Carp4Cy wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 17:35 pm
See below for the WAR hitting leaders - but we currently have maybe one position player that will exceed 4 WAR and about 10 that will finish in the 0-2.x WAR range. Every time I hear - lets trade this guy or that guy and maybe get a "nice prospect", I immediately think - does Nice prospect mean a 6+ WAR bat, or does it mean more clutter in the mix of JAGs? We certainly don't need more 1-2 WAR players on this team - they are a dime a dozen and we have nearly a dozen. So what's the point of obsessing about all these little trades for little players when we need to target someone who can make this list below (or is already in it)? How do we actually make a game changing move here?
(multiple by around 1.8 to get estimated full season WARs).
1. Judge • NYY 6.6
2. Crow-Armstrong • CHC 5.2
3. Raleigh • SEA 4.9
4. Peña • HOU 4.6
5. Witt • KCR 4.3
6. Wood • WSN 4.2
7. Tucker • CHC 4.1
8. Smith • LAD 4.0
9. Ohtani • LAD 4.0
10. Soto • NYM 3.8
I think Armstrong is playing a little over his head right now and it obviously helps to have a stud like Tucker in the lineup. Those players you speak of are exceedingly hard to come by and teams don't usually trade them. As shown by your list, they are pretty well not obtainable. I'd be happy with a few around 2.5 or so. We have one in Donovan but we could really use 2 more. Maybe a few of the young guys turn into that player. The problem is going to be paying them if they reach that plateau. Something DeWitt doesn't want to do.
You make some points - if we have one of this type of slugger like Tucker, it could make some of the young guys like IH, Noot, Gorman look a lot better. More ABs, more RBI chances, longer innings and more times thru the lineup every game. Which is exactly why we need an elite player - to make everyone around them better. Just adding more of the same level won't do that. Quality over quantity.
Meanwhile - remember this IS the Freaking STL Cardinals. We have brought in many All star and elite players this century: McGwire, Renteria, Edmonds, Rolen, Holliday, Beltran, Goldschmidt, Arenado. We absolutely can and should continue to make these types of trades to change the level of this franchise. Its not impossible, its just been a minute so many fans have forgotten it Can happen.
The bar has been lowered and seems everyone has joined the hyperventilating prospect geek fraternity. As if some team’s mid prospects they don’t care to lose are going to all jump from the minors next year and become superstars for us.
Building a foundation from JAGs is worthless and is exactly what is going on and so many want to double down on it. This team needs a shot of star power. Overpay like everyone else, at least for one guy, preferably an OFer worth a (drat).
"Everyone else" doesn't over pay for 6+ WAR players. The Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and maybe Phillies do.
The team's malaise over the last several years all comes back to the fact that they have not developed a 6+ WAR slugger (or 6+ WAR pitcher for that matter). As much as the Goldy and Nado trades worked out in our favor, the Ozuna exchange erased those gains.
Fact is, the front office has paired mediocre results with mediocre luck.
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
Carp4Cy wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 17:35 pm
See below for the WAR hitting leaders - but we currently have maybe one position player that will exceed 4 WAR and about 10 that will finish in the 0-2.x WAR range. Every time I hear - lets trade this guy or that guy and maybe get a "nice prospect", I immediately think - does Nice prospect mean a 6+ WAR bat, or does it mean more clutter in the mix of JAGs? We certainly don't need more 1-2 WAR players on this team - they are a dime a dozen and we have nearly a dozen. So what's the point of obsessing about all these little trades for little players when we need to target someone who can make this list below (or is already in it)? How do we actually make a game changing move here?
(multiple by around 1.8 to get estimated full season WARs).
1. Judge • NYY 6.6
2. Crow-Armstrong • CHC 5.2
3. Raleigh • SEA 4.9
4. Peña • HOU 4.6
5. Witt • KCR 4.3
6. Wood • WSN 4.2
7. Tucker • CHC 4.1
8. Smith • LAD 4.0
9. Ohtani • LAD 4.0
10. Soto • NYM 3.8
I think Armstrong is playing a little over his head right now and it obviously helps to have a stud like Tucker in the lineup. Those players you speak of are exceedingly hard to come by and teams don't usually trade them. As shown by your list, they are pretty well not obtainable. I'd be happy with a few around 2.5 or so. We have one in Donovan but we could really use 2 more. Maybe a few of the young guys turn into that player. The problem is going to be paying them if they reach that plateau. Something DeWitt doesn't want to do.
You make some points - if we have one of this type of slugger like Tucker, it could make some of the young guys like IH, Noot, Gorman look a lot better. More ABs, more RBI chances, longer innings and more times thru the lineup every game. Which is exactly why we need an elite player - to make everyone around them better. Just adding more of the same level won't do that. Quality over quantity.
