2016 Season

[Howling Mad]

With a surgically repaired knee, the Schwarber catching experiment should be over.

One of the on-air heads(David Kaplan) keep saying this but I think it's false. Theo stated firmly several times after the injury that after Kyle finishes rehab he will continue to keep catching.

[ADDinChicago]

With a surgically repaired knee, the Schwarber catching experiment should be over.

One of the on-air heads(David Kaplan) keep saying this but I think it's false. Theo stated firmly several times after the injury that after Kyle finishes rehab he will continue to keep catching.

Theo is just saying what he should

[hermes]

Hoping Willson continues to be a pleasant surprise. No pressure on this kid, and he's got two veterans on each ear. I think the situation is golden for him. I'm assuming he's looking at catching around 30-35 games for the rest of the year while pinch hitting. That should give him around 150 ABs. Enough action to keep him from being stale but lots of hands on time with the two veterans.

Next year I'd also expect him to be the everyday guy. I predict Maddon sticks with the 3 catcher roster with Schwarbs being one of the 3, so it'd be Willson, (future veteran defensive stud backup), Schwarber. I'd say the C position breaks up like this next year.

Willson - 90 games
(future veteran defensive stud) - 30-35 games
Schwarber - 30-35 games


I also predict we'll see Willson playing some first base to be the future backup for Anthony Rizzo. Contreras should get plenty of ABs in different ways. 500+ ABs to be had.

Willson
- 90 or so games behind the plate = 400 ABs
- back up Rizzo at 1st, 10-15 games = 40-50 ABs
- misc pinch hitting, OF, 3B = 40-50 ABs

will montero not be on the roster next year?

[Posey H8er]

Montero's contract runs through the 2017 season (owed $14M in 2017). If Contreras proves to be legit, it's possible we'll see both guys as the 1-2 punch at catcher. But do you really want to pay $14M for a backup? The Cubs may trade him and eat some of that $ if all plays out.

Speaking of Conteras, BOOM! Big time home run in his debut. Another Pirates sweep too.

[ADDinChicago]

Not to say Montero hasn't "worked out", but his value has never been lower and chances are he's traded away maybe even this season, if not in the winter as an expiring. The Cubs have paid more to say goodbye to worse deals (again, not saying Montero is a bad deal, just they have options).

[Kizz Fastfists]

Montero will be back in 2017 as the backup catcher. In 2018 Victor Caratini will be the backup to Contreras. If you are not familiar with him Caratini was acquired from the Braves for Bonifacio and James Russell in 2014. He is 22 years old and currently hitting .299/.396/.393 in AA. He will probably be up at some point next season either because of an injury or as a 3rd catcher to break him into the majors late in the season.

As for Schwarber, he probably gets traded for bullpen help this year. It is clear the Cubs have plenty of offense without him and his defense at all positions is a liability. Look for something like Schwarber and McKinney to the Yankees for Andrew Miller. It might end up being a bigger trade that brings back Chapman also, but that would probably mean adding another solid asset like Vogelbach. Vogelbach and Schwarber would give the Yankees a replacement for Teixeira and a DH and McKinney would replace Beltran. That helps the Yankees clear some payroll to pursue pitching and other needs while they get 3 young bats ready for the majors.. The Cubs would have Miller and Rondon for the 8th/9th through 2018. It would also allow the Cubs to cut bait on Clayton Richard. The goal is to win a World Series and as good as Schwarber's bat is he doesn't help the Cubs do that unless the DH comes to the NL and even then he doesn't help at all this year. The Cubs are a better team with Bryant in LF and Baez at 3B than Schwarber in LF and Bryant at 3B.

The Cubs should go into 2017 looking something like this:

CF- Almora
LF- Heyward
RF- Bryant
1B- Rizzo
2B- Zobrist
SS- Addy
3B- Baez
C- Contreras

LaStella, Soler, Montero and Szczur as the primary bench players. Maybe Vogelbach gets called up if the DH is in the new CBA, if not he's probably traded in the off-season for some high upside pitching prospect(s) in A ball to an AL team that needs a bat.

