***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread*** (2024)

Just for fun

Hendricks ($16 MM) Smyly ($10 MM) and Neris ($9 MM) are costing this team $35 MM this year.

Stars like Tre Turner ($27 MM) Corey Seager ($32.5 MM) Francisco Lindor ($34 MM) and Manny Machado ($31 MM) are all cheaper than those 3.

Why should Jed be fired? Because he’d rather spend a load on mid than buy the stars. Let your ******* farm churn out the mid. Go buy the certified studs. ****. Fire Hoyer.

NoCreativity said:

I hate this team. What an unmitigated disaster. Another wasted game because of this dog**** bullpen.

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Or the offense. This team is really struggling to hit extra base hits.

chuckd4735 said:

Or the offense. This team is really struggling to hit extra base hits.

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Yeah, the offense is pathetic. They just showed a stat that we have the most games in the majors this year where our starting pitcher gives up 0 runs and yet we are still 3 games under .500.

chuckd4735 said:

Or the offense. This team is really struggling to hit extra base hits.

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just a question concerning the lackof hits and leaving baserunners on. Do the Cubs led that stat?

ISUCubswin said:

Just for fun

Hendricks ($16 MM) Smyly ($10 MM) and Neris ($9 MM) are costing this team $35 MM this year.

Stars like Tre Turner ($27 MM) Corey Seager ($32.5 MM) Francisco Lindor ($34 MM) and Manny Machado ($31 MM) are all cheaper than those 3.

Why should Jed be fired? Because he’d rather spend a load on mid than buy the stars. Let your ******* farm churn out the mid. Go buy the certified studs. ****. Fire Hoyer.

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Not signing Bryce Harper when he was begging to come to Chicago remains a franchise altering blunder from TheoJed.

1UNI2ISU said:

Not signing Bryce Harper when he was begging to come to Chicago remains a franchise altering blunder from TheoJed.

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He and Swanson have the same AAV. Difference is he signed 4 years earlier.

Puke

ISUCubswin said:

He and Swanson have the same AAV. Difference is he signed 4 years earlier.

Puke

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Or, you know, you could choose to not act like the Pirates and sign them both. I actually still love the Dansby contract.

Just horrific roster construction.

The problem right now is the best prospects in the system are OF yet the front office locked up Happ and Suzuki with full no trade clauses, signed Bellinger to a deal where if he under performs he'll opt in, and still have Tauchman who is a productive cheap piece but is another player blocking the opportunities to call up the hot bats in Iowa right now.

On top of that they are now gambling with Nico's fractured hand where common sense says send him to the IL to heal and give Vasquez a shot while you alsonhave Bote on the roster too.

They sold off the core from the 2016 roster they should have competed for multiple championships but underperformed. They loaded up the farm system with talent and the bulk now that talent that knocking at the door right now is in the OF and instead of trading Happ when he was at peak value they give him an extension with a no trade clause and lock in Bellinger and Tauchman. Suzuki will give a pass as that is the cost for signing an international star and he's been productive. If they are 10 games back in July I hope they sell off and create paths for the prospects to get a fair chance in Chicago.

1UNI2ISU said:

Or, you know, you could choose to not act like the Pirates and sign them both. I actually still love the Dansby contract.

Just horrific roster construction.

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Agree. Point I’m making -

Instead of spending $20 MM on Happ and Suzuki, spend $35 MM on a certified stud and hope one of your minor league outfielders can produce in the other spot.

Instead of spending $10-20 MM on Smyly, Hendricks, Taillon who are SP4s at best on good teams, spend $25-30+ MM on a certified stud and have your SP 4s and 5s come from your farm

ISUCubswin said:

Agree. Point I’m making -

Instead of spending $20 MM on Happ and Suzuki, spend $35 MM on a certified stud and hope one of your minor league outfielders can produce in the other spot.

Instead of spending $10-20 MM on Smyly, Hendricks, Taillon who are SP4s at best on good teams, spend $25-30+ MM on a certified stud and have your SP 4s and 5s come from your farm

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Smyly and Hendricks is wasted money right now. I recall some here were on board with their options though given their recent production but the smart moves in hindsight woukd have been to decline then options. Taillon has not been bad since the 2nd half of last season. Shota has been the clear 1 then its between him and Assad for 2nd best so far. Steele has been hurt bit when healthy he's a 1 or 2 in most rotations so Taillon is still a pretty affordable 3 or 4 in the rotation.

