Chicago Cubs 2020

[justdoit69]

While I like the signing, he strikes out way too much to be a leadoff man.

I'm guessing Happ will still lead off and Joc will be around the 5/6 spot in the order.

I would tend to agree:

Happ
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Peterson
Contreras
?
Hoerner
? - depends if DH gets approved or not

Hoerner might turn into that leadoff guy, but I’m not sure if he’s really ready yet. Think they forced him up too early although it was out of necessity.

Agreed. I would like to see the Cubs sign a veteran 2b and have Nico start in AAA. I think Nico is the future at 2nd but would be nice to have someone to plug in until he is ready.

[Butler Blue]

While I like the signing, he strikes out way too much to be a leadoff man.

I'm guessing Happ will still lead off and Joc will be around the 5/6 spot in the order.

I would tend to agree:

Happ
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Peterson
Contreras
?
Hoerner
? - depends if DH gets approved or not

Hoerner might turn into that leadoff guy, but I’m not sure if he’s really ready yet. Think they forced him up too early although it was out of necessity.

1. Happ 2. Bryant 3. Rizzo 4. Contreras 5. Pederson 6. Baez 7. Heyward 8. Hoerner

[Butler Blue]

I'm guessing Happ will still lead off and Joc will be around the 5/6 spot in the order.

I would tend to agree:

Happ
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Peterson
Contreras
?
Hoerner
? - depends if DH gets approved or not

Hoerner might turn into that leadoff guy, but I’m not sure if he’s really ready yet. Think they forced him up too early although it was out of necessity.

Agreed. I would like to see the Cubs sign a veteran 2b and have Nico start in AAA. I think Nico is the future at 2nd but would be nice to have someone to plug in until he is ready.

With as many veterans as you have in the line-up, I don't see any problem giving Hoerner the opportunity to play everyday. It's his age 24 season, and he slashed .297/.365/.427 in 375 minor league plate appearances over the previous 2 years. He's hitting .247 in 208 major league plate appearances and his strike out rate was well below the major league average.

[tribecalledquest]

Agreed on Hoerner. He has nothing else to prove in the minors. The Cubs will still have a really good lineup. I think too much is being put on the weird, small sample, 60 game season of 2020.

[justdoit69]

If Nico is starting at 2nd at the beginning of the year I wouldn't be disappointed. But I do think there is upside for him starting in AAA.

[sshoopster]

Baseball America Cubs' top 30 prospects
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ba ... d=msedgntp

[squirrel]

Baseball America Cubs' top 30 prospects
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ba ... d=msedgntp

2016 first round draft pick Brendon Little is finally healthy and could be a dark horse in the Cubs pitching picture as well. All but forgotten due to injuries the past few years, the Cubs are optimistic he can fulfill their earlier hopes.

[deejay]

I like the Cubs off season moves. Looks like quality clubhouse guys that want to be with the club, Marisnik and Peterson. Perhaps a little more small ball, but think defense will be better. Outside the Cards I think they can compete in division with other teams. Again, concerns are with the pitching.

[squirrel]

[tombs14]

Welp, they did it.
Arietta back for a year at $6.5M

[squirrel]

Stole this from bcg on Facebook:

Fernando Taits, Jr, and Manny Machado will make more money from the Padres ($640m) than the team's entire combined rosters for the decade from 2000-2010 (appox $618m).

[deejay]

Just drove up the price for other free agent or to be SS. So how much will Baez ask?

[pndbaseball12]

Stole this from bcg on Facebook:

Fernando Taits, Jr, and Manny Machado will make more money from the Padres ($640m) than the team's entire combined rosters for the decade from 2000-2010 (appox $618m).

And this is why I call ^^ on the Cubs not having money to spend. The San Diego Padres have an infield that is over $680 million in Machado, Tatis, Profar, and Eric Hosmer.