Cespedes or Not Cespedes.. That is the question

First Fanshot ever, so apologies if I mess this up..

We've come a long way this offseason and the next hot topic in line comes via the Dominican Repubic. I know its Ken Rosenthals tweet and all but it certainly appears that we are in the race for cespedes. Would he be worth it for our crowded outfield? This also doesn't even discuss soler. Who would you chose?
My money is on Soler, but what if we land Cespedes? Do we acquire Soler with the intent of waiting for our outfield to clear out? Are we in a position to acquire both? Jackson Soler and Cespedes doesn't sound like a bad outfield at all... Discuss.

4 months ago RIP Slim 23 comments 0 recs |

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IMO the "crowded OF" is irrelevant

Theo and Jed see a glaring lack of talent in the entire organization. So if they like either of the Cuban OFs (or other international talent for that matter), which it appears they do, I imagine they will pursue them aggressively.

On the “crowding”…. Cespedes might need some time in AAA. Byrd is gone after this season, if not earlier. DJJ has a 2 year, easily moveable contract. Jackson appears ticketed for more AAA time for probably half a season. And given all those developments I imagine that, one way or another, this is Soriano’s last season as a Cub (if they can’t find a trade of some sort, I think they’ll just release him).

If Cespedes is signed and they think he’s ready, Byrd or Sori will move. If they sign him and think he’s close (less than a year), they could still make a deal and just get by with a CF stopgap of RJ & “Campy” for part of a season if they don’t want to bring up Jackson yet.
So I don’t think the “crowd” is all that big of a problem.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 23, 2012 11:34 PM CST reply actions

Wouldnt that mean

a ton of people at the AAA level in the outfield?

Not all of these guys will be at AAA but out of
Sappelt, Jackson,Reedy,sczuzzrzrzr, and then possibly Soler,Cespedes wouldnt that be a logjam?

by RIP Slim on Jan 24, 2012 12:43 AM CST up reply actions

forgot campana

in there. I’m not opposed to getting Soler and Cespedes as they would be a good outfield, just alot of players in the bigs and AAA

by RIP Slim on Jan 24, 2012 12:48 AM CST up reply actions

Neither

Szczur or Soler would be in AAA. Szczur will likely start in A+. Soler would probably be A+ as well (he’s only 19)… maybe AA if they really wanted push.

Right now, the major league OF is likely: Byrd, DJJ, Sori, RJ, Campana/Sappelt

AAA would be Campana/Sappelt, Jackson, & Cespedes (if he’s ready for the bigs, someone is getting dealt)… plus they have a DH in Iowa (wish we could just send Sori there).

But, overall, don’t worry about the Cubs having “too much” of anything. That’s a “problem” we haven’t had in a while (at least not a good way… there’s sure been too much suck).

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 24, 2012 12:52 AM CST up reply actions

Right

and Cespedes is looking for a 6 year deal. So he’d theoretically be around for a long time, while Byrd is gone after this season, and Soriano is gone as soon as we can find a taker. Dejesus, as you said, is on a short-term contract, and the rest of the guys aren’t starting-caliber players.

So we certainly have room in the long term for a guy like him, particularly when our infield is pretty power deficient and we don’t have a lot of power prospects anywhere in the minors.

by tomas21 on Jan 24, 2012 8:20 AM CST up reply actions

I would prefer Soler...but i would be very pumped if Cespedes was signed.

he fits into the plan of being athletic and younger. and i would be ok with 6 years. only 32/33 at the end of the contract. he can patrol CF this year, unless they determine BJax is ready. itll be exciting to see what happens, i think they will land 1 of Soler or Cespedes at least, but thats just me.

by MDavis on Jan 24, 2012 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

The only reason having too much of something can be a problem ...

is when all the guys involved have massive, big-league contracts. But other than Soriano — who, you’re right, probably will be gone no matter what after 2012 — the guys involved will either be gone (Byrd), can easily be moved (DDJ) or can move back and forth between the minors and Chicago.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 24, 2012 9:45 AM CST up reply actions

Szczur and Soler would be at Daytona most likely.

by Dcr18 on Jan 24, 2012 7:00 AM CST up reply actions

That is called "competition" - a novel idea for the Cubs

by ClarkFan on Jan 24, 2012 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

I just want Cespedes

So the Marlins don’t get him. How much would that piss them off!

by portlandcubfan on Jan 24, 2012 12:53 AM CST reply actions

Heh.

It would. But don’t forget, the Marlins are going to be “aggressive just to the point of being stupid.”

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by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2012 7:08 AM CST up reply actions

So Jed needs to find what "stupid" is and push them to just before that mark....

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Jan 24, 2012 9:18 AM CST up reply actions

Every time you repeat that quote

I think of this.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 24, 2012 10:05 AM CST up reply actions

Heh again.

Perfect.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2012 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

Who cares?

by Dcr18 on Jan 24, 2012 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

I highly doubt the Cubs could get both Cespedes and Soler

As free agents, I doubt they will both agree to deals with the same team given the number of suitors they will each have. That’s crazy like one team signing Pujols and CJ Wilson on the same day. Just crazy like a new TV contract with Fox Sports.

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 24, 2012 9:20 AM CST reply actions

I'd be pretty surprised if one of Soler/Cespedes isn't a Cub pretty soon.

But FSU pretty much assessed the situation correctly. Soriano won’t be a Cub in 2013 and neither will Byrd. Factor that in with the thinking that DDJ is easily movable (or, really, benchable) and the ease in which young players can be moved from the minors to the majors, and even getting both Cubans wouldn’t be a real problem.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 24, 2012 9:48 AM CST reply actions

The Tigers should be out of the running now.

We just need to make sure Jackson is playing in the Big League this year. Even if he doesn’t make the team out of Spring Training he should be with us by June…his age is starting to creep up on him as a prospect

就是今年！

by CubFanInChina on Jan 24, 2012 4:20 PM CST reply actions