OT: Cubs Offseason Thread

Dresden · Post #241 » by **Dresden** » Fri Dec 13, 2024 11:22 pm

Good to see the Cubs acquire an actual star player. That's a start. They need 2-3 more.

Betta Bulleavit · Post #242 » by **Betta Bulleavit** » Fri Dec 13, 2024 11:25 pm

Dresden wrote:Good to see the Cubs acquire an actual star player. That's a start. They need 2-3 more.

Ideally, we’d develop those rather than trading for them because (as you can tell) trading for superstars can be costly. Even more so than getting them in free agency.

SirKaiser · Post #243 » by **SirKaiser** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 12:37 am

Betta Bulleavit wrote:
Chi town wrote:
SirKaiser wrote: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.

We would have to trade someone though, right? Would that be Busch? Honestly I'm wondering if that's the move from a "sell high" perspective. If Belly moves to 1st then, we would really have a strong and versatile lineup, top to bottom.

It would almost make me feel okay about standing pat with the pitching... for now.

Betta Bulleavit · Post #244 » by **Betta Bulleavit** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 1:18 am

SirKaiser wrote:
Betta Bulleavit wrote:
Chi town wrote:
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.

We would have to trade someone though, right? Would that be Busch? Honestly I'm wondering if that's the move from a "sell high" perspective. If Belly moves to 1st then, we would really have a strong and versatile lineup, top to bottom.

It would almost make me feel okay about standing pat with the pitching... for now.

I don’t see them trading Busch. He’s still under team control and he can play both corner IF positions, which is important given that we traded our MLB 3B and one of our 3B prospects. If any trades are going to happen, it’s likely to be one of Seiya or Belli. Maybe even both.

Chi town · Post #245 » by **Chi town** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 1:54 am

Betta Bulleavit wrote:
SirKaiser wrote:
Betta Bulleavit wrote: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.

We would have to trade someone though, right? Would that be Busch? Honestly I'm wondering if that's the move from a "sell high" perspective. If Belly moves to 1st then, we would really have a strong and versatile lineup, top to bottom.

It would almost make me feel okay about standing pat with the pitching... for now.

I don’t see them trading Busch. He’s still under team control and he can play both corner IF positions, which is important given that we traded our MLB 3B and one of our 3B prospects. If any trades are going to happen, it’s likely to be one of Seiya or Belli. Maybe even both.

Belli to the Yankees. No way Ricketts pays him with King Tuck on board.

I think Hoerner will be traded for a SP. Looks like Castillo.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #246 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 2:55 am

Central is trash hopefully cubbies come out strong they should clearly have the best team .

Betta Bulleavit · Post #247 » by **Betta Bulleavit** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 4:55 am

Chi town wrote:
Betta Bulleavit wrote:
SirKaiser wrote:We would have to trade someone though, right? Would that be Busch? Honestly I'm wondering if that's the move from a "sell high" perspective. If Belly moves to 1st then, we would really have a strong and versatile lineup, top to bottom.

It would almost make me feel okay about standing pat with the pitching... for now.

I don’t see them trading Busch. He’s still under team control and he can play both corner IF positions, which is important given that we traded our MLB 3B and one of our 3B prospects. If any trades are going to happen, it’s likely to be one of Seiya or Belli. Maybe even both.

Belli to the Yankees. No way Ricketts pays him with King Tuck on board.

I think Hoerner will be traded for a SP. Looks like Castillo.

My initial thought was that it was a given that Bellinger would be moved. But because his contract doesn’t run forever, there could be a scenario in which they could keep him. Especially with his ability to play both CF and 1st. That opens up an opportunity to move Busch over to 3rd if we don’t want to bring Shaw up right away.

Jeffster81 · Post #248 » by **Jeffster81** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:54 am

Chi town wrote:Belli to the Yankees. No way Ricketts pays him with King Tuck on board.

I think Hoerner will be traded for a SP. Looks like Castillo.

Yeah, Belli is as good as gone. NYY probably but don't count out the Phillies.

