Trade deadline/rumors

[DJMoore_is_fat]

Will be interesting with Montgomery and Nathan in the fold. If both pitch well, plus Wood/Edwards JR/Strop/Rondon, we could be dangerous. Would still LOVE Chapman and his 105mph fastball though. Teams will have a tough time against us come October.

 

[beckdawg]

So now that the lefty in the pen is figured out I'm sitting here wondering what next. There's 12 days until the deadline. The cubs could theoretically stand pat and be fine with Fowler and Soler coming back. They could also theoretically use another bat off the bench though I'm not sure that's Reddick. Sort of feel like they need someone who can play the infield with as much as they use Baez and the fact Contreras has been playing LF for them. They could also go entirely crazy and pull off some really unexpected stuff.

Reading what Jed and Theo have said over the past few days, they mentioned expect the unexpected. I'm not sure if that was just a token "we gotta plan for everything" talk or if that was a subtle hint they were planning something unexpected. Given the other news today about Pomeranz I'm thinking they are at least trying to be creative but who knows what's out there.

 

[SilenceS]

Pomeranz gets knocked out of his first start after 3 IP and 5 Earned Runs. Kicker? Boston scored 8 for him and had an 8-0 lead. He just left the game with 2 men on and no out with a lead 8-5.

 

[Payton!34]

The people calling for schwarber for chapman and or Miller is crazy!

I don't want to trade him but for giggles, who would he be worth?? What's his value?

 

[CSF77]

They said pitching and a bench bat.

Seeing the roster at Full:

OF: Heyward, Soler, Fowler, Szczur
IF: Rizzo, Zobrist, Russell, Bryant, Baez, LaStella
C: Montero, Ross, Contreras

They would have to drop a bat to add here. Bench is favoring the Right over the left side.

It would make sense to show case Soler and look to deal out. This opens up playing time to Contreras and gives them the opertunity to add a LH stick on the bench

 

[CSF77]

The people calling for schwarber for chapman and or Miller is crazy!

I don't want to trade him but for giggles, who would he be worth?? What's his value?

Who knows. His D is limited so it limits his true value. Add to it his injury caused his potential value to lessen. If that injury didn't happen and he was hitting .300 with 20 plus HR's no team would even be listened to unless it was a proven TOR.

It is just bad business to deal Schwarber at this point.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I say **** Montero. Trade him for another mediocre reliever. Is there another catcher in the system? Just go Ross/Contreras with Contreras carrying the load.

I don't think Montero calls a great game, or plays great defense, and he used to be a bat but is no longer. The best thing the Cubs could do is trade that dead weight away.

They will have Contreras/Schwarber next year. thats fucking dynamite. Whole league is looking for those kind of catchers.


Arrieta's slump began when Montero started calling games, and same with the rest of the staff. Ross should be the only voice in the young guys head for my money. With Soler back, Montero just makes things ackward.

1. Fowler
2. Rizzo
3. Bryant
4. Soler
5. Contreras
6. Baez
7. Russel
8. Arrieta
9. Heyward


Heyward has speed, goes 1st to third, but has a bad batting average right now, making him a perfect 9 hitter in that system if he can understand it and not feel shame, realizing that spot becomes more important in front of big power hitters but hides the average, and isn't asked to RBI.

Thats my understanding of the 9 hole. Its sort of a typical leadoff type who isn't hitting for average, but has enough speed not to block your speed guy.
Thats the way Tony La Russa would use the 9 hitter, to slide Pujols up and hope for an extra at bat. Rizzo can do anything, including be patient enough to let Fowler run. Then your typical 4 hitter, Bryant, is in the 3 hole, but has 4 batters in front of him on the turn.

The Cubs are deep enough that I forgot Zobrist...making Soler/Montero very expendable given the bench bats of La Stella and Almora and Sczechur

Cut some fat and get Chapman. Use Chapman as a situational lefty, and set-up guy as things present themselves. I mean...thats fucking nasty with Montgomery and Wood too.

Soler for Chapman seems fair to me. I'd hate to see it, but Cubs gotta go all in and Chapman makes them really really really scary.

Embarrassment of riches, they need to make it happen somehow, if they can do it with lower upside pieces fucking fantastic. I want to see this thing go down, Chicago could use it.

