Two of the NL’s top clubs begin a three-game series today at Wrigley Field when the Cubs host the Nationals. Beyond just sharing impressive records, ESPN.com’s Ken Woolums notes that the Cubs have gone about their rebuilding process in a manner similar to how the Nats have reconstructed their roster prior to their current run of two NL East titles in the last three seasons. Here’s more on the Cubs…
- Javier Baez has a .944 OPS in 99 Triple-A plate appearances this season, yet ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers wonders if the former top prospect can find playing time with the Cubs no matter how well he’s hitting. Baez has been splitting time between second base and shortstop in the minors, though the Cubs are obviously set at both positions with Addison Russell and Starlin Castro. Of course, questions remain about Baez both defensively (he already has 11 errors, nine at short) and offensively (he has 24 strikeouts in his 99 PA, and nine walks) and thus the Cubs could decide he’s expendable; Rogers notes that shifting Baez between two positions could be an audition for other teams just as much as it has to do with his development. That said, Rogers also observes that the Cubs are under no pressure to swing a deal now and have plenty of time to figure out how to best deploy their numerous young talents.
- Rogers hears from league sources that the Cubs have repeatedly turned down offers for Russell and have no interest in trading him. If Chicago does decide to move a notable middle infielder, then, it would have to be Baez or Castro.
- Kyle Schwarber is another prospect who has often been rumored to eventually change positions, though Cubs director of player development Jaron Madison tells Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register that Schwarber will remain a catcher. “With all the work he’s done in the offseason and spring training and big league camp, and going into this year and what he’s done so far this year, we’re more certain than ever that he’s going to stay behind the plate long-term. We’re committed to that right now,” Madison said.
- Madison discusses several Cubs minor leaguers within that same piece, including Baez. The team doesn’t have any plans to use Baez at any positions besides second and shortstop for now, Madison said. There has been some speculation that the Cubs could make room for Baez by moving him to third and shifting Kris Bryant to left field, though Baez has never played the hot corner in his pro career and Bryant has only three innings under his belt in left.
Hey if the Cubs dont want Baez the Padres will gladly take him off their hands
You don’t have anything to trade for him
that’s not accurate, but padres probably don’t have what the cubs want
Beaz to the Mets.
Nah.
What a problem to have.
“Hey fellas, we have 2 current, 1 former and 2 potential allstars manning the infield, think you boys could try shagging flies?”
Then you got Alcantana, Soler, McKinny, Almora and potentially Schwarber in the outfield mixed with everyone else in ~2 years.
Just an embarrassment of riches, I think the ghost of the goat may be exorcised in the next couple of years.
All it takes is 100 years of middling play for the Cubs to rebuild, unlike Houston who finished DEAD last for consecutive years, and rebuilt in ten years. I’ll still take the Cubs way. Even when they were long shots, as a fan, I would have something to root for. Houston killed any hope their fans had, and probably lost a generation of income producing ticket buyers.
Excellent !
I’m assuming you’re kidding, but the rebuild started with Epstein joining the Cubs at the end of 2011.
😛
I’m not sure Almora will stick long term in bigs. Soler and Schwarber are the Impact guys with McKinney a chance to be good and alcantata a good role guy. Hoyer and theo have done great job
I’m with you. I don’t think Almora will ever get to the point where he isn’t making a ton (70%) of outs. You just can’t have a CF with no pop and no ability to steal who gets on base at a .300 clip, no matter how great the intangibles and defense.
I’m not saying that’s who he is so it’s time to give up on him. I think you let it play out at his speed. It’s just that I’m not counting on the eggs in the Almora basket.
In his defense, he’s still really young. So he could get better. He’s just such a hacker, and doesn’t have the pop, that I don’t see him ever being a replacement-level batter.
We’ll see, but if the Cubs are buyers and somebody views Almora as a top-prospect and the #1 in a deal for an elite player, I do that in a heartbeat.
He’s not even s mature grown man yet
Rosters change in a 2 year period, and people get hurt
Cubbies over-hyping Prospects again!
Because everyone who talks about Cubs prospects are Cubs fans, right? Everyone I listed there was in the top 100 prospects at some point, so assuming they’ll make the big leagues at some point isn’t a big stretch.
