As the offseason continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. What will the Cubs do with Bellinger?
The biggest news of the weekend was the Cubs and Astros completing a blockbuster deal that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago. While the deal added a bona fide star bat to the lineup on the north side, the trade also stands to further complicate the club’s outfield logjam. While it’s at least theoretically possible that the Cubs could push Michael Busch to third base and start Bellinger at first, Busch has not shown himself to be capable of handling the hot corner and the Cubs have top prospect Matt Shaw seemingly poised to take over the position as soon as Opening Day 2025.
What’s more, Chicago was reportedly “determined” to move either Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki even before adding Tucker to the mix. Now that Tucker is in the fold, it’s nearly impossible to imagine the club not dealing Bellinger (or, at least, another hitter) before Opening Day. The Yankees have been the team by far most frequently connected to Bellinger, but it appears the two sides could be in a standoff regarding the financial terms of a trade.
2. What’s next for the Astros?
On the other side of the trade, the Astros landed a haul of talent in exchange for Tucker. Isaac Paredes seems poised to take over for Alex Bregman at third base should Bregman sign elsewhere in free agency, while Hayden Wesneski bolsters the club’s rotation depth and Cam Smith immediately became the Astros’ consensus top prospect. Questions still remain regarding the club’s plans for the remainder of the offseason even aside from the possibility of a Framber Valdez trade. They’ll need to add to the outfield after losing Tucker, and finding help at first base will be necessary as well. If Bregman were to return to Houston or if the Astros were to acquire Nolan Arenado, Paredes could slide over to first. Barring that, it’s possible the club could pursue a hitter such as Christian Walker, in whom they’ve previously shown interest.
3. A’s continue making moves:
The nomadic Athletics have continued to make moves in the aftermath of their departure from Oakland, following up their signing of right-hander Luis Severino with a trade for lefty Jeffrey Springs this weekend. The club’s recent moves have added a hefty amount of payroll to the A’s ledger, though the club figures to add even more talent to the roster (and money to the books) as they look to avoid a potential grievance from the players’ union regarding their use (or lack thereof) of revenue sharing dollars.
A’s GM David Forst indicated that while an additional rotation arm to pair with Severino and Springs could be in the cards, the club is currently hoping to add a third baseman. While it would be a shock to see a player like Bregman decide to spend the next few years in West Sacramento, there are a number of lower-level options like Jorge Polanco or Yoan Moncada who could find the promise of everyday playing time with the A’s attractive. A trade for Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm would also add an established bat and bump the payroll a bit further north, and the acquisitions of Severino and Springs would make it easier for the A’s to deal some optionable rotation depth.
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There really aren’t any bad one year contracts. I think they should keep Bellinger. He’s a quality player with a high ceiling. He lets counsell play matchups and have a super flexible lineup.
The playing time per position goes something like this:
RF: Tucker 80%
Bellinger 20
CF PCA 90
Bellinger 10
LF Happ 85
Suzuki 15
1B Busch 50
Bellinger 50
2B Hoerner 65
Busch 35
SS Swanson 95
Hoerner 5
3B Shaw 80
Hoerner 20
DH Suzuki 80
Tucker 15
Bellinger 5
C Amaya 50
Kelly 50
They can play matchups a bit and have great depth in case of injury.
They still have plenty of cap space for pitching.
I completely agree. They are well under the luxury tax threshold. If they trade Triantos/canario + for someone like Luzardo they just got a potential front of the rotation arm that is budget friendly. Then you still have money to add another bullpen arm. I have yet to see an article that has said Jed must stay under the luxury tax. It might depend on whether he went over last year.
My brain just melted on this….
Busch playing 2B? Bad idea. They have no need for Bellinger. Id much rather they spend the money on pitching.
He plays second depending on who’s pitching.
There’s still money for pitching.
So I guess Caissie and Alcantara both get 0% at all positions in 25.
A’s should use some revenue sharing money to extend Brent Rooker,
Yay, Sacramento A’s!
A’s GM hinted at an extension coming up. Looks like they are still negotiating.
Astros got a haul for Tucker????? Really?
