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#Post#: 523765--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: January 20, 2026, 1:37 pm
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Counsell said at the convention that Ballesteros “is going to
catch more for sure” this season. Not a high bar in terms of
quantity, as Ballesteros did not catch at all in majors until
final game of last season.
Obviously, Cubs need his lefty bat in the lineup, with Tucker
and Caissie gone, so Ballesteros going to get a lot of
PAs—presumably mostly at DH.
But Counsell’s catching comment is interesting. Sounds like will
catch occasionally——and Cubs might want to DH some other lefty
bat on those occasions. Of course, nobody on the bench currently
who fits that role.
Cubs can do quite a bit to advance Ballesteros catching
know-how. Can include him in the daily “how we ‘re going to
pitch to opposing hitters today” preparation; Ballesteros as a
DH sitting on bench can have the occasional running conversation
with the non-starting catcher during games; can work between
games with the major league coaches on his catching.
Of course, no substitute for catching in games and will get much
fewer such opportunities as the 3rd catcher compared to starting
much more at Iowa. But, Cubs need his bat now. Hopefully, will
make progress working on his overall catching skills that can
catch more in 2027.
Perhaps most likely course is that he has a career as a
full-time DH but worth a shot now to see how his catching pans
out. Maybe Cubs will get lucky on that.
#Post#: 523782--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Bluebufoon Date: January 21, 2026, 3:12 am
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I would challenge Nico to hit leadoff. He's a smart guy and
should be able to improve his OBP where this move makes the most
sense looking at our lineup. Obviously Michael Busch becomes a
bigger RBI guy from the 3rd or 5th spot in the lineup.
On the pitching staff, Ben Brown has to be on this staff. Has
potential to be developed as a quality reliever. We shouldn't
waste this arm-- I would give this guy every opportunity to
succeed.
Just my two cents.
#Post#: 523783--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 21, 2026, 9:42 am
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Reminder note for myself, in terms of lux tax consequences:
There are some draft-pick consequences. Even if you're the Cubs
and you barely clear Lux1.
1. Semi-significant: *IF* we were to sign a qual FA after
exceeding Lux1, we'd lose 5th pick as well as 2nd. And we'd
lose $1M instead of $0.5 in IFA.
2. Perhaps more significant: *IF* you lose a qual FA, you get
a comp pick after the 4th round instead of the 2nd.
Next year, none of Shota, Taillon, or Boyd will be
qual-compensation eligible.
But Hoerner, Happ, and Seiya could be. If you end up letting
Hoerner go, it would be a bummer to get only a pick after round
4, instead of after round 2.
Not a huge big deal, just something for me to remember. In a
sense, *IF* we're going to slip over, you may as well add some
good talent this year and go over by more than $0.1-2m, and make
it worthwhile!
#Post#: 523787--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 21, 2026, 10:18 am
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Levine's Gallen rumor on Monday was interesting. Remotely
unlikely, obviously. But if so, I think that would reflect the
Cubs pitching analysts really liking some of Gallen's analysis,
and thinking they have a plan to untap a pretty high ceiling.
If so, I'd trust that is more scouting and a upside-value
signing, in their minds, rather than a "we-need-a-pitcher"
need-based logic. Intelligent-spending value over need.
Hottovy was asked about 6-man rotation. He noted that early in
season, there are a lot of off-days. So, can have a 6-day cycle
even without a full 6-man rotation. But I'd think that *IF*
they hypothetically added Gallen, they probably really would
just roll with a 6-man rotation, assuming nobody hurt.
Horton-Gallen-Cabrera-Boyd-Taillon-Shota, I can see that.
Really pacing Horton and Cabrera, but not putting any of those
six into bullpen.
One of the few seasons where I imagined a big-depth surplus was
WS 2016. But the perceived surplus didn't actually play out tht
way. Entering camp, Heyward Zobrist Schwarber Soler, I was
thinking Heyward would go to center, and Schwarber/Soler/Zobrist
would still provide corner surplus. When Fowler walked in,
pushing Heyward back to corner, I really thought
Heyward/Schwarber/Soler/Zobrist gave massive surplus. I was
still dreaming of using Schwarber at catcher sometimes.
