9:05pm: The Cubs may be targeting Alex Cobb, Topkin tweets. The outstanding righty had his UCL replaced back in May and will obviously miss a good portion of the coming season. But he projects to earn just $4MM next year (an exact match for his 2015 salary) and would come with another cheap season of control thereafter.
5:45pm: Tampa Bay’s target in talks with Chicago is “definitely Baez,” Topkin tweets. He adds that the club is chatting with several other teams on deals at the moment.
Meanwhile, ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers tweets that Moore and Cobb appear to be more likely possibilities for the Cubs to pursue than is Archer, which is hardly surprising. He also says that, while relievers are “in play” in talks, the Cubs would “have to get a starter back.”
2:22am: The Cubs and Rays are in discussions about a deal that would send Javier Baez to Tampa in exchange for pitching, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Topkin isn’t sure how developed the talks are, or if a trade is likely to happen. On Sunday, 670TheScore.com’s Bruce Levine reported that Chicago and Tampa had been in talks.
Chicago has been looking for both starting pitching and bullpen help this offseason, and the Rays are a potential fit in either department. On the relief side, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger have drawn widespread interest from several teams looking to reinforce the back end of their bullpen, and the Cubs fit that description according to recent reports.
Tampa Bay has already dealt Nathan Karns to the Mariners but it’s possible the club could continue to trade from its starting pitching reserves. One would think that it would take one of the Rays’ more established arms (Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, Drew Smyly or possibly Erasmo Ramirez) to land a major power prospect like Baez, and it’s also probably safe to assume that Chris Archer continues to be unavailable in trade talks.
Baez was the ninth overall pick of the 2011 draft and a consensus top-seven prospect heading into the 2014 season. He has yet to make an impact in his brief time at the MLB level, however, as Baez has posted a .201/.252/.346 slash line and 10 homers in 309 career plate appearances, with a whopping 119 strikeouts. He struck out at a near-record rate in 2014, so while he improved in that department in 2015, Baez almost had nowhere to go but up. That propensity for swinging and missing has also been apparent at the minor league level (426 K’s in 1678 PA) but Baez has also crushed minor league pitching to the tune of an .888 OPS and 89 homers.
Baez was drafted as a shortstop but has seen time at second and third as the Cubs have tried to find him a position amidst their other top youngsters (Kris Bryant and Addison Russell) and Starlin Castro. With the Rays, Evan Longoria is locked into third and Logan Forsythe emerged at second last year, so Baez’s best fit is likely back at short, though they did just get Brad Miller from Seattle. Baez could also see some time at DH or possibly even first, even how the Rays are traditionally flexible position-wise.
cubsflan
I would think its going to be a deal built around for a starter and a reliever. Going to guess Ordorizzi/ Moore and Boxberger/McGee for Baez +more
greatd
The Cubs don’t need anymore depth.
They need an impact arm and a defensively sound center fielder.
If I were Theo I wouldn’t go after any of the Rays pitching.
But I’d go after Kevin Kiermaier which I doubt the Rays will part with
Burns
Agreed, I Baez is too big of a centerpiece for the non top-tier arms the rays have.
Ethan M.
The Rays might not have that many “headline” pitchers (other than Archer), but guys like Jake McGee and Alex Cobb have been been pretty reliable. Baez is a promising prospect but he didn’t put up jaw-dropping numbers during his time in the majors. I think trading McGee or Cobb or some other mixture of pitchers would be a fair deal.
sdsuphilip
Would guess this would be for Odorizzi
cubsflan
I agree, I think it will be Odorizzi just because of the upside he has and I think the Cubs will also get either Boxberger or McGee in the deal as well
therealryan
Cubs will have to add a lot more to get Odorizzi and one of the relievers together.
Baez alone isn’t enough for Odorizzi. Odorizzi is a low end #2 who is 25 and has 4 years of team control remaining. Baez is enough to be the a centerpiece, but the Cubs will have to add more.