@billy
I wouldn’t say a “haul”
But they did get some pretty good players :3
They got what they needed to be competitive. I am surprised they traded him because he really is their star and he is in his prime. The Astros should be able to be a contender. I like it for the Cubs because they really dealt from depth.
@Goose
I like this move for the Astros, you don’t need to pay tucker, plus you get a new 3rd baseman, and cam smith, who can play both 3rd or left, probably left if Isaac stays at third.
I don’t think Dubon is very good.
And then the cubs get one of the best outfielders in the game, for what seems to be decently cheap.
They get “one of the best outfielders in the game” for exactly one season. Stros did a very nice piece of work in that deal.
Fair trade all around, hurt to give up Smith, but for Tucker only feeling one of the pieces in the package and the most recent one at that can live with.
seamaholic: Unless the cubs made the deal hoping to sign Tucker to an extension.
Come on avenger. If that’s the case, then Hoyer is going to be very disappointed because Ricketts isn’t going to pay 400M and I also can’t imagine Tucker not testing the market being this close and especially after seeing what Soto got.
It’s a win win for sure if Tucker comes to love the Cub franchise and his teammates and they can extend him.
I hated to lose Smith for i believe he’ll be the real deal .Love Isaac, but he’s a better fit in Houston’s park. Bully for him, I think he’s a fine young man.
People can dump on the Ricketts non stop if they so choose, but they’re not stupid. Tucker is a guy you open the checkbook for and i don’t believe they’d have made this trade if they weren’t willing to pay him. The question is how much past $400mm will they need to go?
Natural- So you’re saying it was a GOOD idea to trade 3 guys and pay him 400 million for a guy you could have just paid 400 million for next year, WITHOUT the players? Are you Santa Claus?
And if Smith falls on his face, as top prospects sometimes do….you basically traded you’re best player in Tucker for Paredes…..and that’s a steal for the Cubs…even as a rental……
It’s the Christmas season.
If they in fact let Bregman go, they got an average 3rd baseman to replace him which is a downgrade, a maybe/might be prospect (highly touted but these kinds of players have failed before), and a throw in for their best player……..if you think that’s a “nice piece of work” then so be it but you’d find many who disagree…..
Agree, but there’s no way Tucker isn’t going to test free agency to determine his “true” value and we know his agent feels the same way….he’s not signing any extension in or out of the season with the Cubs without testing the waters……
There is little chance Tucker doesn’t go Free Agency after 2025. The Cubs have a track record of not extending contracts. And the lure of being the top bat in Free Agency will compel his agent to push him to break the bank.
NO way he’s signing an extension….his agent simply wouldn’t allow it and how might the Cubs determine his true value without him testing the free agent waters…..he may love his teammates, love Chicago pizza, marry a Wrigley but he isn’t going to sign before he knows what other teams with great teammates, great pizza and chicks galore has to offer him in CASH!
They got one really good player, Cam Smith. Parades may do well in the Juice Box, but he’s nothing special and Wesneski throws batting practice to lefties.
The whole Bellinger thing is getting old. Another brilliant Hoyer move. Pure genius.
@Uncle
You don’t like bellinger? he’s been pretty good for the cubs.
I didn’t mind them re signing him. However right before ST and to get the deal he got AND all the power in the deal? C’mon.
@Uncle
That’s understandable.
There’s one thing we know about Jed, That if there’s a way to make a player hard to trade Ole Jed will find it. You can tell by his email address, ” UcanhoseoleJed.com.
There were Cubs fans clamoring for Jed to give Bellinger $200 million. When they got him for $80 and he had a mediocre year all those fans turned into critics.
Well I didn’t see one smart fan clamor to give him 200 million ever so that’s a complete lie. When nobody signed him I thought they should bring him back for 1 year, Maybe a club option for 2 Because Boras and Bellinger had lost all the negotiating power and we all know what happened. But the Cubs might want to hold on to Bellinger because when Tucker walks after this year they might want him back after it all turns to mud.
The words Genius and Hoyer have never been said in the same sentence before. In a division that’s been winnable he’s done nothing and now in the last year of his contract he makes an effort to keep his job.
