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#Post#: 480850--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: craig Date: October 4, 2023, 2:52 pm
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[quote author=chgojhawk link=topic=628.msg480842#msg480842
date=1696441936]
I have been told by a very reliable source that the plan is to
play PCA in CF. If the Cubs are pursuing Alonso it means that
Bellinger is gone. My source says Belly wants to stay and the
team wants him, but they aren't very confident due to Boras. I
think being afraid of Boras is a copout. They have the money.
Pay it for Belly.[/quote]
I'm probably crazy, but I don't think it would be irresponsible
to have all three of PCA, Bellinger, and Alonso.
PCA seemed badly outclassed as a hitter. With his upper-cut
scoop swing, pitchers may attack with fastballs above
thigh-high, and might eat him up. Hopefully he'll adapt and hit
pretty well, but there's a chance that he'll be Heyward or
worse. I think it would be unwise to assume he's going to be an
every-day guy on a playoff team next year? Hope for that, and
allow for that possibility? Yes!!
But, what if you commit dollars and length to both Belly and
Alonso, and PCA is the real thing and is ready? Seems to me
that between DH and RF, there could still be enough AB's for all
three of them, even including long-term in the even that you get
lucky and Alonso gives you five >40-HR seasons and five
>.860-OPS seasons. Would it kill us to have a regular DH who
was a basher?
#Post#: 480851--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Dave23 Date: October 4, 2023, 3:13 pm
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The people who are against pursuing Alonso are the same people
who poohpoohed my idea of signing Freddie Freeman…
#Post#: 480852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Playtwo Date: October 4, 2023, 3:25 pm
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Corner OF on the Cubs is not available to Morel. If those are
the only positions where he could be a regular, it seems to me
that moving him to a team that needs a corner OFer would be
sensible.
#Post#: 480853--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Reb Date: October 4, 2023, 3:53 pm
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[quote author=craig link=topic=628.msg480850#msg480850
date=1696449164]
I'm probably crazy, but I don't think it would be irresponsible
to have all three of PCA, Bellinger, and Alonso. PCA seemed
badly outclassed as a hitter. With his upper-cut scoop swing,
pitchers may attack with fastballs above thigh-high, and might
eat him up. Hopefully he'll adapt and hit pretty well, but
there's a chance that he'll be Heyward or worse……..
[/quote]
The PCA call-up turned out to be valuable because we saw the
work he still needs to do offensively and that he’s a question
mark for 2024. Think PCA probably is going to be a very good big
leaguer but later in 2024 or even 2025 as a regular.
If PCA is ready earlier than that (possible), great, but should
not impact a Bellinger return or adding a big bat at 1B.
Bellinger can play a corner OF spot and Happ could be traded.
Happ is a 3 WAR player and could get a nice return for him.
Other quality OF prospects in Cubs system. There is flexibility
here.
Notion that Bellinger-PCA-Alonso not a fit in baseball terms is
unpersuasive.
#Post#: 480854--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: davep Date: October 4, 2023, 3:57 pm
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Does Happ have a no-trade clause?
#Post#: 480855--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Reb Date: October 4, 2023, 4:07 pm
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[quote author=davep link=topic=628.msg480854#msg480854
date=1696453054]
Does Happ have a no-trade clause?
[/quote]
Yeah, he does. So, nix that trade notion.
#Post#: 480856--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Deeg Date: October 4, 2023, 4:30 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=628.msg480852#msg480852
date=1696451124]
Corner OF on the Cubs is not available to Morel. If those are
the only positions where he could be a regular, it seems to me
that moving him to a team that needs a corner OFer would be
sensible.
[/quote]
His best defensive position is 2B, and he could play there
regularly for somebody. Not going to be us, so maybe a trade
should at least be looked at.
#Post#: 480859--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: CurtOne Date: October 4, 2023, 5:54 pm
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We are in a pickle at both SP and OF because of poor planning.
Not only does it make guys like Bellinger and Alonzo hard to
figure, where does it leave Wisdom, Morel, Canario, and a number
of prospects. I would not be concerned about trading some of
these guys as much as Hoyer not getting much for them.
Wisdom has lost a lot of value. We may only get an RP for him,
but somebody will grab his HR power. He suffered a lot. Yes,
he was a K machine, but how much of that was because if he hit
two homers in one game Ross sat him for the next 3 games. The
same fate awaits Canario. It becomes a joke. Hit a homer,
predictively out of the lineup for several days. True, he may
have led the league in K's, but we lost a lot of power when he
didn't.
#Post#: 480861--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: Deeg Date: October 4, 2023, 6:59 pm
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Canario’s minor league numbers suggest his bat to ball skills
are going to be considerably better than Wisdom, and his defense
and baserunning are obviously leagues better. I’m skeptical
he’ll ever get a fair shot from Ross, but there’s a player
there.
Happ is a decent player, and it’s not like his contract
dramatically overinflates is value. But he’s a LF, and that’s a
position where you would like to plug in a big power bat.
Suzuki would seem to have RF locked down so that really only
leaves 1B and DH. Hoyer is vibing like he’s expects Bellinger
to be gone, so there are certainly openings there.
#Post#: 480872--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘24
By: ben Date: October 5, 2023, 8:44 am
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I'm a fan of Morel's bat, athleticism and the energy he adds. He
has a cannon for an arm and can plays back-up shortstop and is
decent at 2b.
He was very much rushed to MLB - certainly before he was any
sort of finished product - so I don't understand why Cubs would
give up on the idea that, with a LOT of work/prep, he could make
the transition to 3b about as well as Madrigal did, given some
time.
Certainly, Morel improved offensively this year in a role that
most MLB players find very difficult - DH! He slugged .508 w.
.821 OPS.
Just don't get why we would give up on a 24-year old with
Morel's kind of potential for trying to pry Pete Alonso from one
of the very sharpest executives in MLB, David Stearns. Mets
will have pressure to win and, if Stearns lets Alonso go, there
will be a damned good reason(s)!
Alonso hits HRs, but is below avg. defensively in his prime as
he enters age 29. He is, no doubt, a serious power hitter,
however, I personally believe we will be making a BIG mistake
concluding Morel can't hit 35 or 40 or play 3rd or that he has
already achieved his potential.
Morel/Alonso '23 #s side-by-side:
AB 388/568, Total Bases 197.286, Extra Base Hits 46/49, HR
26/46, BA .247/.217, OBP .313/.318, SLUG .508/.504, OPS
.821/.870.
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