Cubs' Prospects FUTUREBONER thread

[Eli]

Which on the one hand tells you they've got some shitty, shitty players this year (their outfield is bad and full of negative WAR players), but on the other hand tells you that the guys who are actually making positive contributions to the run differential are going to be around for a while.

This is why I don't think their path to contention has to be that much longer. They need more higher-level players, sure, but simply lopping off the AAA/AAAA garbage they have on the bottom of the roster and replacing it with average players would help significantly. There are plenty of guys available every offseason who could be nice upgrades, only because what they'd replace is so terrible.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Which on the one hand tells you they've got some shitty, shitty awful, awful players this year (their outfield is bad and full of negative WAR players), but on the other hand tells you that the guys who are actually making positive contributions to the run differential are going to be around for a while.

[InternetApex]

Which on the one hand tells you they've got some shitty, shitty players this year (their outfield is bad and full of negative WAR players), but on the other hand tells you that the guys who are actually making positive contributions to the run differential are going to be around for a while.

This is why I don't think their path to contention has to be that much longer. They need more higher-level players, sure, but simply lopping off the AAA/AAAA garbage they have on the bottom of the roster and replacing it with average players would help significantly. There are plenty of guys available every offseason who could be nice upgrades, only because what they'd replace is so terrible.

So if they finally go out and sign some of these 1 WAR turds. How does that improve your life?

[PenFoe]

Which on the one hand tells you they've got some shitty, shitty players this year (their outfield is bad and full of negative WAR players), but on the other hand tells you that the guys who are actually making positive contributions to the run differential are going to be around for a while.

This is why I don't think their path to contention has to be that much longer. They need more higher-level players, sure, but simply lopping off the AAA/AAAA garbage they have on the bottom of the roster and replacing it with average players would help significantly. There are plenty of guys available every offseason who could be nice upgrades, only because what they'd replace is so terrible.

Okay, let's remove trades from the equation since they're harder to predict.  

2015 Roster:
C: Castillo
1B: Rizzo
2B: Baez
SS: Castro
3B: Bryant*
LF: Lake or best FA Available (Melky Cabrera)
CF: Bonifacio, resigned to FA deal
RF: Best FA Available (Nelson Cruz)  

*(assumes Olt isn't ready for primetime at 3B and Bryant isn't moving to corner OF, both of which could turn out differently)

Rotation:
Samardzija - resigned
Wood
E-Jax
Hendricks
Some guy

That's basically best-case scenario, outside of signing a big FA pitcher (basically Lester/Masterson/Scherzer/Gallardo, assuming Cueto gets his option picked up)

72-90 would definitely be disappointing for that team, but signing two legit corner OFs and Baez and Bryant both being ready is pretty wildly optimistic as well.  

You might be able to talk me into .500, but outside of trading Samardzija for multiple guys who are ready now (which seems totally unlikely) I don't see how they compete in 2015.  

I'm not talking about being happy or mad about it, I just don't see how it happens.  

[Saul Goodman]

Which on the one hand tells you they've got some shitty, shitty players this year (their outfield is bad and full of negative WAR players), but on the other hand tells you that the guys who are actually making positive contributions to the run differential are going to be around for a while.

This is why I don't think their path to contention has to be that much longer. They need more higher-level players, sure, but simply lopping off the AAA/AAAA garbage they have on the bottom of the roster and replacing it with average players would help significantly. There are plenty of guys available every offseason who could be nice upgrades, only because what they'd replace is so terrible.

Okay, let's remove trades from the equation since they're harder to predict. 

2015 Roster:
C: Castillo
1B: Rizzo
2B: Baez
SS: Castro
3B: Bryant*
LF: Lake or best FA Available (Melky Cabrera)
CF: Bonifacio, resigned to FA deal
RF: Best FA Available (Nelson Cruz) 

*(assumes Olt isn't ready for primetime at 3B and Bryant isn't moving to corner OF, both of which could turn out differently)

Rotation:
Samardzija - resigned
Wood
E-Jax
Hendricks
Some guy

That's basically best-case scenario, outside of signing a big FA pitcher (basically Lester/Masterson/Scherzer/Gallardo, assuming Cueto gets his option picked up)

72-90 would definitely be disappointing for that team, but signing two legit corner OFs and Baez and Bryant both being ready is pretty wildly optimistic as well. 

You might be able to talk me into .500, but outside of trading Samardzija for multiple guys who are ready now (which seems totally unlikely) I don't see how they compete in 2015.   

I'm not talking about being happy or mad about it, I just don't see how it happens. 

Shark is under team control for one more season "he's on the team for next year!", so I assume you mean re-signed to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration?  I mostly agree with this, I think .500 would be a pleasant surprise for 2015 and I wouldn't expect more.  I'm also crazy enough to think Bryant can stick at third and Olt should invest in an outfielder's glove, so YMMV.

[Eli]

So if they finally go out and sign some of these 1 WAR turds. How does that improve your life?

I assume it would make my favorite baseball team win more games, which might be fun.

[InternetApex]

So if they finally go out and sign some of these 1 WAR turds. How does that improve your life?

I assume it would make my favorite baseball team win more games, which might be fun.

Like seven more games.

[Eli]

As for Pen's plan, that's entirely possible. But I'd be surprised if they didn't sign a Masterson/Lester type, and maybe even another mid-range type of starter. They were supposedly going to roll over the Tanaka money to next season and outside of arbitration, they have very little money committed (~$25 million for Jackson, Castro, Rizzo). Even factoring in arbitration raises for Shark and Wood, there should be a lot of payroll available.

Again, maybe I'm being overly optimistic in what moves they will make this offseason, but none of that sounds too crazy to me.

Like seven more games.

Well, if their expected record is a little below .500, 7 games would be pretty significant.

[InternetApex]

As for Pen's plan, that's entirely possible. But I'd be surprised if they didn't sign a Masterson/Lester type, and maybe even another mid-range type of starter. They were supposedly going to roll over the Tanaka money to next season and outside of arbitration, they have very little money committed (~$25 million for Jackson, Castro, Rizzo). Even factoring in arbitration raises for Shark and Wood, there should be a lot of payroll available.

Again, maybe I'm being overly optimistic in what moves they will make this offseason, but none of that sounds too crazy to me.

Like seven more games.

Well, if their expected record is a little below .500, 7 games would be pretty significant.

THI

[Eli]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

[Yeti]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

Is it time to change his name to RonDL White?

[InternetApex]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

Is it time to change his name to RonDL White?

Jorge SDLer?

[BH]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

Is it time to change his name to RonDL White?

Jorge SDLer?

I suppose it's good news, but it's his other hamstring this time, not the one that was hurt.

[Brownie]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

Is it time to change his name to RonDL White?

Jorge SDLer?

Jorge Soreleg

[Tonker]

Damn.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs prospect Soler sidelined w/right hamstring strain. Checked by Chicago docs. Will go to AZ to rehab, then back to @smokiesbaseball

Is it time to change his name to RonDL White?

Jorge SDLer?

Jorge Soreleg

Ha ha!  Winner.