OT: Cubs Offseason Thread

[Chi town]

The recent surge in run production changes the need for more bats a little bit I would think. They still need an upgrade, esp. if they don't sign Belli again, but if they have young bats in the system, maybe they just go for smaller improvements for now.

For pitching, isn't Shota a top line starter? He'll likely be 3rd in Cy Young voting I would think. Then you have Steele and Wicks and Assad and Taillon. And what about Ben Brown?

Can't count on Brown, Wesneski, or Brown due to injuries.

We need two bats, one SP, and a good closer and we could win 90 games next season and make the playoffs.

[Jeffster81]

Vlad is my top target because they won’t pay Soto.

Do you think Cassie, Triantos, Busch and Nico get him?

Shaw, Mo and Smith are untouchable IMO. Same with Horton.

Caissie/Triantos/Busch feels right but I'm not sure they'd want Nico unless they planned to flipped him to another team. I think the Blue Jays are going to want a SP in there. They will asked for Horton but the Cubs should and will say no. Could the Jays be interested in a guy like Brandon Birdsell, who took a big step forward in development this year? Or would they be more interested in a higher upside but more raw talent like Jaxon Wiggins?

[Chi town]

Vlad is my top target because they won’t pay Soto.

Do you think Cassie, Triantos, Busch and Nico get him?

Shaw, Mo and Smith are untouchable IMO. Same with Horton.

Caissie/Triantos/Busch feels right but I'm not sure they'd want Nico unless they planned to flipped him to another team. I think the Blue Jays are going to want a SP in there. They will asked for Horton but the Cubs should and will say no. Could the Jays be interested in a guy like Brandon Birdsell, who took a big step forward in development this year? Or would they be more interested in a higher upside but more raw talent like Jaxon Wiggins?

What sucks is you give up all those prospects and then you have to pay him top dollar.

[ImSlower]

I got a fifty dollar bet with my mate, you guys' Cubs or my Cards for best record for this shidzu season for both our squads. We shook on this a good month ago, its crazy we are tied with so few games left.

[Dresden]

What a way for Kyle Hendricks to go out in likely his last game as a Cub!

[Dresden]

Belli opted in for another year with the Cubs. Hopefully he'll bounce back and have another year like he did two years ago. That may be wishing for a lot though, given his inconsistency and injuries.

[Kurt Heimlich]

Belli opted in for another year with the Cubs. Hopefully he'll bounce back and have another year like he did two years ago. That may be wishing for a lot though, given his inconsistency and injuries.

Paying almost any 28-30 year old mlb above average player what they think they "deseve" is almost always a terrible idea, at least how the market has evolved these last 10+ years. Belli was looking for like 180+M if I remember correctly last year, even though everyone was, rightfully, skeptical of his blip year. Tigers are stuck with Javys albatross, Rockies even worse with KB. Shoot Dansby looks like an albatross too. I don't blame the Cubs for not wanting to commit huge long term money for what these 30 year old's on the precipice of their dropoff for what they have previously done. But yeah Belli is now officially overpaid for the 2025 season. Hopefully he finds the magic/motivation for a new contract to get back into that .900ops range again.

[SirKaiser]

Ideally it would have been nice to see where else we could spend that money, but I don't mind him as a "run it back" move to stabilize the outfield. If we could just go out and get Blake Snell and and a bullpen guy (Mason Miller?), I'd call the off-season a win.

[Chi town]

Ideally it would have been nice to see where else we could spend that money, but I don't mind him as a "run it back" move to stabilize the outfield. If we could just go out and get Blake Snell and and a bullpen guy (Mason Miller?), I'd call the off-season a win.

We gotta make room for Shaw. I’d trade Nico or Paredes and replace with Shaw. We need Shaw’s bat.

[Jeffster81]

Ideally it would have been nice to see where else we could spend that money, but I don't mind him as a "run it back" move to stabilize the outfield. If we could just go out and get Blake Snell and and a bullpen guy (Mason Miller?), I'd call the off-season a win.

