What would it take? (DJ LaMahieu)

[baezbae]

We need to do everything we can to keep Castellanos for 2020, he's exactly what this lineup needs to balance out all the fence swingers/K guys. IMO he's the perfect 2 hitter, but we are still in need of a true leadoff guy for next year...

Wishful thinking but Cubs should go after DJ LaMahieu in a trade with the Yankees this offseason. He will be entering his contract year. Hypothetically speaking, what do you think it would take? Cubs need a great leadoff hitter and someone solid in the infield.

Imagine this lineup (assuming we don't trade one of these guys)

1. LaMahieu, 2B
2. Castellanos, RF
3. Bryant, 3B
4. Rizzo, 1B
5. Schwarber, LF
6. Baez, SS
7. Contreras, C
8. Heyward, CF
9. Pitcher

Just for fun, let's say we also go after one of the big FA arms as well... Since we will most likely lose Hamels to free agency, which is OK with me freeing up his contract, as it will leave us some wiggle room for Castellanos and maybe a top starer. Imagine if we picked up Gerrit Cole or Jake Odorizzo off free agency.

1. Cole/Odorizzi, RHP
2. Quintana, LHP
3. Darvish, RHP
4. Lester, LHP
5. Hendrix, RHP

Make it happen Cubbies!

 

[Raskolnikov]

I think you are going to go after Castenellos and let Bryant go chase his money.

A lead-off that can also play some D, Castenellos, Rizzo, Baez, Contreras, Schwarber, Heyward, ?

Has a good chance to be the top 8.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Merriman or LaMehaui
Castenelos
Rizzo
Baez
Schwarber
Contreras
Heyward
3B or CF/RF filled with utility depth....

Might be more functional than Bryant on this team. His lack of focus and interest in defense, injury proneness and body type that requires lots of care and training as he ages.

HOnestly letting Bryant walk is the best thing for you guys, or better yet go make that trade.

 

[baezbae]

I think you are going to go after Castenellos and let Bryant go chase his money.

A lead-off that can also play some D, Castenellos, Rizzo, Baez, Contreras, Schwarber, Heyward, ?

Has a good chance to be the top 8.

What about trading Bryant to the Yankees for LaMahieu + a solid relief pitcher? Then re-sign veteran/leader Zobrist on the cheap & trot out this lineup:

1. DJ LaMahieu, 3B/2B
2. Nicholas Castellanos, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Kyle Schwarber, LF
5. Javier Baez, SS
6. Willson Contreras, C
7. Jason Heyward, CF
8. Ben Zobrist, 2B/3B
9. Pitcher

 

[Raskolnikov]

I think Zobrist will retire, save his family and live happily ever after.

I wouldn't rule the cubs out with one last cinderella run, though that fucking Scherzer game looms ominously. Its just one game, crazy things happen, their bullpen is suspect, although they might roll two starters at you in that one.

If you can get to a 7 game, there is some hope that Hamels/Hendricks are in form enough to lead this thing, and Lester/Quintana are still spitting out a performance here and there. But Hamels/Hendricks need to be 1/2 and lead right now.

Edit: Lester has stones but his 87 mph fastball can't be trusted. Quintana outside of a couple bad innings has actually been in a good stretch as far as his Cubs history.

 

[baezbae]

I think Zobrist will retire, save his family and live happily ever after.

I wouldn't rule the cubs out with one last cinderella run, though that fucking Scherzer game looms ominously. Its just one game, crazy things happen, their bullpen is suspect, although they might roll two starters at you in that one.

If you can get to a 7 game, there is some hope that Hamels/Hendricks are in form enough to lead this thing, and Lester/Quintana are still spitting out a performance here and there. But Hamels/Hendricks need to be 1/2 and lead right now.

Don't forget Darvish just had that stellar 14K game and is having a tremendous second half.

Lester is throwing BP at this point but he's a veteran and all good teams need those come playoff time.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Don't forget Darvish just had that stellar 14K game and is having a tremendous second half.

Oh yeah....hahahah. ****...nice...Darvish/Hendricks/Hamels can get alot of things done. Then Quintana 4 if necessary and maybe Lester to bullpen because lefty and tons of data on matchups. Or both to pen.

Darvish vs Scherzer, with Hendricks taking game 1 vs Dodgers

Edit: I need to calm down and drink less coffee. Damn...Lester would be the worst guy out of the pen ever with his first innings. hahahahah. holy shit.

 

[greg23]

So we're trading for LeMahieu
Signing Cole
AND
Resigning Castellanos

Basically adding about 50 Mil per season with those 3 signings?????

This after Ricketts had no money last offseason and we splurged on Daniel Descalso for $12.50 per hour????

 

[Raskolnikov]

So we're trading for LeMahieu
Signing Cole
AND
Resigning Castellanos

Basically adding about 50 Mil per season with those 3 signings?????

This after Ricketts had no money last offseason and we splurged on Daniel Descalso for $12.50 per hour????

and Merriman, and Bryant too

 

[baezbae]

So we're trading for LeMahieu
Signing Cole
AND
Resigning Castellanos

Basically adding about 50 Mil per season with those 3 signings?????

This after Ricketts had no money last offseason and we splurged on Daniel Descalso for $12.50 per hour????

