SEIYA FOR SCHWARBER?| Cubs Baseball Podcast

SEIYA FOR SCHWARBER?| Cubs Baseball Podcast

Would the Cubs potentially trade Sea Suzuki, their DH, maybe to make room for somebody else? That’s what we’re going to talk about on today’s show. Cubs get a late inning reliever that could be an impact guy with the hopes of maybe adding some more help to the bullpen. And the Golden Gophers took on Northwestern at Wrigley. And although it didn’t turn out great for Minnesota, they had cool helmets. We’re going to get into all that right here on the Cubs baseball channel. Like, subscribe, thumbs up, hit the bell. Let’s get this thing started. Great to talk to you guys today. Get in the comments section as always. Even you Cardinals fans. Let’s get this thing going. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey everybody, Mick Gillespie. Great to talk to you guys today. Avenue D is our web three home. You know, I tell you that every day and I hope you guys hit that QR code right there and be a part of it. Pick games, win cash prizes, win uh swag. Get in the comments section here and tell me what you think about it. And uh let’s get this show started. I know a lot of you guys are like, “Well, I’m a Bears fan. I’m a Packers fan. I’m a Colts fan.” We’ll put all those guys in there as well. But we’re all Cubs fans here except for the uh the our friends from St. Louis. But uh hey, good to have all of you guys here today for the show. We’re not even going to talk smack about you Cardinals. We’re glad you’re here. All right, let’s get into what the latest on the Cubs could potentially be. A lot of buzz right now again this off season that the Cubs may potentially trade Sea Suzuki. This is something that we got into last year. It felt like it was a possibility. He’s got a no trade clause, but from reports, it sounds like, you know, if he got the right deal, he would potentially wave that no trade clause probably to go to the Dodgers, right? I mean, that that was kind of where the where the buzz was last year, you know, would he potentially do that to leave the Cubs to go somewhere else, you know, maybe to to join the World Series champions? I don’t know. But what I do know is that he does have a no trade clause and that there are reports that the Cubs would potentially trade him to make some room on the roster. This came last year and uh and obviously it didn’t happen. He had a I think he had a pretty good season, right? I mean like hit 245. He had 32 home runs, had 103 runs batted in, got cold, and then again he got hot in the postseason. He was the Cubs best postseason hitter to me. I mean, the guy was just out there swatting the ball all over the place. So, is this one of those things where the Cubs are going, “Okay, well, we’re not going to have Tucker. Maybe we sign Kyle Schwarber.” All of us kind of hoping that that happens. And if that happened, you would need to open up the DH spot. When you look at the roster, um, if you got rid of him, well, what do you have? Well, you got Owen Casey and Moyes Spysteros that you feel really good about. You want to go out and I I want to go out and and and get uh Schwarbs to join this team. Give you that that big- time punch. Even if you didn’t have Schwarzbs, you would still open up a spot for Bayister and Owen Casey, who in my criticism, and I said it often during the season, I thought they should be in the lineup a lot more. Uh but then again, you’re you’re giving up a big-time, you know, producer that proved that in the postseason he can be a difference maker. So, we’ll keep an eye on that. Um, you know, who would the Cubs sign if if they, you know, if they didn’t have him or would they just, you know, try to pocket the money and then add to the roster in some other capacity? And we talked about it on a show yesterday. Cubs are reportedly in the mix again for Alex Bregman. They wanted him last year. If you’re not going to have Kyle Tucker, it would be great to have a producer over at third base. I think you could move Shaw around into a utility role where he could still be an impact player on the team, just not a starting third baseman. Although, I thought his defense was good. I thought he did a nice job of taking walks, but he’s not an impact guy yet, right? And and then, you know, you add Bregman and I think Bregman kind of fills that void that you’re going to have when you don’t resign Tucker or whatever it is, right? Or sign Tucker. I mean, you traded for him, so you never really signed them in the first place, right? So, would you be willing to do that? I see the reports and I’m like, “Yeah, I mean, they they would, right?” And I think that the reports are probably true. If he felt like he was going to a spot that he wanted to be in, he would wave that. And I think everybody would be happy. Now, if he comes back, no problems there either because I think all of us appreciate what Seiya brings to the table. So, it’s something to keep an eye on. A lot of us are really hoping that the Cubs make a a huge move and sign Kyle Schwarber and then make it work, right? because you need somebody that’s going to be able to plug into the spot in the lineup where you’re getting production. I don’t know if I’d make him my leadoff guy, but I’d love to have him batting fourth or fifth every day. Just old school me. And I would love to have a guy from the 2016 World Series