Cubs' Prospects FUTUREBONER thread

[Slaky]

Also, that article does a good job highlighting that the Astros have basically just tanked and done very little else. The Cubs have aimed to get high picks, yes, but they've done a much, much better job of getting talent through trades and the IFA market (despite a couple painful misses there). It's hard enough to do any full-scale rebuild, but the Astros' way is even harder because it's been basically dependent on one thing.

Also about the only thing the Cubs and Astros have in common is their both bad major league baseball teams. Even with all the bullshit the Cubs will generate a fuckload of revenue from their actual fan base which they have (unlike Houston) and all the other crap once they figure it out.

That too. That's another reason why I'm not sure why everyone seems so determined to see the Cubs immediately flip their assets for pitching. Unlike the A's or other small market teams they should be in the hunt for those few valuable starting pitchers who actually hit the market. There's no reason to give up prospects until they've tried building a contending rotation through FA first.

Well I wonder if when they scream I HOPE CASTRO IS RENTING HERF DERF they're saying he'd be traded when one of Russel or Baez proves to be ready. But that doesn't make sense either. That's not how trades work. The ML trade markets are big in the offseason and leading up to July as teams fall out of contention.

You don't just trade Castro or anyone until you can identify a specific need AND you know that someone can fill in for Castro that will produce what he's producing.

In other words talking about trading anyone that actually has a future is fucking stupid. So fuck off with this trade Castro shit.

[PenFoe]

Like SKO said, I'm comfortable with the Cubs just building a massive offense and then throwing shit at the wall for pitching every year.

And, then, if they feel set up to make a push, they can always make like the A's in the mid-season trade market.

Throwing shit at the wall, yes. But some of these pitchers they have don't suck. It's not unreasonable to build a strong staff this way. In fact, I think Oakland basically did just that, unless I'm wrong and several of their young arms are all massively high draft picks. And if a transcendent talent like Kershaw or Tanaka grows on your tree of shit, you just lock him up with stupid money that you have because you're rich and pray to Jesus Koresh that he doesn't get Mark Prior disease.

It's a mix.

Sonny Gray, Jarrod Parker, Scott Kazmir and Drew Pomeranz were all 1st round draft picks, but 2 of them were acquired via trade (and both Parker and Pomeranz are hurt.) Also, Pomeranz was basically a bust before he started turning it around for them this year.  

Kazmir's journey is well-documented, but basically flamed out at 25 before re-finding way, way post-hype success.
Samardzija was a 5th, but way overslot.  

So, you certainly can build a staff this way, but a lot of the A's guys were huge talents who made their way to the A's one way or another, through high picks (Gray), big trades (Parker, Samardzija) or reclamation projects  (Pomeranz, Kazmir.)

Even Hammel was a pretty big prospect back with the Rockies.

Jesse Chavez is basically the only one who wasn't targeted for greatness at one point or another.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Also, that article does a good job highlighting that the Astros have basically just tanked and done very little else. The Cubs have aimed to get high picks, yes, but they've done a much, much better job of getting talent through trades and the IFA market (despite a couple painful misses there). It's hard enough to do any full-scale rebuild, but the Astros' way is even harder because it's been basically dependent on one thing.

Also about the only thing the Cubs and Astros have in common is their both bad major league baseball teams. Even with all the bullshit the Cubs will generate a fuckload of revenue from their actual fan base which they have (unlike Houston) and all the other crap once they figure it out.

Well, the Astros were counting on $80 million per year in TV revenue, about double what the Cubs get today.  A bankruptcy has interfered with that.

[InternetApex]

Like SKO said, I'm comfortable with the Cubs just building a massive offense and then throwing shit at the wall for pitching every year.

And, then, if they feel set up to make a push, they can always make like the A's in the mid-season trade market.

Throwing shit at the wall, yes. But some of these pitchers they have don't suck. It's not unreasonable to build a strong staff this way. In fact, I think Oakland basically did just that, unless I'm wrong and several of their young arms are all massively high draft picks. And if a transcendent talent like Kershaw or Tanaka grows on your tree of shit, you just lock him up with stupid money that you have because you're rich and pray to Jesus Koresh that he doesn't get Mark Prior disease.

It's a mix.

