*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
- Start date
Really makes you wonder what the market was for Bellinger if the best return we had for offers was a DFA candidate for a salary dump.
Was at the game last night, awesome to see everyone contribute on offense to start the year (except Swanson, but he was a stud on defense again). If Miggy becomes a consistent hitter, PCA and Shaw just need to get on base.
Feels like it’s gonna be another stressful season with this bullpen. Hope I'm wrong.
I hope you are wrong too but I get the same vibe. There probably is a reason why we got Pressly for next to nothing.
This sounds crazy to say but watching them this spring it feels like Palencia may be our but shot at a shutdown closer.
Jed and Co. could not have dropped the ball harder on this. Seems like Cody wanted to be a NYY and we wanted to accommodate that for him. But when every major outlet is reporting the Cubs want to dump him 2 days into the offseason, you lose all negotiation power
Only watched the first few innings last night and in general liked what I saw. I think the big thing right now is to make sure you’re competitive long enough to be able to go out and get a Sandy Alcantara and a closer.
Agree on the Palencia part - dude was the best version of himself this spring. Unhittable and locating pitches. If we can be sure we get that in-season, he could be the guy holding the ball in the 9th
Agree on the Palencia part - dude was the best version of himself this spring. Unhittable and locating pitches. If we can be sure we get that in-season, he could be the guy holding the ball in the 9th
I can't even begin to explain how much this ****** me off. A good player with defensive versatility that you are too ******* poor to pay so you just dump his salary for nothing. I know you've got a bit of a log jam at his most natural positions, but I just have a sneaky suspicion with injuries, etc. we will wind up saying "boy it'd be nice to have Bellinger to fit in there".
Bellinger wasn’t worth his contract. That’s why he didn’t opt out. I agree they dropped the ball but it was when they resigned him. Bad contracts aren’t worth anything. You just try to salvage it by finding someone else willing to take it on.
I'm not worried about missing him if we have OF injuries as Alcantara and Caissie need an opportunity at some point. But if we struggle to get production from 1B this year then he could have easily plugged in there as the everyday starter even if that is not his preferred position. As much as he is getting paid along with underperforming a bit last season you either play where they tell you to or deal with the consequences.
The main issue I have is I find it hard to believe this was the best deal they could get for him even if it was a pure salary dump. And then not use the savings to improve the roster somewhere else after you just traded one of your top prospects for a a rental player you likely won't be able to resign either is just stupid. Maybe they hope they are in a position to be buyers at the deadline and can use the saving then but then you are talking about dealing away prospects for probably more rental type players. I've said it before, Jed has no vision on what he wants to build here and needs to go. Either you commit to building through the farm system with calculated trades and free agent signings to fill in the gaps or you use the prospect capital you have built up from the fire sales a few years ago and acquire some proven guys that can make an immediate impact. We don't seem to be leaning 1 way or the other at the moment. If this team is in a similar spot in July that they were the past 2 seasons I don't see how you can continue to let Jed stay and I think you have to trade Tucker to recoup some of the talent you lost to acquire him.
I have a feeling the Cubs will give him some runway to figure out MLB pitching as they have a lot invested into him at this point. I hope he adjusts because we don't really have a good plan B at 3B. If Smith and Paredes outperform him for Houston then the pitchforks will be coming for Jed. I never thought Paredes was much of an upgrade over Morel but Smith for Tucker trade basically is Jed putting his job on the line.