It's nice to have some options like Brown Wicks and Wesneski along with Horton in the prospect line to be effective and affordable backed rotation options. Would not be against acquiring a proven Ace at some point as not sure we have a bonafide Ace in house yet. Steele had been good but he may still be a 2 or 3 starter for a contender.

CYdTracked said:

The problem right now is the best prospects in the system are OF yet the front office locked up Happ and Suzuki with full no trade clauses, signed Bellinger to a deal where if he under performs he'll opt in, and still have Tauchman who is a productive cheap piece but is another player blocking the opportunities to call up the hot bats in Iowa right now.

On top of that they are now gambling with Nico's fractured hand where common sense says send him to the IL to heal and give Vasquez a shot while you alsonhave Bote on the roster too.

They sold off the core from the 2016 roster they should have competed for multiple championships but underperformed. They loaded up the farm system with talent and the bulk now that talent that knocking at the door right now is in the OF and instead of trading Happ when he was at peak value they give him an extension with a no trade clause and lock in Bellinger and Tauchman. Suzuki will give a pass as that is the cost for signing an international star and he's been productive. If they are 10 games back in July I hope they sell off and create paths for the prospects to get a fair chance in Chicago.

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Agree in Happ, should have been traded long ever ago. He's not an everyday guy on a really good team.

cyatheart said:

Agree in Happ, should have been traded long ever ago. He's not an everyday guy on a really good team.

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I love Happ (probably my favorite Cub right now) but he is not the player the FO thought he would be. I don’t put much stock into the Gold Glove award he won when you look at the other LF’s he was competing against. The Cubs must like giving guys with H last names bad contracts (Heyward, Happ, Hendricks….Hoyer).

ISUCubswin said:

Agree. Point I’m making -

Instead of spending $20 MM on Happ and Suzuki, spend $35 MM on a certified stud and hope one of your minor league outfielders can produce in the other spot.

Instead of spending $10-20 MM on Smyly, Hendricks, Taillon who are SP4s at best on good teams, spend $25-30+ MM on a certified stud and have your SP 4s and 5s come from your farm

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Soto is I'm guessing going to be 40+ but if you sign him he's the piece you build around. If you put him in LF everyday I truly believe the Happ situation solves itself.

ISUCubswin said:

Just for fun

Hendricks ($16 MM) Smyly ($10 MM) and Neris ($9 MM) are costing this team $35 MM this year.

Stars like Tre Turner ($27 MM) Corey Seager ($32.5 MM) Francisco Lindor ($34 MM) and Manny Machado ($31 MM) are all cheaper than those 3.

Why should Jed be fired? Because he’d rather spend a load on mid than buy the stars. Let your ******* farm churn out the mid. Go buy the certified studs. ****. Fire Hoyer.

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This completely nails it. They've completely overvalued what they have in some of the home-grown players. Happ, Nico, Morel, Amaya, Wisdom, etc.-- they are bottom of the order guys. The FO has tried to supplement with mid-level players like Dansby, Seiya and the pitchers you've mentioned, but they aren't decision makers. So what you are left with his average players 1-9 in the order.

Tauchman is a great utility guy that is very productive especially against RHP.

Suzuki and Bellinger are heart of the order guys but spending on someone like Soto would make them better.

Morel is a big inconsistent bat that should hit like 7th.

If PCS can be league average getting on base he's an all star or minimum has that type of value to us. Should hit 9th for now.

Not ready to give up on Busch I just hate his glove at first. Probably a 6-8 guy.

Nico can be a productive bottom of the order guy.

Wisdom is a good right handed option off the bench.

Amaya is a backup catcher at best.

They won't but if you add Soto, an offensive catcher and resign Bellinger. The offense would look good. Just guessing nut those adds are probably Soto 40-45 mil. Productive catcher 15 mil, Bellinger 25+ mil. So roughly 80 mil.

CyState85 said:

Soto is on his 3rd team before he hit free agency. That should say something about his clubhouse presence.

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Not really, Padres went for it, failed and traded him. That pretty much sums it up. Nats knew they couldn't keep him and got a haul.

David Freshman1982 said:

The Cubs' future seems bleak. I have a distinct mid-90s vibe coming from the team right now. Hint: That's not good.

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Agreed, I've been watching some of these prospects at Iowa lately and there is no Bryant, Scwarber, Baez, Contreras, Russell type prospects coming to save the day this time. I know our farm system is ranked high but I dont see how this is translating to any kind of success anytime soon.