**OFFICIAL CUBS REGULAR SEASON THREAD**

The Cubs got a steal! There are some opt outs if he does over achieve but if not they are only out 30 million over 9 years.

All signs pointing to the Cubs looking to compete in 2014.
 
Soler was a big move. If they could have drafted Correa with this that would've been AMAZING. However, I will still take it. If this kid is MLB ready by 2014 I will be surprised, but happy none the less. To me the most important thing in the next few weeks is who gets traded and what kind of prospects they can get in return. Dempster and Garza should bring in some good ones.
 
A lineup in a couple of years that includes Rizzo, Jackson, Castro, Vitters, Baez and Soler is very exciting to think about. That's a lot of young talent. If they can get some more prospects for Demp and Garza this year, look out in a couple of years. Go Cubs go!
 
Brinson was talking about this being a horrible move by the Cubs today on KXNO. He and the producer were basically saying they're paying $30 million for 9 years for a guy they no very little about AND he has a chance to walk at arbitration. Despite the fact that I think Brinson is a DB, I can somewhat see his point. However, I think it's a good gamble that could pay huge dividends down the road.
 
DJL said:
Brinson was talking about this being a horrible move by the Cubs today on KXNO. He and the producer were basically saying they're paying $30 million for 9 years for a guy they no very little about AND he has a chance to walk at arbitration. Despite the fact that I think Brinson is a DB, I can somewhat see his point. However, I think it's a good gamble that could pay huge dividends down the road.
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If he decides to go to arbitration the Cubs would retain his rights based on his mlb service time. That would mean he made it to the majors in a short time and performed really well. This move is like adding a top 10 draft pick as he is only 20 years old. The only way this would be a bad deal for the Cubs is if he turns out to be a total bust and they end up paying him 30 million over the entire 9 years. But that is cheap compared to other salaries they have had to eat.
 
ssckelley said:
If he decides to go to arbitration the Cubs would retain his rights based on his mlb service time. That would mean he made it to the majors in a short time and performed really well. This move is like adding a top 10 draft pick as he is only 20 years old. The only way this would be a bad deal for the Cubs is if he turns out to be a total bust and they end up paying him 30 million over the entire 9 years. But that is cheap compared to other salaries they have had to eat.
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Yep. They're getting Soler at $30 million for 9 years - that's under $4 million a year. If he turns out to be any good at all, they are getting a steal. And if he turns out to be a star, they can always pay him more if need be, yes? I don't see how the Cubs really have much to lose on this deal. Yes, Soler COULD be a bust, but as you said, < $4 million a year is chump change compared to some of the contracts they've been burdened with the past few years.
 
hawkfarmer said:
I disagree. Though the situations are different, the cubs do have to luxury of having the ability to make a change. If the cubs could trade Castro for a few pitching prospects, say the Blue Jays who are loaded there, that makes sense to me.

I personally am not impressed with Castro at the plate and here is why:

1. His approach is not sound. He is a selfish hitter looking to pad stats and not help the team. Game 2 v. twins swings at first pitch from pitcher he has never seen before, and pulls it to 3rd. If he is more patient or pushes the ball Johnson moves to second.

2. On the same line he is too aggressive with runners on. he strikes out more than he drives them in. He is not good in clutch situations.

3. He rarely walks.

I think these can develop with time, but how long and has he fallen into a pattern from Quade and Pinella as initial tutors?
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Castro in a word: Selfish.

Totally agree with your post. Just terrible as a situational hitter.

And, incidentally, he's horrible defensively, too...
 
DJL said:
Brinson was talking about this being a horrible move by the Cubs today on KXNO. He and the producer were basically saying they're paying $30 million for 9 years for a guy they no very little about AND he has a chance to walk at arbitration. Despite the fact that I think Brinson is a DB, I can somewhat see his point. However, I think it's a good gamble that could pay huge dividends down the road.
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You can't "walk at arbitration". It isn't free agency. Someone who has been around sports for as long as Brinson has should know that.
 
It seems some of you are giving up way too quickly on Castro. He's 22 years old for crying out loud. He's not even close to his prime years yet.

If Theo & Co wants to trade him I have no problem with that but they need to get a king's ransom in return.
 
Clark said:
It seems some of you are giving up way too quickly on Castro. He's 22 years old for crying out loud. He's not even close to his prime years yet.

If Theo & Co wants to trade him I have no problem with that but they need to get a king's ransom in return.
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^ agreed!

Castro is only going to keep maturing and improving.
 
sergeanthulka said:
Perhaps, as long as he stops taking his hitting cues from Soriano...
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My thoughts on Castro are that he's 22 and he certainly could improve greatly, so I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of him unless you can get a couple of really nice prospects for him.

He does have to work on his plate discipline. When you only have something like 4 walks on the year, you're the type of player that needs to be hitting well over .300 to have significant value, particularly when your defense isn't your strong suit. But as long as Castro is hitting .300+ I can't complain too much.

But eventually big-league pitchers are going to figure out that they don't have to throw strikes to get you out.
 
sergeanthulka said:
Perhaps, as long as he stops taking his hitting cues from Soriano...
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No similarities between their swings and Castro does not strike out as much as Soriano did at his age. But hey if in 4 years Castro starts hitting 35+ home runs per season then great. At the age of 22 Derek Jeter had his first full year at the mlb level and struck out over 100 times with only 48 walks. Oh yeah, Jeter was a much better fielder right? That same season Jeter had a .969 fielding percentage and Castros so far is .966.

It would take an overwhelming offer for me to trade Castro. Talented shortstops are hard to find, look around baseball you will not find many good serviceable shortstops any where and Castro is still a prospect.

Has anyone mentioned Castro is only 22 years old?
 
ssckelley said:
No similarities between their swings and Castro does not strike out as much as Soriano did at his age. But hey if in 4 years Castro starts hitting 35+ home runs per season then great. At the age of 22 Derek Jeter had his first full year at the mlb level and struck out over 100 times with only 48 walks. Oh yeah, Jeter was a much better fielder right? That same season Jeter had a .969 fielding percentage and Castros so far is .966.

It would take an overwhelming offer for me to trade Castro. Talented shortstops are hard to find, look around baseball you will not find many good serviceable shortstops any where and Castro is still a prospect.

Has anyone mentioned Castro is only 22 years old?
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Agreed that Castro is young, but his walk rate (2.3 %) is half of what it was last year (4.9 %). His strikeout rate is higher as well (16.6 % vs 13.4 %). Again, a bit early in the career to panic, but let's see where these trends end up going.

His defense has improved since the beginning of May, but he needs to keep working on his D and making the routine plays. I am not saying trade him now, but he needs to show he is working on all aspects to be better.
 
woodyk1 said:
Agreed that Castro is young, but his walk rate (2.3 %) is half of what it was last year (4.9 %). His strikeout rate is higher as well (16.6 % vs 13.4 %). Again, a bit early in the career to panic, but let's see where these trends end up going.

His defense has improved since the beginning of May, but he needs to keep working on his D and making the routine plays. I am not saying trade him now, but he needs to show he is working on all aspects to be better.
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Ok, so perhaps he is taking batting tips from Soriano. But if at the age of 26 (4 years away) he does this: 128 R, 209 H, 51 2B, 39 HR, 102 RBI, 41/54 SB, .300 BA would we be all that disappointed at shortstop?

Again Castro is still a prospect, just a prospect that has been developing at the MLB level instead of AAA. Rizzo is only 22 years old but he is in AAA, if he accidentally forgets how many outs there are nobody outside of Des Moines notices. But if Castro does it, this is unacceptable.
 
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