is a utility player. He really isn't one now. Madison loves him still. The Cubs are cost controlled on players until 2021. Theo isn't going to move them just to move them. He wants this core so they can spend on what they need. It's why eloy and Torres was traded. There timeline was later and Theo knows the position players are locked through 2021.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CSF77]

Completely agree on Baez. No way he is a utility player. He really isn't one now. Madison loves him still. The Cubs are cost controlled on players until 2021. Theo isn't going to move them just to move them. He wants this core so they can spend on what they need. It's why eloy and Torres was traded. There timeline was later and Theo knows the position players are locked through 2021.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Baez is the best insurance policy in the game. That is why he doesn't have a set spot

 

[beckdawg]

So I was thinking about the Lucroy rumors. While in theory it's a rental i'm not sure it has to be. The cubs need some leadership. Obviously you have Rizzo and Heyward but they are still pretty young and out side of Zobrist they lack vets on the offensive side. If we are assuming they lose Arrieta and Lackey that's 2 more vets gone. You could n theory make this trade with an eye toward re-signing him. While Contreras seems like a guy you need in the line up every day, you really don't want to wear him down if you don't have to. And he can obviously play in the field from time to time as well if the cubs ever figure out the log jam of players they already have. For example you could use him at 3B on Bryant days off if you didn't have to use Baez there since Contreras came up as a 3B. Like wise the cubs have played him in LF and 1B. And even on days he doesn't start he's not a bad guy to have for PH situations.

What that would also mean is Caratini would no longer have to be a long term piece for the cubs and instead could be a valuable piece to move for a starter. I'm not sure Caratini is a first division regular but he can probably start for some teams. And while he's not going to headline a trade he probably holds more value to MLB teams than he does to prospect ranking places because C in general are terrible hitters even in the majors. League wide catchers are hitting .246/.313/.406 with an 88 wRC+. Caratini has hit .287/.367/.419 in the minors over 1874 PAs. So, I think he could be an interesting second or third piece in a potential trade for a cost controlled starter.

 

[chibears55]

Whatever moves they make, hope to see it done in next couple days so they have everyone in place and ready for the Brewers series...

Hoping that series the Cubs will be able to pull ahead of them and never look back the rest of year..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[CSF77]

If they were thinking of using Caratini in a larger deal then I agree that Lucroy would be a nice add.

I'm feeling that Caratini needs to be a starting back stop and sitting on pine is not doing much for him. He carries more weight as a chip.

But I wouldn't see him for a rental. That part I don't want to see.

Ideally you would want to pack up both Cartiani and Candy and get back a SP or a set up with control. That way the Cubs can go into the off season not needing to turn over 2 SP or gain a new 8-9 inning guys in the FA market.

Now as far as SP prospects go Tseng IMO should be the 5. He didn't take the normal nose dive when the competition increased. Add to it he went into a hitters league and improved. That says something in itself.

So that really leaves a SP like Darvish that would make the Cubs 1-3 top shelf. Back end stable.

So trading for a rental just blows assetts here unless you are acquiring control and the Cubs don't have that trade weight.

So that leaves the pen. BP arms in general do not cost what TOR arms do. So using Catrini and Candy to get a controlled set up is actually more realistic in trade weight. The problem is finding that match up and then getting a back up.


So in reality I really think that they hold the deck right now. Hendricks is returning and Montgomery adds to the pen. The whole vet back stop is over rated anyways. Contreras is playing better with out the distraction

 

[beckdawg]

So trading for a rental just blows assetts here unless you are acquiring control and the Cubs don't have that trade weight.

Not really. Like Lucroy isn't going to cost you a major piece because he's obviously a rental and he's not even performing that well. I'm not even entirely convinced it will cost someone like Young. Those "assets" aren't really moving a dial.

 

[CSF77]

Not really. Like Lucroy isn't going to cost you a major piece because he's obviously a rental and he's not even performing that well. I'm not even entirely convinced it will cost someone like Young. Those "assets" aren't really moving a dial.

my point is: Is Lucroy even needed?

 

[beckdawg]

my point is: Is Lucroy even needed?

I would argue yes. For one thing you don't want Contreras burnt out by September and he's been playing A LOT lately. On top of that, Lucroy could very well be a big boon if the cubs see something in his swing that will go back to what it was.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

my point is: Is Lucroy even needed?

A veteran backup would be nice but have y'all see Lucroy this year? He's pretty much bad at every part of his game and catchers go fast when they fall off. No thank you unless Theo knows something we don't.