Meanwhile - remember this IS the Freaking STL Cardinals. We have brought in many All star and elite players this century: McGwire, Renteria, Edmonds, Rolen, Holliday, Beltran, Goldschmidt, Arenado. We absolutely can and should continue to make these types of trades to change the level of this franchise. Its not impossible, its just been a minute so many fans have forgotten it Can happen.
The bar has been lowered and seems everyone has joined the hyperventilating prospect geek fraternity. As if some team’s mid prospects they don’t care to lose are going to all jump from the minors next year and become superstars for us.
Building a foundation from JAGs is worthless and is exactly what is going on and so many want to double down on it. This team needs a shot of star power. Overpay like everyone else, at least for one guy, preferably an OFer worth a (drat).
"Everyone else" doesn't over pay for 6+ WAR players. The Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and maybe Phillies do.
Fair enough but it doesn’t have to be a 6+. A 3-4 or a couple 2-3s will suffice too. There is a tier below the Ohtani/Soto/etc buffet that only the mega spenders eat at.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
Man this is getting crazy when a player like Tucker (nice player but.......c'mon not that great: career .276 .358 .516 .874) is going to get $400-500M.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
Man this is getting crazy when a player like Tucker (nice player but.......c'mon not that great: career .276 .358 .516 .874) is going to get $400-500M.
It is, I think he’s a really good player though. Last year he played only 78 games and still ended up with basically a 5 WAR season. Had he stayed healthy he’s probably having a 6-7 WAR season and we’d probably be talking about a 2nd straight 7 WAR season this year following 3 5+ WAR seasons before that.
Just read something that Jim Bowden (take it for what it’s worth) says he believes the next Tucker deal will begin with a “6” as in $600+ million.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. just got a $500 million deal and while he’s younger than Tucker, I think Tucker is the better player. He’s somewhere between Vlad Jr. and Soto, while yes being a couple years older than either.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
Man this is getting crazy when a player like Tucker (nice player but.......c'mon not that great: career .276 .358 .516 .874) is going to get $400-500M.
It is, I think he’s a really good player though. Last year he played only 78 games and still ended up with basically a 5 WAR season. Had he stayed healthy he’s probably having a 6-7 WAR season and we’d probably be talking about a 2nd straight 7 WAR season this year following 3 5+ WAR seasons before that.
Just read something that Jim Bowden (take it for what it’s worth) says he believes the next Tucker deal will begin with a “6” as in $600+ million.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. just got a $500 million deal and while he’s younger than Tucker, I think Tucker is the better player. He’s somewhere between Vlad Jr. and Soto, while yes being a couple years older than either.
That he is, but going into his age 29 season he's not worth $400-500M.
Honestly unless we're talking 25 year old Albert level w/eight great years left, no player is worth $400-500M.
I discount almost 99% of what Bowden posts, he's the King of hyperbole.
This club is a mid market team with a mid market budget. The cards have failed these past few seasons because of their lack of player development. (Gorman, Walker, and to many to list from previous seasons) As a mid market team I think the cardinals need to develop a strong core of young and affordable talent that can consistently contend for a division title. When they get to that point, then it’s the time for the cardinals to make that jump for a big free agent signing or trade for that upper echelon hitter or pitcher that could push them into World Series contention. Signing a hitter for 300 to 500 million at this point wouldn’t move the needle enough. At this point we still have a declining Arenado, and a starting pitching staff that won’t be able to get you out of the first round of the playoffs if they even make it. Other than Sonny Gray, what other pitcher is a top of the rotation pitcher on the roster next season? This team is still a few seasons away from that big move that will put them over the top. A big move like that will be wasted similar to how the prime years of Nado and Goldy where without the starters and other supporting cast around them.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
Man this is getting crazy when a player like Tucker (nice player but.......c'mon not that great: career .276 .358 .516 .874) is going to get $400-500M.
It is, I think he’s a really good player though. Last year he played only 78 games and still ended up with basically a 5 WAR season. Had he stayed healthy he’s probably having a 6-7 WAR season and we’d probably be talking about a 2nd straight 7 WAR season this year following 3 5+ WAR seasons before that.
Just read something that Jim Bowden (take it for what it’s worth) says he believes the next Tucker deal will begin with a “6” as in $600+ million.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. just got a $500 million deal and while he’s younger than Tucker, I think Tucker is the better player. He’s somewhere between Vlad Jr. and Soto, while yes being a couple years older than either.
That he is, but going into his age 29 season he's not worth $400-500M.
Honestly unless we're talking 25 year old Albert level w/eight great years left, no player is worth $400-500M.
I discount almost 99% of what Bowden posts, he's the King of hyperbole.
Soto is vastly over paid as well.
+1 Bowden = idiot.
Note: Shoto's deal is vastly overstated. FAR less than Soto and Vlad. I think his interpreter gave him the advice to take it.
