While he would be my preference, Happ will never waive his NTC. Suzuki would be the one moved if a move was necessary.
*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
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No thanks, maybe on a minor league deal as depth insurance but no way on a big league contract.
These 3 Teams Should Consider Signing Marcus Stroman After Yankees Release - Newsweek https://share.google/28ycR3wEIE8M60tzd
These 3 Teams Should Consider Signing Marcus Stroman After Yankees Release - Newsweek https://share.google/28ycR3wEIE8M60tzd
Yeah he’s been bad this year, adamant previously about not wanting to pitch out of the bullpen. Liked him when he was with the Cubs but no thanks to a reunion
If they tell Happ he’s the 5th OF basically PH & defensive replacement I think he’d come off that stance. I may be wrong but I think it probably moves his needle.
If it works we could trade Amaya, Taillon, Happ. Resign Castro and McGuire.
Sign Tucker Peralta
Rotation
Peralta Imanaga Steele Boyd Horton
Depth
Assad Brown
Bench
Ballestareos DH 1B C OH
Castro super utility
Traintos super utility ( played CF last night )
McGuire
Did you go to the game last night? What about Triantos makes you think he will make a big league roster next year? He had a really nice home run but he's nowhere close to making the opening day roster.
Cubs aren’t signing Tucker, and frankly beyond Ricketts being cheap, I would not be shocked if part of the reason is because there likely isn’t gonna be baseball for at least the ‘27 season, so I’m sure the last thing they want is an expensive, long contract during a lockout.
I just can’t imagine the owners being okay with not getting a salary cap without a lockout, so baseball will almost certainly stop for some amount of time. Whether or not a salary cap eventually happens, who knows.
I just can’t imagine the owners being okay with not getting a salary cap without a lockout, so baseball will almost certainly stop for some amount of time. Whether or not a salary cap eventually happens, who knows.
Happ may not prefer to waive his NTC, but if he's not an everyday starter in 2026 that significantly impacts his value as a free-agent after next season.
There is no reason the Cubs should pencil in Happ as their starting LF in 2026. His bat in 2025 necessitates the Cubs look to upgrade his starting spot:
- Happ has 15 HR's, with 9 in the month of June. The other 3 months he has 6 HR's.
- Happ has hit .196 in June/July
Stroman was bad last year as well with the Yankees. Stroman is not an upgrade over the Cubs current staff and that's not even bringing Taillon or Assad into the equation.
How much did Berti or Brujan play in the first half of this season? The most PA Brujan got in any month was 15. And Berti has had 24 total PA in June & July.
So it's not like Triantos has to be "everyday ready" to make the Cubs opening day roster next year. If the Cubs spend $30M+ on Tucker, then a simple way to pare payroll is to replace Turner ($6M), Berti ($2M), Castro ($2M) with guys like: Ballesteros, Long, Triantos.
The Tucker not coming back talk is crazy. I despise the Ricketts as much as the next guy but the Cubs will be players for Tucker.
I just think he's at least 2 years away. He looks like about the 6th or 7th best hitter on Iowa's roster right now.
