Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75640 times)

method

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2775 on: June 17, 2018, 12:28:37 pm »
They are crushing it. The local reporters they have for specific markets are fantastic. National content is great. It's well worth the $$ spent.

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2776 on: June 17, 2018, 04:33:43 pm »

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2777 on: June 18, 2018, 07:37:05 am »
Interesting tidbit from Jesse Rogers:  the NL team with the highest OBP has made it to the postseason every year since 2005.  The Cubs currently lead the NL in OBP by 12 points (.340).

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2778 on: June 18, 2018, 12:23:05 pm »
One person close to Machado believes if there was a team he’d consider re-signing with before hitting free agency, it’s the Cubs.

https://frsbaseball.com/mlb/murray-monday-would-machado-re-sign-with-cubs-if-traded/

ticohans

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2779 on: June 18, 2018, 01:06:28 pm »
I've long been in the pro-Harper group. That said, with Machado's injury history increasingly in the rear-view mirror, and his offering more consistency than Harper has thus far, I think I'm leaning Machado, if I had my pick of major offseason acquisitions...

Not sure how that works, though. Russell is *way* too valuable a trade chip straight up for Machado at this point, given what he's doing with the bat this year and how much longer he's under team control. Further, he's likely a much better SS defender than Machado. *IF* the Cubs were to trade for Machado, do they displace KB @ 3B, where Machado is truly a wizard? Bryant goes to the OF... where? All of Schwarber, Almora, and JHey have been significant contributors this year. Or do we trade Russell for Machado plus? Can't imagine the O's ownership approving something like that...

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2780 on: June 18, 2018, 01:16:44 pm »
I love Machado, and if being close friends with Almora reflects that he's a smart competitor who loves to play and loves to win, like Albert, that would be a great fit for the clubhouse, long-term.  I love Almora's hustle and instincts, so if you added another guy like that who could hit with power and play middle-infield, that would be awesome.  (Other than always wanting to slide into 1B!  :)

But really, really hard to see how it could make any sense.  If you added Machado, who could you have to trade other than Happ or Russell?  And would either of those be the kinds of centerpiece guys that Baltimore would want in exchange?  They are so bad, I'd think they'd want volume of young minor-league guys with upside.  Granted, I'm not very creative, so maybe there could be a package, but with our relatively barren farm system, it's hard to see us really making good sense. 

Other point from Cubs side is that even *IF* he was willing to sign an extension with Cubs, he's still going to only do that if it's at FA-caliber magnitude.  So you'll still need to pay massive FA commitment, even if you do get that. 

But yeah, given that the Cubs kind of live-and-die with their offense, and that we're a little short on HR's and middle-of-the-order sluggers, adding one more big-time bat could really help, for this year and the next handful also....

Dave23

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2781 on: June 18, 2018, 01:22:54 pm »
Since April 25th...

Machado - .285/.342/.497 (120 wRC+)

Russell - .307/.368/.445 (121 w RC+)

Not to mention that Addi has the second most defensive runs saved (DRS) in baseball this season...

ticohans

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2782 on: June 18, 2018, 01:28:07 pm »
I love Machado, and if being close friends with Almora reflects that he's a smart competitor who loves to play and loves to win, like Albert, that would be a great fit for the clubhouse, long-term.  I love Almora's hustle and instincts, so if you added another guy like that who could hit with power and play middle-infield, that would be awesome.  (Other than always wanting to slide into 1B!  :)

But really, really hard to see how it could make any sense.  If you added Machado, who could you have to trade other than Happ or Russell?  And would either of those be the kinds of centerpiece guys that Baltimore would want in exchange?  They are so bad, I'd think they'd want volume of young minor-league guys with upside.  Granted, I'm not very creative, so maybe there could be a package, but with our relatively barren farm system, it's hard to see us really making good sense. 

Other point from Cubs side is that even *IF* he was willing to sign an extension with Cubs, he's still going to only do that if it's at FA-caliber magnitude.  So you'll still need to pay massive FA commitment, even if you do get that. 

But yeah, given that the Cubs kind of live-and-die with their offense, and that we're a little short on HR's and middle-of-the-order sluggers, adding one more big-time bat could really help, for this year and the next handful also....

Happ or Russell is too high a price for Machado. O's will have to accept less, or Cubs will seriously overpay in sending one of those guys.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2783 on: June 18, 2018, 02:06:07 pm »
Ill take Machado all day over Harper.

Agree Agree x 1 View List

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2784 on: June 18, 2018, 03:19:12 pm »
Going from Russell/Baez to Machado at SS would be a huge downgrade on defense. Putting Machado at 3B and moving Bryant to the OF would make the infield defense amazing. I guess what I’m saying is I’d only be interested in Machado if he is willing to play 3B and not SS and Bryant is OK moving to the OF.

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2785 on: June 18, 2018, 03:43:54 pm »
I don't see how it works moving Bryant to the OF.  Schwarber needs to start about 80% of the time, and how is that possible with Bryant in the OF?

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2786 on: June 18, 2018, 03:57:13 pm »
The same way with Harper being brought in.  The playing time for Heyward/Almora/Happ/Zobrist would be affected.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2787 on: June 18, 2018, 03:58:36 pm »
....
Russell - .307/.368/.445 (121 w RC+)

Not to mention that Addi has the second most defensive runs saved (DRS) in baseball this season...

HOpe he hits like that forevermore. 

DelMarFan

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2788 on: June 18, 2018, 04:09:37 pm »
Quote
Happ or Russell is too high a price for Machado.

I don't disagree, but I'm guessing They will think it's not enough. 

The wild card is the whispered rumors we've had about the Cubs wanting to move on from Russell for off the field reasons.  Without those whisperings, I would't give any credit to the Machado to Cubs rumors.

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #2789 on: June 18, 2018, 04:12:49 pm »
Bowden was suggesting Russell and two pitching prospects yesterday while having the Cubs as his #1 suitor for Machado.