Sonny Gray, Jarrod Parker, Scott Kazmir and Drew Pomeranz were all 1st round draft picks, but 2 of them were acquired via trade (and both Parker and Pomeranz are hurt.) Also, Pomeranz was basically a bust before he started turning it around for them this year.  

Kazmir's journey is well-documented, but basically flamed out at 25 before re-finding way, way post-hype success.
Samardzija was a 5th, but way overslot.  

So, you certainly can build a staff this way, but a lot of the A's guys were huge talents who made their way to the A's one way or another, through high picks (Gray), big trades (Parker, Samardzija) or reclamation projects  (Pomeranz, Kazmir.)

Even Hammel was a pretty big prospect back with the Rockies.

Jesse Chavez is basically the only one who wasn't targeted for greatness at one point or another.

That's about what I figured. By massively high picks, I meant picks of theirs. Whatever they're doing is working.

[ChuckD]

Good article on how the Cubs are doing a way better job of rebuilding than the Astros, and this doesn't take into account Aiken's broken elbow.

Related: As much hype as George Springer gets as the nNext Great Young Player, every time he steps to the plate he is 6 months OLDER than Starlin Castro. That's absolutely staggering.

I don't see how this is relevant since everybody knows that prospects don't peak until they're 29 year old AAA-ers.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Like SKO said, I'm comfortable with the Cubs just building a massive offense and then throwing shit at the wall for pitching every year.

And, then, if they feel set up to make a push, they can always make like the A's in the mid-season trade market.

Throwing shit at the wall, yes. But some of these pitchers they have don't suck. It's not unreasonable to build a strong staff this way.

I thought that was more or less what Eli meant when stating his comfort with the "throwing shit at the wall" strategy. At least that's how I read what he said.

In fact, I think Oakland basically did just that, unless I'm wrong and several of their young arms are all massively high draft picks.

And this was kind of what I was driving at. Not to say that their strategy is perfectly identical to the Cubs'. Just that they seem to have done a bit of wall shit throwing of their own and, more to the point, that they haven't necessarily worried about making the blockbuster prospects-for-arms deal until they've found themselves with the best record in baseball at mid-season and are ready to make a calculated push in with those chips.

[Powdered Toast Man]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

[Eli]

Like SKO said, I'm comfortable with the Cubs just building a massive offense and then throwing shit at the wall for pitching every year.

And, then, if they feel set up to make a push, they can always make like the A's in the mid-season trade market.

Throwing shit at the wall, yes. But some of these pitchers they have don't suck. It's not unreasonable to build a strong staff this way.

I thought that was more or less what Eli meant when stating his comfort with the "throwing shit at the wall" strategy. At least that's how I read what he said.

Right. I mean, I don't want them to literally throw shit at the wall to develop a pitching staff. That's just disgusting.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

[Chuck to Chuck]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

[BH]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

Why not? You can start spending on FAs in the next 2 seasons, to supplement need. It's ok to have multiple good prospects, even if they play the same position.

[SKO]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

Why not? You can start spending on FAs in the next 2 seasons, to supplement need. It's ok to have multiple good prospects, even if they play the same position.

At the very least I don't expect any of them to be traded soon until you have an idea of who will really be the best at the major league level.

[Powdered Toast Man]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

Why not? You can start spending on FAs in the next 2 seasons, to supplement need. It's ok to have multiple good prospects, even if they play the same position.

At the very least I don't expect any of them to be traded soon until you have an idea of who will really be the best at the major league level.

And we'll finally get to trade for Brian Roberts.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

Why not? You can start spending on FAs in the next 2 seasons, to supplement need. It's ok to have multiple good prospects, even if they play the same position.

At the very least I don't expect any of them to be traded soon until you have an idea of who will really be the best at the major league level.

And we'll finally get to trade for Brian Roberts. Aaron Hill

IAN's mancrush from the mid-aughts'd.

[Yeti]

More good news. Jorge Soler went 3 for 4 with a double and HR. Just stay on the field.

In early wagering, I'm putting my money on Soler to be better than all of them at this point.

I'm on the fence between Soler and Bryant as to who will be the best.  I also think Soler's contract and readiness makes him the most tradeable. 

That's really the next big thing to watch with Theo. He's never been shy about trading away young talent to acquire established talent.  The question is: from this huge crop he has, who stays and who goes?  There's no way that I see him keeping everyone.

So, Soler/Barney for Giancarlo? Make it hai!