Per Fangraphs, even after the additions of Tucker, Kelly, Boyd, etc, the Cubs are $42mm under the tax threshold. Screw the Yankees. Let Counsell use his skills to fit Bellinger’s bat in the lineup as best he can. It’s a much longer lineup with Belli in there. Take turns benching PCA and Busch against tough lefties, make if work.
Busch at third Bellinger at 1st
You don’t know what kind of player Cam Smith is going to be…..Gleyber Torres is a great example…teams were falling all over themselves to sign/trade for him….candidate for ROY….and take a look now at what you have……a average MLB ballplayer with a $.10 cent baseball head…..Paredes is average at this stage too and Wesneski is a 5th starter/innings eater at this juncture…….they traded their best player, who they probably could have re-signed once his value was determined, for these guys….all in the perspective I guess….
I saw almost every game Smith played for the Cubs except his mini trial in the Arizona Complex League. He destroyed baseballs everywhere he went while playing a more than passable 3B. He certainly gave off the impression of being worth keeping to find out. Unless you’re Hoyer who now had a shiny bauble he couldn’t wait to trade for a rental.
chem- Ehhhhhh wrong answer Hans.
Ok w/e you say Cam Smith fan boy
I understand Bellinger is horrible but he is just a loser idiot keyboard kid like you
Yes. Keep Bellinger. Who knows how PCA and Busch will handle the sophomore jinx? Most of the speculation on Bellinger’s value to the team presupposes that all of his teammates perform as expected, but that never happens. And you can be sure someone gets hurt. Bellinger is a winning player: he’s a five-tool player in his prime.
Chem- Yep I’m a 68 year old kid. Nice try. Ehhhh wrong answer again Hans. You like being wrong don’t you? LMAO
Uncle Mike let me apologize. Next time you use your senor discount, please think of me. Also Try not to get to bed too early tonight Hans. After all, your just now getting used to the keyboard aren’t you?
Absolute haul ! They got their new best prospect who will be clearly better than any competition pick for Tucker. Another player with a proven MLB track record and form top prospect and a potential back end rotation piece with an option in exchange for 1 season of Tucker
Excellent work by Houston front office !
Cam Smith has a chance to be really good. But he’s a prospect. Personally, I prefer to take a wait and see approach. Cam is going into his 2nd season in minor league ball.
It’s a good deal overall. Paredes should be good for maybe a 2.7 bWAR * 3, while they only gave up a 5 bWAR player, plus an arb pick. And that doesn’t count a #6-type pitcher and a solid prospect.
But just as importantly, as Goose mentioned, this keeps them competitive and allows them to sneak under the CBT cap AND still have a chance at coming in 1st. I’d liken this to what Preller did last year. Reset and compete.
The reason that worked with the Padres last year is they found Profar and he performed like a good player while making 1 million last year. I wouldn’t count on recreating that strategy.
They got a real good prospect, a solid major leaguer and some rotation depth for a year of a guy who has all but said he isn’t going to sign an extension. It’s maybe not reflective of Tucker’s talent when you take the contract stuff out of the equation but it’s still pretty decent. As a Jays fan, I can only hope the Jays can get something similar if Vlad decides not to sign.
When Cam Smith spends 6+ years crushing the ball folks will consider this a steal.
@Halos
that’s a big “if”
Kid absolutely destroyed the ACC then put up a slugging percentage that starts with a 6 in the minors last year.
Theres no guarantee but I really like the kid and really hoped the Angels would take him last draft.
@halosheavenjj. Still like moore. He had a hot start. His injury could’ve been the reason why he started slumping. Plus he faced some really good pitchers in the sec.
Moore has looked good so far.
Outside of the Troy Glaus years third base has been a problem here. I think Smith would’ve solved it.
And the Angels are seriously lacking in power, which Smith provides.
So are the Cubs. Now.
@halosheavenjj. Moore might make it to third. Second base just makes more sense now. Hopefully Washington is attached to his hip working on his defense. Rengifo is a free agent, and Rendon might get cut next year.