McGee is one of the top RP in baseball and has 2 years before FA, while Boxberger has been good and still has 5 years of control. By themselves either one will take a top prospect to headline a potential deal. Combining Odorizzi and either McGee/Boxberger will take a haul.
cubsflan
I know, I said it would be Baez +more. I would offer Baez, Vogelbach, Almora, Zagunis, and another pitching prospect
therealryan
I didn’t see your comment below with the + more until after. This would be an interesting deal with a lot of young talent on both sides moving. The Cubs would be wise to try and get Jennings in the deal too. His knee is shot, but getting off the Trop turf might be enough to keep him relatively healthy. If so, he could be a 3 WAR CF and a steal for the Cubs.
petrie000
in that case let’s hope they don’t try and get one of the relievers… those are never worth the trade price anyways…
therealryan
I can understand that feeling and generally tend to agree with it. However, I do think McGee would be a great fit for the Cubs. He’s young, relatively inexpensive and lights out from the left side. He has also excelled pitching as both a closer and set up guy if you think a relievers roll matters. He would be expensive to acquire, but it could be worth it for the Cubs to have Rodon and McGee shutting down the 8th and 9th and shortening games in the playoffs.
chicubbies1
If they trade Baez (or Soler for that matter) it better be for a SP and not a reliever. You don’t trade blue chip prospects/young major leaguers for a 1 inning specialist.
That said, I don’t think I like the team they’re talking to is Tampa. Matt Moore is trash. He’s always injured and he can’t go much pas 5 IP because he walks about 4-5 batters per 9IP. Moore also in his limited due to injury time in the majors has a mediocre 3.82 career ERA and a 4.05 WHIP to go with it. Pass. Unless the cost is someone like… Alcantara, Moore isn’t worth it.
That said if the Rays are willing to listen I would love to see a return of Archer. If he was feasibly possible to attain I say trade whatever you have to trade to get him back. Soler, Baez, and McKinney??? Hell I’ll even throw in Vogelbach as well. Cubs rotation of Arrieta, Lester, Archer, Lackey, Hendricks….. mmm mmm mmmmmmmm. Cubs infield would still be Bryant, Russell, Castro, and Rizzo…… solid. OF would be Schwarber and Coghlan in the corners. But adding 2 cheap pitchers in Archer and Lackey leaves ample room to sign Heyward. Schwarber, Heyward, and Coghlan is a solid OF. The Cubs still have like 6 or more solid OF prospects in the minors so losing Soler and McKinney isn’t too much a loss. Vogelbach is forever blocked by Rizzo. And Baez…. Cubs just have too many MI players/prospects….. someone’s gotta go. Russell, Castro, La Stella, and Gleyber Torres are all young and all still have high ceilings. So the Cubs can afford to trade several top prospects and a few ML players. Especially if it gets them back what is rightfully ours in Archer, haha. What a regretful move that was. Oh Hendry.
lunchmoney
Baez could not headline a deal for Odorizzi. He just posted 2.9 fWAR in his age 25 season and has 4 more years of cheap control. Baez has a nice prospect pedigree but has shown very little in the major leagues. However, if the Cubs were to add more pieces, and not just throw ins, perhaps they would part with Odorizzi.
Outlaws12
What do you mean he hasn’t showed anything. He hit .201 and only struck out 1 out of every three times he stepped up to the plate.
Oh, I guess you’re right.
Duh….
Bringbacktheblue
How many more SS do the Rays need?
Ray Ray
At least one more apparently.
petrie000
take it from a Cubs fan, you can never have enough shortstops
DW
I really wished Hak-Ju Lee had achieved his potential with the Rays. Obviously he still has time, but he was once a top prospect for a reason and I truly hope he becomes at the very least a UT guy. Korean talent will only expand the game and make it better until near every baseball nation is represented. Maybe someday we will see international players as everyday as Dominican players. Love my baseball 🙂
adshadbolt
Lee got released and is with the Giants now.
3Tavgreg
It seems like the price for Baez is finally getting low enough for the Mets to get back in.