I don’t blame them for not wanting to get rid of Russell. He’s a fun ball player to watch even if he has a ton of learning on the job to do. I never would of guessed Russell would beat Almora to the majors. That 2011 Team USA was loaded with talent.
I definitely would’ve guessed Russell over Almora. I thought Russell would be up early last year with Oakland, and definitely as a September callup if he didn’t first get hurt and then get traded.
A problem with moving Baez to 3B and Bryant to LF is it kind of blocks Schwarber. No matter what they say about him no one believes that he can stick at catcher and plus montero is having a very strong year. Ultimately it’s hard to see them find a place for both Baez and Schwarber
There’s a spot for them both if Castro is dealt. Personally, I see that as the most likely scenario.
Baez is less likely, after his cameo last year, to be able to return equal value in a deal. Other teams are going to want to see him do it at the MLB level if they’re treating him as retail-priced.
Castro has performed at that high level and has a ridiculously team-friendly deal. He’s 25 years old and is signed for 5 years and $48.3 million including this year, with a net $15 million option for his age 30 year. If he’s a 1.5 WAR player, he’s worth that – granted, he’s not quite hitting enough right at this moment to be that 1.5 WAR player, but he clearly has the ability to do so. He’s also about 2 WAR better than Elvis Andrus right now and Andrus is due $133 million.
I think the Cubs would prefer to deal Castro rather than Baez, given that the return on Baez right isn’t much better than no return on Baez if he busts out and can’t be dealt.
Obviously the Cubs believe he can stick at catcher. He has taken zero reps in the outfield this year. In fact, until I see him getting some playing time in left, I’m assuming he won’t be called up this year at all. They will do what they did with Bryant: AAA in a couple of weeks and through the end of the year, then start in AAA in 2016 until they ensure another year of control before free agency. Montero become expendable at that point or they cut Ross and Montero is the back up. Schwarber’s bat is much more valuable from the catching position. Just as Bryant’s is more valuable from 3B.
More likely Castro to the Mets for Matz. Makes sense for both teams. Cubs get a good 3/4 behind arrieta and lester. Mets get a long term answer at SS. I would not trade vaez for Metz though I probably would for Noah Synderguard. I wouldn’t trade Russell for either.
And no the Mets wouldn’t do Castro for Noah. Even as a Cubs fan I realize this.
The Mets would be smart not to do Baez for Matz.
Baez hasn’t done anything at the MLB league except struggle.
So would you do Castro for Matz?
Donno if you are a mets fan but curious what the opinions are.
Castro is a two time all-star, is only 24 and is signed for the next 4 years.
Perhaps I should ask for Noah after all!
Not a Mets fan, but I think Matz is a very reasonable headliner for any notable piece. Hes the 31st top prospect in MLB (BA) and has shut down just about every league hes pitched in.
As for Castro, hes the “good at everything, great at nothing” type who wouldn’t require a Hamels-type return. All-star appearances mean nothing. Ask Matt Wieters about last year.
What are the Mets main needs though? 2B/3B and then what? I don’t see them getting rid of Grandy or Cuddyer. I think both the Cubs and Mets can fill their needs without trading with each other. I’m sure Oakland would take back McKinney for Kazmir.
A first round pick might be more appealing to the A’s then McKinney, but thats debatable.
The Mets have needs in the bullpen, 3B, SS and the bench.
Mets need to Start thinking about a Long Term Replacement for David Wright and they’re going to have to give up Multiple of Good ,Young arms to get it !
Flores is that type of long term replacement. He’s a 3b moved off of SS in the Minors and being blocked by Wright plays 2b/SS by demand. Mets need the SS long term or really to keep warm for Cecchini. With Murphy at 2b as well, Flores is the defunct SS currently.
Cecchini should be up more quickly than many people expect. If he continues the way he has been hitting, the front office could aggressively promote him straight to the big leagues post-Super 2 cutoff. He is putting up better numbers than Reynolds did at the same level at 2 years younger.
I’m not sure if you’re a troll or not, good job keeping us guessing.
Wright is signed for 7 more years (don’t quote me on that) and apparently his injury isn’t serious, so I think they’ll be fine with Wright.
