Comments on: Prospects, Now as Currency for the Future

By: Carlos Portocarrero

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 21:45:07 +0000

I think you said it all right there Dan: it’s a great time to be a fan!

By: Dan Rivera

Dan Rivera — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 19:29:32 +0000

I’m having a hard time seeing a scenario where the Cubs look to move Contreras. He fits well with the current core. I think the Cubs will slow play his development and have Miggy become a mentor in 17. If Almora has a decent 2016 season the Cubs could insert him in CF. His defense is so good he could be a plus player even if his bat lags behind.

Even w/ the Schwarber loss, I feel that this team can still contend. They could make a trade for a filler starter or grab a bullpen piece. I know this isn’t what people want to hear but leadership made it clear that overpaying is not something they want to avoid.

Its really hard to say. What if the Cubs are cruising along by the mid-season trade deadline. What if Carl Edwards Jr take a big step forward? Great time to be a fan.

By: Peter B

Peter B — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 17:54:04 +0000

I am not sure we can see Almora as an untouchable. You have a guy who has a plus glove in center field but might struggle to hit his weight in the big leagues. I would liken him to someone like Nick Ahmed of the Diamondbacks.

Almora becomes expendable if Baez can handle the outfield. While I like the idea of gold glove center fielder I don’t like the idea of complete offensive dead weight. That said this offense is good enough that perhaps they could carry a dead weight center fielder.

I think Happ is expendable too. A 2b/SS/OF that hits well with someone power that has average to good fielding skills. He feels a bit like Baez without the Gary Sheffield level bat speed. If Happ + Almora + Hendricks (or maybe Vogelbach to a AL team) can get us a 3rd Ace or a dominant number 2 I would pull the trigger. I think both Happ and Almora are replaceable.

By: Abbey Botkin

Abbey Botkin — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 17:13:46 +0000

At this point Contreras, Almora and one of Torres/Happ are about our only minor league untouchables, so it would be easy to give Cleveland or Oakland a chance to pick any four of our other prospects as a trade package.

By: victor19nyc

victor19nyc — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 16:10:43 +0000

Before Schwarber’s injury I would have expected/hoped the Cubs acquired one of the guys mentioned here (though I am much less enamored by Ross than others). It’s not that the Cubs arguably lost the highest impact lefty bat, but even though Schwarber doesn’t have the defense flexibility of Baez he was supposed to catch a good percentage of games. So not only are the Cubs down a player, I personally think Contraras now has to be totally off the table. Given the fickle nature of the post season the Cubs can’t afford going “all in” for a single season. To win a WS they might need multiple bites of the postseason apple, which means keeping a deep core for several seasons. Contreras is now a huge key with Montero aging, Ross retiring,, and Schwarber’s future behind the dish now uncertain.
It’ll be interesting to see how the trade market develops, but I can really only see a trade centered around Soler plus lower level guys (like Torres).

By: Carlos Portocarrero

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:40:08 +0000

Thanks Peter!
Yeah I think that’s the bigger question: what kind of ransom are you OK paying considering your stated goal is to win consistently this year, next year, etc. And how hard is it going to be to stick to that come July when everyone will be clamoring for another #1 starter? Time will tell!

By: Peter B

Peter B — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:23:58 +0000

It is interesting how much the Schwarber injury really changed the outlook for making a deadline trade for a pitcher. Before we had depth of talent where giving up someone like Soler or Baez was not too much of a big deal. Now dealing Soler or Baez puts a pretty big knock in the flexibility that Maddon loves. Regardless, both Baez and Soler are players with question marks that have gone unresolved thus far. Each has some questions with their bat and K rates while Soler also has some defensive liability. The question becomes do you believe that Baez cuts down his K rate and learns to be more selective or do you believe that Soler bat (and walk rate) is good enough to cover for his defensive liabilities? Interesting question for the front office.

Reading through the article there is a deeper tough question. Do you want to give up prospects to secure that 3rd number 1 or do you give up some 25 man roster guys? I like the idea of splitting the middle and finding a younger starter like Salazar where we don’t have to give up a king’s ransom and still keep a starter like Hendricks.

Great article.