A straight up trade of him for Wheeler seems fair for both teams.
camronj427@yahoo.com
Not after TJ. Maybe Matz with Cubs prospects. Baez still has youth without major injury to his name. Zobrist is the mets starting 2b next year
3Tavgreg
Baez could play SS for Mets, and play Florez at 2nd. They sure don’t need a $15 mill/year utility guy like Zoebust.
petrie000
give me Odorizzi over Wheeler any day. Wheeler’s peripherals aren’t nearly as good… especially the WHIP of 1.33.
cubsflan
I agree. I’m think right now it might be Odorizzi and McGee for Baez +more
petrie000
i really hope it’s Odorizzi… i’ve loved him as a pitcher for a while. he’d be a huge pick-ip for the Cubs.
Moore and Smyly i’m not so big on… they don’t seem like they’d be a huge upgrade. Ramirez is interesting as well, though
cubsflan
If the Rays are getting Baez, I sure hope the Cubs are getting Odorizzi
seamaholic 2
That’s “low”? No way do the Mets trade Wheeler for Kid K over there. Don’t think the Rays would, either, but if they do it will be for Moore, another disappointing former top prospect, or one of the relievers they have on the market.
raysfan1
matt moore isn’t disappointing, he made the allstar team in 2013 and was only going getting better then had to have tommy john in 2014…
cjcicerone18
Cubs should not trade baez. Baez is way better then castro and he has cut down his strikeouts, good defender and better runner than castro and the power is just tremendous
greatd
—
jeffball10
Chris Archer and Jake McGee for Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, and Dylan Cease (Or some other high upside low minors pitcher the Rays like)
danray13
Not happening. Archer is not get trading
danray13
Your crazy to think the Rays would trade arched when they said he is unavailable plus the Cubs had archer already but gave up on him and dealt him to the Rays .
Benjamin 2
The Cubs never gave up on Archer. He was the minor league pitcher of the year when they traded him for Garza as that was the price. You need to trade talent to get talent. You can like that trade or not but just because a team trades a young player it does not mean that team is giving up on him.
baronbeard
Schwarber is not a trade piece the Rays would go for. I don’t even think they will go after Baez cause they have no reason with all the SS prospects they have, including Adames and Robertson.
jedihoyer
schwarber would actually be someone they would love to have, they desperately need cheap power/obp guys. and u get schwarber for the minimum for 2 years, meaning he would be traded 3 years down the road when he actually starts making decent money.
B-Strong
I don’t see why not. Since they’re an AL team, they could slot him into the DH position and get all the upsides of his high potential power, with none of the potential setbacks of putting him in a position. Schwarber is perfect for an AL team needing a bat. Considering the Cubs are going to have to work him in here and there anyways, I’d say it would be prudent to explore the option while his stock is high. Packaging him and Baez and a lower level prostpect for Archer would be a phenominal move for Chicago if they could get it done. I just don’t think the Rays would do it.
baronbeard
That’s the reason Tampa wouldn’t want to go after Schwarber. Archer isn’t going to be moved for a strike out machine. Big potential or not. A DH with one year of experience doesn’t bring back a guy like Archer. I mean if he was included in a package sure. But it would have to blow Tampa away. And if that was the case I wouldn’t mind seeing what he could do at the Trop.
Outlaws12
Are you nuts. Archer for those guys. Not happening
twitchwashere 2
Please be Odorizzi… Please be Odorizzi… Please be Odorizzi…
danray13
If the Rays trade odorizzi they will be regretting it. Plus as a Rays fan I would be pissed because he is my favorite.
baronbeard
I don’t see where the Cubs line up for the Rays in any trade. The places of strength the Cubs have, are the same ones the Rays have. Baez isn’t a proven hitter, neither is Schwarber. Rays need a proven bat, either at first or behind the plate. The latter of the two doesn’t happen much, and the Rays have a .250 16 homer hitter in Jennings. Who can actually play a position. Only pieces I see the Cubs having that Tampa would benefit from is Castro, and moving him to first.
