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.
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.