 

[SilenceS]

I say **** Montero. Trade him for another mediocre reliever. Is there another catcher in the system? Just go Ross/Contreras with Contreras carrying the load.

I don't think Montero calls a great game, or plays great defense, and he used to be a bat but is no longer. The best thing the Cubs could do is trade that dead weight away.

They will have Contreras/Schwarber next year. thats fucking dynamite. Whole league is looking for those kind of catchers.


Arrieta's slump began when Montero started calling games, and same with the rest of the staff. Ross should be the only voice in the young guys head for my money. With Soler back, Montero just makes things ackward.

1. Fowler
2. Rizzo
3. Bryant
4. Soler
5. Contreras
6. Baez
7. Russel
8. Arrieta
9. Heyward


Heyward has speed, goes 1st to third, but has a bad batting average right now, making him a perfect 9 hitter in that system if he can understand it and not feel shame, realizing that spot becomes more important in front of big power hitters but hides the average, and isn't asked to RBI.

Thats my understanding of the 9 hole. Its sort of a typical leadoff type who isn't hitting for average, but has enough speed not to block your speed guy.
Thats the way Tony La Russa would use the 9 hitter, to slide Pujols up and hope for an extra at bat. Rizzo can do anything, including be patient enough to let Fowler run. Then your typical 4 hitter, Bryant, is in the 3 hole, but has 4 batters in front of him on the turn.

The Cubs are deep enough that I forgot Zobrist...making Soler/Montero very expendable given the bench bats of La Stella and Almora and Sczechur

Cut some fat and get Chapman. Use Chapman as a situational lefty, and set-up guy as things present themselves. I mean...thats fucking nasty with Montgomery and Wood too.

Soler for Chapman seems fair to me. I'd hate to see it, but Cubs gotta go all in and Chapman makes them really really really scary.

Embarrassment of riches, they need to make it happen somehow, if they can do it with lower upside pieces fucking fantastic. I want to see this thing go down, Chicago could use it.

The Cubs slump as a pitching staff was when Contreras caught the pitchers. Montero and Ross are light years ahead of Contreras on everything that is a catcher. Contreras bat is better that's it and it's not even close. Contreras has a ton of work to do. A ton


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[Omeletpants]

Montero has zero trade value and is still owed like 12M next year

Soler will never get Chapman. Epstein isnt that stupid

 

[TL1961]

Some interesting scuttlebutt from Ken Rosenthal. Apparently the Cubs tried to land Drew Pomeranz to flip him.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/...ez-kyle-schwarber-houston-astros-notes-071916

What I took away from Rosenthal's column was "Here is a trade that never got close, so the players I mention being traded for one another is not realistic, but I will write it anyway."

"Furthermore, the second trade was never discussed between teams, and is really nothing more than wild speculation on my part."

"But I got a column out of it, didn't I?"

 

[TL1961]

So now that the lefty in the pen is figured out I'm sitting here wondering what next. There's 12 days until the deadline. The cubs could theoretically stand pat and be fine with Fowler and Soler coming back. They could also theoretically use another bat off the bench though I'm not sure that's Reddick. Sort of feel like they need someone who can play the infield with as much as they use Baez and the fact Contreras has been playing LF for them. They could also go entirely crazy and pull off some really unexpected stuff.

Reading what Jed and Theo have said over the past few days, they mentioned expect the unexpected. I'm not sure if that was just a token "we gotta plan for everything" talk or if that was a subtle hint they were planning something unexpected. Given the other news today about Pomeranz I'm thinking they are at least trying to be creative but who knows what's out there.

I don't see how they need someone to play infield.

 

[TL1961]

I say **** Montero. Trade him for another mediocre reliever. Is there another catcher in the system? Just go Ross/Contreras with Contreras carrying the load.

I don't think Montero calls a great game, or plays great defense, and he used to be a bat but is no longer. The best thing the Cubs could do is trade that dead weight away.

They will have Contreras/Schwarber next year. thats fucking dynamite. Whole league is looking for those kind of catchers.


Arrieta's slump began when Montero started calling games, and same with the rest of the staff. Ross should be the only voice in the young guys head for my money. With Soler back, Montero just makes things ackward.