The Rays don’t have to trade either reliever, they have good, cheap contracts, that work for the team. They are just dangling them out there to see what they can get.
CubbieChris
I know it is not a huge sample size or anything but I believe Schwarber proved a lot with his bat during that time. If Schwarber’s name is involved in any trade with TB then you can almost bet Archer’s name will be involved from their end of it. Not that this would ever happen though.
baronbeard
Archer would command the same package that the Rays got him in. It’d be more than Schwarber. Considerably more. He is a cost controlled top of the rotation starter with a future heading towards a Cy Young award.
capnfatback
It would be more than Schwarber, sure, but at the time of the trade, there was no one in the the Archer/Lee/Guyer/Chirinos haul that was as valued as Schwarber is now, not even close.
baronbeard
True, they weren’t. Thinking more with hindsight. Garza wasn’t as good a pitcher as Archer is. The Rays m.o. is to ask for everything including the kitchen sink when they trade a pitcher they value. And I don’t think the Cubs will go for it.
mj-2
Why is everyone so high on Baez?
All he’s shown me is he knows how to strike out at the MLB level. Not saying he can’t turn it around, he’s only 22/23, but so far it’s been an ugly start of nothing else.
Blah blah blah
all you’ve shown is that you didn’t watch him play last year.
Blah blah blah
“Baez almost had nowhere to go but up. ” is an unfair dismissal of the improvements Baez made since his disastrous 2014 campaign. He worked very hard to cut down on the K’s, and it showed. He hit over .300 in the small sample and had clutch hits in an even smaller playoff sample.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
This would be a huge mistake. You should not trade one of your best players for a closer you don’t need and when you already have a closer. Trade Castro if anyone.
Cd360
Castro has negative trade value with his contract.
seamaholic 2
Who on Earth are you referring to as “one of your best players”? Baez? On the Cubs? That’s just laughable. He’s their utility infielder!
braves25
Odorizzi isn’t going to be involved at all. The Rays are talking to him about an extension, they aren’t going to trade him in the middle of those talks……unless he completely tells them to screw off, which I don’t see happening lol. If he can get paid he is willing to listen.
This trade would have to be for bullpen arms, which the Cubs are in need of as well.
baronbeard
Yep. If the Rays trade anyone it’ll either be Smyly or Ramirez. I don’t even see Moore being traded. All the arms that people are wishing are cost controlled on team friendly contracts. They would command more than just Baez. Who plays a position the Rays are stacked at.
beyou02215
Baez would be a great fit for the Pardes, but the Pads would need more than Baez for Ross.
greatd
Am I the only one to think that a second baseman with 20 home run upside is far more valuable then a 3-4 starter? Cubs already have a surplus of pitching. What they need is a 1-2 type guy not another three in Odorizzi. I’d rather try for Julio Teheran dangling Soler. Soler is a bit more proven up to this point but we could still land someone like Justin Upton to counter the loss..
seamaholic 2
You may not be the only one, but you and everyone else who thinks that is wrong. Baez is a strikeout machine who used to be a big time prospect. He’s not worth a 3-4 starter, not even close.
greatd
Who are you to say he can’t turn things around?
He’s still 23 and even if he becomes a .250 hitter with 20 home runs
with his plus defense will be better than a league average second basemen.
It’s nice of you to think you’re the only one right but
his 3A numbers still look promising and he could still become a star.
seamaholic 2
The world is littered with former top prospects that couldn’t hack it in the majors. Baez is headed that direction, and yes, he still can turn things around, but the probability is heading south fast, and teams have to build that into their valuation of him. At this point, he’s worth a good reliever or maybe a hurt starter like Cobb, but I doubt the latter.
greatd
Try to find a second baseman that can hit 37 home runs in one season in the minors buddy.
I’m not saying that he will definitely be a star either but
he is probably the number one second base prospect out there.
