Cubs' Prospects FUTUREBONER thread

[PenFoe]

6. SS Addison Russell (Cubs)

Placement on pre-season 101: #7

Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A Tennessee

Developmental Update: From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks

The A's had projected him to be their starter next year right? Is it realistic to think he'll be up next year?

Oakland didn't have Castro and Baez in front of him.

Well Castro is going to be around for a long time, so I guess we'll just wait for him to retire before we see Russell.

It's pretty obvious that all three of them will play SS at the same time.

[Saul Goodman]

6. SS Addison Russell (Cubs)

Placement on pre-season 101: #7

Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A Tennessee

Developmental Update: From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks

The A's had projected him to be their starter next year right? Is it realistic to think he'll be up next year?

Most of the A's fans I talked to said Russell was supposed to be up later this year but his injury delayed things.

[Eli]

Let's hope Almora's range is as good as advertised.

[R-V]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

[R-V]

continued...

More important than the trade value is the low cost of this kind of prospect class. The Cubs will have so many low-cost contributors that they will be able to be a player for two, even three market-priced players. You want to know who will be pitching in front of these prospects? How about Max Scherzer? How about David Price, almost certainly a free agent after 2015? How about Johnny Cueto, almost certainly a free agent after 2015? Hell, they can go get Samardzija after 2015 if they want. Yu Darvish's deal expires after 2017, and remember that he'll have been wildly underpaid during it and could be looking for a big payday to make up for that. The Cubs' payrolls ran above $130 million from 2009-11, and when you adjust for increased revenues, they'll have the ability to be well above that number when they need to be. While the Dodgers are paying old outfielders and then the league for the privilege of paying those old outfielders, the Cubs are going to have the money to go get Jason Heyward after 2015 or Giancarlo Stanton after 2016 or Bryce Harper after 2018. There's no guarantee that they get any of these guys, but I would bet all the money in my pockets that the Cubs will make three of the best free-agent signings of the next five years. They will pick off top-of-the-market talent at the top-of-the-market prices, subsidized by a homegrown, tradegrown core that makes peanuts.

There's one other element of this trade worth mentioning.

Diamondbacks  36  52  .409
Astros            36  52  .409
Rockies           36  51  .414
Rangers          37  49  .430
Phillies            37  49  .430
Rays              39  50  .438
Mets              38  48  .442
Twins             38  47  .447
Red Sox          38  47  .447
Cubs              38  46  .452
Padres           39  47  .453

MLB has yet to address, in any way, the incentives teams like the Cubs have to tank. Trading away Samardzija, and replacing 16 of his starts with 16 starts by Carlos Villanueva or Kyle Hendricks or whomever, makes the Cubs more likely to lose those games. These are the standings that matter to the Cubs: the battle for the first pick, or at least a higher pick, in the draft. The Cubs' outperforming expectations this season was actually a big-picture negative; it didn't materially change their chance to win the NL Central or reach the postseason, but it potentially cost them the ability to improve in the draft and the international market. The team with the tenth pick in the draft last year, the Mets, had a total of $5.3 million to spend in the draft. That was 40% of what the Astros, with the first pick, had. It was a little more than half of what the White Sox, picking third, had. Similarly, the Mets at #10 had $2.7 million to spend on international amateurs; the Astros at #1 had $5 million. The Cubs have every reason to lose a bunch of games in the season's second half.

Mind you, this isn't about having the money, being able to afford to spend on research and development. This is just about keeping teams from competing for amateur talent. The Cubs have to put an inferior product on the field, have to compete to be worse than other bad teams, so that they can have the highest possible budget to spend on their future. It's a diseased system that is worth opening the CBA to address.

The Cubs had squeezed the most out of Samardzija and Hammel, and traded both players at the peak of their value. They used what was left to acquire one of the top prospects in baseball. Addison Russell, or perhaps players later acquired for Russell, will play in World Series games at Wrigley Field. For the Cubs, this was also about flags flying forever.

[Eli]

I think he's way too low on Samardzija, but otherwise it's a good read. Especially the part about the Cubs being able to more easily "overpay" for a key FA or two because the core will be so cheap for a while.

[BH]

Flagz flying forever. Wow.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

wut

[Chuck to Chuck]

So much THIS:

The Cubs will have so many low-cost contributors that they will be able to be a player for two, even three market-priced players.

The Cubs have every reason to lose a bunch of games in the season's second half.

[Quality Start Machine]

6. SS Addison Russell (Cubs)

Placement on pre-season 101: #7

Current MiLB level/Affiliate: Double-A Tennessee

Developmental Update: From a skill-set perspective, Addison Russell has the most well-rounded profile at the shortstop position in the minors, with above-average chops in the field (including double-plus hands), and impact potential with both the hit and power tools. Russell has lost half a season to injury, but could challenge for the top spot in the minors with a strong second half. The ultimate upside is a perennial all-star at a premium spot, and the future could start as early as 2015. –Jason Parks

The A's had projected him to be their starter next year right? Is it realistic to think he'll be up next year?

