#15 and #29 from lance b's list from marquis a few months ago. I love the deal.
*****Official Cubs 2023 thread*****
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Keith law had Made at #6 (much higher than most) and Hertz at 23 before the season
What's everyone's thoughts on this 4 game series? I don't expect to win tonight, and am hoping 2-2 at the worst. The Reds manhandled the Cubs at Wrigley earlier and I respect their lineup completely.
Looks like Cubs have picked up RH RP Cuas from KC. I know nothing about him.
Looks like Cubs have picked up RH RP Cuas from KC. I know nothing about him.
Just read both players would be rule 5 eligible after this year as well; so, that may have come into play. Either way, agree, good trade for this year and gotta spend to pick up quality players. Just always hate to give up a young lefty.
Huge week coming up. I’d take 4-3 home stand here against Cin/Atl. Tough week to have right after the deadline.
Yeah, pretty common trading players at the deadline that are about to be Rule 5 eligible ( like Wes and Brown last year). Cubs may not have been able to protect either of them, with several other key prospects becoming eligible, so good move.
I agree it’s tough losing Herz, but we’ve known decisions like this were coming. Can only hope that it pays off…
Gave up Nelson Velazquez! Ouch! Not nearly as big a fan of this trade.
I would guess that Wes and Madrigal are headed back to Iowa?
Today’s trades aren’t going to mean jack squat if Stroman is garbage for the next two months. Hottovy needs to earn his salary right about now…
Yeah, I still was holding out for Velazquez but I guess with Happ and Suzuki locked up there wasn't much room for him. Of course those 2 haven't been the biggest run producers so they had better get hot from here in out.
This umpire's strike zone hasn't been real favorable tonight.
I think Nelson V is a better hitter than Seiya but oh well.
Even with Belli apparently staying on for the rest of the season and PCA's promotion to AAA, I still don't consider CF "secure" for the Cubs in '24 in any way right now; Velazquez leaving makes it worse.
Herz was never going to be a starter. He was getting innings as a starter, but he was ticketed to eventually move to the bullpen. Not an insignificant loss. He is a solid arm, but he's lacking repeatability in his delivery.
Assad has certainly been a blessing this year. He's taken the place that Keegan Thompson was supposed to fill.
If I was running the Cubs Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech would be Cubs tonight.
Happ's OBP and SLG belongs in the lead off spot with Hoerner hitting 2nd. Suzuki belongs in the 8th spot, if he plays everyday. Not sure why Morel is hitting 7th.
Suzuki needs a couple days off. Terrible at the plate
From BN on the Velazquez trade.
The Cubs and Royals have exchanged reliever José Cuas for outfielder Nelson Velázquez, the teams announced. It’s a one-for-one swap.
Cuas, 29, bounced around the minors before cracking Kansas City’s roster last summer. He has made 92 appearances in middle relief over the past two seasons. The right-hander owns a 4.08 ERA across 79 1/3 career innings. He has seen a big jump in whiffs year-over-year, pushing his strikeout rate from a modest 18.9% as a rookie to 27.1% this season. He’s picking up swinging strikes on an above-average 13.3% of his offerings.
The University of Maryland product works with a sinker-slider mix from a lower arm slot. He doesn’t throw especially hard but has missed plenty of bats with his low-80s slider. He’ll step into the middle innings mix and can bounce between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa for a while. He still has two minor league options year remaining and won’t be eligible for arbitration until at least after the 2024 campaign.
In exchange, the Royals get a look at Velázquez. A right-handed hitting outfielder, he picked up some prospect attention on the strength of his power potential early in his career. The former fifth-round draftee struggled to a .205/.286/.373 line while striking out almost 32% of the time in 77 games as a rookie last season. He has mashed in a small big league sample this year but spent the bulk of the season with Iowa.
Over 330 trips to the dish there, the 24-year-old Velázquez owns a .253/.333/.469 batting line. He’s connected on 16 home runs but struck out in just under 30% of his plate appearances. He’s playing mostly center field but has generally been viewed as a better fit for a corner by prospect evaluators.
In recent years, the Royals have rolled the dice on a few upper level outfielders with above-average tools but swing-and-miss concerns. Kansas City has given looks to the likes of Edward Olivares and Drew Waters. Velázquez has a generally similar profile and will compete for reps in an uncertain outfield at Kauffman Stadium. He has one minor league option beyond this season and is at least two years away from arbitration.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/chicago-cubs
Just as a reminder, didn't the Cubs trade Soler to KC for a closer (Wade Davis), which actually worked out pretty well?