There has to be some value in that even if he’s not proven yet.
therealryan
Odorizzi is a #2. Over the past two seasons, he is top 50 in MLB in ERA(45th), FIP(38), xFIP(50), K/9(21) and K-BB%(24). He is also only 25 years old and has 4 years of team control remaining. He is exactly the type of pitcher teams are coveting.
cjh815
I know they say Cubs and Tampa are talk about trade and dodger and red are talking about champmen but Braves have talk to big Dodgers and Cubs about miller and Tehran . I have block bust I know people are going to sit up but here it is
Dodgers get
lp champman
Rp Tehran
C bethancourt
Lp marksberry
Rp cunniff
Of Nick swisher
Ss Baez
Cubs get
Sp Shelby miller
Lp woods
RP Perez
Lp mckirkhan
Cf Bourne
Prospect lee
Reds get
Prospect
McKinney
2b Peraza
Rp Vizcaino
3b Ruiz
C Barnes
Braves get
Of pederson
3b Seaver
Sp buehler
C Stephane
Of van Slyke
There fair trade block bust go in head and break that old fashion block bust. Before any one talk prospects team are reliable prospect are over rated and they want the know not the un know. They want guy that they can use know and know what they going to get not unknow minor leagues because there is huge differ ants from playing in big leagues then even aaa team scout out . They learn player tendency. And they exploit them . And it plays that can make the just ments that make it. that what happen to pederson second half . And teams like cub and Dodgers want plays they know can make these adjustments and most Rookies can make that adjustment it take time . And pederson mite end up being super stars. And Seager mite be all star at 3b or Ss but there been history of player that where going to be super stars that end up being bust. So. And with Cubs they have have excerpt of infields with Cubs and one reason Cubs couldn’t beat mets was after arrieta and Lester they didn’t have great pitching and play offs are not about home runs it about pitching def and timely hitting . That is prime reason royal won last season was.
Alastair
This is unbelievable. ^^^
joparx
…..what does that even say?
Blah blah blah
I can’t believe the time you wasted just to type that nonsense.
Cam
A 24 player trade? I don’t even know if MLB 2k15 has enough open slots to make that happen.
chicubbies1
I’d work on mastering English before I’d type a comment. I know some German, but I don’t go leaving comments on German language message boards.
s to what I can decipher though from what I think is a hypothetical trade proposal you concocted the Cubs give up Baez and McKinney and receive 3 starters Shelby Miller, Alex Wood, and Williams Perez. AND reliever Andrew McKirahan and OF Michael Bourne…. who’s been pretty much useless since 2013. I have no clue who “prospect Lee is” so I’ll leave him out. Despite the unwanted Bourne that is a hell of a haul for just Baez and McKinney. 2 bona fide ML starters in Miller and Wood and a possible decent starter in Perez. Then throw in a reliever who’s had success in the minors but had a rocky ML debut season in ATL?? No way this happens. If Atlanta wants the world and then some for their #3 caliber Miller, I highly doubt this happens. This trade is soooo far fetched it is insane. WAY too many players listed here that their current teams really don’t want to give up.
Again though, I’m hoping English is a new language for you because this was almost unreadable.
cjh815
First I tell you if you can’t read what I say then have to you my phone has had issue’s but, you do know there has been 4 team trade before for more few player right and you do know that in 1958 Yankees and tiger trade just between them traded 18 player in one trade so there has been presidency for such a trade . So this is not so reach. And for team like the Los Angels do they want keep lossing in play off or win a World Series some time you have to make trade that hurts and for Cubs they want to win also but in next few years they will have to sign all there plays to long term deals and they can’t pay all of them and one thing they need is pitching especial starting pitching . That what cost them last year because, play off are about pitching and def with timely hitting. Not all about home runs you do know that right and when it come to speed gun it over rated . It not how hard you can through it . It’s called pitching . So is that easier for you to understand that
Blah blah blah
Baez + a minor piece for Odorizzi and one of Boxberger and Mcgee. Rays will be reluctant but Cubs must stand their ground here.
