2022 Team

[funkster]

Just not sure how much sense it makes to extend a bat only catcher who will be on the wrong side of thirty, but whatever. I dont even know what to think with this team anymore.

[1060Ivy]

Could see Cubs giving Willson a low year (2-3 year with mutual option), middle road offer ($15-16 MM / yr). Believe qualifying offer is $18 MM so less than qualifying offer per year would be basis.

No that doesn’t make him a Cub for life but provides some guarantees and bridges him as leader till Cub prospects should be ready to compete at MLB level.

[funkster]

I mean, now that i've had time to calm down I'm fine with not trading him just to trade him. If the offers weren't there, I wouldnt have wanted them trading him for a shitty propect.

[1060Ivy]

Catchers are more difficult to get appropriate full trade values during season as significant portion of their value derived from working with pitching staff. That relationship is nurtured during spring training and season but that was common knowledge in front office so should have been factored into front office, player, and fan expectations rather than the dozens of goodbye articles and goodbye hugs that have been in media

I’m happy that we get to continue watching Willco but organization looks like it failed at its attempts to trade an All Star, foundational player

[rok]

Yes, agree that no trade is better than a shitty one, but in retrospect the FO should have done a better job reading the market.

[Butcher]

I mostly feel bad about how Willson was treated. Dude was put through the emotional wringer for no reason.

[1060Ivy]

Bote sent to AAA

Guess that they’ve seen enough to understand that maybe he wasn’t the only position player the Cubs should have extended

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cu...story.html

[Butcher]

Cool to see Willson hit the game winning homer yesterday. I bet that felt amazing.

[1060Ivy]

See ya, Jason

The Cubs best years were with Heyward on the roster

https://theathletic.com/3488415/2022/08/...ed_article

[rok]

I’m a little sad about how this ended, but hope Heyward finds a good place to finish out his career. He would be a great person to keep in the organization either as a coach or in the FO. Really anywhere except in our lineup.

[MrSheps]

I'm often hesitant to speak broadly about fan bases, but after reading about Joey Gallo's treatment in NY, can you imagine what they would have done with Heyward? Massively under-performed the contract obviously, but I'm glad the typical representative Cub fan can contextualize what he did bring to the table in his time with the Cubs.

Lots of chatter about if the Cubs will/should go after a SS in the off-season (deja vu). Of these options, which would you pick?

1. Dansby Swanson
2. Trea Turner
3. Xander Bogaerts
4. Carlos Correa
5. Stick with Nico and spend the money elsewhere

[Butcher]

I'm often hesitant to speak broadly about fan bases, but after reading about Joey Gallo's treatment in NY, can you imagine what they would have done with Heyward? Massively under-performed the contract obviously, but I'm glad the typical representative Cub fan can contextualize what he did bring to the table in his time with the Cubs.

Lots of chatter about if the Cubs will/should go after a SS in the off-season (deja vu). Of these options, which would you pick?

1. Dansby Swanson
2. Trea Turner
3. Xander Bogaerts
4. Carlos Correa
5. Stick with Nico and spend the money elsewhere

I like Nico, but are his injury issues going to be ongoing? This offense needs legit power -- they need to add some home runs somewhere. I'd pass on Turner -- I know he's a great player, but I don't think he's what our lineup needs. I'd be good with Bogaerts, Swanson, Correa...I think in that order, and then move Hoerner to 2B and hope he stays healthy.

And, yes -- Heyward would've been DFA'd in NY long ago. Their fans would've relentlessly booed him. They really are one of the worst fanbases.

[Clapp]

I'm often hesitant to speak broadly about fan bases, but after reading about Joey Gallo's treatment in NY, can you imagine what they would have done with Heyward? Massively under-performed the contract obviously, but I'm glad the typical representative Cub fan can contextualize what he did bring to the table in his time with the Cubs.

Lots of chatter about if the Cubs will/should go after a SS in the off-season (deja vu). Of these options, which would you pick?

1. Dansby Swanson
2. Trea Turner
3. Xander Bogaerts
4. Carlos Correa
5. Stick with Nico and spend the money elsewhere

I like Bogaerts the most (though there is some concerning batted ball data... but I'd trust the track record on the surface), but he'll also have the Qualifying Offer attached. That wouldn't stop me from pursuing him, but maybe it's a tiebreaker vs Correa.

Turner is an awesome player, but I do have some concerns about how a speed-based guy ages. Granted, he's an excellent hitter, so perhaps he'll be fine there. I sure as heck wouldn't complain about signing him.

Swanson has been the best player of the group this year, but I also trust him the least. I'd take him, but probably not at the price somebody else will.

As for the No. 5 option... I think Nico shouldn't prevent anything. I also think he's the long-term shortstop (he's playing better defense than any of them at the moment) and a current legit star! But either he can play second base for a little bit or the new guy can play second base or third base. If you pay the player what they want, odds are the shortstop thing isn't going to be a big bugaboo. Or you can ease them into a transition, a la Manny Machado. Marcus Semien and Trevor Story are playing second base now after being shortstops and getting paid, for example. Part of the thing about sticking at shortstop is perceived value, and that doesn't mean a whole lot if they've just gotten a crap ton of money secured long-term.

But it's not as much that the Cubs need a shortstop as it is that shortstop just so happens to have the most intriguing talent this offseason- and you can play shortstops anywhere. It would work itself out. Give me one of Bogaerts, Correa, Turner, and let's go from there.

[funkster]

Sounds like Gallo needed the scenery change. Good for him.

[funkster]

Oof, Cubs signing of Jose Abreu would be fuckin weird.