1. Fowler
2. Rizzo
3. Bryant
4. Soler
5. Contreras
6. Baez
7. Russel
8. Arrieta
9. Heyward


Heyward has speed, goes 1st to third, but has a bad batting average right now, making him a perfect 9 hitter in that system if he can understand it and not feel shame, realizing that spot becomes more important in front of big power hitters but hides the average, and isn't asked to RBI.

Thats my understanding of the 9 hole. Its sort of a typical leadoff type who isn't hitting for average, but has enough speed not to block your speed guy.
Thats the way Tony La Russa would use the 9 hitter, to slide Pujols up and hope for an extra at bat. Rizzo can do anything, including be patient enough to let Fowler run. Then your typical 4 hitter, Bryant, is in the 3 hole, but has 4 batters in front of him on the turn.

The Cubs are deep enough that I forgot Zobrist...making Soler/Montero very expendable given the bench bats of La Stella and Almora and Sczechur

Cut some fat and get Chapman. Use Chapman as a situational lefty, and set-up guy as things present themselves. I mean...thats fucking nasty with Montgomery and Wood too.

Soler for Chapman seems fair to me. I'd hate to see it, but Cubs gotta go all in and Chapman makes them really really really scary.

Embarrassment of riches, they need to make it happen somehow, if they can do it with lower upside pieces fucking fantastic. I want to see this thing go down, Chicago could use it.

You say Montero doesn't "call" a great game. But his framing makes a bigger difference than people realize.

Contreras came up, hit a lot early, and the Cubs had a terrible stretch. The D at catcher can't be overstated. And obviously with Montero, that doesn't mean throwing out runners.

But the pitching- with Montero- is suddenly waaaaay better than two weeks ago.

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Contreras arm is pretty good though. And a bat...with this staff thats enough.

 

[beckdawg]

I don't see how they need someone to play infield.

If you start Baez which they are likely to do given his defense and his recent improvement at the plate, your only infielder is La Stella unless we do something crazy like throwing Contreras out there at 3B again. I suppose that's possible but given he's basically started every day he's probably also already in the line up. In terms of OF, you have Heyward, soon to have Fowler and Soler, Almora, Bryant, Zobrist, Contreras and even Baez could play there. They are more than covered. Additionally, they also have a few guys like Mark Zagunis and McKinney who are complete enough bats to call up in September if the need arises.

Other than Baez and La Stella where's the infield depth? Now granted if we're talking about the playoff 25 man roster maybe it's less of a concern because you probably wouldn't need that specific guy. But I'm more worried about getting to September healthy. Acquiring help after the deadline can be tricky. In terms of AAA depth you're looking at Logan Watkins who's really only a 2B and maybe a 3B and he's hitting .280/.330/.372 in AAA but he's been terrible in his major stints at .233/.269/.301 on his career. Vimael Machin is the other 2B option in AAA and he's hit .190/.296/.227 in the minors. At SS you have Kristopher Negron who's hit .220/.296/.353 in the majors. You also have Munenori Kawasaki who i'd consider ok but I'm not sure you want the other 3 anywhere near the majors. At 3B you have Candelario but he sure didn't look ready.

Long story short, other Kawasaki they don't have much depth in the infield if someone gets hurt and La Stella hasn't really been someone who's played a ton without injury. Now maybe it's over kill but if they are adding a bat I don't see anywhere that a OF is going to play. Fowler and Heyward should start basically every game for the rest of the season minus a few days off here and there. LF will likely be a mix of Bryant(when not at 3B), Contreras(when not C), Soler, and Zobrist(when Baez plays 2B for Hendricks). Szczer and Almora give you two options off the bench as well.

 

[DanTown]

If you start Baez which they are likely to do given his defense and his recent improvement at the plate, your only infielder is La Stella unless we do something crazy like throwing Contreras out there at 3B again. I suppose that's possible but given he's basically started every day he's probably also already in the line up. In terms of OF, you have Heyward, soon to have Fowler and Soler, Almora, Bryant, Zobrist, Contreras and even Baez could play there. They are more than covered. Additionally, they also have a few guys like Mark Zagunis and McKinney who are complete enough bats to call up in September if the need arises.

