Soler will be gone. Schwarber will take his place.

Almora will take Szczur's spot on the roster.

I would expect the Cubs to try an bring back Fowler. Probably give him a front loaded contract with opt out after 1 year or something like that.

He is getting older. He won't take another one year deal.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

It will be a 4 year deal. I would expect they give him an opt out just in case he doesn't enjoy playing only 115 games a year or not playing CF all the time.

I agree that Soler is gone and Almora is in. But I think they keep hail caesar.

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

Schwarber is going to kill someone and himself in the outfield. Yes....there are other bad outfielders, but this guy is dangerous.

the point is....there's no room for him on the Cubs. He has more value to himself and a team as a DH.

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your last sentence perfectly describes Soler.

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

Trade them both. Happ will be ready next season, Jimenez the year after.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I'm not so sure on that...I wasn't that impressed with some viewings in South Bend...

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

You can't mean Jimenez because he killed at SB this season. But Happ last played there in 2015 and did 'okay.' He did well at High A this year, then struggled a bit at AA. He should start in AA again for 2017, with a trip to Iowa sometime early. If he continues his solid approach at the plate and doesn't need to continue working on 2B defense, he could be in Chicago by July 2017.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Is there really trade value for Soler? His resume isn't that impressive...Schwarber would bring more in return, they're fine without him, and there isn't a place for him on the field.

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You don't dump a bat like Schwarber's.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Short of IMPACT talent like Sale, let these beasts mature in the minors or on the bench until they break the door down to the show. Impact talent on the bench is depth. Depth we thankfully had with Schwarber going down.

The Cubs aren't releasing him. They are trading him for equal value.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

That's my point. They have no way of utilizing has value to the team since there's nowhere on the field to play him. They can get something good in return for that bat of his.

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Especially when that team finds out he is Dmitri Young.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I was referring to Ian.

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

I am thinking this is accurate and Almora is ready to take over the position. Fowler had a real nice season, but it's time to move on. Almora will be noticeably better in CF and hit for a decent average (.277 this season), but is not a leadoff hitter and will likely have a lower OBP. He may steal more than the 13 bases Fowler had this year though. Better to part a year early than a year late.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Fowler will be back next year. Bet on it.

Correct.

I'll bet against it, if you would care to wager on it.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Baez has fully taken advantage of his share of Schwarber's 450 PA, and has blossomed.

Schwarber will come back next year, and he will catch 2-3 innings a week when they are behind in games and need to double-switch somebody out when Contreras makes the last out. He won't get any start at catcher unless one of the main two catchers are hurt, but Joe will want him to catch all of the relievers to be ready for the playoffs.

If the catching isn't working, then maybe they trade Schwarber. Instead, I think that they focus on matchups (LH/RH, fly ball/ground ball) and rotate Baez, Schwarber, and Zobrist to split up 1800 PA, and eventually bench Heyward against tough LHP.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Dude...Scooter only bets in meth and Ol' Grandad...maybe Wild Turkey if he's feeling frisky...

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