Oakland didn't have Castro and Baez in front of him.

Well Castro is going to be around for a long time, so I guess we'll just wait for him to retire before we see Russell.

Just means some extra time for shuffling guys around. All accounts I've read are that Russell is the best SS of the three.

[PenFoe]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

wut

It's an expression.

Means they have tons. Overridden. 

[ChuckD]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

wut

It's an expression.

Means they have tons. Overridden. 

Some might even say "infested."

[thehawk]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

wut

It's an expression.

Means they have tons. Overridden. 

Some might even say "infested."

Not to be confused with "a team with lousy hitting prospects" which, as Tonks noted, basically described the Cubs for my entire baseball watching life.

[PenFoe]

Meant to post this over the weekend about the trade. If you like baseball and reading things then you should spend the lousy $30 a year to subscribe to Joe Sheehan's newsletter which is always a fun read.

The Joe Sheehan Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 39
July 5, 2014

Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Jason Hammel to Athletics for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney and RHP Dan Straily

Let's start with this: Hammel for Straily is a wash, for all intents and purposes. If you think that's ungenerous, think about what the reaction would have been three months ago if the A's had made that deal. Think about what Beane's reaction would have been had Jed Hoyer called him up with that offer. Hammel has outpitched Straily for the last three months, but Straily was better and more healthy last year. In 2012 Straily was more healthy, and comparable on a per-inning basis. Hammel hasn't thrown more innings than Straily since 2011, and just barely then. Whatever performance gap may exist between the two for the next 16 starts they'll make in 2014 is dwarfed by the control of Straily the Cubs will have, while Hammel hits the market looking for Matt Garza money.

That leaves Samardzija for the two prospects, which is a huge win for the Cubs. Huge. Even for a team lousy with hitting prospects, adding Russell has an impact. He's the best defender of the Russell/Javier Baez/Starlin Castro group and is 13 months younger than Baez is. Samardzija's great start to the season was a terrific story, but he's not a #1 starter, and this is the first time he's really looked like a #2. In  his first two seasons as a full-time Cubs starter, at ages 27 and 28, Samardzija was essentially league-average, posting a 97 ERA+. He showed good stuff, he struck out 24% of the batters he faced, he had a 3-1 K/BB, he averaged 6 1/3 innings per start. Because of his size, his stuff, his non-standard career path and the Cubs' handling of him -- he was a reliever as recently as 2011 -- there were reasons to think he had some upside from there. When he started the year with a 1.46 ERA -- and no pitcher-wins -- through ten starts, he was suddenly in the conversation for awards and All-Star Game starts and trade-deadline packages. Well, that ERA was as much about a low HR/FB -- two longballs, 93 fly balls -- as any change in Samardzija. The Cubs, though, have leveraged the best stretch of pitching of Samardzija's career into an asset much more likely to earn a ring with the Cubs. Trading Samardzija for a top-50 prospect and some baubles would have been a fairly good return; getting a top-ten prospect and a top-100 guy and a cost-controlled averageish starter is a coup. It's an absolute coup.

I may be an outlier in my evaluation of this deal, largely because I think I'm an outlier on the two key pieces -- higher on Russell than most, lower on Samardzija than most.

With Russell, the Cubs now have a farm system that hurts to look at. We'll see what the prospect mavens say, but they could have three of the top ten prospects in baseball in Russell, Baez and Kris Bryant, plus Albert Almora and Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber and, and, and.... It's a system that is both loaded at the top and deep, and if there's a concern about crowding at certain positions or being too hitter-heavy, well, these are not problems the way that word is usually used. The Cubs, as they sort out which players are going forward with them and which are not, are going to have some cost-controlled talent to trade. If Russell and Baez push aside Castro, well, Castro is signed through 2019 for a total cost of $44 million, with a $16 million option for 2020. You think you can't find a home for that? Castro is a durable shortstop who is growing into his power and headed for a career high in walks drawn, among other things.

wut

It's an expression.

Means they have tons. Overridden. 

Some might even say "infested."

Perhaps this will help?

it's not a Paul Rudd movie, but it's on TV a lot.

[Quality Start Machine]

I still have trouble wrapping my head around the idea that the Chicago Cubs...The Chicago Motherfucking Cubs...have been almost completely reconstructed with the goal of sustained success, and that goal is looking more and more in focus on a daily basis.

For the team in all of North American professional sports most associated with futility (rightfully so) to be this close to having the entire perception of the organization completely redefined is absolutely astonishing to me, in spite of seeing it all unfold with my own eyes.