Sox interested in selling off SP with a third baseman as a need. The Cubs have a glut of third basemen in the minor leagues according to you dipshits. What is the next holiday on which two lansmen can meet in the back of a religious institution?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

You guys have Jeff Keppinger. Just ask pasta you have the 3B situation locked up for the next decade.

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Baseball America just came out with the Cubs Top Ten Prospects for 2014.

This is all FREE content..there are detailed scouting reports and a rather lengthy chat behind the paywall I will not post that content here.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... prospects/

PROSPECTS
1. Javier Baez, ss
2. Kris Bryant, 3b
3. C.J. Edwards, rhp
4. Albert Almora, of
5. Jorge Soler, of
6. Pierce Johnson, rhp
7. Arismendy Alcantara, 2b/ss
8. Jeimer Candelario, 3b
9. Dan Vogelbach, 1b
10. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Albert Almora
Best Power Hitter Javier Baez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jeimer Candelario
Fastest Baserunner Jacob Hannemann
Best Athlete Jacob Hannemann
Best Fastball C.J. Edwards
Best Curveball C.J. Edwards
Best Slider Pierce Johnson
Best Changeup Kyle Hendricks
Best Control Kyle Hendricks
Best Defensive Catcher Will Remillard
Best Defensive Infielder Christian Villanueva
Best Infield Arm Kris Bryant
Best Defensive Outfielder Albert Almora
Best Outfield Arm Jorge Soler

TOP 15 PLAYERS 25 AND UNDER
No Player, Pos (Age) Peak Level
1 Javier Baez, ss (21) Double-A
2 Kris Bryant, 3b (22) High Class A
3 Starlin Castro, ss (24) Majors
4 Anthony Rizzo, 1b (24) Majors
5 C.J. Edwards, rhp (22) High Class A
6 Albert Almora, of (19) Low Class A
7 Jorge Soler, of (22) High Class A
8 Pierce Johnson, rhp (22) High Class A
9 Arismendy Alcantara, 2b/ss (22) Double-A
10 Jeimer Candelario, 3b (20) Low Class A
11 Dan Vogelbach, 1b (21) High Class A
12 Arodys Vizcaino, rhp (23) Majors
13 Junior Lake, of (24) Majors
14 Justin Grimm, rhp (25) Majors
15 Kyle Hendricks, rhp (24) Triple-A

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2013 Org.
2004 Angel Guzman, rhp Out of baseball
2005 Brian Dopirak, 1b Out of baseball
2006 Felix Pie, of Pirates
2007 Felix Pie, of Pirates
2008 Josh Vitters, 3b Cubs
2009 Josh Vitters, 3b Cubs
2010 Starlin Castro, ss Cubs
2011 Chris Archer, rhp Rays
2012 Brett Jackson, of Cubs
2013 Javier Baez, ss Cubs

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2013 Org.
2004 Grant Johnson, rhp (2nd round) Out of baseball
2005 Mark Pawelek, lhp Out of baseball
2006 Tyler Colvin, of Rockies
2007 Josh Vitters, 3b Cubs
2008 Andrew Cashner, rhp Padres
2009 Brett Jackson, of Cubs
2010 Hayden Simpson, rhp So. Illinois (Frontier)
2011 Javier Baez, ss Cubs
2012 Albert Almora, of Cubs
2013 Kris Bryant, 3b Cubs

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Kris Bryant, 2013 $6,708,400
Jorge Soler, 2012 $6,000,000
Mark Prior, 2001 $4,000,000
Kosuke Fukudome, 2007 $4,000,000
Albert Almora, 2012 $3,900,000

Expectations for the 2013 edition of the Cubs remained low entering the season. And the North Siders did their best to live down to them.

Not only did the Cubs improve by just five games over the 101-loss 2012 campaign, but the perceived stalwarts of the team stalled significantly on their way to being first-division starters for a contender.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo played in 160 games but hit .233/.323/.419, and his inability to hit lefthanders (.617 OPS in 320 career at-bats) remains alarming. Righthander Jeff Samardzija had his moments but also allowed 25 home runs, and veteran Edwin Jackson, brought in on a four-year deal to provide stability, lost 18 games with an ugly 4.98 ERA. Most concerning was 23-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who frequently lost focus and became an out machine during a disastrous .245/.284/.347 season.
3ds_cubs79
Poor seasons by those core Cubs contributed to manager Dale Sveum being let go after two seasons, though communication issues and 197 losses helped grease the skids. Team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer selected Padres bench coach Rick Renteria as Sveum’s replacement in early November.

Getting the best out of the likes of Castro, Rizzo and Samardzija will be crucial for Renteria, and Castro’s 2014 performance also will affect the farm system. The Cubs have quickly built farm depth and boast an impressive array of talent, particularly among their young hitters.

Shortstop Javier Baez ranked second in the minors with 37 home runs, and the 2011 first-round pick hit 20 of them in 54 games at Double-A Tennessee. The system’s top prospect could move off short if Castro, signed through 2019 for $60 million, bounces back. But if Castro doesn’t and Baez tones down his errors, the Cubs will have a crunch on their hands.

Baez could move to second, though the Cubs like Arismendy Alcantara, a power/speed middle infielder who moved to second in 2013. Baez could shift to third, but that’s also where 2013 first-rounder Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall pick and BA College Player of the Year, plays.