The Mets’ bullpen is just fine. You’re correct about SS, wrong about 3B, and correct about the bench. They also need improvement at one of the corner OF positions.
Mets need a true all-around SS and a corner outfielder who can hit. It’s possible that these guys may already be within the organization. Cecchini is raking at AA and Cuddyer might still be able to hit. The pitching is fine and the team is set at C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CF.
Castro currently is a -0.2 WAR player who is owed over 40 million, so he’s fairly worthless as a trade piece right this second. He has 10.1 WAR career over 6 seasons, so its fair to call him a 1.5-2.0 WAR player. Those are pretty easy to come by.
Wilmer Flores even has a 0.8 WAR right now and for his career has 2.1 WAR over 145 games, so Castro isn’t even better than him. Castro is a DOWNGRADE from Flores.
So you are saying Flores is better then Castro long term? Yes Flores has some pop but Castro is the better overall player going forward.
Flores only has 145 games under his belt and is 2 years younger than Castro so I don’t know how anyone can say Castro is definitely better long term, but right this second Flores is better. Castro’s career has had ups and downs and he’s also had that off-field incident too and is owed a significant amount of money. Castro is a bad fit on the Mets.
Flores isn’t better than Castro right now but he does have the better bat long-term. That said, he’s not really an SS. On the flipside, Flores+the trade package is definitely better than Castro, so the trade wouldn’t make sense. With Cecchini knocking the tar out of the ball in AA, the proposed trades make even less sense.
Baez has had about 200 PA’s in major league level at 21, it should not even enter the mets mind
When his major issue is striking out, and he continues to strikeout at every level he plays, it should enter their mind.
No not anymore than it did when he was raking in the minors
I bet is does though, Small sample agreed but a Weakness exposed is forever exploited !
and Matz has not even been there yet. I think it’s Mets fans who are the ones overhyping their prospects
I’m not a Mets fan. Phillies fan actually. Matz is a top 31 prospect in baseball, and Baez has a K rate of 25% in the most hitter friendly league in professional baseball.
All fans are overhyping their own team’s prospects. That’s just how it goes.
The Mets don’t want Castro
Of course the Mets don’t want Castro. Or Tulo. Or Desmond. Why should they? They’re on a hot roll with Babe Flores and Ozzie Tejada. No reason to upgrade the infield.
Simply because the Brewers could offer Segura or Sardinas and that would be a better solution long term at SS for the Mets than Castro who’s being paid AS money for Replacement level WAR
Segura’s not any better than Flores, honestly. And Sardiñas isn’t clearly better than Tejada; he’s a glove-first backup.
Depends where you look. Offensively or range defensively at SS. Something Flores has been knocked on and stats show it. If Cecchini is the answer at SS, then the Mets have even less a need for Castro’s 4years of control vs Segura’s 3.
Sardinas is freshly turned 22 underweight at 6’1″. He has a lot of body frame growth to be more than just a slap hitting singles hitter with Elite SS range.
I look more at Flores being an answer at 2b or 3b with Wright’s injury and upgrading the SS defensively with a bat better than Eric Cambell’s For less than 1mil in pricetag and likely less than 12mil more total the other 3 years unless Segura or Sardinas Takes off offensively.
FloreSS is better than Segura once you factor in the defense, offense, and cost in prospects. Sardiñas would be a great guy to have as a utility player but that roles is already filled by Tejada. I don’t see either of those guys making sense for the Mets. The only two players I could see making sense for the Mets are Gómez and Will Smith.
You’re completely comfortable with having Eric Cambell at 3b and Daniel Murphy at 2b? Who I thought is in a trade rumor or two himself being a FA to be? You have every reason as a Mets GM to address your 2b/SS/3b situation as it stands. Finding a natural SS, moving Flores to 2b or 3b where he profiles better in the field. You’re comparing Segura/Sardinas strictly to Flores. Ignoring Murphy and Cambell with Wright’s injury riddled self being unknown for play?
And why Gomez? Isnt Lagares a supreme CF defender, albeit with a soft bat? What are you going to do? Bench him and play Granderson/Cuddyer?
No, I’m not comfortable with Campbell at 3B and Murphy at 2B.