Hoerner trade is off the table now. Even if you slot Shaw at 2b or 3B, you still need to fill the other hole. So, I don't see Nico getting traded now.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #249 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 5:36 pm

Can someone tell me why we have to trade bellinger? Wouldnt we be better off keeping all the talent we have to make a run ?

Chi town · Post #250 » by **Chi town** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 6:00 pm

cocktailswith_2short wrote:Can someone tell me why we have to trade bellinger? Wouldnt we be better off keeping all the talent we have to make a run ?

Money.

SirKaiser · Post #251 » by **SirKaiser** » Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:30 pm

Chi town wrote:
cocktailswith_2short wrote:Can someone tell me why we have to trade bellinger? Wouldnt we be better off keeping all the talent we have to make a run ?

Money.

I think the consensus is that there's no point in trading PCA or Happ because they have the most team-friendly contracts, so it's either Belly or Suzuki. Seiya made some costly errors but he should be starting somewhere. It usually comes down to money though so that makes Belly the odd man out.

If we were serious about making another world series run though, we should absolutely be looking to keep him.

Dresden · Post #252 » by **Dresden** » Mon Dec 16, 2024 11:25 pm

How can the Cubs be so damn cheap? They play in a major market, and sell out every game.

SirKaiser · Post #253 » by **SirKaiser** » Tue Dec 17, 2024 10:11 pm

Goodbye Bellinger. Cubs get Cody Poteet and have to send cash to the Yankees

Wtf are the Cubs doing? More moves to be made hopefully but I don't like the return on that one.

Chi town · Post #254 » by **Chi town** » Tue Dec 17, 2024 10:13 pm

SirKaiser wrote:Goodbye Bellinger. Cubs get Cody Poteet and have to send cash to the Yankees

Wtf are the Cubs doing? More moves to be made hopefully but I don't like the return on that one.

It’s about money. They will spend Belli’s salary now to fill out the roster and get a hard throwing SP.

ImSlower · Post #255 » by **ImSlower** » Tue Dec 17, 2024 10:23 pm

Cards fan here, assuming the Cubs get a 160ip veteran pitcher with the money saved moving Belly, I like your odds to beat the Brewers for the division.

Definitely agree with those upset that ownership doesn't seem to want to actually compete with the coast teams, though. Same logic as the Cardinals FO the last 10 years seems to me. Pack the seats by selling hope in a pitiful division. I wish both our squads were actually interested in a championship soon, not half ass resets. I miss baseball

Dresden · Post #256 » by **Dresden** » Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:59 am

With the short right porch in Yankee Stadium, Belli might have a good year. Hopefully the Cubs use the money they are saving to get some more players. What they really need to do is keep improving their farm system. The Dodgers do buy up a lot of high priced FA's, but their farm system produces quite a few of their own stars too.

Chi town · Post #257 » by **Chi town** » Thu Dec 19, 2024 4:32 am

Happy this has cooled off and looks like it won’t happen. Too much of an injury risk IMO.

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/12/18/obsessive-jesus-luzardo-trade-watch-getting-really-smoky-up-next-triantos-or-caissie/

Chi town · Post #258 » by **Chi town** » Sat Mar 8, 2025 8:51 pm

Cubs almost ready for Japan.

PCA looks like he is ready to break out.
Same for Amaya and Busch.

Shaw looks good.

If our bullpen can close I think we are going to win the central and I think Jed will make a monster trade at the TDL for an ace pitcher.

Hope King Tuck plays well and we resign him.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #259 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 12:42 am

Team looks strong . Runs scored shouldn't be a problem this year . Hope the pitching holds up.

Chi town · Post #260 » by **Chi town** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 1:18 am

cocktailswith_2short wrote:Team looks strong . Runs scored shouldn't be a problem this year . Hope the pitching holds up.

PCA looks like a star with MVP ceiling. I know it’s early and ST means nothing but the ABs he showed against the SP he faced was top shelf.

Shaw has that same type of jump off the screen talent.

King Tuck plays like a King and these Cubbies can compete.

Busch and/or Amaya breaking out is just gravy.