That's bad coaching.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Agree Baez and Rizzo are basically untouchable. I certainly have no problem shopping everyone else including Schwarber and Contreras. The outfield has major questions given Heyward is basically unmovable unless we eat a shitload of money and he is best in RF. So if Castellanos is resigned and he certainly seems like a good fit, he really should be in LF with Heyward in RF and a new leadoff/CF meaning Schwarber is out.

It is a hard call on Schwarber however given he really did seem to finally figure it out late in the season and he may be a 40/100 guy for the next 4-6 years so that certainly has value. Having said that, if you get an offer with excellent value on him, you have to seriously consider it.

I think Contreras will be the guy traded. Go with Caratini for short term until their kid in minors is ready.

Russell has to be gone. Hoerner should be given every chance to be everyday 2nd baseman.

Bryant could be gone if they don't think they can extend him.

I expect Schwarber and Baez back.

Heyward is another interesting situation. They have to try and move him for anything and eat some of that money. Castellanos needs to be signed and put in RF everyday.

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

I checked out of Cubs baseball after the St Lou sweep but what the fuck did Schwarber hit , .600 after that to get to .250 for the year ? He was at like .235 or so last I looked .

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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

Unless Theo's entire purpose in the presser was to go hard in the opposite direction, I don't think Contreras is going anywhere. He was effusive in his praise for Contreras and his ability to become more sound at catcher and become a team leader. I don't think you'd be selling him as a team leader and then trading him 2 months later...wouldn't go over well.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

His September was very, very good.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Happ's last weekend was so good it actually made his final numbers look good. Ended up damn near around .900 OPS which is impressive.

And about 35 RBIs which is good for a part time player that was only there for a third of the season. I hope they keep him. Switch-hitter who has some pop and versatile. And by versatile I mean naturally versatile. Not somebody theyre forcing to play a position he's not used to, a la KB.

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Classic Les last night. A guy calls and is all keyed about the Cubs. Heyward topic comes up. The guy asks Les what your opinion of the Heyward signing. Les brings up his defense. Hems, haws, goes off topic. The guy asks again. Same sidestepping. The guy screams Les ...what's your opinion of the Heyward signing. Les hollars back I'll tell ya if you shut up. Les says it was a "very good" signing. Then, Les covers his ass... but, not a great one.

Or that would be puffing up his trade value. Theo himself said he doesn't believe in untouchables and then began to give a positive baseball resumé for various players.

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Theo now conveniently doesn't believe in untouchables. He's backed himself into a two year window corner where his only hope is to trade core players in the hopes he can fleece somebody. Who'll be be his trade consultant, Jason McLeod? These last 2 years it'll be the Theo show with him surrounded by yes men. He'll go on the score and be hero worshipped by the score ass kissers. He'll never get equal talent for a desperate trade to keep his head abovell water.

Puffing up his baseball acumen and potential, understood.

But I don't think you call someone a leader and role model for your team and then trade him.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I still think it comes back to best return on your trade....in other words, trade guys who are in high regard around the league who you view as inherently imperfect players....

Hence, Baez for sure and Willlllson I would expect to be on the trading block as well.

Bryant won't return as much and neither would Schwarber.

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

this is what he did in '13 and '14 and '15.

He did admit that a lot of the players are players u can gameplan for.

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I don't understand the trade Contreras talk. Him and Baez are the two guys ya build around. I'd move Rizzo and KB.

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Cubs trade Baez and Contreras and I'm done with this front office and organization for a few years.

How about let's not trade two of the three most dependable every day players that combined for 17 total WAR over the last two seasons, while dealing with time lost due to injuries.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Their minor league system sucks. They have to get pitching. This club, as currently constructed, is not going to win anything. Trades have to be made and I honestly don't give a shit which player gets traded. Whoever gets them the most back.

Interesting. You aren't done with them based on zero playoff wins in over two years, trades that have gutted the minors of almost all worthwhile pitching, and contracts that have or will hamstring them for MANY years.

Ya but if dey trade dat Javy or Wilson guy, I'm done!



PM is making all sorts of sense.

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Baez can't go. That would be like trading Billy Williams after the 1969 season.

Contreras brings in the most value from an AL team that can use Contreras to catch 100, DH 40, and be able to back up at LF/1B. The Cubs have a #1 starter that doesn't get good results with him, a team fixture in a favorable deal at 1B, and no DH.

Tampa would be a good fit. Get Kiermeier, McKay, a AA starter and some depth from Durham to chase Tony Kemp the fuck out of there.

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

If the White Sox traded Anderson and Moncada this offseason, you'd be pissed at them.