Other than Baez and La Stella where's the infield depth? Now granted if we're talking about the playoff 25 man roster maybe it's less of a concern because you probably wouldn't need that specific guy. But I'm more worried about getting to September healthy. Acquiring help after the deadline can be tricky. In terms of AAA depth you're looking at Logan Watkins who's really only a 2B and maybe a 3B and he's hitting .280/.330/.372 in AAA but he's been terrible in his major stints at .233/.269/.301 on his career. Vimael Machin is the other 2B option in AAA and he's hit .190/.296/.227 in the minors. At SS you have Kristopher Negron who's hit .220/.296/.353 in the majors. You also have Munenori Kawasaki who i'd consider ok but I'm not sure you want the other 3 anywhere near the majors. At 3B you have Candelario but he sure didn't look ready.

Long story short, other Kawasaki they don't have much depth in the infield if someone gets hurt and La Stella hasn't really been someone who's played a ton without injury. Now maybe it's over kill but if they are adding a bat I don't see anywhere that a OF is going to play. Fowler and Heyward should start basically every game for the rest of the season minus a few days off here and there. LF will likely be a mix of Bryant(when not at 3B), Contreras(when not C), Soler, and Zobrist(when Baez plays 2B for Hendricks). Szczer and Almora give you two options off the bench as well.

When Fowler comes back, the Cubs will play less Bryant in the OF and thus less Baez. They have two guys in the IF (Russell and Rizzo) who will play only in the IF so you don't need that much flexibility.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I just think Montero has to go to define some roles on this team. Epstein needs to make that clarity for Maddon, because he has too many choices right now.


Zobrist to utility guy. Move one of La Stella/Sczhur along with Montero, and keep all the young core.

Soler has too much power and athleticism to give up on. Get him a new trainer or something, a new diet, try some things...but it could be a huge mistake to trade Soler or Schwarber as despite that incredible embarrassment of riches those guys might have the highest upside on the team due to sheer power, though of course its doubtful they ever become as difficult of outs as Rizzo is.

If I'm the Cubs...I'm pushing hard as hell down every door to speed up the DH to N.L.,

there must be someone out there who has figured out rules that work with roster size to keep some of the national league chess match while still allowing someone to hit for pitchers.

If they could push a rule where only 1 hitter can be designated for 1 pitcher, and expand rosters by 1, it would make Soler/Schwarber an incredibly valueable tandem to them.

 

[Diehardfan]

I just think Montero has to go to define some roles on this team. Epstein needs to make that clarity for Maddon, because he has too many choices right now.


Zobrist to utility guy. Move one of La Stella/Sczhur along with Montero, and keep all the young core.

Soler has too much power and athleticism to give up on. Get him a new trainer or something, a new diet, try some things...but it could be a huge mistake to trade Soler or Schwarber as despite that incredible embarrassment of riches those guys might have the highest upside on the team due to sheer power, though of course its doubtful they ever become as difficult of outs as Rizzo is.

If I'm the Cubs...I'm pushing hard as hell down every door to speed up the DH to N.L.,

there must be someone out there who has figured out rules that work with roster size to keep some of the national league chess match while still allowing someone to hit for pitchers.

If they could push a rule where only 1 hitter can be designated for 1 pitcher, and expand rosters by 1, it would make Soler/Schwarber an incredibly valueable tandem to them.

If you're talking next season, yeah...I agree. If you're talking now....that's ridiculous.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

We can't trade Montero now, even though he's hitting .190 and is easy to run on.

He's still a vet who can call a game and frame pitches. Contreras is way too inexperienced to start at C in a playoff game.

We're going with Ross and Montero come October. But yes it does look like Montero has broken down and could be in the twilight of his career.


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[brett05]

Talk of Josh Reddick coming to the Cubs. If it wan't Beane I wonder what he would cost the Cubs to get him.

 

[SilenceS]

When Fowler comes back, the Cubs will play less Bryant in the OF and thus less Baez. They have two guys in the IF (Russell and Rizzo) who will play only in the IF so you don't need that much flexibility.

Baez has been one of the best Cubs hitters for over a month. They are going to have to find him regular playing time.