 

[TL1961]

Contreras is taking a leadership role. Lucroy won't bring that. Good player, but not like he is some multiple WS champ

 

[CSF77]

I would argue yes. For one thing you don't want Contreras burnt out by September and he's been playing A LOT lately. On top of that, Lucroy could very well be a big boon if the cubs see something in his swing that will go back to what it was.

Contreras is going to play 80% for sure. Right now they have Cartiani matched up with Montgomery. That is ending so you expect another match up inc.

I really don't see the need myself. All they have to do is match up Cart with 1 guy that is willing to work with him and that puts Contreras at 80%.

 

[Diehardfan]

A veteran backup would be nice but have y'all see Lucroy this year? He's pretty much bad at every part of his game and catchers go fast when they fall off. No thank you unless Theo knows something we don't.

Honestly, no. I haven't seen him play since he switched leagues....just know that I liked him a lot when he was with Milwaukee. Sometimes, for whatever reason...a player switches leagues and it doesn't work out for him. Maybe a switch back to the NL is what he needs. The good part about his bad numbers is that he shouldn't cost much.

 

[beckdawg]

A veteran backup would be nice but have y'all see Lucroy this year? He's pretty much bad at every part of his game and catchers go fast when they fall off. No thank you unless Theo knows something we don't.

Lucroy was better in May and june hitting .295/.344/.455 and .271/.311/.343. July hasn't been stellar(.156/.235/.222) but it's only been 51 PAs.

 

[chibears55]

Cubs are eyeballing Phillies and reliever Pat Neshek

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Lucroy was better in May and june hitting .295/.344/.455 and .271/.311/.343. July hasn't been stellar(.156/.235/.222) but it's only been 51 PAs.

It's also the defense, and especially the framing which was once a huge strength, falling off.

 

[TL1961]

Cubs are eyeballing Phillies and reliever Pat Neshek

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Only if cost is low.

 

[chibears55]

Only if cost is low.

Unless they deal for Stroman Gray or Fullmer that would cost a 25 man player...

Then

Pretty much any other move they make before deadline will be at a low cost with the lack of top prospects left in system..



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[CSF77]

Cubs are eyeballing Phillies and reliever Pat Neshek

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

He is actually pretty good. 1.14 ERA 1.1 W/9 9.8 SO/9. Sidewinder so a different look.

Honestly he is worth something of quality in return. IMO I would deal Clifton strait for him. Cubs need to create a rotation spot for Rucker very soon and Clifton has sputtered to this point at Tenn. His command has improved but his results have not. Still there is enough talent there where the Phills would be getting a solid pitcher.

I don't think I would go much higher than that. If they wanted a 2nd it would be a PTNL type.

 

[DanTown]

He is actually pretty good. 1.14 ERA 1.1 W/9 9.8 SO/9. Sidewinder so a different look.

Honestly he is worth something of quality in return. IMO I would deal Clifton strait for him. Cubs need to create a rotation spot for Rucker very soon and Clifton has sputtered to this point at Tenn. His command has improved but his results have not. Still there is enough talent there where the Phills would be getting a solid pitcher.

I don't think I would go much higher than that. If they wanted a 2nd it would be a PTNL type.

you're going to trade a top 5 organizational prospect and a potential good starter to get another righty in the bullpen and a guy who is an impending FA? That's terrible use for Clifton, a guy who's "sputtering" is having like four bad starts in a month?

 

[CSF77]

you're going to trade a top 5 organizational prospect and a potential good starter to get another righty in the bullpen and a guy who is an impending FA? That's terrible use for Clifton, a guy who's "sputtering" is having like four bad starts in a month?

I consider Clifton behind Tseng and Azolay right now. Sure he has a higher ceiling but right now he is below both of them. My issue with him is in command. 4.2 BB/9 7.7 SO/9. Sure he has a 97 MPH fastball and a tight spin curve. That is fine but what it comes down to is what is happening at the plate. And he has been not good enough to promote.

He is not in Hedges ballpark. I would be shocked if Hedges makes it much less becomes a AAA pitcher. Clifton has potential bust written on him. The raw data suggests high risk.


Add to it BA dropped him out of their top 10. They get it that he did really good in MB and it may not be a real picture of him.

My opinion is Tseng lost 5 mph and it pushed him back. Control has never been a issue with him and he got it back.

Clifton has never had command. So it is not a jump on the bike thing with him. He has to control his BB's while pushing up to 8 SO/9. That is his reality. That means commanding the strike zone. If this was a mph issue then I would be less concerned because he is still young and stuff like that can come back. Command is a whole different situation. That is like teaching a guy how to add 5 mph when they never had it.

So I'm not all in on him and I feel that he is expendable.