It is unclear to me what that has to do with Segura short-term or long-term. Campbell’s holding Wright’s spot and Murphy is holding either Flores’ or Herrera’s. The main issue here is that Segura isn’t very good. He’s not exceptional defensively and his offense is comparable to Ruben Tejada, the Mets’ utility guy. He had a few hot weeks as a rookie and suddenly people assume he’s excellent.
The Mets have a natural SS in Gavin Cecchini who won’t cost any prospects and should be ready quite soon. Reynolds at SS or 3B is also a possibility as a stopgap, and again, is a superior option to trading for the overrated Segura.
Gómez is an MVP-caliber player. Adding him would allow the Mets to play some combo of Gómez/Lagares in CF/RF. It seems like you’re unaware that teams can do that. Brett Gardner is a CF on most teams but he plays left for the Yankees because they also have Ellsbury, to give another example. This would allow Granderson to shift over to LF. In addition to improving the lineup, defense would improve at both corner OF spots.
Cuddyer would be an upgrade over Mayberry Jr as the lefty-masher off the bench. It’s a novel trade proposition which would help the team more than acquiring Starlin Castro, a guy who by all sources is far less available than Gómez.
I know you’re being snarky, but in reality the FloreSS experiment is working out just fine. He’s leading the team in homers (and tied for 1st among SS) while playing a perfectly adequate SS. He’s playing well enough to stick there until Cecchini is ready. He’s also soundly outhitting both Castro and Tulo right now. He’s doing as well as anybody could possibly have expected, and it looks like he’s only starting to hit his stride offensively.
Cubs aren’t trading a 3 time all star for a team’s 3rd best prospect, not happening, ever.
All-Star games are voted by fans and managers and have to have a representative from every team no matter how bad the teams are. Castro is massively overrated and overpaid and currently is having an awful season. The Mets aren’t trading their 3rd best prospect for THAT.
If I were the Mets, I wouldn’t trade Matz for Castro. But Castro is certainly not overpaid.
Same, I like castro and think the complaints of him are over the top but I would not trade a top 30ish prospect for him right now. That being said castro is underpaid, even with the poor start to the year
I wouldn’t. Castro isn’t a Matz better than Flores. He’s better, but not that much better. People don’t like to admit it but the FloreSS experiment has been a bright spot on a squad with few so far.
Castro earned those three all-star appearances.
He may have but his BWAR in 2013 and 2014 averaged 0.9 and this year he’s -0.2. You can get guys like that for next to nothing and you certainly don’t have to pay them $45 million. Unless can take Ryan Howard pills and make it 2012 again he has no trade value.
Because AS appearances mean something.. right.
Matz would instantly become the Cubs top pitching prospect, surpassing CJ Edwards. Matz is the 2nd best prospect in a good farm system.
Castro hasn’t done much in almost 3 years.
Last year he was a top 3 offensive shortstop and is an average to slightly above average defender. Hes a poor baserunner tho. I think castro for matz and another top 15 prospect is a fair trade.
I disagree. He was below average defensive according to dWAR, and was roughly a league average player overall (2.1 WAR.)
Jimmy Rollins, Hanley Ramirez, Eybar, Peralta, JJ Hardy were all better then him, and thats just off the top of my head. Tulo is another.
Matz alone is worth more than Castro.
so you only use baseball reference as a source? look at fangraphs. the numbers usually are somewhere in the middle. uzr and drs are two different measures to defense. tulo is an injury waiting to happen, hanley is moved off of short and rollins is done as a player. also castros durability is the best of that group. matz is not worth more than castro, slightly above average proven major league shortstops have wayyyy more value than a pitching prospect let alone not even a top 10 prospect.
We’ll agree to disagree. I’d rather have Matz than a league average shortstop.
thats just overvaluing prospects. realize they are the same age and one is a proving major leaguer at a premium position vs a pitcher which has already had a tommy john surgery in his career.
I wouldn’t even call Castro proven, yet. Hes only been better than league average as a player twice in his career, and hasn’t been better than league average in 3 seasons. Hes only had positive dWAR twice, neither of which were in the last 3 seasons, and is currently on a 4/40M.
I’ll pass consider I can get Jean Segura for a fraction of the price, and half the prospects.
i thought you wanted a bat? castro has 4 seasons at or better than a league average hitter all coming from the shortstop position. p.s it may only be a week but hes also younger than segura…
Jean Segura would be a downgrade for the Mets, not an upgrade. That’s before considering the cost in prospects.