team who is one of the best players in baseball to be the face of the franchise. And I and I would love to have somebody that knows what it takes to win in Chicago be a part of the Cubs. I I don’t know that I’m alone saying that. I got a feeling a lot of you guys kind of are in the same camp as me. So, we’ll keep an eye on this. You know, nothing definitive right now, but there’s enough buzz out there to talk about it. And we saw last off season we felt like I did there was a sense of urgency and and it paid off for the Cubs. That sense of urgency got Tucker. You gave up Cam Smith. It’s going to hurt. You don’t have him him anymore. You got to find that void so that we’re all not sitting around going, “Okay, we just traded a guy who is going to be an everyday player for another team. We need an impact bat. We’re not going to pay the $400 million for Tucker. Maybe we do, but I don’t think we’re that’s going to happen. So, uh, what are we going to do here to fill this void? And and it’s Suzuki. And I don’t think any of us are really comfortable with him defensively. I don’t think he’s terrible, but he’s not the goal glover we thought was coming over from Japan. Now, he I thought he did a very good job when Tucker was hurt playing right field in the postseason, but you know what? if if they look at it and go, you know, he had a very productive year, but we don’t feel like he projects to be the same guy. You want to sell someone when their value is at its highest, and that may be what we’re kind of hearing right now. But with the no trade clause, it does limit the teams who would potentially be able to get him. With that said, you make that work, right? If that’s the the deal you want to make. Now, the Cubs have reportedly signed right-hander Philip Matton. Now, what what does that mean to the Cubs? Well, it means that they get a guy, Maton, who is a late inning reliever. Uh I I can remember the right-hander pitching for the Yankees. He’s reliable. It’s a multi-year deal, so you get a couple of seasons with them. There’s a lot of openings for the Cubs in that bullpen. You and I and everyone else knows that you win in the postseason thanks to the bullpen. And so he’s someone that you put in the bullpen, right? Uh Daniel Palencia is already there. You’re going to resign Brad Keller? Well, we all certainly hope so. And do the Cubs go out and try to make a deal to add to that? And there’s two names that kind of pop up on that list. Devin Williams, who Craig Councel knows from his days in Milwaukee, dominant, right? Free agent. And then the name that keeps popping up, and it was even popping up in trade talks, or at least we heard rumors of it, and that’s Pete Fairbanks. I think that this would be a deal that’s not going to affect that at all. Um, and I mean for the Cubs, like go out and get that guy, you know, uh, Ryan Hley, anybody that you can get who is able to go and get those outs when the game’s on the line, uh, would be fantastic. Now, what about all-star closer Edwin Diaz? Would you like the trumpets at Wrigley? I certainly would, but he is projected to get $100 million in his contract. I don’t know that the Cubs are going to feel comfortable with that. That, you know, the the the bullpen spots to a lot of front offices aren’t worth the money that you would pay for someone like that. You try to develop those guys and then, you know, look for under the radar moves and and the Cubs were, I mean, fantastic at that last last year. Keller was one of those guys. How about Drew Pomerance? I mean, who would have thought that Pomerance would have been as crucial as he turned out to be? It was a minor leager when the Cubs got him. How about Caleb Thebar? Turned out to have a spectacular season. So there’s other guys who the Cubs may, you know, target in that spot, but adding Mon shows you that, yeah, there they said and Jed Hoyer mentioned it when he kind of did his end of the season press conference post, you know, uh, offseason press conference, we’re going to add pitching and so they they have done that. So, we’re keeping an eye on exactly what the Cubs are going to direct as far as the bullpen goes. You feel pretty good about the rotation. I mean, I didn’t expect Sea Suzuki to accept the qualifying offer, but I I told you guys I’m glad he did. Doesn’t mean that you still can’t go out and sign Dylan sees Michael King. Doesn’t mean that you can’t make a trade for Edwin Cabrera. I mean, I I I think that they need to do that and I hope they do. But the more and the better dominant arms you have in that bullpen, the better off you’re going to be. I still think that starting pitching is the most important thing that you have. But I mean, we saw last year when the bullpen was good, the Cubs won. When the bullpen wasn’t good, the Cubs didn’t win. And I think every team in baseball kind of has that same vibe on things. So, as as we roll on, hey, add one guy to it. We’ll see what happens. we saw with uh the the minor leaguers who they put on the 40man roster. Cubs still have a ton of spots on the 40man and I’m expecting them to continue to make moves. I think there’s some big moves that are going to be made. I’m looking at the trade deadline last year and you know talked to people and it felt like the Cubs were on the verge of making a real splash, but they obviously didn’t feel like they were going to