Cubs & Red Sox
Submitted by: JHB
Cubs
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Dalbec | 29 | Majors | 1B | Low | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Enderso Lira | 19 | Minors | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
Total Value:
0.5
Red Sox
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Cooper | 33 | Majors | 1B | DH | Medium | 1 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 |
Total Value:
1
Comments
7
Cooper, of course, has been DFAed. Dalbec is struggling mightily, but he was great in AAA. There seems to be a mismatch between him and Alex Cora--he might return to his promise as a 3B/1B capable of playing SS adequately, with power, in the Cubs system. His best season by far was 2020 when Cora was suspended. Lira is a high-risk, high-reward catcher at A+ at age 19. He's the real return value. In Boston, he'll be blocked by Kyle Teel and Connor Wong. Boston gets a decent bat for a tough, injury-riddled season. The Cubs get a very fair return for a player they're throwing away.
đź‘Ž, Red Sox should give Brandon Belt a call & see if he has any interest
As it turns out, Boston got Cooper for just cash.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
Maybe, but 1) Garrett Cooper is hitting well right now, this year; 2) Brandon Belt missed Spring Training and April; 3) Belt had very real problems in 2022; 4) Belt's 2023 Statcast numbers were very close to his 2022 numbers--he just got lucky with a .370 BABIP (6th in MLB for 400+ PA), especially given his slow speed; and 5) there's probably a reason he's still a free agent. But maybe Belt would work...but maybe this is a good trade, too?
I don’t think the Red Sox should trade for the 33yr old Cooper, Sign Cooper …possibly, trade for him…NO…let some other team trade for him if they want him. Dalbec still has an option so he can be shuttled up and down if the right hander were signed though. I don’t think the 33yr old Cooper would be any better than the 28yr old Dalbec though. I would trade for the right handed 25yr old Elehuris Montero if he became available though.
Elehuris Montero's career OPS splits: Home in Coors Field .840, Away .539, Visiting Fenway .000 (only 6 PA). He's not even over the Belanger Line (.300 OBP) this season thus far, and his fielding has dropped, too. Do you know if he showed up overweight this spring? In any case, if Cooper goes free agent, he's probably signing elsewhere. This is the chance to snag him.
Keeping Dablec is a big mistake! Garrett Cooper is the best replacement for Casas. Brandon Belt would take at least a month to get up to speed.