If Moore is ticketed for third, then choosing Smity over Moore makes even more sense.
Moore’s draft profile says second or left field with lots of doubles. And it’s looking like that will be the case.
@halosheavenjj. Yeah he played 3rd sparingly in college. Perry said right after selecting him he wants Washington to work with him. Also I think the defense thing is overblown. Watched him play about 10 games for the trash pandas, and it wasn’t bad. Who knows what the plan is, but 2nd and 3rd could be open. I think they move rengifo at the deadline if they can’t re-sign him
Pretty good haul for a one and done player…yes.
I’m not sure it’s out of the realm of possibility that Tucker resigns with the Cubs or could have resigned in Houston for an offer Tucker and his agent turned down
Oh it’s pretty far out. He’s said repeatedly that he wants to test the market and he’ll be the #1 or #2 position player on the market next year.
Chem – let us know what other players the Cubs have ever signed to an extension for the kind of money Tucker will command.
None.
After what Soto signed for it will pretty much seem like nothing and I almost guarantee you it will be a contract less than 400 mil
Great, now convince Cubs ownership to spend that money.
Tucker is going FA. Cubs not a franchise who give big extensions. Especially when it’ll cost them $200m+.
Yes….its as far out there as possible….he’s going free agent to find his value……
A one and done player coming off an injured season, no less.
His health will be fine. And he has the same agent as Dansby Swanson. If you think Hoyer didn’t have conversations with him about their amenability to a long term deal with the Cubs before this trade, you don’t know business. No way he makes this move if there was no hope of a future deal. May not happen, but I’ll bet the door is open.
There is zero chance of an extension. However it doesn’t mean he won’t resign in Chicago.
Come on braves seiya would be the absolute perfect player to shore up our outfield situation! De la Cruz and Capel won’t do it!
I think that de La Cruz signing might be scary good ! When talented players find talented organizations sometimes amazing things happen !
Big whiffa: Or it could be Kelenic 2.0.
After seeing De la Cruz here in Pittsburgh for half a season, I have to wonder about your thinking. Maybe a change of scenery and real hitting coach will help but boy, he sure strikes out a lot
Big whiffa is a big whiffa on most of his posts but the community is here to give his posts the attention big whiffa so richly deserves. Whiffa is a compiler. He has 66.6 mlbtrWAR across 18 seasons.
We need to get him on Pirates threads then.
He’d be batting cleanup
My point exactly. He’s only played for Pittsburg and Miami. Be interesting to see what a competent franchise can do with him. Maybe nothing, but worth a flyer….
Y’all are too kind lol
Braves: Have you seen Suzuki play the OF? He’s Soto without the bat.
If Alec Bohm can keep doing what he’s doing, I think he would be a good fit for the royals :3
or perhaps…the mariners?? :3
The A’s can have Candelario for a song. One verse, no royalties needed.
@this one
Candelario is such a weird and interesting player.
I advise you look at his savant page.
absolutely no red XD
Man that would be a dream for reds ! Use those funds on Robert and Naylor and reds are legit contenders
Those comments Tampa made about Boyle are very interesting too ! TOR potential….well, they aren’t wrong
Boyle’s problem was control/walks. The way the Rays develop pitchers, if they get that under control…oh yeah.
The Cubs are in a great position. I figured once they dealt for Tucker they would move Bellinger. If they are smart they hold out until the Yankees meet their price. They don’t have to deal him and he is a perfect fit for the Yankees/
It all depends on how much the Yankees want to eat on Bellinger’s contract. I think the Cubs snagging Tucker gave them leverage over the Yankees. Cody would solve a few of the Yankees’s problems so they’ll have more pressure to get a trade done I think.
By getting Tucker they lost leverage for any trades of Bellinger/Suzuki. Now every other team knows they need to move someone. Before they could pretend they might keep their players if they don’t get what they want.
Wade: The cubs did this to themselves by signing him to a Please Don’t Leave Us contract. It’s the cubs that are going to have to eat the biggest slice of Bellinger’s contract.
I think the Cubs snagging Tucker gave them leverage over the Yankees.
