Solid point on all fronts Keyser. The only thing that could change that would be if a team has a key injury or multiple injuries in spring training. Take a look at Texas already "The Dutch Oven" is hurting...Matt Harrison is having trouble...they are stretching out Ogando...so things could change in an instant.

_________________

This about covers it all on the Cubs. Excellent review of the team:


http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/chicago_cubs/

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

That's a nice breakdown jimmy...

why would Bryant move to the outfield ? We have needed a 3rd baseman since Ramirez left. losing Cashner still hurts..that guy looked like a future star every time he hit the mound.

_________________

Because he can. Baez, Alcantara, and Villanueva cannot, really. One of those three (plus Olt) will more than likely be the third baseman next year.

Baseball 101, Don't trade a future 1/2 starter for 1B/OF power bat. I am worried Theo has built a team more suited for The Cell then Wrigley during the cold months. Minors are full of power bats, but only Almora CF has decent defense. I don't like the way this team is shaping up to be. Lots of HR's + no defense + no young pitching = no playoffs.

Way too much Cashner love around here. He has done nothing to show he is a future 1/2 starter.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Ted Lilly named as Special Assistant to President of Baseball Operations. How do you put that title on a business card?


bigfan, do ex-Cubs players matter?? viewtopic.php?f=33&t=80579

_________________

He's done more then any of the Cubs current prospects.

Same way you put K.Williams name on his business card.

Not true.

Rizzo has done more than Cashner at the major league level. That is really the only Cub he should be compared to.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Talking Pitchers. 1B and SP are not equal in my opinion. SP prospect much more valuable then 1B prospect.

If he really was a 1/2 starter I would agree with you, but he will never be a 1/2. He will be lucky to be as good as Samardiza

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He will have more wins then Samardiza if he stays healthy. Book it!

If my aunt had nuts she'd by uncle.

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

I read this and got kind of pissed off. If they trade this guy for more low rent single A players (quite possible),then they have given up on the season before it starts!

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/chicago_cubs/index.html

Cubs outfielder Nate Schierholtz could be had via trade, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The "progress" of Ryan Kalish makes that a possibility, says Morosi. Schierholtz is owed $5MM this year before qualifying for free agency. As Moroso mentions, the Tigers are a club that could hypothetically be interested in Schierholtz given the injury to Andy Dirks.

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

By Paul Sullivan, Tribune reporter

5:58 p.m. CDT, March 12, 2014
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs made their first round of spring cuts on Wednesday, sending down Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Albert Almora, along with six others.

Soler was optioned to the minors along with Logan Watkins, Matt Szczur and Arismendy Alcantara, who are all on the 40-man roster.

Bryant, Almora, Jeudy Valdez, Eric Jokish and Carlos Pimentel, all non-roster invitees, were assigned to minor league camp.

The Cubs also released outfielder Aaron Cunningham

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

So many future HOF'ers sent down today.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

I had to google Ryan Kalish and his twitter came up:

Ryan Kalish ‏@Ryan_Kalish Mar 9
If you had to be an insect which one would you be? My choice a lady bug cause there super lucky!

The Diamondbacks will return Rule 5 choice Marcos Mateo to the Cubs, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). The right-handed reliever was the eighth player chosen in this year's draft, though he was selected from the 15th slot.

Since seeing time in the bigs over 2010-11, Mateo missed all of 2012 and threw at Triple-A last year. In 31 innings, he posted a sparkling 1.74 ERA, with 8.7 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9. Across his previous 44 2/3 MLB innings, Mateo notche only a 5.04 ERA but for every nine innings did manage to strike out 10.3 while surrendering only 3.8 free passes.

As with most Rule 5 choices, Mateo would have struggled to stick on Arizona's roster for the year. That was especially so given the number of additions and commitments the team made to the pen made over the offseason. As MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has noted, Mateo was among the NL West players who are out of options. As a result, Arizona had little reason to work out a trade to retain Mateo's rights, since it could not hold onto him in the minors without passing him through waivers.

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

Cubs sign P Joel Piniero to minor league deal.