Who gets traded in the offseason?

[Schwarber Fan]

Obviously guys like Almora and Russell should be dealt but I’m not counting those as major deals to shake up the roster. Of the big names, who’s most likely to go? I think it’s Schwarber but I’m on the trade KB train.

[Cubswin11]

Contreras and Schwarbs are most likely, I’d be shocked if at least 1 isn’t gone. I voted Willy. Don’t think there’s any way KB/Javy/Rizzo go. Willy makes most sense imo, with the emergence of Vic, Amaya within 2 years of potentially being up and solid backup C FAs or a high end starter in Grandal available his production won’t be missed/can be replaced easily and you will get a nice return for him.

[ChiCubsFan]

Agree Willy makes the most sense in terms of value we’ll get back and ability to replace production both in the short and long term. He’s a lot of fun to watch though, so it would be a bit disappointing to see him go. Maybe an AL team would be best for him so you can keep his bat in the lineup and give him more rest from behind the plate.

[The_Achiever]

Think it has to be Contreras. Would love to deal him for a good starting pitcher. I think that is need #1. Not sure you could get that for Schwarber.

I also hope Almora and Russell are gone dealt, and maybe Happ too.

[abmillis]

Contreras fits that sweet spot where he has a lot of value, but is also the easiest to replace with what is on the current roster. Vic + a good defensive backup can probably provide similar value if you place a high value on framing, calling a game. Also, Willson is probably going to get the biggest return of all the options not named KB/Javy.

[GaryWoods]

I think it's a tossup between Schwarber and Contreras. Schwarber is expendable because his one strength, hitting for power, is well covered by this lineup. Contreras has become expendable with the emergence of Caratini. Possibly both will be dealt as we have multiple holes to fill. If Schwarber goes I have a feeling we'll see a lot more of Contreras in the outfield.

[jersey cubs fan]

Schwarbs and Contreras make ton of sense, Bryant does not.

[Cubswin11]

I think it's a tossup between Schwarber and Contreras. Schwarber is expendable because his one strength, hitting for power, is well covered by this lineup. Contreras has become expendable with the emergence of Caratini. Possibly both will be dealt as we have multiple holes to fill. If Schwarber goes I have a feeling we'll see a lot more of Contreras in the outfield.

The idea of moving Schwarbs and then Willy to LF does make quite a bit of sense, cheap alternative to replacing Nick (Willy is probably more valuable than Nick in the OF over ~150 games). Then go sign a good defensive catcher. It also helps cover up Heyward vs LHP (KB/Willy in corners and Bote at 3B), just sign or trade for a RHH CF.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Contreras v. Castellanos is an interesting way of looking at it. If you think they're similar values as players(and I think that's pretty fair in a few ways), then the question is which has more value, the trade return for Contreras or the return you can get on the money spent on Castellanos? I haven't thought deeply on this, but I suspect the Contreras trade return probably maximizes output better.

[Sammy Sofa]

Contreras is easily the second coolest person on the team behind Baez, and it's not even close, so it pains me that he and his sexy, sexy bat make the most sense to be traded to fix Theo's stinkeye for pitching.

Sadly, he'll probably horsefeathers it up this time, too.

[jersey cubs fan]

Contreras is easily the second coolest person on the team behind Baez, and it's not even close, so it pains me that he and his sexy, sexy bat make the most sense to be traded to fix Theo's stinkeye for pitching.

Sadly, he'll probably horsefeathers it up this time, too.

pictured, not a cool dude:

[Sammy Sofa]

What is this, the baseball version of the Obama tan coat "scandal?!?"

[jersey cubs fan]

The actual coolest cub:

Ragira, the Texas-born son of parents from Kenya, often helped Whitson with his math homework. Vanegas never heard the end of it when he once revealed that he was still waiting to kiss his girlfriend for the first time. This stood in contrast to Castellanos, who Buckel recalled as “outgoing, the really smooth-with-the-ladies type guy.”

[Janelle-Alexis]

The second coolest person on the team.

[Sammy Sofa]

The second coolest person on the team.

Oh, horsefeathers; completely forgot about that debacle. TRADE AWAY.

[Gilby]

I fear Contreras' trade value isn't nearly as high as we want it to be. But I still voted him.

[Cubswin11]

I fear Contreras' trade value isn't nearly as high as we want it to be. But I still voted him.

In my first mock offseason I proposed him for Jon Gray, I think that’s fair value. I think he could be a main piece in getting Thor too if he’s truly available. Willy, Q and a prospect piece we don’t care about I think is in the ballpark.

[Gilby]

The Rockies pitching staff is pretty thin as is and the Mets have Ramos under contract. I just don't see a lot of great matches out there, considering the trade price for good starting pitchers are always so high, and Contreras' reputation/numbers as a receiver. But who knows, it's only September, so things will look different.

[CubinNY]

Schwarber. I see 49% say, Contreras. Why?

[jersey cubs fan]

Schwarber. I see 49% say, Contreras. Why?

Short answer is:
He's somewhat replaceable.
Possibility of improving run prevention by upgrading defensively at catcher.
He's got a lot of value that other teams may covet.
Catchers that get banged up early and often have a reputation of falling apart early in their career.

[Sammy Sofa]

I feel like most of the people who pick Schwarber WANT him to be the one most likely traded, when really he has very little value on his own to bring back anyone that great,

[CubinNY]

I feel like most of the people who pick Schwarber WANT him to be the one most likely traded, when really he has very little value on his own to bring back anyone that great,

No one outside of Baez and Bryant is going to bring anyone back that is all that great.

[Sammy Sofa]

I feel like most of the people who pick Schwarber WANT him to be the one most likely traded, when really he has very little value on his own to bring back anyone that great,

No one outside of Baez and Bryant is going to bring anyone back that is all that great.

Disagree on Contreras, even with his flaws as a catcher he's still an obviously valuable commodity. Schwarber is just a mutant who basically requires 463 different moving parts and the right seasons of the moon to align to be awesome sometimes.

[sneakypower]

it's gonna really horsefeathers rule when we trade Contreras because of pitch framing and a year later they institute robot umps and he's flirting with MVP numbers and we've got 2-3 guys combining to slug .350 there

[Sammy Sofa]

You know this inevitably going to loop back to the "trade nobody" dumbassery as before.