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Or the NYY now know that the Cubs HAVE to move Belli unless they move Busch to 3rd, which I doubt.
So right now, Belli would start at 1st and Busch at 3rd correct ? Cubs may keep him til Shaw is ready.
Yankees will eat the whole contract. Cubs won’t get much in return but if they could pry out a bullpen piece from yanks
Yankees are the only customer though. They have all the leverage. Belli is well underwater. That player option in 2026 just kills his value.
When you have a player who declines to opt out it typically means there is no more money to be had or less money by doing so. In otherwords either 0 or negative trade value. I doubt the Yankees pick up the entire tab.
They can’t just keep him until Shaw is ready, the few teams interested will have moved on by then. Plus if he gets injured or slumps out of the gate no one would take him anyways
Supposedly it’s only 10 million that’s the holdup. Just meet in the middle and get it done.
All A’s …all of the time.
Dave Dombrowski enjoys these morning updates or he would otherwise have no idea what is going on in major league baseball.
I once watched Dave Dombrowski drink 37 beers then eat an entire spiral ham. That man is an animal and he is lucky to still be alive.
Wade – I see what you did there! 37 backwards is 73, the number of beers that a certain third baseman drank on a cross-country flight (not counting the additional 34 beers he drank directly before and after the flight).
I don’t know what you are talking about. I am a devout Christian and known teetotaler. Dombrowski is a degenerate and I in no way took part in or condone his animalistic behavior. We did not set a fire in that brothel. We did not attempt to ride a dog like a horse. Those stories are fabrications.
If I’m Cubs a package Suzuki, Brown, and a decent prospect for Castillo. Then maybe trade bellinger for bullpen help but they may need belli until Shaw is ready !
Cubs are looking like legit contenders for a long period of time. Well done on the mini rebuild
Oh and give Tucker his 400 million. Let him be face of franchise for this next season of relevance
@big
10 years 400?
Big whiffa: I doubt one of the players Seattle would want is Suzuki. It would either have to be someone else or in addition to.
If I am the Mariners, I’d be glad to do that. I’d go so far as to suggest it might be a slight overpay by the Cubs, but in a strategic kind of way.
They ain’t trading Brown. Suzuki and Brown is an overpay.
How is Suzuki and brown and overpay for a reliable good starting pitcher
Castillo is getting paid like a good reliable starter. Is he slightly underpaid, probably.
I think brown alone is worth more than Castillo. Suzuki contract has surplus value too. I can’t see the cubs making that trade. The Cubs dilemma is Bellinger is a good baseball player but he is guaranteed 30 + million for 2025 and isn’t a 30 million dollar player. He might be a 22 million dollar player. If they eat a bunch of money they should be able to get a player that can help them in 2025. I certainly wouldn’t eat a massive chunk and the prize is Will Warren.
Well there must be something idk about brown I’ll look into it, but the other problem with belli is that he’s overpaid for two years if he does poorly
Did I miss something on brown ? Why are cubs in on every pitcher if they have any confidence in him ?? From my perspective, if he’s not moved to pen, his value to the franchise will plummet bc he’s going to be like 8/9 in organization depth when Horton is ready
And to trade Suzuki for Castillo is close to even money. Cubs can spend all the money they want thou ! They operate close to no financial restrictions. They can keep Belli and add Castillo if they choose too and it not effect their decision making
Browns stuff is really good. He did very well before the injury. I think by 2026 he’s going to be in the rotation for good. He is not going to go from 50 innings to 175. Tailon has 2 years, Boyd 2 years and who knows how many innings he will give you. Adding another starter this year makes sense. There will be plenty of opportunities for Brown going forward.
At this point Belly is a complimentary piece, but is asking for stud money. No thanks.
I do think whatever is happening with Bellinger is happening soon. The Tucker trade pushes Cody specifically and respectfully it needs to be addressed. Whether that’s a trade or moving him to first, and Busch to 3rd.
When will the player’s association file a grievance against the White Sox? Talk about not spending, Reinsdorf is the poster boy.