Bryant could move to right, but that’s where Cuban import Jorge Soler, signed for $30 million in June 2012, profiles best. Baez, Bryant and Soler will have to work out where to play, but the trio gives the Cubs a unique collection of 80-power righthanded bats that other organizations envy.

Developing pitchers has been harder for Chicago, but 2012 supplemental first-rounder Pierce Johnson had a strong season, finishing at high Class A Daytona. He was joined in the second-half rotation by three trade imports, chief among them righthander C.J. Edwards. The centerpiece of the Matt Garza deal with the Rangers, the 165-pound Edwards allowed only one hit and no runs in two starts as Daytona swept to the Florida State League title, with Bryant providing the postseason thump for one of the minors’ most talented teams.

Chicago added more talent in the July 2 international signing period, signing the top two prospects available, Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez and Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres, for a combined $4.5 million. The organization spent more than $7.6 million on its top five international signings, blowing past its international bonus pool of more than $5.5 million.

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I just wanna start seeing some of these guys.

I wonder who has the best chance to come up

You should see Bryant and Baez sooner than later next season.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

"Can't turn your back on Keppy"-Future Sox Skipper,Dusty Baker

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I predict Soler will be the odd man out in the group. His costs are controlled long term. He is the least versatile of the group. He has a skill that is perceived as a dwindling commodity and he has already displayed a mercurial personality. If Soler does go, that further negates one of the principal voiced reasons for Renteria, but that is another issue.

If Castro simply concentrated on defense, last year's offense is still pretty much average for a MLB shortstop. You can live with what he gives you out of that position if he brings up his D, thus settling at least one positional question.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Id tend to agree but the scouts still talk about him glowingly with terms like "monster"




Im not sure him concentrating would be a cure all. He's just not a good fielding shortstop

Yeah, I figured Baez probably has the best chance to play meaningful games this year

Here's why I can't really put any stock in lists like this. They have Baez rated above Castro on the "players under 25" list. And to me, that just blows any credibility at all. There is almost NO CHANCE that Baez will ever be the big league ballplayer Castro has already been.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I'm tired of the Cubs keeping a rookie off the roster for financial reasons. Stop playing these bullshit games and let some of Theo's "prizes" see the light of day!!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

You think there is almost NO CHANCE that Baez has a couple good years?


I mean, Im not saying it's a lock but I dont think its crazy to project a few good years for the guy.


Also, they're probably doing those lists based on going forward

It's not bullshit though, Jimmy.

If you can keep a guy under contract control an extra year by leaving him in the minors for a month, it's a good move often times.

Of course I think it's possible Baez could have a good year or two. I wouldn't bet on that by looking at his minor league strikeout rate though.

I don't think Castro is some huge building block and his game has obvious shortcomings, particularly on defense. (I don't know if Baez is really much better.) But I think Castro is going to have more than a couple good years. I think he's a big league hitter and he'll be okay whether it's with the Cubs or somewhere else. Castro reminds me of Garry Templeton.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Fair enough.

But like I said, that list is being made when Castro just came off a pretty disasterous year and Baez tore up the minors.

The answer to jimmy is more than that. They said at the end of last year that they think he would have trouble at the MLB level right now. I think I heard a third party analyst say the same thing.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I just meant in general. For years guys have impressed in spring training and make a big league club. It doesn't seem that way with the Cubs.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Who are you talking about?

Baseball has changed though. You have to control them during the younger years. If you bring them up early and they kick ass, you are going to either lose them to free agency earlier than you should, or ridiuculously overpay for them to stay.

Or, worse, they can't cut it after you bring them up and then you've started their clock for nothing.

I think the Cubs are going to make a big move this off season. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they traded Baez for pitching. Baez alone isn't enough to get a guy like David Price but it's the starting point.

Baez

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If they have good self scouting, they have to know by now which of their guys are being overrated and will look to move them for needed pitching.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Someone will be traded....and it will be for Chase Headley dammit!!! Its going to happen.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Absolutely and Baez's value may be at it's highest right now. He's coming off a big year at the plate and he hasn't totally proven he can't stay at shortstop. There's also the thought that Baez isn't one of "their guys" and those whispers about his attitude may start to get a little louder.

Bad attitude?

He's very "fiery" on the field. Sounds kind of like Puig. There are many reports he is a bad clubhouse guy, but I've also seen those that suggest that's totally wrong.

It's not a bad attitude as much as he may not be coachable. He's ultra aggressive at the plate and though he has been a little more selective he's still not anywhere near where they want him to be. If they don't think he's going to change his approach to hitting it may be time to move him and fill other needs.

You follow minor leagues better so I'm probably wrong. But in this thread I remember UMN saying he came into AA as three outcome guy and started adjusting or something and started hitting more for average instead of HRs.

This is one of the things I read about him. It was mainly about him hitting that first AA HR, thinking he was the shit, going 0-30 and then letting his guard down to finally accept some coaching from the AA hitting coach. Then he hit for power and average for the rest of the year and had a better overall approach and plate discipline.

http://smokiesonradio.com/2013/07/25/sm ... vier-baez/

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

And he's not. He's one of Hendry's guys.