Cobb, and his glass UCL will not be enough.
baronbeard
Cobb would be the first pitcher they trade. He has the least team friendly contract, and would probably not go for an extension.
seamaholic 2
Ha! Dream on.
baronbeard
Exactly. I don’t see a trade with Chicago happening. Tampa doesn’t have to trade anyone and the Cubs value their prospects too much.
smelliott00
Who actually took that time
smelliott00
That’s impressive
canelosd
Wishful thinking on my part but the Cubbies should trade Baez to the Pads for Cashner. Maybe it will lessen the sting from trading away Rizzo for Cashner a few years back.
cubs101wins
Pass on Cashner he is a DL stint in the making.
cubs101wins
Wow I know that Baez hasnt shown much to go with his hype but he did turn it around last year and hit very respectably with POP at the plate and played well in the playoffs minus 1 error against the mets. Baez and Happ for Archer isnt far out of line despite the crazy hype the rays fans put on their pitching. If their rotation was that good they would have showed better last season. Rember good pitching beats good hitting they say and the rays were mediocre at worst and OK at best in the pitching areas minus archer. The truth is I would rather have Shelby Miller than any rays pitcher mentioned minus Archer.
chicubbies1
Baez, Soler, McKinney, Vogelbach, Hammel for Chris Archer, Jake McGee
Hammel for
Sign Heyward. 10 yr $200M deal w/opt out after 5 years
$15M; $17M; $18M; $19M; $21M…… opt out? years 6-10 $22M
He likely opts out after 5 years because he’ll be entering his age 31 season heading into that 6th year. That’s still pretty young and if he does what he did last year but sees his 20+ HR power return…. he’ll definitely opt out because he’d fetch waaaay more in free agency than the 5 years and $110M left on the deal.
Sign Kelly Johnson 1 year – $4M deal
re-sign Denorfia 1 year – $3.5M deal
2016 cubs
CF Heyward $15M
LF Coghlan $3.9M
1B Rizzo $5.286M
3B Bryant $520K-ish
RF Schwarber $520K-ish
2B Castro $7.857M
C Montero $14M
SS Russell $520K-ish
Bench
C Ross $2.5M
2B/3B La Stella $590K-ish
OF/1B/2B/3B Kelly Johnson $4M
OF Denorfia $3.5M
OF Szczur $510K-ish
Rotation
Arrieta $10.6M
Lester $25M
Archer $2.197M
Lackey $16M
Hendricks $520K-ish
Bullpen
CL Rondon $3.6M
SUa McGee $4.7M
SUb Strop $4.7M
SUc Ramirez $520K-ish
RP Grimm $1M
RP Wood $6.4M
RP Brothers/Richard $1.42M/$2M
That team costs about $135-140M. A pretty small increase from the 2015 payroll of just over $120M. You’re losing 2, young promising ML players in Baez and Soler but replacing them with similar aged players but with more talent at the present time in Archer and heyward (through free agency). You lose expendable starter Hammel and prospects McKinney and Vogelbach, but gain solid reliever McGee. There’s no guarantee on the outcome of McKinney or Vogelbach but their ceilings currently are high. But V-bach is forever blocked by Rizzo, so he’s expendable. Trading McKinney sucks, but they still have almora, Happ, Dewees, Zagunis, Martinez, and Jimenez as solid OF prospects…… how many OF prospects does one team need? Almora is near ML ready, Happ has a lot of hype since being drafted in June, and there was MAJOR headlines around the potential and the subsequent stealing of Eddy Martinez away from the Giants just recently. So again, losing mckinney blows, but they got a ton more coming up right behind him. Adding Archer and McGee ($6.9ish million combined) for Baez, Soler, Hammel, Vogelbach, and McKinney (roughly $13M between Hammel, Baez, and Soler) is well worth it IMO. Rays take on more money, but it is across 3 ML players instead of the $6.9M they have invested in Archer and McGee. They also get top, cheap prospects in Vogelbach and McKinney. That’s potentially 4 future position player starters for Tampa and a 5th starter for their Ace and a reliever. MORE than fair.
