Cubs Fans...

[Wild Bill]

If you think this is the same as previous Cubs seasons, you're not really paying attention.

What's their plan re pitching? I don't play close attention to them but I know they are much more comfortable with their young bats than they are their arms.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

What's their plan re pitching? I don't play close attention to them but I know they are much more comfortable with their young bats than they are their arms.

The bullpen was excellent last year. Arrieta was really good last year. Hendricks was also really good. If they can sign one top line guy (Lester seems like the best bet), they're really in business. Theo has made a living finding guys who are undervalued and can fill a role on a pretty good team.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Really like our additions the last 2 days. Bringing Hammel back where he had a 3+ WAR and bringing in Montero for 2 young arms. All we need is Lester to cap off a great week.

 

[NDdomer2]

Timmy K with a midnight sleepy eyed report says its cubs/bosox for lester. Multiple sources saying both lead. Unfortunately I see comfort level with bosox winning out.

 

[blueNDgold44]

WE DID IT!!!! LESTER IS A CUB!!! SO PUMPED

 

[blueNDgold44]

 

[GreenSox04]

Honestly shocked at the end result here.

Won't blame lester in the least,
1) we low balled him (he got double what we offered before the trade deadline)
2) we shipped him out
3) he's got a title
4) go cash in where you feel comfortable.. Not gonna blame a guy for being human.

What a couple of days for the windy city in the baseball department. Congrats to the cubbies, you got a guy who can be an absolute horse down the stretch and absoutley untouchable at times if his stuff is on. His W/l's over the past few years are misleading at the surface imo. Should the Cubs make a playoff run in the front end of his contract (or in this lifetime, had to get one in) then you've got yourself an anchor come October.

A lot of cheese to throw at a guy whose backing into the big 3 0 but I'd be thrilled to have him back, and that's just the free agent world we live in when it comes to baseball anymore.

Max contract scherzer might just get the right to print his own currency from someone and that scares the living shit out of me moving forward..

 

[Irish4Life09]

what kind of world are we living in when the cubs are making these deals? this is a sad day my friends. i am disgusted. #GOREDLEGS

 

[blueNDgold44]

Rosenthal thinks we go after another big bat. Need to capitalize on the momentum.

 

[Irishnuke]

Fuck yeah! Go Cubs Go! Fuck all other teams!

 

[IrishJayhawk]

It's starting to get interesting. Theo has totally transformed this franchise. We'll see if it shows up on the field...but, wow.

 

[NDdomer2]

Rosenthal thinks we go after another big bat. Need to capitalize on the momentum.

did he say any names? I believe catcher, starting pitcher, additional pitching (starter/pen), and a veteran OF bat were the wants/needs this offseason.

Catcher - done
Starting Pitcher - done
Additional Pitching - done
Veteran Bat - Open

Veteran Bat and BIG bat seem like different things to me.

Interested to who he thinks and who is available.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

did he say any names? I believe catcher, starting pitcher, additional pitching (starter/pen), and a veteran OF bat were the wants/needs this offseason.

Catcher - done
Starting Pitcher - done
Additional Pitching - done
Veteran Bat - Open

Veteran Bat and BIG bat seem like different things to me.

Interested to who he thinks and who is available.

Yeah, Cubs still need a backup who can play CF and may not want to look for a long-term solution in LF due to Kris Bryant's potential need to move off third base.

I'm not really expecting anything significant to be done the remainder of the offseason.

 

[arrowryan]

I think they might trade for Matt Kemp, that would be a big time bat

Trade away Starlin Castro for a big bat and replace Castro with Addison Russell?

 

[NDdomer2]

Yeah, Cubs still need a backup who can play CF and may not want to look for a long-term solution in LF due to Kris Bryant's potential need to move off third base.

I'm not really expecting anything significant to be done the remainder of the offseason.

This is kinda what I thought at this point.

I think they might trade for Matt Kemp, that would be a big time bat

Trade away Starlin Castro for a big bat and replace Castro with Addison Russell?

I thought i read that Russell might start in Double A ball this year. If they do trade castro for someone Javier is going to move to short and the white boy they picked up this offseason is full time second base. Can't think of his name at the moment.

 

[arrowryan]

This is kinda what I thought at this point.


I thought i read that Russell might start in Double A ball this year. If they do trade castro for someone Javier is going to move to short and the white boy they picked up this offseason is full time second base. Can't think of his name at the moment.