If the Mets are serious about winning, then that doesn’t matter. Segura is better then Flores, Tejada and Campbell.
Segura is an inferior player to Flores, full stop. He’s about the same player as Rubén Tejada, and the Mets don’t need to trade anyone to get Rubén Tejada. It just simply does not make sense for the Mets to sidegrade or downgrade by acquiring Segura since they’re already better than him right at this moment. If you look up some of the articles on Flores written on “The Read Zone” you will gain a bit more insight on who Flores is and projects to be as a player. Segura is highly overrated whereas Flores is dramatically underrated. I know you’re going by the “standard wisdom”, but in this case, it’s clear that Segura isn’t an upgrade at all.
Who is the “league average shortstop”?
Starlin Castro
Castro’s notably better than “league average SS”. He is actually one of the top offensive SS in the sport. “League average” for an SS is around 86 wRC+, which means the average SS is 14% worse on offense than the average player. Castro, who I agree is overrated, is better than “league average” for the position although he hasn’t hit like it so far this year.
I like Matz a lot but I don’t think he’s worth more than Castro. That said, the Mets are better off keeping Matz in the meantime with Flores at SS until Cecchini is ready.
The Mets have a shortstop right now with even better offense than Castro, actually. Flores leads the team in homers and has a 120 wRC+ since he started playing everyday at the end of August last year. He has 12 homers in his last 266 plate appearances, which would be right at a ~30 homer pace over a 650 PA season. He also has a ~.200 ISO and ~10% K-rate over that period.
This seems to be the go to answer. I am NOT, by any means saying Castro is not a good player, but please stop reference being an All star as actually mattering.
Murph is an all star too, want a Castro for Murphy deal straight up?
Daniel signs and finishes his career in American League in the DH Role !
LOL. The guy plays 3 positions well enough (1B/2B/3B) and you’re suggesting he’s a DH. Wild.
Would the Cubs trade Castro for Russell? Never a chance he was only the Cubs 3rd or 4th best prospect a year ago.
he was still a consensus top 10 overall prospect, some outlets dont even have matz in the top 50…
Some, who haven’t updated their preseason ranks nor the amount of top 50 prospects like Bryant/Russel who have graduated from a prospect ranking. Even MLB has Matz ranked behind Freeland and Manaea who haven’t even pitched this season. How you rank a Rookie ball and A ball player behind a AAA guy when you’re in the same 10 of ranking. 52 rookie, 56 A ball, 62 in AAA beats me? Kyle Zimmer at 54 injured and in Rookie/A ball. It’s poor to me to rank guys 2years behind a prospect of the same quality in ranking who’s in AAA close to being promotable. Within a year, he’s going to be off the list anyway having graduated and you have a season’s worth of more info on the Rookie ball/A Ball prospect to prove their worthiness of such a ranking.
Matz has an overall ranking of 55. To get to an overall of 60 you move to #30. You go off of that essentially #31 to #100 are equal in overall grade. Or being of the same level of prospect projection.
And the Phillies are’t trading for some maybe prospects either !
I’d strongly consider Matz for Castro. Team needs offense badly. They’ve shown that even with their top pitching that offense can’t hold down wins. Especially if Wright is done for the year, Flores or Murphy can be moved to 3rd and the other goes to 2nd. This team needs help and the only way they’re gonna get it is if they trade one of those arms.
matz and robert whalen for castro and i call it a deal
I strongly disagree. I think Flores can hold down the fort until Cecchini is ready in a month.
uhm… ready in a month? he has 11 errors in 35 games and is just starting to hit minors pitching. try and give him at least a full season in the minors before you rush him to the bigs.
