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#Post#: 523429--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Ron Date: January 15, 2026, 11:11 pm
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There were opportunities for the press to talk to both Bregman
and Hoyer after the press conference. There was more interesting
stuff during those opportunities than at the press conference
itself apparently.
"[font=noto sans]“Literally the first second that free agency
really opened I felt like we knew the Cubs wanted our family to
be here, and we were excited about it,” Bregman, 31, said. “I
thought it was trending that way, probably from the beginning of
the offseason. They expressed right away that they wanted me.
They made it extremely clear that they valued what I valued.”
[/font]
[font=noto sans]Bregman had been on Hoyer’s radar since the
third baseman was an amateur standout in New Mexico. The Red Sox
drafted Bregman in the 29th round in 2012, about seven months
after Hoyer left to become Cubs general manager. Following a
stellar career at LSU, Hoyer hoped Bregman might drop with the
Cubs picking ninth in the 2015 draft, the spot where they took
Ian Happ, but the Houston Astros selected Bregman second behind
top pick Dansby Swanson. Bregman’s former manager in Houston and
current Tigers manager A.J. Hinch is a good friend of Hoyer’s
from their time together in San Diego, resulting in further
insight into Bregman over the years.[/font]
[font=noto sans]“The incredible intensity every single day, in
the video room, in the cage trying to develop a plan to win that
night, so I felt like I had pretty good inside knowledge of what
he brings,” Hoyer said. “He’s a player that I’ve kind of
followed. Never really had a great opportunity to acquire him,
but certainly always admired him from afar because of how he
plays a game and how he prepares and also how people around him
talk about him, which is really important.”[/font]
[font=noto sans]One of the biggest separators within the
competing interest Bregman received from the Red Sox and Cubs
was each team’s willingness to do something the organization
typically tries to avoid. Most notably, the Cubs were willing to
construct a contract with deferrals — $70 million total of the
$175 million contract — something they had opposed
organizationally in recent years. A change in their philosophy
can be traced back to the summer when Hoyer’s conversations with
Chairman Tom Ricketts and president of business operations Crane
Kenney highlighted the merits of doing those type of contracts.
The Cubs were willing to give Bregman a no-trade clause, which
the Red Sox avoid and ultimately wouldn’t include for
Bregman.[/font]
[font=noto sans]“The two most important things to me are my
family and winning baseball games, and the Cubs showed me right
away that they were committed to both of those things,” Bregman
said.[/font]
[font=noto sans]...[/font]
[font=noto sans]“I feel like it’s a group of guys that are
focused on getting better at the game of baseball every single
day and want to be the best version of themselves, and that’s
the kind of group that you need,” Bregman said. “When talking
with the Cubs this offseason, they told me ways that I could get
better as a player, ways that they were planning on making
improvements to their team, how committed they were to winning,
how that will be the standard here, and how it will be the
standard every year that I will be here.”[/font]
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#Post#: 523440--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 16, 2026, 7:47 am
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I listened to the whole main press conference, too, plus there
were some followup media questions. Not the stuff in Ron's
post-presser stuff, though..
1. Agree, Hoyer getting allowance for deferrals, that was
interesting.
2. Bregman asking about what teammates are working on; calling
all (?) of them? And then even meeting with minor league
coaches to ask about what younger minor-leaguers are being told
so that Bregman doesn't tell them anything contrary! That's
kinda amazing. Heh heh, Bregman might provide Justin Turner
function, without wasting a roster spot and $6M! But yeah,
trying to prepare to help/support/coach minor leaguers, that's
really something.
3. He also talked about learning Spanish so that he could talk
to guys in their first language. A media guy asked him a
question in Spanish, and he gave a pretty fast-talking answer in
Spanish. I don't know Spanish, but he certainly sounded fast,
fluent, and didn't sound hesitant or broken. I think that's
really cool, both the capacity and the intentionality. I know
Alcantara's English isn't very good (Amaya interpreted all of
his Q/A at 24 convention). I imagine Moises is pretty
English-fluent. But yeah, I think it could be really cool if
Bregman could be talk hitting and life with those guys in
Spanish, and with Cabrera and Palencia too.
4. I especially liked when he said Jed laid his batted-ball
chart onto Wrigley's dimensions, and what a good fit Wrigley's
shallow left-center was. Hopefully his HR's won't fall off that
much.