get the bang for the buck as far as the guys they were going to have to get up give up to get what they wanted. And so they didn’t really make those type of moves. Now, this is the time of year where you make those kind of deals. And they got some they got some chips with Bisteros. I hope they don’t trade Owen Casey. And then, you know, obviously with the money that they have where they’ve kind of, you know, gone this direction on spending. They got some money to spend and it’s all about adding pieces that are going to make an impact. So say a Suzuki waves his no trade clause and then you go out and you add Schwarber and maybe you you you add some pitching and you let some of these young guys hit, you know, could all work out. Now the last thing I wanted to talk about on the show was Minnesota, the Golden Gophers playing at Wrigley against Northwestern. They had Ivy around their helmets and they had to lead at the half, but didn’t work out. And I love the games at Wrigley Field. Um, Northwestern stormed back to beat them 38-35 at Wrigley. I don’t know that there’s a better venue in sports to watch a concert. I saw, you know, the dead there. I know a lot of you guys have seen other concerts there. I wish I’d have seen Jimmy Buffett there, honestly. This is one of the disappointments that I’ve had. Tom Petty played there. Another one that I wish I would have been there for. Uh, Zack Brown band played there. Now they got football games going there. Northwestern uses that as a home field. Northwestern probably, in my opinion, should play all their home games there because it it makes their home games a lot more enjoyable. But it was cool to see Minnesota rolling out the Ivy Golden Gophers helmets even though it didn’t count as a win, right? Because they lost. But anyway, cool watching those games there at Wrigley Field that going back to when the Bears played at Wrigley. Just a cool place, great venue, and uh place that we all love. And then, you know, you watch the game and then you go watch the rest of college football in Wrigleyville. Couldn’t be a better Saturday than that. I don’t know we’ll ever have an NFL game there again, but we’ll have college games there. And uh that is super cool. All right, that’s where we are right now. Quick Sunday show for you guys. We’ll keep an eye on everything that’s going on. you know, kind of quiet right now. You know, add a right-handed reliever, kind of building this bullpen. You know, there’s spots available, but if the Cubs make a blockbuster deal and trade Suzuki, who would have to wave his no trade clause, you never hear Ian Hap’s name as far as a guy that would trade wave his clause. But you keep hearing say like kind of, hey, you know what? Feels like if it was the right deal for him, he would do it. And I think that would be good for the team if they don’t feel like he he’s going to fit in the future. Now, the thing that I worry about with say it is the Cubs are very left-handed heavy, right? Without him, for sure. So, you know, how do you you make that up? I mean, you talk about Casey, you talk about Bister, even Kyle Schwarber who’s, you know, not even on the team, but if they sign him, they’re all lefties. You know, how about getting a right-hander that puts up that kind of production? And when he’s hot, I mean, at the beginning of the season, he was one of the best players in baseball. And then the postseason, he was the guy who had really some of the biggest hits that the Cubs had in their series against the Padres’s and the Brewers. So, all right, like, subscribe, thumbs up, get in the comments section. I always tell you guys that. Make sure that you scan that QR code, be part of Avenue D and MC Nation. We we’ll do it again. The other thing I want to tell you is that as you plan your Christmas or maybe after Christmas you want to go on vacation, the Smoky Mountains are a great place. Uh if you haven’t been there before, just it’s fantastic, right? You got Gatlinburgg with all it’s just like a resort in the middle of the mountains and Chicago land supplies like the fourth most visitors. So some of you guys probably going, “Yeah, I’ve been there before.” Or maybe some of you guys don’t even live there and you’ve been there before. Now’s the time to check it out. Plan your next trip. Hit Severeville on your way in there. And uh thanks everybody. Go Cubs. When you head to the Smoky Mountains, it’s only natural to visit Sevirville. Even we had to check it out. And we’ve been here our whole lives. Experience the adventure of a lifetime. I’m king of the world. Even you can get a bird’s eye view of the Smokies. You’re going down, Billy. Woo! Wa! Your smoke is start here. [Music] [Music]

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This Episode:
– Cubs to trade Seiya Suzuki ??
– Cubs have signed right-handed reliever Phil Maton
– Minnesota Golden Gophers Ivy Helmets

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Mick Gillispie has covered the Chicago Cubs since 2007 and has been a fan of the team since the 1984 season. He has broadcasted spring training games or been heard on Cubs.com, MLB.com, 670 The Score, WGN, CSN-Chicago and Marquee Sports Network. He is an award winning play-by-play voice for the Tennessee Smokies Cubs Double-A Affiliate. He has also hosted many forums over the years at Cubs Convention including Down on The Farm.