And, Soler has taken off in his career since then, IIRC.
The Cubs and Royals have exchanged reliever José Cuas for outfielder Nelson Velázquez, the teams announced. It’s a one-for-one swap.
Cuas, 29, bounced around the minors before cracking Kansas City’s roster last summer. He has made 92 appearances in middle relief over the past two seasons. The right-hander owns a 4.08 ERA across 79 1/3 career innings. He has seen a big jump in whiffs year-over-year, pushing his strikeout rate from a modest 18.9% as a rookie to 27.1% this season. He’s picking up swinging strikes on an above-average 13.3% of his offerings.
The University of Maryland product works with a sinker-slider mix from a lower arm slot. He doesn’t throw especially hard but has missed plenty of bats with his low-80s slider. He’ll step into the middle innings mix and can bounce between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa for a while. He still has two minor league options year remaining and won’t be eligible for arbitration until at least after the 2024 campaign.
In exchange, the Royals get a look at Velázquez. A right-handed hitting outfielder, he picked up some prospect attention on the strength of his power potential early in his career. The former fifth-round draftee struggled to a .205/.286/.373 line while striking out almost 32% of the time in 77 games as a rookie last season. He has mashed in a small big league sample this year but spent the bulk of the season with Iowa.
Over 330 trips to the dish there, the 24-year-old Velázquez owns a .253/.333/.469 batting line. He’s connected on 16 home runs but struck out in just under 30% of his plate appearances. He’s playing mostly center field but has generally been viewed as a better fit for a corner by prospect evaluators.
In recent years, the Royals have rolled the dice on a few upper level outfielders with above-average tools but swing-and-miss concerns. Kansas City has given looks to the likes of Edward Olivares and Drew Waters. Velázquez has a generally similar profile and will compete for reps in an uncertain outfield at Kauffman Stadium. He has one minor league option beyond this season and is at least two years away from arbitration.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/chicago-cubs
Just as a reminder, didn't the Cubs trade Soler to KC for a closer (Wade Davis), which actually worked out pretty well?
And, Soler has taken off in his career since then, IIRC.
Yep, that ultimately proved to be the 40-man spot for Jeimer Candelario. Cuas will take the Velazquez roster spot. Next interesting move is what happens when Candelario reports, who goes down. If they’re not going to get rid of Mancini, then it has to be Wisdom going down. I still think the Cubs do more tomorrow, hopefully a lefty for the pen.
I’m good with it. Herz has been looking better, but the Cubs still traded from a position of strength with both guys. Made was hopelessly blocked and while I liked Herz, he’s being seen more and more as a reliever, ultimately, and in any case, he’s in line behind Assad, Wesneski, Brown, Wicks, Kilian and probably Horton for opportunities to start in Chicago.
Gotta give talent to get talent.
The numbers I’ve seen most consistently (MiLB Pipeline, I think) has them at 14 & 16. Solid prospects who absolutely may pan out, but not among the Cubs top 10-12 and both coming from positions of depth in the system.
It’s important to remember that after all this build up to the deadline……there’s 2 months left. Lots of baseball to be played. Getting swept or losing 3 of 4 in this series would be terrible timing, but nothing is decided this week.
I think he‘s still having issues with the blister. Last 2 starts he started sharp in the 1st and then lost feel. He needs to put all the deadline distractions behind him and do an IL stint, probably missing 2 starts.
If he keeps pitching like this, he’ll definitely be back next year.
I was hoping this team would sell. Not seeing this team winning the division. And then they bought on top of that. I hope this team proves me wrong but this team has been very inconsistent.
Since I live in the Cincy suburb of Charlotte, NC, the Cubs are blacked out here for the series and I have to go with the Reds announcers. They were talking last night that since June 9th (happened to be the day after the Cubs low point under .500), the Reds have the 2nd best record in baseball and the Cubs have the 3rd. While they have been inconsistent, the team has also put together a really good stretch over almost 2 months at this point.
Oh, just heard on the Score about Stroman skipping out on the media last night. That was one of the things mentioned when they signed him before the 2022 season, he can be prickly at times. Look, if you are hurt, take a stint on the IL. If you just sucked on your control and put your team in a bad spot in a big game, then be a man and talk to the press. He is turning the attention away from a nice run by the team, and from some nice acquisitions.
At this very moment, Jed played this well…of course, he might be stuck with next year, though.