The trick is the CBA, which imputes an interest rate of around 5% on the deferred money for the future years. That's FAR less than the Dodgers' owners (Guggenheim Investments) will make on that deferred money, and far less than Shohei would have made if he took it up front. The 5% is for luxury tax calculation only - not to value the contract in the real world. Under the CBA, its value is $460M. In real life, the Dodgers' actual impact will be far less = closer to $300M.
Vald's was fully guaranteed $500M for 14 years.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
Man this is getting crazy when a player like Tucker (nice player but.......c'mon not that great: career .276 .358 .516 .874) is going to get $400-500M.
It is, I think he’s a really good player though. Last year he played only 78 games and still ended up with basically a 5 WAR season. Had he stayed healthy he’s probably having a 6-7 WAR season and we’d probably be talking about a 2nd straight 7 WAR season this year following 3 5+ WAR seasons before that.
Just read something that Jim Bowden (take it for what it’s worth) says he believes the next Tucker deal will begin with a “6” as in $600+ million.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. just got a $500 million deal and while he’s younger than Tucker, I think Tucker is the better player. He’s somewhere between Vlad Jr. and Soto, while yes being a couple years older than either.
That he is, but going into his age 29 season he's not worth $400-500M.
Honestly unless we're talking 25 year old Albert level w/eight great years left, no player is worth $400-500M.
I discount almost 99% of what Bowden posts, he's the King of hyperbole.
Soto is vastly over paid as well.
GM probably right about it being $400-500M. WAR likes Tucker better than Matt Holliday, but, the statistics are amazingly comparable except Tucker is a better RF than Holliday was a LF and it is a more premium position. That appears to be the main WAR difference. I thought my $300M would be an overpay because of the back-end of that contract. $400-500M will be a massive overpay.
Rock, I think what we are really witnessing is the tiering of ownership. The tier 1 guys, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies etc., can overpay because of their higher revenues and wealthier ownership. Tier 2 teams like the Cards just are not going to compete at that level. The only other alternative is to try and make a trade with the A's for Brent Rooker. He is not as good of a player, defense and bat is not quite as good. But 4 years of control plus 1 more option year in 2030 at $60M total for 2025-2029 is a bargain. Baseball trade value has him at $39.1M. I don't subscribe to BTV, so don't have access to all the values, but Gorman 12, Sagesse 10, Roby 4, Crooks 12 is probably somewhere in the ballpark to get him...
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
101.1 had a GM say it will be over $600
That is a crazy number for a guy that is essentially a better fielding Matt Holliday. He will be in the hall of very good someday....Thank you for the information...
ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025 12:28 pm
The one obvious player available this winter if the Cubs do not extend him is Kyle Tucker. He will be 29 at the start of next season. Not sure what the projections are to sign him, but lets say 10/$300M. Everyone good with that number. It will be a massive overpay by the end of the contract. Lets say he puts up 3 more years of 900 OPS and 3 years of 800 OPS ball before declining below 800. He is an average OF. He would provide the most certainty of production. He is a 25-30 HR guy. So not a monster slugger, but a great hitter with a high OBP. His numbers are really similar to a Matt Holliday. I would expect the first 6 years of his contract to look almost exactly like Matt Holliday. Holliday took a lot of criticism in this city...
I think their window to compete will open in 2027. As many people who want to trade Donovan on this board, the real move is to sign a player like Tucker, in particular if they can trade Arenado. Then have an IF of Donovan, Winn, Wetherholdt and Contreras (Preferably Burleson if Contreras will waive the NTC.) OF of Baez, if he comes through, Scott and Tucker. Catcher of Bernal with Herrera the back-up / DH. Baez is still striking out a ton in Springfield, so he is no certainty. Nathan Church who has good bat to ball skills and Burleson are insurance. If Wetherholdt, Donovan, Tucker and Herrera can put up 800-900 OPS numbers with good OBP numbers, they have a nucleus to compete. Then the complementary hitters, Winn, Scott, Burleson, Contreras fill out the line-up decently.
I think Tucker may be more in the $400-500 million range. I could see the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, etc. being involved. And who knows, there may be a surprise team. If enough gets involved it could surpass $500 million.
And yes, it will be a massive overpay. But that’s what the market sees now with Ohtani, Soto, Vlad Jr. etc.
101.1 had a GM say it will be over $600
That is a crazy number for a guy that is essentially a better fielding Matt Holliday. He will be in the hall of very good someday....Thank you for the information...
Kyle Tucker is predicted to sign a massive contract when he hits free agency after the 2025 season, potentially reaching $600 million or more. Several baseball insiders on Yahoo Sports and The Athletic say. Some predictions include a 10-year, $500 million deal. Others suggest a longer contract, like 14 years, with significant deferred money, potentially reaching $604 million. The Cubs, where Tucker currently plays, may struggle to afford him due to his projected price tag.
