Bleacher Bums Forum

Kaplan apparently speculated a couple days ago that the Cubs could trade Schwarber for Merrifield this offseason. The author at this Royals SB Nation blog picked that up and thinks it would be a reasonable deal. Personally, I think the Royals would reject it pretty quickly. I don't know why the Royals would want a worse performing player with less team control, even if he is 4 years younger. But maybe I'm wrong.

https://www.royalsreview.com/2018/10/25/18022972/thoughts-on-a-theoretical-merrifield-schwarber-swap

That is sort of an interesting possibility.  Small but not tiny sample size in CF is pretty encouraging, not a butcher at 2B.  The minor league #s definitely don't wow you, but maybe that's Schwarber's realistic value right now.

Schwarber only has 3 years of control left. He's starting to get more expensive, and he hasn't come close to living up to the potential the front office thought he had. He's not that young anymore either--at 26 years old, he's starting to get to the point where the default expectation is that he just is who he's going to be. He's just not that valuable in a trade anymore--I think Cubs fans overvalue him.

Merrifield was 16th in MLB in fWAR and 25th in rWAR this year. He's probably going to get a few down-ballot MVP votes. He's a little older...but if anyone would be selling their player at a discount in that speculated deal, it's the Royals.

Given the current state of the team, I like the idea of adding Machado (rather than Harper).  Against RHP, you go with Schwarber, Happ/Almora, Heyward/Zobrist in the OF, with Bryant, Machado, Baez, Rizzo around the infield.  Against LHP, Bryant and Happ play corner OF, Machado moves to third, Baez to SS, and Zobrist to 2B.  Assuming some progression by Happ and Schwarber, and a likely comeback year for Contreras, this would be a pretty formidable offense.

Machado had that incident with Aguilar in the NLCS, which was bad. But really, I don't remember him being consistently controversial. He's certainly not a Milton Bradley type--at worst, he seems to be an AJ Pierzynski type who is liked by his teammates but frustrates the opposition. And we know he's close with Almora. I have no issue signing him if he is the best fit from a talent perspective.

I'll say again that the Cubs need two hitters this offseason: Harper or Machado and a top of order/leadoff type. I don't have a strong preference on the stars--I lean towards Harper a little, but it also depends on what players are available to be that second hitter. If the best fit for that role is an outfielder, maybe that Machado/OF pair is a better fit than a Harper/IF pair.

Some history on Manny Machado, before his disgraceful episode with Aguilar.

Throwing his bat at the opposing 3B and hitting a catcher in the head (twice) then smiling about it.

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/manny-machado-throws-bat-video-knee-fernando-abad-athletics-orioles-bench-clearing-brawl/zexydnu7zp9y1i7y8lrgibzc3

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/6/9/5795156/manny-machado-orioles-bat-throwing-josh-donaldson-athletics-mlb

Spiking Duston Pedroia



His comment on not hustling to 1B:

Machado responded to that criticism and might have stoked the flames even more. Here’s what he told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic: (emphasis ours)

“I’ve been thinking about it and it happens every time, there’s no excuse for it honestly. I’ve never given excuses for not running. I’m not hurt, there’s no excuse but I’ve been the same player … I’ve been doing this for eight years, I’m in The Show for eight years, I’ve done the same thing for eight years, I’ve been the same player. (Machado actually just completed his seventh season.)

“Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base and … you know, whatever can happen. That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.

“Should I have run on that pitch? Yeah … but I didn’t and I gotta pay the consequences for it. It does look bad. It looks terrible. I look back at the video and I’m like, ‘Woah, what was I doing?’ You know, just the emotions of the game … I’m the type of player that has stayed in the zone, I’m playing and I’m just in the zone.”

Machado is a great player, no question. Sammy Sosa was a great player for the Cubs as well, but he was poison in the clubhouse and his arrogance and focus on himself were harmful. Maybe that could be tolerated on a team that had been so unsuccessful and was so dependent on him. That was then, and this is now - a team that has lots of talent and a great culture. And while Sosa didn't create problems with other teams, Machado has single-handedly created animosity between his team and at least three others (A's, Red Sox and Brewers). The Cubs don't need that kind of distraction.  Adding Machado to this team, which focuses so much culture and team approach, would, in my opinion be a very big mistake.

My best guess is there's NO way Theo goes after Machado!

(Ron's above post lays it out rather clearly)