Obviously that rare surplus-team won the WS, so maybe having
surplus is great! But obviously it ended up being no great
surplus after all, and we actually needed to push Bryant into
some OF for lack of surplus. Scharber got injured first week;
soler did not mash (or defend well); Heyward posted glorious
OPS+ of 68.
Last spring, I thought our depth wasn't bad:
Brown-Rea-Assad-Birdsell-Horton as 5-9, and at this point there
was still actually talk about Pearson perhaps being tried at
rotation, plus Keller. Obviously Keller/Pearson never factored;
Assad-Birdsell gone before exhibition game 1; and Shota and
Steele injured fast. So the attrition last year was flukishly
bad. Very fortunate that Horton emerged so unexpectedly well
and unexpectedly quickly; and that Boyd, probably the guy whose
health was most suspect entering camp, stayed healthy.
But yeah, *IF* they added Gallen, the depth would be phenomenal.
Maybe over-reaction to last year, but I love the capacity to
really pace Horton and cabrera, and Boyd too, so that they might
be fresh for October.
I'm totally a believer that most good starting pitchers can
become very productive relievers, whether multi-inning or
single-inning usage. Can throw harder; full adrenalin; don't
need to be setting up for 2nd time through the order; often
selected with semi-favorable L/F innings, etc..; can key in with
best pitches. So kinda thinking that if guys like Rea, Assad,
maybe Steele when he returns, if those guys work out of the
bullpen, they may be very effective there.
If Cubs are contending in July, they obviously aren't going to
be deadline "sellers". But given the high-deadline inflation on
starting pitchers, it might be interesting to have a surplus
from which to trade. A position guy is injured; trade a starter
for a position replacement? Having some surplus might be really
helpful.
#Post#: 523810--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Ron Date: January 21, 2026, 6:48 pm
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Dansby on Bregman etc. He's pumped.
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6987673/2026/01/21/chicago-cubs-alex-bregman-dansby-swanson-teammates/
#Post#: 523813--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 21, 2026, 8:52 pm
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Yeah, Ron, it seems like the team guys are all really pumped.
Seems expectations are higher than since 2018 or so? Hope they
get off to a good start, and it's all self-reinforcing!
#Post#: 523814--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 21, 2026, 8:56 pm
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FanGraphs Dan Szymborski has his Zips projections up for Cubs
and brewers.
HTML https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/
Rotation: 11.2 for each.
Bullpen: 4.8 for Brewers, 3.7 for Cubs
Lineup: 29.9 for Cubs, 24.6 for Brewers.
#Post#: 523817--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CurtOne Date: January 21, 2026, 9:16 pm
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Craig, was that before or after they traded Peralta?
#Post#: 523819--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: January 21, 2026, 9:41 pm
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That was with Peralta listing as 2.8 for the Brewers, as their
top starter obviously. Wow. That will make the Brewers kinda
vulnerable. Still, I wish they'd have just played it out, and
gotten nothing but a comp pick for him next year. I assume
they'll get good value out of the prospects they received. Boo,
boo, boo.
But yeah, for this year, the Cubs should maybe really take
command of the division for a change?
#Post#: 523820--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Deeg Date: January 21, 2026, 9:53 pm
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[quote author=craig link=topic=663.msg523819#msg523819
date=1769053265]
That was with Peralta listing as 2.8 for the Brewers, as their
top starter obviously. Wow. That will make the Brewers kinda
vulnerable. Still, I wish they'd have just played it out, and
gotten nothing but a comp pick for him next year. I assume
they'll get good value out of the prospects they received. Boo,
boo, boo.
But yeah, for this year, the Cubs should maybe really take
command of the division for a change?
[/quote]
The Brewers are like cockroaches - they'd survive anything. No
matter who they lose and how vulnerable they look they're always
there at the end with 90+ wins. I'll believe they're in trouble
when it actually happens.
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