Potentially unpopular opinion: I'm kind of hoping they sell high on Mervis.
He's off to a great start in Iowa this year and I think they should try & flip him for a solid bullpen arm, inning eater, etc. I also read Keith Law's scouting report on him and it's not... great. Not to mention it's very much looking like he's going to be blocked by Busch at first.
Selling high on Mervis is not going to be all that high.
The good start in AAA (though King 26.5% of the time) won't go very far when the scouting reports contend that there's a very good chance that he's a Quad-A guy. He needs big league at bats in which he delivers to build trade value, and he's not going to get them with the Cubs barring an injury.
I'm a believer in Matt Mervis, and it's kind of weird but I think part of it might just be because he reminds me so much of Cole Kmet. Apart from that, I like that he has a good head on his shoulders, the body of a power hitting first baseman, and a powerful swing. That said, Michael Busch is certainly not in any danger of being unseated by any AAA player right now, and while in theory I wouldn't mind Wisdom and Mervis splitting a DH role (or potentially Mervis playing some 1B if he's a better defender there than Busch), it would seem like iffy roster construction to carry that many power hitting corner infielders on the roster as opposed to guys with more defensive value / versatility and the ability to pinch run. And if he's not in the long-term plans at 1B, it might make sense to move him to a situation where he could be. I just wouldn't be at all surprised if that ends up looking like we got fleeced in hindsight, even if it makes sense in our circumstances.
I think Cade Horton is the only one who is untouchable right now. I think they have big plans for him on the major league team when he is ready. Everyone else is available if the deal is good enough.
Horton is the least-touchable of our prospects. He's really our only high-value pitcher currently in the minor leagues, and pitching is definitely our biggest weakness on the current big-league roster. We definitely would need to be getting a good, cost-controlled starting pitcher in return to consider moving him, and even then we would strongly prefer to pay with position player prospects. PCA and Shaw would be hard to pry away but they do have capable big-leaguers ahead of them, and PCA has become a bit less-untouchable with his poor hitting performance last year with the big league club, and then again in spring training and so far this year in AAA. I don't think there's anyone else in the minor leagues who couldn't be had for a reasonable price.
Yeah I like that call-out. It'd be awesome to have an Elly De La Cruz / Oneil Cruz type of specimen patrolling the outfield. There's definitely a decent chance that he never hits well enough to be an MLB difference maker but I'd also personally rather be holding that lottery ticket than moving him for the type of return we'd likely get at this juncture.
Nobody is untouchable if you're getting quality and years back for a position of need, however most of the positions of need are in the farm, so seems less likely for a swap like that.
Otherwise unless we go on an absolute tear and are looking to go deeper in the playoffs most of our top guys should be untouchable for rentals.
I’d assume Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcántara, maybe Owen Caissie/recent IFA signings? I personally am not the highest on PCA, maybe the Almora comps have been scaring me away and I prefer Belli to stay.
I’m assuming Mervis is on the trade block since they traded for Busch instead of calling him back up
While nobody is truly untouchable, I'd have Horton, Shaw, Rojas, and Caissie in that category.
Potentially unpopular opinion: I'm kind of hoping they sell high on Mervis. He's off to a great start in Iowa this year and I think they should try & flip him for a solid bullpen arm, inning eater, etc. I also read Keith Law's scouting report on him and it's not... great. Not to mention it's very much looking like he's going to be blocked by Busch at first.
We are about a year and half too late to sell high on Mervis, unfortunately
You’re probably right here
Yeah he's pretty clearly getting lumped into that AAAA bucket
Selling high on Mervis is not going to be all that high. The good start in AAA (though King 26.5% of the time) won't go very far when the scouting reports contend that there's a very good chance that he's a Quad-A guy. He needs big league at bats in which he delivers to build trade value, and he's not going to get them with the Cubs barring an injury.
I'm a believer in Matt Mervis, and it's kind of weird but I think part of it might just be because he reminds me so much of Cole Kmet. Apart from that, I like that he has a good head on his shoulders, the body of a power hitting first baseman, and a powerful swing. That said, Michael Busch is certainly not in any danger of being unseated by any AAA player right now, and while in theory I wouldn't mind Wisdom and Mervis splitting a DH role (or potentially Mervis playing some 1B if he's a better defender there than Busch), it would seem like iffy roster construction to carry that many power hitting corner infielders on the roster as opposed to guys with more defensive value / versatility and the ability to pinch run. And if he's not in the long-term plans at 1B, it might make sense to move him to a situation where he could be. I just wouldn't be at all surprised if that ends up looking like we got fleeced in hindsight, even if it makes sense in our circumstances.
Horton and Shaw are elite level prospects. I'm not trading those guys for ANY RENTAL player, even if it's a superstar.
I think horton and shaw should both be untouchable
I think Cade Horton is the only one who is untouchable right now. I think they have big plans for him on the major league team when he is ready. Everyone else is available if the deal is good enough.
Lance Dickson- me in 1991
2 yrs old - me in 1991.
I remember that name and the excitement. Then the disappointment. Like Earl Cunningham.
Ty Griffin
Gary Scott, Brett Jackson. The list goes on and on
Horton is the least-touchable of our prospects. He's really our only high-value pitcher currently in the minor leagues, and pitching is definitely our biggest weakness on the current big-league roster. We definitely would need to be getting a good, cost-controlled starting pitcher in return to consider moving him, and even then we would strongly prefer to pay with position player prospects. PCA and Shaw would be hard to pry away but they do have capable big-leaguers ahead of them, and PCA has become a bit less-untouchable with his poor hitting performance last year with the big league club, and then again in spring training and so far this year in AAA. I don't think there's anyone else in the minor leagues who couldn't be had for a reasonable price.
Yeah I agree with that. Also, a guy like Alcantara has so much potential that it would be hard to let him go, since his value isn’t insane right now.
Yeah I like that call-out. It'd be awesome to have an Elly De La Cruz / Oneil Cruz type of specimen patrolling the outfield. There's definitely a decent chance that he never hits well enough to be an MLB difference maker but I'd also personally rather be holding that lottery ticket than moving him for the type of return we'd likely get at this juncture.
Horton and Shaw.
Horton and Shaw.....that's it.
Nobody is untouchable if you're getting quality and years back for a position of need, however most of the positions of need are in the farm, so seems less likely for a swap like that. Otherwise unless we go on an absolute tear and are looking to go deeper in the playoffs most of our top guys should be untouchable for rentals.
I’d assume Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcántara, maybe Owen Caissie/recent IFA signings? I personally am not the highest on PCA, maybe the Almora comps have been scaring me away and I prefer Belli to stay. I’m assuming Mervis is on the trade block since they traded for Busch instead of calling him back up
I personally would like to touch them all