Finding a 6 WAR SS and a 3 WAR catcher isn't easy. There aren't many scenarios where you trade those guys and expect to get the same or better WAR back.

You don't trade your top most consistent contributors for prospects unless you're tearing it down.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

That 3 WAR catcher has hitting skills, but lacks handling the pitching staff skills. There are 3 trade pieces that have value: Wilson, Baez, and Bryant. Yes they should trade Schwarber but his value right now isn't much...that's not gong to fix the team.

Keep Baez and enjoy the return from Bryant, Wilson.

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So Willson isn't going to get credit for the several years the Cubs pitching staff was really good, but this one year they suck and it's his issue? Fuck that.

The Cubs have a big net-positive with Willson at catcher. He out hits the pitch framing concerns. Lester and Hamels don't have the stuff they used to. Quintana just wasn't good this year.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Wonder if they will keep most of the "core" players and see how the lineup does with someone else filling out the lineup card. The inability to draft/sign pitching, especially shoring up the bullpen, killed this years team. They did move McLeod out of amateur scouting, but it will take a few years for minor league pitching to produce even if they do start hitting on draft picks. Bryant is most likely piece to move due to upcoming salary demands, but what is his value? Moving to a subscriber driven team owned TV network adds a little pressure, will people drop the network if team sucks?

Bryant should be able to return a little less than Sale. Similar time frame, different position, less injury risk, higher salary in arbitration.

I think they might be able to get the Braves' #2 and #4 pitching prospects for a two year rental, so something like Kyle Wright and Kyle Mueller - Wright would compete for the #5 spot but probably needs another half a year at Iowa, Mueller just finished AA and is a lefty to slot in when Lester retires. Take on Ender Inciarte's contract (2/17 plus an option for 9) and either flip him or use him as the 4th OF with Happ, Schwarber/Castellanos, Heyward, then either non-tender Kemp or send his ass to Iowa.

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

You say that now, but when it happens I almost guarantee you (and others) will be irritated by the return and when whatever player that gets traded goes on to good things in another organization you will use it as an example of the ineptitude of the front office.

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

Yes, if they trade a Bryant or Baez or Contreras I would expect them to do good things. Those are the only guys with any trade value. They have to get pitching from somewhere.

They already traded their top offensive and pitching prospect for a #3 or #4 starter. How much worse can you do?

Trade possibilities:

1. Baez- No.

2. Bryant- He could absolutely put up MVP numbers somewhere else and that is fine. He is not re-signing so he has 2 seasons left. I can live with him playing well elsewhere if there is sufficient mlb ready return for him.

3. Contreras- He is as talented as they come. He also pisses me off to no end with his careless play, injuries and juvenile mental approach. The thing is.....that could have been said about Baez a few years ago. I remember wanting to ship him out to San Diego for some pile of shit pitcher that isn't even in affiliated ball now. I think that as much as he frustrates me you just have to hope it clicks like it did with Baez because if it does he is the best catcher in baseball.

4.Schwarber- He did some nice things this year but if Castellanos is going to be signed long term then he has to go. There is simply no spot for him and what he brings to the table can be replaced.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

There are going to be players dealt that may be tough to see leaving. Bryant leads the way. He is unlikely to sign an extension, as Boras wants to take him to free agency. He hasn't been the same player since the shoulder injury and now he has knee issues. The time to trade him may be now. Contreras is a top catcher (all around) with Caratini as his back-up, the Cubs have a great catching tandem. They like Ayala a lot too and he may be ready in a year. Caratini could carry the load for a year if they got a great offer for Contreras, with another catcher being signed as a back-up. Schwarber was so good in the 2nd half, I would like him to stick around. He has definitely got value on the trade market once again. Not 2016 value, but definitely has value again. Baez cannot be touched. He is the best player on the team and face of the franchise. Rizzo won't be dealt. 1st baseman are not in great demand and as good and consistent as he has been, at his age, he would not bring a ton in trade. If I am wrong and he could be dealt, with a great haul coming back, I would consider trading him, putting Schwarber at 1st and re-signing Castallanos. f they can package guys like Haap, Almora, Russell along with Quintana, and get a solid starter, I do that in a heartbeat. Quintana is a roller coaster that has proven is a back of the rotation guy, just as I said he was when they were looking at trading for him. Mistake.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Theo is going to leave in a couple years. He's going to make a bigger mess then there is now with off-season moves. Remember this is the same man that signed Jason Heyward to a mega deal.

All this can be fixed by drafting, tanking is dumb. If ya take ..

Nola instead of Schwarber
Buehler instead of Happ
Giolito over Almora

This team is loaded.

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