therealryan
Archer is probably the most valuable pitcher in baseball right now and you think Baez and Happ are enough. It sounds like you are the one over hyping the Cubs prospects, not the other way around. Baez has struggled with contact throughout the minors and has a 38.5% K% so far in over 300 MLB PA. Even last season, where he showed so much improvement, he struck out in 30% of PA. That means one out of every three times he comes to the plate he walks back to the dugout with his bat in hand and we can all agree that is huge improvement for him. Happ hit .241 with a .315 OBP in A ball last year. Sure he has talent, but he is still far away and hasn’t even proven he can hit minor league pitching yet. This is the type of package it would take to maybe get Odorizzi, not Archer. This is the same Odorizzi who has more team control, higher strikeout rates, lower walk rates and lower FIP and xFIP than Shelby Miller. All the while pitching in the AL east compared to the NL.
chicubbies1
I sincerely hope they don’t trade Baez for Cobb. No doubt Cobb has had his successes in the majors, but like the report says, he’s coming off elbow surgery and will likely miss pretty much all of 2016 rehabbing. Way too risky seeing as it is no guarantee he comes back to the level he was pre-injury. Baez showed promise in his limited time up in the regular season last year….. MUCH improved over his 2014 debut. He also did fairly well in limited play this postseason. I’d rather see them trade Soler. They have an insane amount of OF prospects that could easily pan out to be just as good as Soler and maybe better. Currently that list of OF prospects is McKinney, Almora, Ian Happ, Dewees, Zagunis, recent steal from SF in Eddy Martinez, and Eloy Jimenez…… that’s 7 very promising OF prospects…… I’d say it’s a safe bet to trade off Soler. McKinney and Almora are near MLB ready. Zagunis, Happ and Martinez could be ready in 2-3 years, maybe sooner. Dewees and Jimenez are minimum 3 years out. They have OF options. Baez’ bat has way too much potential still to be traded for an injured starting pitcher who is rehabbing from a serious injury to his throwing arm…… you know, his sole source of value and only skill set is broken right now. I’d rather see them use Baez in CF and hopefully by July he’s hitting around .270-.280 with a .330-.340 OBP with 12 or so HRs. Then you could pretty much trade him for whatever you want come the deadline. If he falters….. oh well. To me that is the same value as trading for a pitcher with a blown out arm.
baronbeard
And the Cubs would only get about a year and a half of use of Cobb before he became a free agent.
pullhitter445
Wouldn’t be shocked to see this turn into a three team deal, Tampa Chicago and ?
cjh815
I love how every time I bring up trade that bring up teams top prospect going to brave in trade for Shelby miller or Julio Tehran that every body act like he junk not worth bag a of beans but they be same fans that will say best thing sines slice bread when he pitches for them
cjh815
I found out something very interesting for all you fans who don’t think miller or Tehran aren’t worth top prospects here some stat for you
Play. W–L—–era—-G–Ings—So—whip—
A. 6 17 —3.02. 33. 205.1. 171. 1.247
B. 10. 8. —5.05. 22. 118.1. 93. 1.458
C. 14 12—3.70. 32. 229. 136. 1.396
D. 8. 11. 3.18. 26. 161. 134. 1.147
E. 12 13. 3.48. 34. 224. 218. 1.137
F. 12 11. 3.22. 28. 192.2. 172. 1.173
G. 11 17. 4.84. 33. 201.1. 163. 1.403
H. 14 14. 3.47. 33. 233. 222. 1.220
I. 11 10. 4.33. 30. 176. 152. 1.285
J. 14. 8. 5.43. 33. 179. 161. 1.503
K. 10 11 4.32. 32. 193. 168. 1.268
L. 12 8. 3.85. 31. 215. 184. 1.107
M. 15 8 3.41. 32. 203. 225. 1.230
If look you see very close number
Just so you know
Player
A miller
B arrieta
C wainwright
D Zimmerman
E price