Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Season Thread Vol: (17-17)

They already moved Baez to 2nd?

Nice.

I still think they're gonna end up swapping Russell or Baez out for a pitcher. I think a top prospect for top prospect trade might be coming. Sounds like they wanna keep Starlin.
 
Not full time. Baez has played SS too. Like Alcantara, they move him back and forth to work on each area.
Alcantara has bounced between 2B and CF.

Also talk of Schwarber staying at C, instead of LF.

So we "could" see Soler in LF
Alcantara CF
Bryant RF
Baez 3B
Castro SS
Russell 2B
Rizzo 1B
Schwarber C


Leaving Almora, McKinney, and the international stars as trade bait. We'll see.
 
Relevant

It’s another one of those sad, but understandable, “end of an era” days.

Long-ish-time Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney has been designated for assignment to make room for Emilio Bonifacio, who is returning from the disabled list and an oblique strain. The Cubs will now have 10 days to trade, waive, or release Barney.

Given that the Trade Deadline is 9 days away, the timing here makes a lot of sense. Whatever was going to happen with Barney was probably going to happen in the next 9 days anyway. Now it has to.

As an arbitration-eligible player who hasn’t been able to rebound with the bat this year, Barney was going to be non-tendered after the season anyway, so his days with the Cubs may have been numbered as it was. Hopefully the Cubs can find a taker for him – though they won’t get much in return, it would be nice to see Barney get a shot, even if just on the bench, with a contender. Whatever you think of his struggles offensively, Barney always seemed like a great teammate, a good guy, and a hard worker. I’d like to see him land on his feet.

We’ll have more on Barney when the inevitable move is made. That will include plenty of kind words for a guy who was often very fun to watch, and contributed as best he could at all times.

In Barney’s place, Bonifacio returns to a .261/.307/.340 line after missing a little more than a month with an oblique strain. He’ll likely get as many starts as the Cubs can reasonably give him between now and July 31 in case there’s a team out there that wants to pick up a versatile player like Bonifacio, who could offer real value off the bench.

Bear in mind, this does not necessarily mean Arismendy Alcantara will be staying with the big team for the duration (though it does make it much more likely). Tomorrow, the Cubs will need another roster spot for Tsuyoshi Wada, and that will come from the position player ranks.

DFA’ing Barney opens up a spot on the 40-man roster that, for now, the Cubs aren’t using.

I should also note that Javier Baez is regularly playing second base at AAA Iowa now. I wouldn’t quite say this “opens” a spot for him, given that Barney wasn’t really starting anymore anyway. But it is one less obstacle to Baez seeing time in the bigs at some point in August/September if his development otherwise dictates it.


The Cubs will try like hell to trade Bonifacio as well. So in reality, both he and Barney are on the block and need showcase time. Barney more of a glove guy, Bonifacio more of a versatile/speed guy.
 
Oh I would love that, but I think that's a year away.

For one, his contract kinda sucks, and for 2, we do need "someone" to eat innings for a while. And someone who isn't young, and wasting pitches on a bad team.

Come next year, when we are trying to be better, and his contract is a bit shorter, he could be a deadline flip (for nothing of real value) and we can insert a young guy or two with a little more experience in our system. Like Edwards, or Neil Ramirez moving to starter, etc.


If they can flip him now tho, I wouldn't complain, I just don't think they will just yet.
 
Rizzo 2 more bombs, league leading 25th. :hat :hat

Alcantara with an absolute BLAST.


Almora hit one in the minors.

Kyle Hendricks 7 shut out innings. :smokin
 
Get ready folks......

Jorge Soler promoted to Triple A.
Albert Almora promoted to Double A.

Mike Olt sent down to Triple A to get some at-bats.

I think Alcantara is staying up in the bigs. :hat


#CloserAndCloser
 
Get ready folks......

Jorge Soler promoted to Triple A.
Albert Almora promoted to Double A.

Mike Olt sent down to Triple A to get some at-bats.

I think Alcantara is staying up in the bigs. :hat


#CloserAndCloser


I assume Soler and Almora are doing great if they being moved up.
 
Soler has been hurt most of the year, but the last 3 weeks he's been crushin.

Almora struggled, a lot, early, but he too has been on fire the last 3 weeks or so.

So they deserve to advance a class, face some tougher pitching and see how they fare.

This time next year............. :eek 8o
 
Rizzo 25 :Nthat
I'm liking what I see from Hendricks.

Airs is staying :Nthat
Good for him! He's been playing well.

:Nthat :Nthat
#CloserAndCloser #InTheoWeTrust
 
Hey Jack, cool down man, you’re looking too excited there, don’t want to get too high.

No but seriously, he’s going to murder someone tonight right?

Looka like a skinnier version of every girl ive ever banged
embarassed.gif
 
They already moved Baez to 2nd?

Nice.

I still think they're gonna end up swapping Russell or Baez out for a pitcher. I think a top prospect for top prospect trade might be coming. Sounds like they wanna keep Starlin.
Speaking of elite pitching prospects, you have any early thoughts on Max Fried?
 
Theo: "We don’t deserve to be on the cover of magazines. We don’t deserve to be lauded right now, because we haven’t done anything yet."


Grind won't stop. :hat
 
I dont like dwelling on the future too much, mostly because i dont want to be dissapointed, but thats all we Cub fans can really do. But i'd be lying if I'm not getting tingly seeing Rizzo do work.
 
I dont like dwelling on the future too much, mostly because i dont want to be dissapointed, but thats all we Cub fans can really do. But i'd be lying if I'm not getting tingly seeing Rizzo do work.
Except his bases loaded strike out yesterday 
laugh.gif
 By the time the Cubs have all their "prospects" where they need to be, Rizzo is gonna be Jeters age!
 
Rizzo is 24, everyone will be up inside 1-2 years. That's 26 bright guy.
It was sarcasm, "bright guy", implying the Cubs suck and will continue to suck for a long time if their magic "farm plan" doesn't plan out. But I thank you for the math lesson. 
 
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Ohhhhh, we got us a hardcore  -to the definition!- Cubs fan here...Look out! 
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