5. I like that he answered for himself. I recall in
Bellinger's press conference, Boras talked a lot, and Bellinger
very little. Different questions this time, for sure, but
Bellinger answered most, and fortunately the long-talking
rambling Boras didn't get to waste too much of the presser.
6. I (perhaps falsely) assume for lots of FA's that they let
their agent manage everything. Interesting that Bregman talked
as if he'd himself been in conversation, or at least present for
conversations, with Hoyer and Carter, and also even Ricketts.
My guess is that a lot of FA's, they entrust it all to their
agent.
#Post#: 523452--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 16, 2026, 9:54 am
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Interesting that Bregman repeats the "winning", "how committed
they were to winning", "they valued what I valued" very much.
Heh heh, fortunately they didn't direct him to this board! If
so, he'd have read repeatedly that the Cubs aren't trying to win
and don't care about winning! :):).
#Post#: 523456--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 16, 2026, 10:28 am
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In the main Hoyer press conference, he was asked once, maybe
twice actually, about Shaw and Hoerner. (First question was
Shaw; later one about Hoerner trade rumors.). Hoyer basically
said that there are lots of AB's possible, and referenced
multi-position versatility, referenced 2016 team with Bryant
playing CF and other positions, etc..
Two challenges for Shaw. Can he become multi-position capable.
Can he play a good 2B? (Playing it badly is different from
actually being pretty good.). Can he learn to play 1B and play
it better than Austin? Could he learn to play one or more OF
positions? The second challenge is his bat. Do you LIKE having
his bat in the lineup, or is he kinda JAG, or bad?
Potential competition-for-AB's for him:
1. Would Counsell rather have Shaw or Austin as the RH DH?
2. Would he rather have Shaw or Austin playing some 1B, if
Busch gets rested against some good lefties?
3. Will Moises control all of the DH AB's vs RHP? Or might
Moises struggle enough, and Shaw improve enough, that Shaw could
actually be a good or most anti-awful primary DH even vs RHP?
4. Shaw lacks OF experience, and has a weak OF arm. But *IF*
Shaw improves to good as a hitter, and *IF* Alcantara struggles
to hit, might Shaw move past Alcantara as 4th OFer?
Hopefully Shaw will improve such that you like his bat in the
lineup. Hopefully team health will be so great that there are
not many injury-necessitated AB's for anybody. But would like
for him to get good enough so that he can be a desirable bat for
any non-catcher injury or rest.
The ability to and for Shaw to hit and earn available AB's.
But *IF* he doesn't get
#Post#: 523460--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: davep Date: January 16, 2026, 11:23 am
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I would be surprised if they tried Shaw as a part time first
baseman. Catching short hop throws is a skill that can be
learned, but I think requires substantial practice to be
acceptable. I see no reason why his arm would be considered
below par in either LF or CF. Right field would probably be a
problem, but not an insurmountable one.
#Post#: 523471--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 16, 2026, 2:20 pm
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How many non-3B have fans and clubs said: if this guy can move
to 3B that will really help the lineup?
Doesn’t work out. Thinking of Morel and MANY others with
different organizations.
So, here we have Shaw—a Gold Glove finalist and arguably second
best defensive 3B in NL (after Hayes)—and we’re talking about
playing him at 1B or LF? Good grief!
Players should be playing the position for which they are best
suited, particularly young players who have their entire career
ahead of them. Vast majority of the time, that’s what happens
too with rare exceptions. Serves the interest of the club they
end up with and serves the player.
Maybe this will be Shaw’s role for 2026, so it seems. But, with
Bregman at 3B for next five seasons, I expect Shaw to play
elsewhere before too long. And I don’t buy notion will replace
Hoerner at 2B after 2026 either. Tommy Birch saw Shaw at both 2B
and 3B and said Shaw was better at 3B—well before Shaw’s gold
glove-caliber performance. Would not assume Shaw can just step
in for Hoerner. RE-SIGN NICO!!!
#Post#: 523475--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 16, 2026, 4:10 pm
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[quote author=Reb link=topic=663.msg523471#msg523471
date=1768594855]...So, here we have Shaw—a Gold Glove finalist
and arguably second best defensive 3B in NL (after Hayes)—and
we’re talking about playing him at 1B or LF? Good grief!
Players should be playing the position for which they are best
suited,...
Maybe this will be Shaw’s role for 2026, so it seems. But, with
Bregman at 3B for next five seasons, I expect Shaw to play
elsewhere before too long. ...[/quote]
Agree to disagree, in part.
