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Twitter was reporting deal close for Shelby Miller for Baez last night. Lots of smoke blowing around.

I knew it was inevitable the Cubs would have to part with some of their young studs, but it's definitely hard as a fan after watching them develop all these years and be right on the brink. No reason not to trust what Theo has been doing so far. My only question would be the decision to stick it out with Starlin over a guy like Javy.

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El approacho de plato

I'm going to reasonably assume that all speculation is legit and that Theo will manage to trade Javy to 3 teams at once for a package of Shelby Miller, Kevin Gausman, and Alex Cobb

Starlin is pretty proven and a guy who, on a team quite full of boom or bust hitters, consistently puts the ball in play. There is something to be said for that, and when he took over at second base in August, put together a really good two months.

I completely understand the upside on Javy, but it's unproven. He could come up and kill it, or he could bust.

That's the big difference in my mind at the moment, is that we know for the most part what we're going to get from Castro.

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That's the big difference in my mind at the moment, is that we know for the most part what we're going to get from Castro.

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I really don't know what to expect from Starlin. Will it be the 3.0 WAR all star or -0.4 WAR on the bench? He'll be somewhere in the middle, but I'm hardly banking on the last 2 months of 2015 to carry over into 2016.

Cubs talking to Yankees about Castro. Ben Zobrist has comparable offers from the Mets & Cubs. Will choose between the two. Sounds like it will be the Cubs if we can ship Starlin to the Yanks.

Cubs sign Zobrist to a 4 year $56MM deal.

And Castro is heading to the Yankees. No word on the return yet.

Wow

Next up: Jason Heyward

The yanks stole Castro. Thanks, Theo

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The yanks stole Castro. Thanks, Theo

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You could've had him for less a few months ago. The Cubs probably would've paid a chunk of his salary too.

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Next up: Jason Heyward

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Do it

I think it was the right move for the Cubs, but I will root for Starlin to do well. Cubs got a young(ish) arm they can use out of the pen or stretch out. Both sides did okay.

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Luis Severino is promising, but has never pitched a full major league season. Bryan Mitchell frustrates the Yankees because he is a talented guy who has yet to consistently produce results to match his skills. Those are the seven options for the Yankees' 2016 rotation. That is why even if you liked the trade to acquire Starlin Castro from the Cubs, the loss of Adam Warren was painful to the Yankees. He was a great security blanket for both the rotation and bullpen, a latter-day Ramiro Mendoza but with more upside as a full-time starter, the ability to command four pitches and the athleticism to help himself on the mound fielding and holding runners. And the Yankees are also losing a guy who was well regarded in his clubhouse for his professionalism. Warren was a guy who could soak up starter innings at a pretty good level when the inevitable Yankees injuries struck. And now that is gone, following other potential depth parts such as David Phelps and Shane Greene out the pinstriped door. Warren and Severino were the only starters the Yankees definitively control beyond 2017.

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http://nypost.com/2015/12/09/adam-warren-fallout-yankees-need-new-rotation-safety-net/

Looks like Heyward is down to the Cards, Cubs and Nats. Rumored he has a 200M offer and it is not from the Cubs.

Heyward has signed.

it'shappening.gif

JASON MOTHER****ING HEYWARD, BABY!!!!!

Took less money than Washington offered him.

Our third oldest position player will be Heyward at 26. Only Montero @ 31 and Zobrist @ 34 are older.

Heyward deal less than $185m. Believed to be eight years.

8/184 with reportedly two opt-outs (first one after 3 years)

This offseason has been nothing short of phenomenal and we may not be done yet.

it's even better knowing that StL offered more $

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it's even better knowing that StL offered more $

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I love that. Not only did we take Heyward from them but also Lackey. We got much better while they got worse. Perfect scenario.

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While we're on this Strange But True Rookie roll, how 'bout Kyle Schwarber? As loyal tweeter Michael Adamo reported, he hit home runs in Double-A, Triple-A, the big leagues, the wild-card game, the Division Series and the LCS all in the same year. ... And not only that. Schwarber also became the first player ever to hit a postseason home run and win the MVP of the Futures Game in the same year. ... And not only that; for his finest Strange But True trick, he hit a majestic NLDS home run that landed on top of the right-field video board at Wrigley Field -- and stayed there. Let's see Jordan Spieth stick that lob wedge some time.

More Cubs Strange But Trueness: In Game 3 of the Division Series, their 1-2-3-4-5-6 hitters all homered. In one day. According to Elias, there have only been two REGULAR-SEASON season games in history in which any team's 1-2-3-4-5-6 hitters homered. But one of those came this year, when the Mets got homers from their 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 hitters in an August game in Philadelphia. So in other words, this happened once in 139 seasons -- and then happened twice in two months. Because the universe is a big fan of Strange But Trueness, it turns out.

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http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14439393/mlb-strange-true-postseason-feats-2015

Cubs remove Schwarber's HR ball from atop Wrigley Field scoreboard.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/kyle-schwarber-home-run-ball-wrigley-field-chicago-cubs-mlb

Is it baseball season yet??????????

This play still brings a huge smile to my face.

Schwarberbomb

Pitchers & catchers report this Friday 2/19!

Play ball!

Cubs invited Matt Murton to spring training.