Reinsdorf gets away with a lot, he’s a good old boys club member. Also, I think the fact that he announced he’s looking to possibly sell the team, he bought himself some time to keep tanking.
I think the Sox had the highest payroll in the Al central last year, which is mind blowing.
Cubs don’t want to be stuck with Bellinger’s contract because they have already filled his position. They have to be betting on Yankee anxiety–which might be there. But if Yankees balk, where does that leave Cubs? Who else would take on that contract?
Cubs still have a whole in the infield they can fill w Belli
Nado manning the hot corner for the Stros? Framber’s grabbing another bag of peanuts were he opening the MLBTR site.
Cubs are better with Bellinger in the lineup, and they have plenty of prospects to trade for a starter this summer.
Keeping Bellinger and Tucker in the lineup is making a statement. All in for the ’25 season.
Any trade of Bellinger is playing the ’25 season conservatively with the sole intention of getting under the cap number.
So you think they should trade Suzuki?
No I think the Cubs should be ready to roll with Boyd and Assad. Bellinger and Suzuki.
Idk, play Shaw when he’s ready and he could be good enough to break camp. He could be better than belli by seasons end. Plus cubs have a couple other prospects that if their current trajectory continues – will need mlb playing time this season too. I agree there’s a whole, but not certain it’s a bad thing if they do trade him
How about a 3 way with Houston A’s and Mets.
A’s get Baty, McCormick and Megill
Houston gets Gilbert, Tidwell, Parada and Mauricio
Mets get Valdez and Mason Miller
A’s get a young 3b and OF
Houston reduces payroll plus adds 4 young players
Mets get pitching that they need
Lol Miller should not be in any trade scenario.
The Mets get Valdez AND Miller?
Lol no
Mets fan by chance?
It makes no sense to play Paredes at 1b. There are plenty of 1b out there the value Paredes brings is his ability to play 3b.
Unless they bring Bregman back. Other then that, Parades will be the opening day 3b
I have no interest in reading anything about the A’s. The players are playing for a sham team.
The AL West is interesting. A’s are improving, Houston might be coming back to the pack a bit, and we all know Trader Jerry will have something for us.
The Stros turned down a NYY package lead by Luis Gil and Will Warren. Would have bolstered their rotation. Instead they took the Cubs offer which only makes sense if they see Isaac Paredes as a top drawer 3B man, which I do not. And now the Yanks will offer Tucker a Soto-lite deal in the off season and get him next year anyway. Wacky.
No, the Yankees denied the ask of Gil.
The Yankees wouldn’t include Gil which is why the trade fell apart….your information is incorrect…..if they did, Tucker would be a Yankee right now…..time will tell if this was the right move but it was factually what actually happened…..
Gil isn’t good. He had one good month. Back of the rotation starters are a dime a dozen.
Why’s Chicago got so many players they can’t figure out where to put ’em? Just pick the best one, stick him out there, and tell the rest to hit the bricks. And what’s this talk of ‘financial standoffs’? You played for the team or not at all—no need for all this penny-counting nonsense!
Just announce the Bohm to the As trade already. It’s pretty much a given at this point
Poor guy ! He probably prays every night he doesn’t get traded to the A’s lol
It’s time to shine ninja cash! Find a way to add Belli and Hoerner. Won’t cost much if the Yankees take Belli‘s contract.
yankee fan with a word to cub fans: if tucker helps you go deep into the playoffs and then leaves it will be worth it. when your team is battling for the pennant you won’t be worrying about cam smith
Everyone already knows this bozo, but hope the preachy comment helped you feel all manly
The cubs were foolish signing bellinger so they have to pay the penalty
It’s not my money, but I don’t understand the Yankees’ position about Bellinger. I’ve heard that the Cubs have softened a bit. I’d do the deal if Chicago ate $10 million of salary and took Warren and another AAA prospect in return. That would bring Belli’s cost down to about $22 million annually, the going rate for that kind of MLB player. Barring that, just sign Santander for $100 million and stick him in RF – little difference between him and Soto defensively (HR and RBI totals are nearly identical) and you’re saving a boatload of money.