October 19, 2019: Batter Up

OK, time to look at the offense. Let’s start with something that pisses me off every time I see it: the Cubs should trade Kris Bryant. Are people saying that because they think he’ll leave anyway in free agency due to the initial handling of his service time with the Cubs? Maybe people don’t like his “nice-guy” attitude? Do people think that he’s not a clutch player? Maybe folks think he’s injury prone? Although there are some factual nuggets from each of those statements, it’s mostly smoke. He has been banged up, has tried to play through it, and hasn’t been as successful. Still take his numbers all day. The non-clutch player commentary is a bit blown up; I seem to remember a number of big hits/ABs from KB. The fact that he’s a nice guy maybe prevents him from being that outspoken leader in the clubhouse, but that’s not the end of the world. If KB and his agent are set on leaving the Cubs due to what happened years ago, that would be the only reason, and I mean the ONLY reason to move him, to get something for him, before he leaves us high and dry. But how would we know this already? It would be nice of them to tell us that, but other than that, KB should be a Cub for life. 3B is locked up.

1B is locked up. SS is locked up. If you’re looking at making a splash and want the Cubs to move a big name, that name should not be Bryant, Rizzo, or Baez, period. I can’t hate you if you mentioned the name of any other every day player. I may not agree with you, but think we’d have to entertain the right deal if it presents itself. That starts with Contreras. I love Willson, but we also have another catcher that would be starting on most teams in the majors in Victor Caratini. Either one of them would bring back a nice return; obviously Willson would get more back. Thing is, people are going to have to get paid. That was the nice thing back in 2016; we had guys locked up for years. We’ll be heading into the 2020 season; the bills are coming due. We can’t pay everybody. I know the Cubs have money, and they should be able to pay multiple guys, but not everybody. One of them should be moved.

What about the outfield? Castellanos left an impression, maybe too good of an impression. He will get paid; he should get paid. He seemed to love it here; we loved him here. What do the analytics say? Does it really matter in every case? Can this be the guy that becomes one of the vocal leaders in the clubhouse if he’s locked up to multiple years? He should be in RF next year. Heyward, Heyward, Heyward… if only we could move him; not Theo’s finest moments, following the analytic projections and paying for supposed future performance… didn’t quite work out. Yes, part of me says the speech in 2016 is priceless, and worth every penny; then there’s the part of me that watches Jason play 162. He did better this year, but if there was a way to move him, we should. He makes way more money than he should be; not his fault, but to get some of those dollars back would be nice right about now. Almora, Happ… if somebody wants one of them in a big trade package, adios. I’m leaving Schwarber for last… really torn there. I think I want him to be in LF from here on out. That leaves CF open for that prototypical leadoff hitter… or maybe whoever is playing 2B; I didn’t forget about Nico.

I know I was supposed to be talking about what went wrong this year, but I’m kind of getting a bit tired of that. I’m shifting gears towards 2020. Let’s circle the wagons and wrap this Cubs 2019 rehash segment up…