1. Lots of guys don't play position for which they are best
suited. Baez played 2nd, until Russell dissolved. Barry Bonds
moved to left, because Any VanSlyke was in center. Hoerner was
good at SS, moved to 2B for Dansby. Before last season, nobody
expected Shaw to be that good at 3rd, most thought 2B would be a
better fit. But he moved to 3rd because Nico was at 2B.
Zobrist probably best at 2B, but he played 661 games in
outfield, and a bunch elsewhere.
2. Lots of guys don't control a single position if they don't
hit enough. Shaw hit .226 with a .295 OBP. Lot of guys who
were good fielders at some position didn't get one-position
starting jobs with that kind of hitting.
3. I know you feel otherwise, but I'm kinda of the view that
many of the skills that play at one IF position will play
variably well at other infield positions. My guess is that if
Shaw has played a lot of SS, has played some 2B, and has now
optimized his 3B game, my guess is that given time, he can
become pretty good at 2b. Or 1B, too.
4. I agree that *IF* he hits like a winning starter, he's
unlikely to Zobrist for 5 years. If he's hitting .265 with OBP
>.330 and he's slugging >.420, he'd obviously look like a
sure-thing asset starting 3B and would be a great trade value.
But he hasn't hit like that yet, and his exit velo's and bat
speed and stuff make him an uncertain commitment. If he comes
back this year and hits .230 with a .290 OBP and a .690 OPS
again, that might be more OK for a utility than compelling for a
starter?
5. I don't think the Zobrist role is that Good Grief! bad.
There are zillions of AB that go to bench every season. If
those bench AB are winners not losers, you'll win a lot more
games. I don't think that's so "Good grief" bad! Cubs haven't
been that good for a while, so we've never had the luxury. But
it would sure be valuable to have a surplus of starter-caliber
guys, so that next-man-uo is starter-quality good.
If somebody offers something great now, I'm open. But he's got
6 more years of control, and he might end up hitting enough to
be a very good starter, we'll see. He's no sure thing, but he's
got a lot of possible value. I'm not dealing that without
getting somebody really valuable back, and I'm not dealing that
for a rental. This may be a nice contention-window season, but
it shouldn't be the only one. I'm guessing Hoyer will feel the
same. If somebody offers something really good, sure, maybe.
But if not, keep him, get good baseball from him, hopefully
he'll help you win the division this year, and hopefully his
trade value will just get better.
#Post#: 523476--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Playtwo Date: January 16, 2026, 4:45 pm
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I'm guessing that Shaw feels that he no longer has the
opportunity to develop into a star player at 3B with the Cubs
and that he's better off moving to a team that needs a starting
third (or second?) baseman. I like Shaw, but a trade might be
the wise move.
#Post#: 523478--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: ticohans Date: January 16, 2026, 5:06 pm
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Cubs can easily keep Shaw and Hoerner, get Shaw 450 PA’s as a
Zobrist-type in good situations for him this year, and then
either sign Nico to an extension and deal Shaw next winter, or,
if the market exceeds what the Cubs will pay Hoerner, install
Shaw at 2B after this year. No pressure to move either, though
I’d happily entertain aggressive offers on both.
#Post#: 523479--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 16, 2026, 5:13 pm
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Craig- all good points but would note the following,
Hoerner actually played more 2B than SS early on from 2019-2021.
2B was probably always the position best suited for. So,
different than Shaw.
Zobrist kind of an odd cookie. Not a regular anywhere until age
28 and first 100 games or so was almost exclusively at SS. When
eventually hit his stride, clearly most valuable as a
multi-position guy, true.
Baez played 2B but was obviously a true SS and that’s where has
played bulk of his career.
Don’t agree that “lots” of guys don’t play position best suited
for. Think it’s rare. Sometimes, temporarily, sure. But
generally organizations pretty good at using players where get
most bang for the buck in value.
Bonds is an exception. Would have been a very good CFer early in
career, true as you say but Van Slyke in CF. FWIW, early-career
Bonds probably was best defensive LFer I’ve ever seen.
Maybe if Kepley hits as hoped, he will be another exception
playing LF next to PCA.
I like Shaw very nuch. Think will have a good career. But once
Hoyer decided on Bregman for next five years as Cubs 3B, think
that Shaw’s days as a Cub are numbered.
So, for me, the question is when is the best time to trade him?
Might be now, coming off a strong offensive 2nd half and a
stellar defensive season. Would only trade him for a very good
return—his actual value, such as very promising young SP or
outfielder who can bang with lots of years of control.
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