Could the Chicago Cubs make THESE trades!?

31 comments

1. Hate to see Bellinger go even with his off year. He still hit 331 with RISP and 298 against lefties. Didn't even know Hoerner played hurt and hit 273. When did this injury occur? Moving Paredes whose hitting exit velocity equals my grandmother should be the one to go. Now IF the Bellinger of 2023 shows up {307-26-97} now we are cooking. WAR 2.2 👉2023 4.4

2. Not sure why we'd trade for nailor, we have Busch and he was really good this year as a rookie, think he has flashed some power and is probably going to win a gold glove in the future as he progresses at the position. We then open up second for the prospect

3. They could…but they wont. It's too much work making all those phone calls and besides, they have hotels and bars to run.

4. Cubs wouldn't take on the Full 24 million owed to Castillo because Hoerner is making 11 million. That's a difference of 13 million so that's what payroll would increase by & estimated payroll for the next year. Is that worth it to upgrade your rotation to elite & give Shaw the job?? I would say yes but its tough. Castillo is under contract till 2028 if he reaches an IP threshold for an option on the 2028 season. Nico is under control this year & next year. So it'll probably take a prospect (NOT top 100 but a good prospect) or young MLB player as well as Nico to get this deal done.

5. Here is the facts Jack! The Cubs will suck again and again. Tom cheapazzho will not spend money, poor Jed the moron Jester in the park!

6. Not much will happen until the meetings. The 22nd will start a little action as teams with have to tender by then. The Cubs have a bunch of wasted contract tied up in tendered cases.

7. Sorry Matt but none of those trades are happening & none of those players listed makes the cubs better cuz you have to get rid of a guy almost as good to get them or 2 somebody's.

   Bellinger has value if you send about 5-7 million with him like you said. But even more to a team that needs him like the Yankees. Yankees need to fill OF & 1st base & Bellinger is both. Same with Astros for that matter & both teams would prefer a 1 year deal on Bellinger which is what they'd be baseing their hopes on to do the trade. (Nobody wants him if they think he will play bad & accept his 25 million option for '26)

8. Keep Busch, move Horner, slot Busch or Bellinger to bat 3rd in the lineup, get a 4th hitter somewhere. Busch or Bellinger 5th and the rest however. If Parades stays he’s a 6 hitter at best.

9. Guys Michael Busch has a TON of value. He was a top 10 first baseman in the MLB his rookie season & all signs point to this being his floor not ceiling. He makes league minimum & in control till 2030!!! Nico & Busch for Gilbert would be more than enough. Almost an overpay for the Cubs but it accomplishes goals for BOTH teams.

   Also Luis Castillo is a straight up BEAST!! Put a damn good defense behind that groundball machine who also strikes out a bunch of guys & he could get back into CY YOUNG talks like a couple years ago. Hes nvr had a bad season since his rookie years

10. Great episode Matt cozy

11. Up until now I've always been a bit against trading players we developed and got to know as they earned their place in the organization. Maybe I'm getting older and wiser (definitely not) but I'm on board entirely with trading Nico as much as everyone likes him

12. Sam's trade proposal is more realistic and one I would feel better about. I like Busch okay, but the Bellinger deal restricts this team for the next two years. Someone has to go to make room for Shaw.

13. I understand the situation the cubs are in. Hoerner led the team in hits, stolen bases and doubles. Also, has a gold glove.

14. Great show! I really enjoy it. My question is about Amaya. What do you think his ceiling is as far potential goes and could he be a potential trade option?

15. Uff. If Logan Gilbert would require Busch (plus Hoerner and a piece), that really makes that Ferris/Hope to the Dodgers trade a fire-able offense for Jed Hoyer.

16. Sam is wrong on the $ amounts. For example, Hoerner for 20~ million over 2 years is a fucking steal. There’s inflation so his ideas of “cost effective” is simply under-selling

17. Funny how both Matt and Sam both wanted Bellinger and Jordan Montgomery last year, and now want neither lol

18. I highly doubt Cubs will trade Bellinger. I think Michael Busch is easiest to trade considering his salary and age. Cubs can easily put Bellinger at first base to replace him as well. Clearly, Cubs need a top tier hitter and starting pitcher. Otherwise, they’ll be average again

19. Nico for Josh Naylor? Hard pass. Give me jose Ramirez and Clase for Nico and caah. If you insist on trading Nico.

20. Ichiro Suzuki won ROY in 2001, he wasn't exactly a "rookie" when he came over from Japan. Shota should have been in the final three.

21. Does someone have a link to where Bill Simmons said the cubs are the 12th most recognized sports team in the world?

22. You guys are acting like THE CUBS can be competitive for the WORLD SERIES THIS YEAR! Why? They are NOT! We should just get that 5 th starter and let THE YOUNG GUNS PLAY! The goal should be to compete for the division and make the playoffs!!!!! GET REAL!!!!!

23. I sincerely hope they move on from Jed he put us in this mess that guy is not the guy we haven’t been to the playoffs let alone win our division since this dude been in charge and this owner doesn’t want to compete with the top teams period we are waisting our breath on this team

24. Bench players should be three top prospects and Ballasteros as the backup catcher! This would be exciting and high energy team. COMPETITION IS THE KEY!

25. As a Ms fan I don’t see any deal where the Ms get rid of Gilbert. I think if you sent that same deal (hoerner, Busch, prospect) for Kirby you might have a better chance of getting that done but the Ms are so cheap they would ask you to take on Hanigers money and try to find a way to attach him. Just my thoughts as a Seattle fan

26. These players NEED A CHANCE TO PLAY or move them!!

27. I hope people realize Busch is 26 sometimes people speak of him as if he still has years to develop. I wish Bellinger would have opted out.

28. NO, No, NO. Bellinger for pitching. Shaw to 3b. Ballesteros to fight for the No 1 Catcher's spot. Do not trade Hoerner as you would then have a Gold Glove infield and a superb OF. So some confidence in your minor leaguers.

29. The Seattle Mariners hope to improve on this year's team wRC+ of 104 (just as the Cubs hope to improve on this year's lower team wRC+ of 101). After August 15 the Mariners posted a league-leading wRC+ of 118. Seattle would move Luis Castillo only for salary relief so the M's would have no interest in Cody Bellinger. The Mariners are unlikely to trade Logan Gilbert, especially for quantity over quality.

30. Anything below … the mid-tier Cubs making mid-tier pitching acquistions will inevitably show them obtaining mid-tier free agents or making mid-tier trades. Welcome to the mid-tier Central Division Cubs. 87 wins, here we come.

31. Does anyone really think that Shaw will be a better professional player than Nico Hoerner? Does anyone really think that the Cubs keeping Busch, PCA, and Amaya while adding two more rookies to that starting lineup, will actually make the Cubs a better team? Does anyone actually think that adding one mid-tier starting pitcher and a non-top reliever for later innings will take the Cubs over 90 wins? I DON'T THINK SO.