They're not gonna catch the Cardinals. And they're good enough, right now, to make the WILD CARD.

So I mean they can trade guys that they don't think much of, of course. Maybe to pick up a bullpen guy from a team that just wants to dump salary. But they don't have to trade the kids that they like.

The WILD CARD winners play one game. So Theo isn't gonna do anything stupid. Nor should he.

Agree for the most part. But they must continue to improve the club now without sacrificing the future. Lots can and will happen between now and Sept.

I agree. They should not do any deals that would give up any of their big time prospects.

I see them adding a starting pitcher and maybe a bullpen guy, but lower tier guys that would not take any of their big time prospects.

Just read a report that said they were looking at Jon Niese from the Mets.

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

Didn't Theo say every season is precious? If they're still in it at the deadline they better make a move. The future is promised to no one.

No one said they were not going to make a move. They said they should not do any moves that trade away any of their big prospects at this deadline.

Try to keep up.

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

I guess my point is that I think the Cubs are making the WILD CARD as they are right now. And if they make a big time trade for a stud, I think they're still only making the WILD CARD.

So there is no point in my mind. They're not catching the Cardinals.

Plus you have to figure the Cardinals are gonna make some trades to make themselves stronger.

They're not making the wildcard as they are. They're short two starters and a bullpen arm or two. The Giants and Mets will make moves and only God knows what the Padres will do.

Thanks for letting us know how it will all play out. Wish I could see into the future also.

Think about it. They're not gonna trade for a stud offensive guy. They don't need that. Their line up is pretty good. They don't want to get a guy that's gonna take up a position that would take away from their prospects in future years.

Only thing they could do is get a stud starting pitcher. That's gonna cost them one of the kids they love. Why do that? For what? 12 to 13 starts from him when you're 10 games behind the Cardinals? That's not gonna make up the difference. Even stud pitchers don't have their teams go 13-0 in their starts. No point.

Zobrist at the right low price makes sense. They are not gonna unload young talent for veteran pitchers they cannot control. Those days are over.

Yeah. Theo fucked up with Edwin Jackson and John Lestor. He knows it even though he won't admit it.

Man, think about how much money Ricketts would be making this year if he didn't sign those two guys. They would have made the wild card without both of them.

Or just think about the money the Cubs would have to sign other guys in future years if he didn't get those two pitchers. Or have the money to sign their own awesome kids before they hit free agency.

The Mets are short 8 hitters and the Padres are a dumpster fire. Ya boy Preller literally lost every single trade going "all in".

At least he's got his outfit down once he gets fired...

I agree. The NL sucks this year. Cubs are absolutely better than all of the WILD CARD contenders. They're in. And when I say it, it means something.

I think 86 wins is all it will take to get the 2nd Wild Card. Cubs are gonna win 90, at least.

Keyser you're right the Cubs are short pitching. But the trade deadline is literally the worst time to make any meaningful acquistion. Theo will have to get an intern to call Lester's agent to have him FedEx Jim Hendry's barrel back to 1060.

Other than Rizzo (A+) and Bryant (B), who has impressed you?

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Montero has been solid.

You don't know what you are talking about. The Cubs bullpen has been one of the best over the past 6 weeks and now they have Neil Ramirez back and they have Soriano who saved 45 games for Madden in Tampa, signed and getting ready to join the bullpen as well. Yes, they need at least 1 starter and need Lester to get himself squared away. At this point Arrieta and Hammel are their only reliable starters. They should NOT sacrifice any top prospects though, as they will have several starters available in free agency to choose from, without having to sacrifice a guy like Schwarber, who could be a cornerstone on a World Series championship team, along with Rizzo, Soler, Bryant and Russell.

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Go Cubs!!!!