Schwindel drives in the game winning run for the fourth game in a row. That's 7 in a row. So much for tanking for a top 5 pick. At the current rate we'll be fortunate to get a top ten pick.
The higher pick would obviously be more optimal in the long run, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy they’re playing good baseball with a chance to play spoiler for the Card’s playoff berth.
Have been following him closely all year. Kid is striking out 42% of batters. That's batshit crazy. Good to see Happ coming around. Starting to wonder if he's capable of putting a full season together, though.
I really want Happ to succeed and do this for a whole season but I just don’t think it will happen. It happens every year this is the year and then he’s a rollercoaster
You mentioned Cassies approach looking like Bellinger… apparently the Cubs changed his stance after the trade and made him more upright. His swing is sexy.
Brennan Davis is warming up but his swing looks so awkward. It’s working for him but to me most of his home run swings look weird yet he’s crushing
Anyone remember Nelson Velasquez? I'd totally written the dude off, but he's gonna post a 20/20 season this year between High A and AA with respectable splits.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/32550818/kiley-mcdaniel-2021-22-mlb-free-agent-rankings 31. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 2022 Opening Day age: 32 Projected contract: 2 years, $22 million (11 AAV) Rizzo is still a solid lower-end everyday first baseman and he lands in the part of the market where older, less versatile players with bat-reliant profiles tend to have trouble. He's a valued veteran presence, but his ability isn't worthy of a long-term deal anymore. 8. Kris Bryant, 3B 2022 Opening Day age: 30 Projected contract: 5 years, $90 million (18 AAV) For some of the sources I spoke with last winter, Bryant had zero trade value on a one-year, $19.5 million deal for his last year of arbitration. Despite his name recognition, teams were responding to his underlying metrics (contact rate, power on contact, defense) that had clearly regressed from his blazing-hot first three MLB seasons. His 2021 allayed many of those concerns, so while he still isn't and will likely never be that guy from his first three seasons, he's now stabilized as a strong starter, even if he may move off third base in the back end of this deal. There's a shot Bryant gets over $100 million in the right market, but I'd bet on just below that. 11. Javier Baez, SS 2022 Opening Day age: 29 Projected contract: 1 year, $25 million Here's the trickiest projection of the group. Among all the players on this list, Baez has the biggest chance of turning down $50 million-plus and settling for a one-year deal. There's also a non-zero chance of a nine-figure deal if a (mostly? sort of?) irrational bidder or two enters the fray. In a similar way that clubs are wary of the Robbie Ray sort of player, the vast majority of teams are terrified of being on the hook in a long-term deal when Baez's electrifying physical gifts decline and he's just taking wild cuts with a 40% strikeout rate. The Mets are most likely to be that irrational nine-figure bidder, but I'm ranking Baez based on a three-year, $60 million offer that I could totally see being made. I think he'll either sign for one year or nine figures, and one year is the much more likely outcome right now. 21. Kyle Schwarber, OF 2022 Opening Day age: 29 Projected contract: 3 years, $45 million (15 AAV) Schwarber is a below--average but acceptable left fielder, so the coming universal DH can help his market, as did his career year at the plate. His breakthrough season is supported by improved underlying metrics across the board, so a two-year deal at a big AAV or three-to-four-year deal in a lower-eight figure AAV makes sense. There are some on-field similarities to last winter's four-year, $65 million deal for Marcell Ozuna, so that would be a high-water mark of sorts for Schwarber.
Geez, these projected numbers are a way less than the rumored offers the Cubs had on the table for these guys.
Yeah I'm not sure I remember the dollar figures on any Schwarber extension rumors, but the other 3 all ended up leaving serious money on the table. Good work by the front office
The mlbtraderumors predictions are a bit more bullish, but still below what the cubs were reportedly offering. 6. Bryant - 6 years, $160M 12. Javy - 4 years, $100M 15. Schwarber - 4 years, $70M 21. Rizzo - 3 years, $45M Cubs were only predicted as the landing spot for Yusei Kikuchi, who I do like but it would be a monumental failure of an offseason if that’s the only top 50 FA they acquire. Here’s the full article: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/top-50-mlb-free-agent-rankings.html
If i'm the front office I would be putting a major offer in on one of the elite SS available and the rest of the money into starting pitching. I wouldn't spend a dollar at 2B, 1B or in the OF. Might see whats available in the pen but we have had some good luck with developing arms recently.
I totally agree. I think you have to make a genuine effort to sign one of the elite shortstops (not including Javy, I think that ship has sailed). I’m fairly interested to see what they do with Hoerner. I think you can get away with putting him in center, even if you have to cringe while doing it.
I love Javy but the only way I bring him back is on a shorter term deal. His down years are going to be ugly once you reach that point. 3 years I’m cool. Anything about that I get a bit worried. Are you thinking they move Happ to a corner OF spot? I feel like Brennan Davis is going to be up at some point next year. I’m guessing Heyward is going to be an exclusive bench role.
Zero upside in allowing him to take ABs from talent who have upside and likely are going to part of the next run. it’s cool to keep him around as a super respected vet in a sub role
Our prospect Nelson Velasquez is the favorite to win the Arizona League MVP. Some recent past winners are Arenado, Bryant, and Acuna. He also is eligible for the rule 5 draft so he got added to the 40 man roster.
Kilian is crushing this championship game. probably going to start in Iowa next year. He looks pretty freaking good.
I loved the Kilian pick up when it happened and have only been happier since. I was stunned when they did a reranking of our prospects after the deadline that he wasn’t top ten but that may be a credit to how well we’ve built back our farm system.
That's not very far off. A smidge under 25m per. Love Javy but his rollercoaster seasons can really wear you down. Thoughts and prayers to MG2 having to watch that in year 4-6 of that deal.
Well now that the cubs have crossed off their most pressing need of back up catcher, maybe we can move onto more tertiary needs like starting pitching and shortstop