What he used to be still wasn't a good hitter. Most of his value still came from his glove.
Plus you have him for 3 more years. Hard pass for me.
*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter Cyforce
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Plus you have him for 3 more years. Hard pass for me.
Two other trades I'd like to see, and would take over Bubic.
1. Eugenio Suarez, but I'm not breaking the bank on prospects for him. I think his chances of hitting 20 dongs in the 5 spot the last 50 games are just as great as hitting 2 dongs and hitting .050 with a 70% strikeout rate.
2. Joe Ryan, who the Twins are listening on. Problem is, according insiders, the Twins do not like our outfield prospects, and I'm not sure you can create a package good enough for him without giving up some proven talent. While we don't have any untouchables, it sounds like Rojas and Wiggins are as close to untouchable as it gets. So you'd almost have to go...MoBaller, Triantos, Wicks, Birdsell? And even then, I'm not entirely convinced that would be enough.
1. Eugenio Suarez, but I'm not breaking the bank on prospects for him. I think his chances of hitting 20 dongs in the 5 spot the last 50 games are just as great as hitting 2 dongs and hitting .050 with a 70% strikeout rate.
2. Joe Ryan, who the Twins are listening on. Problem is, according insiders, the Twins do not like our outfield prospects, and I'm not sure you can create a package good enough for him without giving up some proven talent. While we don't have any untouchables, it sounds like Rojas and Wiggins are as close to untouchable as it gets. So you'd almost have to go...MoBaller, Triantos, Wicks, Birdsell? And even then, I'm not entirely convinced that would be enough.
I don't hate Hayes as a project in general, but you just can't justify spending $7.5 AAV on a backup 3B who may also be able to backup 2B but has zero proof of ever doing so.
If you got him, I think they'd flip him either this year or next offseason and eat some of that cash.
If you got him, I think they'd flip him either this year or next offseason and eat some of that cash.
I make that trade, but as far as having 2025 season impact would view Hayes as a thrown in to help Pittsburgh get his $7M salary off their books for the next 3 or 4 years. I agree that Hayes' value might be 2026 and beyond after spending an off season with the Cubs hitting coaches.
Hayes upside is just so much less than Shaw, and for the last two years he's been worse offensively than Shaw has been this year. I would much rather just go with Matt Shaw than trade for a worse version of him.
He's had one season of very average offense and the rest has been awful.
The dollars owed Hayes until 2029 makes me nervous too. But every roster ends up having some dead money and IMO Hayes salary obligations wouldn't hinder the Cubs from adding other players within the Cubs approximate $200M-$225M payroll target.
The current roster infield backups salaries are: Turner- $6M, Berti- $2M and Brujan- $785k. Those pieces in 2026 could be: Hayes - $7.5M, Triantos and Long or Ballesteros. In 25 vs 26 scenaros the total salaries would be around $9M annually. I'd rather have Hayes (29yo) vs. Turner if I'm building the Cubs roster for the next 4-5 years.
Keller is owed $56M over the next 3 years, but I don't see the risk there from a talent standpoint. And if we add Keller then the Cubs likely trade Taillon ($18M) this off season.
And let Pressley($11M) go and keep Bednar ($6M).
So the trade would overall result in a payroll drop 26 vs. 25 for a starting pitcher, leverage reliever and backup/platoon infield spots.
I don't see it as as a Shaw vs. Hayes. Shaw probably is the Cubs long-term 3B.
I view Hayes as an upgrade over Turner on the Cubs 2026 roster as a PH and backup at 3B, 2B(?) or DH. And if Hayes finds his groove again, he's a good trade deadline piece in 2026.
I guess that's fair.
The problem is he doesn't have a groove to find. I just think there are so many other moves to make to upgrade 3B/bench before adding him for the next 3 years.
I'm just a casual Cubs fan and saw "R Hill" starting against them for KC today.
Yes it is Rich Hill at 45 who I watched pitch some games at Wrigley mid 00s when I was going to a fair amount of cheap day games living nearby with few responsibilities.
Yes it is Rich Hill at 45 who I watched pitch some games at Wrigley mid 00s when I was going to a fair amount of cheap day games living nearby with few responsibilities.
Was texting a college busy in KC last night during the game. He was blown away by Shaw. Granted it’s one game but the potential is definitely there
One of the secondary reasons I want Suarez is if we don’t resign Tucker with comparable dollars you could add Suarez and Schwarber and our offense is probably a net gain.
1. Busch/ Hoerner
2. Schwarber DH
3. Suzuki
4. PCA
5. Suarez
6. Kelly/ Amaya/ McGuire or Bellestrareos
7. Happ
8. Busch/ Hoerner
9. Swanson
Utl Shaw
OF Caissie
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I love Suarez too, just not convinced Cubs will give up enough prospects to get him.
I get the appreciation for his glove. But over the last 2 seasons Hayes has played 190 games and hit 18 doubles and 6 HR's. That's not good for a position most teams rely on some slug.
Hayes is a fixer upper. If a batting coach can fix him he's worth the $7.5M annually. If not, he's an expensive .240 hitting GG.
Plus, like I said, if the Cubs can fix him Hayes, Hoerner or Shaw would have 2026 trade value.
Also, I'm bigger on load management in baseball than the approach by Cubs. There aren't many starters I wouldn't sit 1 of 6 games each week over the 26 week season. Especially now that NL has DH. AND yes PCA would be an exception.
I never said he is not a good prospect. There is a slight chance that he will turn into a star like PCA, but there is bigger chance that he will be a bust like Brooks Kieschnick.
That's one hell of a range.
The most likely outcome is that he is an above average major league hitter that never develops the power to be an elite DH. Your run of the mill 2 WAR guy that has negative defensive value and ends up a DH only by his age 28 season.