[ADDinChicago]

Schwarber's not getting traded while he's not eligible to be on a 40-man roster. It doesn't matter his potential. Any GM that would trade for someone coming off full knee construction without seeing him even step on a field of play would and should be fired. (I also don't think Schwarber's being traded, regardless, any time soon)

[Howling Mad]

will montero not be on the roster next year?

He was being dangled in trade talks last year. This year if Schwarbs was catching decent at a 35-40 game/year pace and Willson still earns himself a rightful call-up, Miggie would probably be on his way out. He's the biggest part of our most evident weakness, throwing out base stealers.

I'm trying to be realistic with my expectations for Contreras' defense. Even if he exceeds his projections he'd only be a slightly above average defender. With Schwarbs projected to be a sub-par average defender at best, you need a defensive stud as the backup and Miggie is the polar opposite of that.

[Howling Mad]

As for Schwarber, he probably gets traded for bullpen help this year. Look for something like Schwarber and McKinney to the Yankees for Andrew Miller.

That rumor died when Theo stated Schwarbs is untouchable, specifically commenting on the Andrew Miller/Yanks trade.

The Cubs should go into 2017 looking something like this:

CF- Almora
LF- Heyward
RF- Bryant
1B- Rizzo
2B- Zobrist
SS- Addy
3B- Baez
C- Contreras

LaStella, Soler, Montero and Szczur as the primary bench players. Maybe Vogelbach gets called up if the DH is in the new CBA, if not he's probably traded in the off-season for some high upside pitching prospect(s) in A ball to an AL team that needs a bat.

I don't think Almora is in the primary plans. Right now Dexter is a good temporary solution but they need a legit lead-off guy who's also a defensive CF stud. I think Theo stays put with Baez, he's the Zobrist replacement in a couple years and until then he can play the super sub Zobrist role at a lesser extent. No way Heyward gets moved from his gold-glove 6+WAR value at RF. I wouldn't change something that works that well, especially when you paid almost 200 mill for that primary reason. I'd say Almora has to show some serious defensive swag to be the future CF. He doesn't produce enough offense for the Theo/Jed mold and he's definitely not a lead-off man. At some point Theo/Jed will consolidate. I think the sacrificial stud is going to be Soler for a starter under control or a CF.

[hermes]

home runs man, a lot of them

rizzo and bryant are having a fun battle for the team lead

[Posey H8er]

I also think Soler may be on the way out via trade before any of the other young position players. Baez has stepped up his offensive production this season, and his value defensively (he can play all 4 infield positions) and on the bases is a big asset.

I wonder about Fowler as well. His production has been superb this year and you'd expect big-time offers in the winter. As great as he has been, the Cubs don't necessarily need him for long-term high offensive production and they could spend that money elsewhere, like helping to lock up Arrieta and another quality starter/bullpen depth.

In Theo I trust. The Cubs have so much depth in Chicago and still a handful of tradeable pieces in the minors. Even a pretty injury-plagued season hasn't slowed this club.

[hermes]

contreras plays pretty good defense, that's a big help and probably a good sign that he stays up here the rest of the year

[Posey H8er]

I'd rather get swept by the mediocre Twins than St. Louis. Onto Miami. Let's turn those three losses into wins down there.

[hermes]

swept

[Howling Mad]

I also predict we'll see Willson playing some first base to be the future backup for Anthony Rizzo.

Confucius says

[hermes]

four in a row now

come on cubs!

[ADDinChicago]

Contreras is a freak.

Streak is ova

[hermes]

yay

[hermes]

Contreras is a freak.

Streak is ova

yeah he's really good


bryant and rizzo better stay on it otherwise willson might lead the team in homers by the end of the year at this rate

[Howling Mad]

This hurts...

Let's pick it up, guys.