Let's start with this one and go from there, the Tampa organization has a much better track record of identifying and developing talent than the Cubs organization. I really don't think there is much debate on that. When you start with that in mind, it becomes a logical conclusion that they made this trade for good reasons to them.
Per Bruce Levine, the Cubs have minor league pitchers ready to go if he gets dealt. I’ve not heard much more than that, except for rumors of talks with the Yankees around Hoerner and Taillon. Cubs reportedly trying to get the Yankees #2 prospect, Spencer Jones (a huge 6’6, 235 OF with big power) and the Yanks not wanting to give him up. MLB Pipeline has Jones as the 77th best prospect in their top 100.
For those of you who do not read Bleed Cubbie blue here is a decent write up of the trade by the stats.
Reactionary move on the umps part. There was no intent.
This seems like a salary dump. They fit a IF prospect who is old for AA, and an intriguing arm back. This just smells like getting rid of a guy who will be arb eligible next year.
Sorry again to enter into this thread when I promised not to, but there's no chance in hell the NYY take Taillon back.
IMO, this might actually be next year's opening day lineup. Unless he goes on a tear, I think Bellinger opts in. If so, it is probably more likely he'd start in CF and then hopefully Cubs pick up a decent DH bat that can play a few games in the field. Barring a late trade in the next couple hours, only other spot I could see is Amaya. I just feel they are going to stick with him and hope an in-house C makes a leap in the next year or 2.
He was arb 1 this year and is making $1.5M. There’s some savings, but MLJ isn’t likely to make more than like $3-4M this year. I think this is just taking a guy who sometimes loses the split with overwork and selling high on him to get an intriguing arm back. Neely has a chance to be really nasty.
They’re very clearly adding velo and upside to the pen. MLJ is a good reliever and when his split is splitting, he’s nasty, but when he gets overworked, he can be injury prone and some days he doesn’t have the split and without that pitch, he’s not very good at all. Neely is really intriguing.
They already know Taillon can't handle NY.
You might be off on how tightly Tom is holding Jed to the cap. It's a little flexibility.
Cubs are in a great spot for young arms for sure. A lot of starter depth, lots of potentially high end back-of-the-pen arms as well. Especially if some key guys can get/stay healthy.
Exhibit A is Killian. He will hit 30 days on his rehab in a few days. Now, they could option him to AAA, but, why not let him finish the year showing if he can be a leverage reliever?
He’s a GREAT example. I thought he’d be set for the Cubs pen this year and couldn’t wait for him to get back. My question now is with Hendricks going away, Wesneski up and down and Wicks & Brown hurt, would the Cubs give Kilian another shot to stretch out and start? I think he either comes up or he gets optioned to Iowa to stretch out again as a starter.
On the pregame yesterday, Bruce Levine alluded to examples likes this when he said, and I’m paraphrasing, look for more minor leaguers/younger guys in the system to soon get a chance to see what they can do. The major league roster has plenty of opportunities for that to happen.