Yeah but also freeing up some salary:
Hamels - $20M per year
Zobrist - $12.5M per year
Bryant (if traded) - $13M per year

I'll take Jake Odorizzi if not Cole
Odorizzi also grew up in Illinois and played high school ball here. Chance he could bleed Cubbie blue already

 

[anotheridiot]

You put Nico on top of that lineup at 2B and you will be exactly where we were when we dealt DJ years ago.

 

[Diehardfan]

Could someone please deep six this thread?

 

[CSF77]

Cole is getting closer to 30 AAV vs 20. I just don't see this commitment with Jon still making 20M.

I would gun for Ryu who appears to be ranked #4 OR #5 Stras opts into F/A. He should be closer to 20 AAV. Add to it he knows how to pitch and that ages well.

Now my take on hitting. Ghad this feels sketchy in general but here is the over view.

1. Nico is a keeper. It really comes down to if they want to keep him at SS or move him off position.

2. Baez gave a +16 DRS at SS. Russell's highest value was a 19 in 2016. So that is the quality Baez brings with a plus bat.

So all said it should be Baez's position. So this puts Nico off position and 2B and CF are the ideal landing spots.. I believe that it comes down to who they can trade for in a lead off.

Unfortunately there is just no one that I like out there. The BEST OBA hitters are the best hitters in baseball. The typical lead off don't exist anymore. Even Choo at .370 is behind these superstar talents.

So IMO LeMaheu is going to be a Yankee next year. They are going to let DD walk and Torries should take over SS. It is a natural position for him.

I wouldn't look there. It would have to be a internal like Rizzo or they are going to pay heavy for Whit. Which I am on the fence about. But I could see the Cubs doing a Whit +pitching for Schwarber + Russell. Then have Whit in LF and Nico at 2B. Now that leaves CF/RF in limbo Leonys Martín would be cheap and they could do a strait platoon in CF with Almora or they could let Happ run with it.

Let's face it as far as OF options go it is a sad affair right now in F/A and Puig looks like a gold bar surrounded by slugs.

 

[CSF77]

If they sign Joe G. I would target Gardner to play in the OF. Hard nose player. They need more of that type of drive in the clubhouse.

 

[greg23]

I'd target a 2nd tier starter like Wheeler

I'd hope that Nico is in the mix for the 2b/utility role next year so we dont need to trade for DJ

They should look for a LH/SH cf with leadoff capabilities to provide more roster flexibility (even though adding 1 to roster in 2020)

 

[Castor76]

Now my take on hitting. Ghad this feels sketchy in general but here is the over view.

1. Nico is a keeper. It really comes down to if they want to keep him at SS or move him off position.

2. Baez gave a +16 DRS at SS. Russell's highest value was a 19 in 2016. So that is the quality Baez brings with a plus bat.

So all said it should be Baez's position. So this puts Nico off position and 2B and CF are the ideal landing spots.. I believe that it comes down to who they can trade for in a lead off.

Unfortunately there is just no one that I like out there. The BEST OBA hitters are the best hitters in baseball. The typical lead off don't exist anymore. Even Choo at .370 is behind these superstar talents.

So IMO LeMaheu is going to be a Yankee next year. They are going to let DD walk and Torries should take over SS. It is a natural position for him.

I wouldn't look there. It would have to be a internal like Rizzo or they are going to pay heavy for Whit. Which I am on the fence about. But I could see the Cubs doing a Whit +pitching for Schwarber + Russell. Then have Whit in LF and Nico at 2B. Now that leaves CF/RF in limbo Leonys Martín would be cheap and they could do a strait platoon in CF with Almora or they could let Happ run with it.

Let's face it as far as OF options go it is a sad affair right now in F/A and Puig looks like a gold bar surrounded by slugs.

In our pretend world of MLB GM, let's say the Royals agree to Schwarber and Russell for Merriman and prospect. I wouldn't be opposed to this. But there is the option of having Merriman at 2B, Nico at SS, and Baez at 3B while moving Bryant to RF and Heyward to CF. That would still leave Happ for LF to break up the RHB.

The Cubs have about 40 M coming off the books unless they decline a few options, but, depending on who they keep, have easily 20 M of that eaten up in arbitration raises. Declining options also open up more holes in the roster. I can see them letting Morrow go, which costs 3 M but saves them 9 M overall.

But, they'll probably do something stupid like put Nico there, wait too long before realizing he's not ready for it, and then go back to Rizzo about August next year.

 

[greg23]

Still trying to figure out who this highly touted stud Merriman is......

Shane Merriman formerly of the Chargers??

Merriman's in Kapalua???

 

[Castor76]

Whit Merriman, 2B from KC

 

[SilenceS]

Whit Merriman, 2B from KC

Merrifield. His name is Whit Merrifield

 

[CSF77]

I'd target a 2nd tier starter like Wheeler

I'd hope that Nico is in the mix for the 2b/utility role next year so we dont need to trade for DJ

They should look for a LH/SH cf with leadoff capabilities to provide more roster flexibility (even though adding 1 to roster in 2020)

You want a workable one?

Sign Ryu 20AAV. break even with Hamels.
Sign Gardner 12 AAV. Break even from Zobrist.

Then run
Gardner
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Schwarber
Contreras
Heyward
Nico

Basically you are swapping Gardner for Nick at a fraction and it gives a more needed part.

Staff is
Darvish
Ryu
Hendricks
Q
Lester/Chatwood