DJ was a worse trade.

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Castro was not a player the front office wanted on the 2016 team. I would not want him now. Typical producer of nothing when shit matters most. Take his hot start and put it in perspective he will end up the same lame ass player he has always been. Not missing him at all.

Starlin is a pudwack.

this was clearly done to make Joe happy. Blame Joe and his flexibility desires.

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

This is accurate. Zobrist has a knack for handling big situations well and Maddon clearly wanted him as a part of this team. That he was a co-MVP in the World Series seems to indicate Joe was right to want him. it's very likely Zobrist might be past his prime years before his contract expires, but he has already paid off. Castro can really hit, but just as Zobrist has a knack for producing in the clutch, Castro has a knack for striking out and failing to advance runners in situations where advancing a runner, if not scoring him, is crucial. The Cubs want guys who see lots of pitches, work the count and have a high OBP. Castro did not fit in that mold. Neither does Baez right now, but Baez is a special defensive player and may still improve in those areas that need to be upgraded.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Hall of Famer

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Put those two fruits in the produce aisle already.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

There's no doubt the Castro trade sucked. To trade him for Warren was ridiculous. Not sure how anyone can say he won't ever win a WS, or the Cubs would of never won it with him on the team. Sure he does weird shit, but the guy can fucking hit. I highly doubt he finishes the season leading the league in hitting, but I wouldn't be shocked if he was another 200 hit season.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

I thought IMU was a champion for WAR ... ?

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Worse than the Lou Brock trade.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

We were against it seconds after it was announced. I was also against the Lackey signing.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

And you were wrong about both. Lackey signed for a club friendly sum and gives the team a good chance to win more often than not and will give his team 30 starts and 200 innings. Castro had to be traded to free up salary room to sign Zobrist, who wound up Co-MVP in the World Series. Certainly the Cubs got the short end of the stick between Warren and Castro, but it was about shedding salary, not getting an equitable exchange. They didn't want anyone in return making real money and hoped Warren might be a good long relief pitcher and spot starter.

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Go Cubs!!!!

You may not like him, but Steve is right.

Steve is wrong. Castro's contract did not prevent signing Zobrist. Promising 2B to Zobrist just so he would sign was foolish. Trading Castro for absolutely nothing is foolish.

It was a bad trade. If you did want to trade Castro, you could have gotten something of value back. The Yankees have fleeced Theo twice in one calendar year. Yes, the Cubs won a World Series. One World Series. At the cost of being less effective when competing for many more World Series.

The Cubs traded away the best 2B in baseball and now the Cubs have iffy production at 2B. Zobrist is a utility player. Baez is a utility player.

Castro is a star on an extremely club friendly contract.

Theo got jacked up.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

There wasn't a market for Castro. Nobody was beating down Theo's door to acquire Starlin.

And why was promising Zobrist the lion's share of playing 2B foolish? If you don't do that he's probably a Met right now and the Cub don't win the World Series.

The Cubs had no immediate need to move Castro. If no one was beating down the door, you wait.

Because Zobrist is a bad defensive 2B. Because that promise didn't even last through the second year of Zobrist's contract, and now he is back to being a utility player AND the Cubs are weaker at 2B.

Zobrist on the Mets? Still not worried about the Mets. Saying the Cubs don't win the World Series if they had Castro instead of Zobrist is just as easy and still as meaningless as me saying the Cubs win the World Series in 5 games versus 7 games if they had Castro over Zobrist.

You seem to be of the mind that 2016 has completed your journey as a Cubs fan and the current and future seasons mean little to you.

I'm not 'done' with the 2016 World Series. The Cubs need to remain a franchise that competes for the World Series and this trade hurt that.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The Cub are a better team with Ben Zobrist rather than Starlin Castro.

And no, they do not win the 2016 World Series without Ben.

The Cubs are a better team with better players. Starlin is the better player.

But Baez is okay!

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Starlin is 0 for his last 9. Massive slump.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Does he know you stalk him? WTF is wrong with you? Momma drop you on da head?

Does he know I follow the MLB? Maybe?

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Yep. I bet he dreams of you.

When he dreams of the ideal baseball fan, I bet he does!

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Whether you want to admit it or not, changing anything from last year's team would run the risk of not winning a WS. The Cubs needed to get one before worrying about the future. Now they can think more long-term. You seem to be of the mind that it's fairly easy to win a WS and that the Cubs are just automatically going to contend each year. It simply doesn't work like that.

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Castro had to go because of the rape investigation

Many have said they thought that.

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Elections have consequences.

You're more likely to content with superior ballplayers.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Always liked Castro. It seemed like time to go though.

Maybe they thought they were selling high after he bounced back from the slump

That is true. However, it appears to be a distinct possibility that MANY of the ballplayers whom you thought were superior simply had career years in 2015 or 2016.

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