Tommy La Stella?

 

[NDdomer2]

Tommy La Stella?

there it is. in the deal we sent Vizcaino back to Atlanta.

 

[Irishnuke]

I can't understand why people keep wanting to trade Castro.

 

[NDdomer2]

I can't understand why people keep wanting to trade Castro.

I don't think anyone said they wanted to. He was just speaking about getting a big bat, and this off season it doesnt appear that would come from Free Agency, so it would have to come from trade.

This lead to hypothetical.

Personally, I think we should keep him as well. Outside his one bad year he has been one of the better hitting SS in the league. You keep hitting like that IMO.

However, he is a good hitting SS, young, and has a very very attractive contract. The trade talk with him isnt going anywhere.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Speaking of a possible small deal for the Cubs, Marc Topkin says there is “chatter” that Jonny Gomes could be the next to join the Cubs, and Buster Olney says the Cubs would like to sign him. The Cubs have been known to have interest in the veteran bat for a while now, and he’d be fine, depending on the composition of the rest of the roster. He likely can still hit lefties quite well. Mostly, the interest must be for his clubhouse presence, because his addition will probably push Justin Ruggiano out (and he’s a little more versatile and possibly cheaper). The front office and Joe Maddon know Gomes well, though, so I won’t argue – at least not about a bench guy.

Not exactly a big bat but would still be a good pick up, IMO.

 

[blueNDgold44]

I like it very much

 

[blueNDgold44]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KNguQY0OTMg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[GBdomer]

Cubs is it your year?

 

[blueNDgold44]

Cubs is it your year?

Probably not but Back to the Future 2 said it was so that's a good start.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I like it very much

An all star (Wood) two years ago as your #5 is pretty cool. And his history would seem to indicate that last year was the exception and not the rule.

We also have Turner, Doubront, and Jackson (I know, I know...) in the wings if someone gets hurt or doesn't produce. Here's hoping Arietta and Hendricks are who we think they are.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Probably not but Back to the Future 2 said it was so that's a good start.

Agree. Chances are, at least a couple of the young prospects will fizzle. At minimum, they won't all be good yet next year.

Soler has the best shot to be a star next year, IMO. Baez and Alcantara have to strike out less. Baez would set records if he played a full season and struck out at the same pace. But he has always taken a half a season to adjust to the next level...he's had that half season. Alcantara is in the same boat with strikeouts and his ceiling is not nearly as high. But he could be a pretty solid player for a long time. Bryant is going to be interesting. I wonder why he didn't see Wrigley last year. Were they saving a year of service time? Can't recall. But I think he's pretty close to being a can't miss sort of guy.

 

[arrowryan]

Agree. Chances are, at least a couple of the young prospects will fizzle. At minimum, they won't all be good yet next year.

Soler has the best shot to be a star next year, IMO. Baez and Alcantara have to strike out less. Baez would set records if he played a full season and struck out at the same pace. But he has always taken a half a season to adjust to the next level...he's had that half season. Alcantara is in the same boat with strikeouts and his ceiling is not nearly as high. But he could be a pretty solid player for a long time. Bryant is going to be interesting. I wonder why he didn't see Wrigley last year. Were they saving a year of service time? Can't recall. But I think he's pretty close to being a can't miss sort of guy.

They were 20 games under .500. I can't blame them for keeping him in AAA to preserve a year on his contract. But I agree that he was more than ready, and still is, for the bigs

 

[NDdomer2]

We def saved a year of service with bryant

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

We def saved a year of service with bryant

I believe it pushes his free agency back a year so long as they wait until some time in May to call him up (like the Astros did with George Springer).

Regarding the prospects, John Sickels just released his list for the Cubs and he's really high on the system as a whole: Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2015 - Minor League Ball

The day after the list was released, the #20 prospect was moved in the Montero trade.

 

[NDdomer2]

I believe it pushes his free agency back a year so long as they wait until some time in May to call him up (like the Astros did with George Springer).

Regarding the prospects, John Sickels just released his list for the Cubs and he's really high on the system as a whole: Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2015 - Minor League Ball

The day after the list was released, the #20 prospect was moved in the Montero trade.

Yeah, I remember Boras was not happy late last year when we started calling up others and left Kris in 3A. As far as Boras is concerned the sooner that FA count starts the better for him.