Bleacher Bums Forum

I wonder if Contreras is going to play winter ball?  Has he in past winters?

He might benefit more from a breather than stretching it to 20 consecutive months of playing.

Oh, absolutely.  I can't ever remember a guy doing AFL and then doing Caribbean League besides

I believe Corey Patterson did just that.

The Cubs may have let CP play in the AFL and one of the winter leagues, but I doubt the Cubs would allow any more than a cameo appearance in the winter leagues for a catcher who played the whole minor league season and then went to the AFL.

So EJ's not a bad ass by any means.

From Keith Law's chat

Mark: How good is Willson Contreras defensively?
Klaw: I’ve heard more than just playable or average. So far I’ve only seen him hit here – two doubles and a homer yesterday – and I love what I see at the plate.

JR: The full Kyle Schwarber was on display in the NLCS: great hitting, not so great defense. Is it something the Cubs keep living with and hope the defense improves, or do they look to trade him to an AL team for pitching?
Klaw: I think he ends up an average or fringe-average defender in LF. I doubt they trade him – the front office believes very, very strongly in his makeup.

(Is trading Schwarber a thing?  Is that the JR?)

Julio: What level would you expect Eddy Julio Martinez to be at to start next season (assuming not some EXST for extra ABs, obviously)
Klaw: Probably low-A to see what his approach is like, because I don’t think anyone knows how advanced or raw he is in that regard.

Joe: Do you see Arrietta staying this good? I mean he’s 29 years old already and just finally had his first 30 start season.
Klaw: I see no reason to argue that he won’t.

Sage: What offseason moves do you see the Cubs making?
Klaw: Add a starter, maybe two (one higher-end, one for depth), use some of that infield logjam to acquire pitching help.

Robert: At what point does Price’s sky high postseason ERA over 7 starts enter a GM’s analysis especially when this post season it’s actually been worse?
Klaw: Any GM who considers that is stupid and will get what he deserves, which in this case is not having David Price.

Mark: How soon can Wilson Contreras get a look in Chicago? Montero’s second half and playoffs worries me greatly.
Klaw: I think he can be part of the catching solution there next year, not right away but over the course of the whole season.

Brian: Local media in Chicago is already speculating that Kris Bryant will be moved to the outfield next year. But if he can handle 3rd, which the limited data we have on him says he probably can, isn’t there where he would provide the most value? It’s easy to shore up an OF spot than a 3rd base spot, right?
Klaw: Buster asked me this on the podcast too – I think he can play third. Good arm, good hands, range might be a bit limited, but he has instincts and is another great kid with a good work ethic. He’ll never be worse than “adequate” there. FWIW, I like his chances to stay there more than Gallo’s.

JR: The full Kyle Schwarber was on display in the NLCS: great hitting, not so great defense. Is it something the Cubs keep living with and hope the defense improves, or do they look to trade him to an AL team for pitching?

Klaw: I think he ends up an average or fringe-average defender in LF. I doubt they trade him – the front office believes very, very strongly in his makeup.

(Is trading Schwarber a thing?  Is that the JR?)

Nah, that's an impostor JR. 

It's easy to tell it isn't JR.  It was an intelligent question.