Go back and look at Cecchini and get back to me. His K-rate suggests he’d make the jump better than most, his defense is already better than Flo’s, and he stands to gain basically nothing from AAA because the Mets’ affiliate is practically on the Moon (Las Vegas).
low k rate isnt everything, its still a small sample in terms of this is the first year any power or solid contact has shown. he just needs to sustain, also defensively he is on pace for 50 errors, errors aren’t everything in evaluating defense but thats an incredibly high number. he’s most likely a mid season call up next year…
Castro is a 3 time allstar, it will take more than Matz to get him. Thor is still a prospect, although a very good one, I think the Thor for Castro trades are fair proposals, and I am not a fan of either team. Would I do Thor for Castro? Probably not straight up, but add in a prospect like Mckinney and a RP from the mets and I would pull the trigger at that point
Cubs get a 3/4? Really? Matz is being talked about being better than Syndergaard which is a 1/2.
But I guess what makes Matz a 3/4 SP for the Cubs makes Castro an “AllStar” type SS highly sought after by no one because he’s fairly pathetic honestly. Cubs fans secretly know this and easily make him available as the trade chip to sell to any other team. Please, Please take our garbage! We only ask for the top prospects in return.
Kinda like the Phillies expecting Urias or Seager for an over the hill expensive Hamels.
Oh now you’re going to get the Phillies fans going…
Happen to catch any of Hamels’ starts this year? Didn’t think so.
Do I need to? He’s pitching to exactly what he’s being paid for. 24mil ought to buy you a 3ERA SP. If not 2.65-75 which he’s then underperforming.
He pitches in Citizens Bank Park, not pitchers “Heavens ” Parks like Dodger Stadium or Citi field in New York. Put Kewshaw or Harvey in a hitters Park for a Season and see what their Stat’s would be !
Better than Hamels. These are Aces you’re trying to suggest that. Not #2s-#5s where ballpark factors matter a lot more.
Phillies fans gotta realize the “Ace” pricetag they are asking for is for a rental for the season because these same teams that can even afford Hamels can sign Cueto/Zimmerman/Grienke and the like this coming offseason to that 20-25mil year deal while hanging on to their top prospects. The teams Best to meet Philly’s demands are teams with Aces to begin with. They’re far better off waiting half a season to have their top prospects play for them in 2016 and have that 24mil to just sign Zimmerman or Cueto getting the same Ace as Hamels moving forward.
Phillies best bet is to find a team like Pittsburgh and pay 16mil a year of Hamels contract so they can afford him and get a Tyler Glasnow+ in return. It’s the Small market teams that will never afford a pricetag like Hamels that the Phillies can get their top prospect request when they pay half or more of Hamels contract in return.
Citi Field actually plays close to neutral at this point. It was a pitchers’ park before the walls were brought in twice.
Dodgers,Cubs,Red Sox,Yankees don’t fight for over the hill pitchers. But they going to make the deal that secures one of Best Pitchers in National League last few Years.
These Super-Sized markets don’t have to take on Hamels contract when they just wait half a season and use the same 24mil to nab a Zimmerman/Cueto/Grienke and the like.
Gotta sell Hamels to a franchise that could never put a 24mil/year contract to a single player. Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Minnesota, Cleveland. Pay around half his contract more if to Pittsburgh.
Nah. I’m fine with Flores. Castro is better than Flores but he’s not a “Matz” better than Flores. I really don’t see any of the proposed moves making sense. I would, however, love to see something like a deGrom for Soler challenge.
Dan Vogelbach and Billy McKinney are also tearing it up at AA, and the Cubs have absolutely no need for a 1B and a RF anytime soon – those are two very good trade pieces.
McKinney can move to LF. Vogelbach can be traded to Phili for Pap. Or in a larger deal for Hamel’s if they Mets won’t play ball.
Vogelbach is a DH.
AL only trade.
Shhh…. Don’t say that! Other teams might hear you!
The Phillies last first basemens where Ryan Howard, Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome. If he can hit, Amaro will play him at 1B.
A. Dan Vogelbach could eat those 3 guys in one sitting.
B. A team that’s made a mistake in the past doesn’t mean they want to make it in the future.
Vogelback is not an Major League 1st Basemen, DH at Best !
They should just go after Giles.
The report on Baez is basically Dan Uggla with slightly better defense and even worse K rates, correct? I don’t see how he could headline a deal for a win-now piece.
Baez is ten times the athlete uggla is. His fielding will improve and he’s a 15 SB guy as well.
People quickly forget with guys that drop off a cliff, but Uggla was really good with the Marlins. He had 3 4+ win seasons per fangraphs. Now I’m not saying fangraphs war is the be it all but uggla was really good till he fell off a cliff.
