2015 Cubs Offseason: Building a Winner Around David Ross

[Saul Goodman]

... which isn't necessarily a surprise considering the team's previous reluctance to commit the type of expenditure Price will command to any player.

This would have been a good candidate for the Totally Unreadable thread.

Which thread is for omitting the quote to make it look like I wrote it?

The one where we assume people won't remember something from two posts ago, I guess. But I fixed it anyway because I don't want to hurt your #brand around these parts. Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm just here for the Price party, that's all. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Quality Start Machine]

Zimmerman got 5/100 from the Tigers. Hap got 3/36 from Toronto.

Guessing Snork slots in closer to Happ.

[Saul Goodman]

Zimmerman got 5/100 from the Tigers. Hap got 3/36 from Toronto.

Guessing Snork slots in closer to Happ.

I hate Snork but not even I think he's only going to get 3/36.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Zimmerman got 5/110 from the Tigers. Hap got 3/36 from Toronto.

Guessing Snork slots in closer to Happ.

Minor correction, but yes.

The Cubs TV deal not being up until the end of 2019 looks to be a potential problem. (Second item)

[Quality Start Machine]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

[SKO]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I would absolutely make that trade. I'm still not sure how good Contreras is, given that he blossomed so late (I think there's more to his sucess than him simply tearing up AA because he's 23, and scouts do seem to like him, but I still question if some of his success might just come from being older than most guys at that level), but I think parting for him to get a quality #3 with multiple years of control left is worth it.

[Quality Start Machine]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

The objective of a farm system is to provide players to the major league club. This trade would do that.

Contreras is still at least one full season away. Miller can step into the #3 spot now.

[Eli]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

[Oleg]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

Shelby Miller?  Meh.

2015 Miller - 3.45 FIP; 7.5/3.2 K/BB; 205 IP; 3.02 ERA
2015 Hendricks - 3.36 FIP; 8.3/2.2 K/BB; 180 IP; 3.54 ERA

I think it may be a good trade but I think The Cubs could do better at #3.

[Bort]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

Yeah. I would have to assume any trade like this would be predicated on a second deal for some form of catching prospect also being set up simultaneously.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

They also have Victor Caratini in their system.  I don't know if he projects as quite the offensive player that Contreras does, but with a team that has Rizzo, Schwarber, Bryant et.al. that may not be necessary.  And besides, Caratini already seems to have good plate discipline (.342 OBP last year to go with a .257 BA and a .372 SLG (woof)).  It's possible that he might have some pop by the time he arrives.  He'll be 22 next year.

[SKO]

Can I request that we stop comparing all pitchers to Kyle Hendricks to make a point about either that pitcher or Kyle Hendricks because I think we should all just agree that Kyle Hendricks numbers are fucking bullshit.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

They also have Victor Caratini in their system.  I don't know if he projects as quite the offensive player that Contreras does, but with a team that has Rizzo, Schwarber, Bryant et.al. that may not be necessary.  And besides, Caratini already seems to have good plate discipline (.342 OBP last year to go with a .257 BA and a .372 SLG (woof)).  It's possible that he might have some pop by the time he arrives.  He'll be 22 next year.

If there's some sort of catching equivalent for Chris Bosio, get him and tie him to Schwarber.  Man, if he can be a passable catcher, the world is wide open.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Jim Duquette over at mlb.com has a Cubs/Braves trade proposal that I'd hope Jepstink would do in a heartbeat.

I hate the idea of giving up Contreras--since I don't think Schwarber will pan out at Catcher-- but I don't hate the idea of acquiring a 25-year old Shelby Miller.

I don't have much insight on Contreras beyond his recent hype, but he's really the only long-term catching option in the organization at the moment. I'd imagine they're really hesitant to give him up.

They also have Victor Caratini in their system.  I don't know if he projects as quite the offensive player that Contreras does, but with a team that has Rizzo, Schwarber, Bryant et.al. that may not be necessary.  And besides, Caratini already seems to have good plate discipline (.342 OBP last year to go with a .257 BA and a .372 SLG (woof)).  It's possible that he might have some pop by the time he arrives.  He'll be 22 next year.

If there's some sort of catching equivalent for Chris Bosio, get him and tie him to Schwarber.  Man, if he can be a passable catcher, the world is wide open.

I don't see this happening mainly because the timing is not right.  Schwarber's bat got him to the bigs way before he had a chance to learn to play catcher and I don't think they'll be able to make him a catcher in 1 Spring Training.  I'd rather they let that ship sail and focus on Kyle camping under 25,000 fly balls between now and Opening Day in the hopes that he can just play left for several years.

Forcing him to catch will also shorten his career and I don't think you want to do that with his bat.  Put him in left and hope he can hold it down for longer than Eli expects.  If not, pray that the DH arrives by the time he's useless out there.