We gotta make room for Shaw. I’d trade Nico or Paredes and replace with Shaw. We need Shaw’s bat.

Can't trade Nico because he just had surgery. Matt Shaw could begin his ML Career as the utility player bouncing between 2b and 3b for 2025 and move into a permenant spot in 2026.

As for SirKaiser idea of Mason Miller, I would love Mason but he is going to be expensive to acquire. I think a more likely bullpen arm would be somebody like Josh Hader (with HOU eating some of his contract).

[Chi town]

This kid needs to be starting at 2B or 3B this season for the Cubs. He has STAR potential on a boring team without any… unless PCA takes another step.

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/11/10/matt-shaw-just-walked-it-off-for-team-usa/

[Chi town]

Love Vladito. Not trading Shaw for him though.

Makes most sense to let him hit FA and pay him big.
Problem is if he does get traded and extends with the team that traded for him. I wouldn’t trade for him without an extension. I’d trade anyone but Shaw, Ballo, Smith, and Horton. Ideally combo of Nico, Cassie, Paredes, and pitchers. Shaw at 3B, Busch at 2B Vlad at 1B.

I think Shaw becomes the big bat we want and PCA takes another step. Won’t think Hoyer will make a trade to get us a big bat.

[Chi town]

Nico and Belli are on the trade market.

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/11/12/nico-hoerner-cody-bellinger-cubs/

[Chi town]

King Tuck is the type of star and bat the Cubs are desperate for.

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/12/10/kyle-tucker-has-emerged-as-an-intriguing-option-for-the-cubs/

Hope we keep Shaw, Ballesteros, and Cam Smith. Everyone else should be on the table.

[Chi town]

Looks like the Cubs will finally get their super star and big bat today in King Tuck!

- Will they actually resign him?

- I’ve said Shaw, Cam Smith, and Ballesteros are the untouchables and it looks like they are trading Smith which is NO BUENO especially considering the risk of Tuck not resigning.

I think Smith is Shaw 2.0 and will be starting somewhere at 3B in 26. Trade Cassie and lots of pitching but do not trade Cam Smith.

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/12/13/kyle-tucker-cubs-rumor/

[cocktailswith_2short]

Sounds like the Astros want the farm . Suzuki , shaw , plus lol .

[Chi town]

Paredes Cam Wesneski got King Tuck.

Def helps us this season but I think Cam is going to be a star as well.

[SirKaiser]

As long as the plan is to resign Tucker, I like this trade. Sucks to lose Cam Smith, but it's a pretty fair trade package and a move the Cubs needed to make if they are serious about competing.

Would still love for them to get another arm for the starting rotation.

[Chi town]

As long as the plan is to resign Tucker, I like this trade. Sucks to lose Cam Smith, but it's a pretty fair trade package and a move the Cubs needed to make if they are serious about competing.

Would still love for them to get another arm for the starting rotation.

If they win Sasaki they are legit contenders. He’d be their ace.

Shaw at 3B now I imagine.

Belli will be shipped.

PCA Shaw Tucker Suzuki Happ Busch Swanson Hoerner Amaya

Much better lineup. Need PCA Busch Amaya all take another step to be elite. Think they will all be bottom of the order guys to start the season but will emerge as the season goes and they adjust.

[Betta Bulleavit]

As long as the plan is to resign Tucker, I like this trade. Sucks to lose Cam Smith, but it's a pretty fair trade package and a move the Cubs needed to make if they are serious about competing.

Would still love for them to get another arm for the starting rotation.

If they win Sasaki they are legit contenders. He’d be their ace.

Shaw at 3B now I imagine.

Belli will be shipped.

PCA Shaw Tucker Suzuki Happ Busch Swanson Hoerner Amaya

Much better lineup. Need PCA Busch Amaya all take another step to be elite. Think they will all be bottom of the order guys to start the season but will emerge as the season goes and they adjust.

I could see the opening day OF being Happ, PCA and Tucker. The infield could be Busch/Dansby/Nico/Belli (third to first). Seiya will either be moved or he will DH since RF is the only place we can really play him.