But from what I’ve read on Baez the only similarity between the 2 is power and approach, Baez is a much better athlete, that should give more baserunning value, his K rates might actually be worse than what Uggla gave with the Marlins but the BABIP should be higher given the bat speed and athleticism. The reports on Baez’s defense have been really mixed from what I have seen, some think he can play above average defense at SS, some think he needs to move off the position and be a 3B or 2B.
Now the way this is written makes it seem Baez is going to be better than Uggla was with the Marlins, I’m not sure that’s the case he has more “tools” but the approach is a deterrent and probably worse than Uggla’s was when he was coming up, and pretty much anyone can fail.
Baez is the classic high risk/high reward prospect but people always assume with prospects like baez there is no middle ground, he is either going to be awesome or completely fail that is not necessarily the case. He can very easily become a solid average to above average regular
What report is that? Have you ever read what Maddon says about Baez, or followed a Cubs blog, such as the excellent Cubs Den?
Very good observation, that’s what I have been trying to say in so many words myself.
Uggla had a great career until the concussions messed up his visual processing.
Maddon played Bryant in CF. If putting him in LF improves the team, he won’t hesitate to play Bryant there.
I talked to the Red Sox front office. They say move Baez to LF. If he can play SS, he can play in the OF they say.
Are they aware that Hanley Ramirez is sitting at a -0.3 WAR because of his defense?
I think the “I talked to the Red Sox front office” is the giveaway that he’s taking a swipe at the Sox. I think he’s painfully aware how bad Hanley is in the field.
Wouldn’t it be more likely that if the Cubs really wanted Baez in their lineup they would move *him* to LF?
Bryant is destined for LF IMO. Besides Baez is their best infielder.
You misspelled Russell.
If Baez was that Good ,the cubs would find a spot for him the Lineup,
Love hearing the Cubs are convinced Schwarber will be the long term future Cubs catcher. Dealing Baez is a mistake IMO. You except those K’s with the other production. He has a very acceptable 23% K rate. His walk rate is at a more than acceptable 13%. Keep in mind this is a slugger. His defense is excellent. A lot of his errors are more about him getting to difficult balls and thus creating difficult chances w/a high probability of error.
You can’t have Castro, Baez & Russell on the same team though, and the Cubs lack pitching.
Alas, they can and will have all three on the same team. And Theo and Jed know how to acquire pitching.
Bad news for the rest of the NL.
Yea, Brewers have plenty of Number Fours and Five staters for Theo Staff !
Why not? There are a ton of options to do precisely that, some more practical than others admittedly.
SS Castro, 2B Baez, 3B Russell.
SS Russell, 2B Castro, 3B Baez
SS Russell, 2B Baez, LF Castro
Or really any combination thereof. Obviously the preference is to eventually find Russell at short, give that it maximizes his value and his benefit to the team both. Bryant may or may not stick at third, which will dictate some other options. But to claim the Cubs can’t have them all is simply false. Of course they can. Whether that’s the best option is another question.
seems as if AAA stats don’t translate to the ML very well as far as Baez goes.
Keep in mind that guys aren’t always the players they were at 21. And that Baez’s work-ethic is widely lauded as superb.
Starlin Kastro is not going anywhere. You can take that to the bank.
what about starlin castro though?
I really doubt Schwarber will stick at catcher. He’s too good of a hitter you would want him in your lineup every day
American League DH for career !
Baez to the Royals makes the most sense to me. not the Mets.
For?
Start with Zimmer maybe add Griffin. then some further down Prospect.
Move Bryant to left, Castro to third, Russell to SS where he is best and Baez to 2B. Then you can move Schwarber to OF or Almora or Alcantera with Soler and Bryant. Problem solved.
Cuteo injured, Zimmerman Velopcity is down and 32 Yr old Greinke walks.
David has a serious Back Injury , I like and pray for him , but from a Professional Organizational Stand point they should be prepared for the Worst.
They are. They’ve got Flores ready to take over if needed and Murphy over there right now.
Just the Facts , Less quarter make it in Majors .
Bryant to LF and Baez to third, or trade Baez for some pitching to a team needing a SS.