Yeah, hadn't thought about that...

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That is probably a good thought, but if the opportunity for a great trade comes along, you take it. He isn't guaranteed to become anything, and the Cubs are not devoid of options with Soler, Contreras (on days he doesn't catch), Happ, Jimenez and names we've never even heard of that would be in the organization then.

I don't think the DH is imminent though.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

No, he will not catch regularly, if at all. Contreras will be the main catcher next year, with Montero the backup. Schwarber will be the LF and be better than Carlos Lee/ Adam Dunn and many other guys who played the position just to get their bat in the lineup. Yes, he would be ideally at 1B or as a DH, but they are not trading away that bat.

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Go Cubs!!!!

It isn't

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Fowler has to be gone. Not because I want him to be, he just is.

You could do Schwarber LF, Heyward CF, Bryant RF, Baez 3B, Zobrist 2B.

Trade Soler.

That's about the only way you can work Schwarber into the lineup and even that leaves no room for Almora who should be in CF. Probably see a lot of Maddon juggling between Zobrist, Schwarber, Almora, and Heyward.

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You know me like that.

Caller on Carmen and Jurko just suggested the Soz trade Sale and Quintana for Baez Trade high, Theo

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

I would let Zobrist go or make him a super sub. He scares me in the outfield and he's getting older. Baez should be at 2nd and Bryant at 3rd.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I see it as Schwarber in LF, Almora CF, Heyward (unfortunately) in RF. Bryant full time at 3B, Baez full time at 2B and Zobrist as super utility guy who gives all of them a day off each week, with Heyward playing CF when Almora gets his day off. I agree that Soler probably gets traded. It's good to have depth, but Sczcur is a good backup and there are others in the minor leagues on their way perhaps before too long (Haap and Martinez). Plus, Contreras can play in the outfield a bit as well.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I feel as if this isn't a good defensive alignment,

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Exactly. He may help win a title this year, but the last couple years on his deal they may regret.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Zobrist shouldn't be an everyday anything other than the everyday super sub, ever again. He can sub at 6 or 7 positions, so he'll get his ABs. Is Almora going to hit .275? If so, then he can be the CF...not sure they think he can yet. Soler is going to have to go...he'll be very good for somebody...unless they think they can keep him until Heyward opts out after his third season.

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Unless Heyward dominates the next 2 years he won't be opting out.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Wishful thinking

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I can't stress enough how important a .367 OBP leadoff hitter is...what that means to an offense. So many are willing to toss that away for Almora who MAY hit .270 and MAY get on base at a .315 clip.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I think he was even higher (in the .400s) when actually leading off a game/inning.

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You think they are going to bring Fowler back?

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You know me like that.

I averaged out his Cubs career.

In 2016, he had his best year with a .393 OBP. Leading off an inning, .439 OBP. Leading off the game, .483 OBP.

With no one out (regardless of situation on the bases), he had a .977 OPS.

He was also 4th in the entire league in pitches per plate appearance.

You don't replace this production.



I believe they try. I also believe some team will pay him $20M a season for 3 or 4 years.

The ball is in Fowler's court. The Cubs can't do a lot about it...but it is the fans like ES I have an issue with. They don't respect what Fowler does for this team.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Thanks. I never would have realized that getting on base was good for a leadoff hitter. #learningnewstuff

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http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#e ... extended=0

Dexter Fowler has the highest leadoff OBP of any player with at least 100 AB.

Zobrist was second.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Is someone saying Fowler is bad?

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You know me like that.

How much change will actually happen? Can Maddon and Theo get everyone on board? Catching kind of takes care of itself with Ross moving on to a coaching position...but will Montero be gone too? Will we have Contreras and Schwarber as co-starters? How does Schwarber fit in? Does he stay as a LF'er?...If they re-sign Fowler(big "IF") will Almora platoon across the outfield?

Lots of questions for the post season...First World Baseball Problems.

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They can try but, I agree, there's no way there isn't a market out there this year. They were lucky to get Fowler for this year's run.

I don't want him gone. But, I'm planning on it. There's no way to keep him short of spending a lot of money and eating a lot of money on other contracts and they aren't doing that I think we can all agree.

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You know me like that.

White Sox will sign Fowler.

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Would be there second good move of the off-season (if they choose to not go the rebuild route)

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I think they bring Fowler back, no brainer at 1 year 9 Million. But Fowler opts out and gets 4-60 somewhere.

Almora moves into CF, Heyward stays in RF. That is 2 very good outfielders leaving you a mix up of Soler and Schwarber in Left. Assuming none of them get hot, Bryant still plays there a fair amount.

Contreras moves into the primary catcher role with Miggy catching Jake or John.

I don't think they super-sub Zobrist, having a primary home was a reason he signed here and I don't think Maddon or Theo renege in that yet. Baez plays almost everyday bouncing around the diamond on match ups. Until he complains, bouncing him between 2nd and 3rd seems immensely valuable.

I'd make that trade now. And I think Kyle's going nowhere.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I don't think the Sox should make that trade. They are getting 1 above average starter. Schwarber is no guarantee that you can bank on when trading a bonafide ace. I like Soler but I no longer see him as being a star. There is a lot of upside in this trade, but they would need more sure things coming back.

All Chris Sale did was complete another year of being a top 10 MLB starter. You put him in front of the Cubs defense and he has an ERA of 1.

Schwarber has no place on any National League team. they need to trade him for their sake and Schwarber's sake. He's a DH. Period.

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Pair him with 2 good defenders and he'll be just fine. There are some REALLY bad left fielders out there. If you prorate his defense from fangraphs to a full season, he isn't even top 10 in worst defenders in MLB.

as previously stated, disagree. Adam Dunn makes Schwarber look like a cat burgler. You do remember the days of Glenallen Hill, do you not?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.