Cubs 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive

[@niren4819]

Really good analysis, I like it better than some of hype peeps out there

[@baseballamerica]

Thanks. We will be doing one of these for all 30 MLB teams heading into the season

[@javierbedolla4248]

Thanks for the excellent rundown. Go Cubs!

[@baseballamerica]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@terrye6853]

Last year the starting pitching was solid. The offense was awful for two months last year and put them into a hole they couldn’t get out of. Pen was awful as well blowing saves but starting pitchers were solid. Not sure what you were watching

[@VegasLoungeAct]

Cubs starting pitching was mid

[@michaelthiel3161]

Why are Luis Vazquez and James Triantos not being more favored as the backups for infield? Triantos has a higher floor as an overall player than Shaw (defense, speed, can play CF, consistent BA through MiLB), but Shaw has a much higher ceiling as a hitter. Vazquez is a good defender at any infield position and has come around as a bat. And Caissie isn't going anywhere as Cubs have been missing a big lefty bat for years. No way they trade that when they've been dealing with that need, and no other big lefty bat prospect. Alcantara is likely the backup CF for PCA this season since Bellinger was traded and the other starting outfielders are not likely to move into CF.

[@TravisV99]

So we don't have a stud got it 😭😭😭 great breakdown of the organization

[@Ben-xr6pb]

Is that a Nebraska stocking cap, Geoff? GBR!!!!

[@rwbteam7468]

Thoughts on the Cubs' pitching like Juan Bello, Jaxon Wiggins, and Will Sanders?

[@iseah100]

A bit tough on the system. Generally, it has been regarded as a top 10, if not top 5, farm system in baseball by all of Fangraphs, MLBPipeline, and a poll of MLB Executive. Pontes here seems to suggest we barely crack the top half. We have anywhere from 4 to 7 guys in the top 10 who, while not stars, likely will be solid MLB contributors. That is AFTER getting rid of 3 guys who are currently in the top 100 (Hope, Ferris, and Smith). Cubs clearly have an eye for talent, the problem is the guys we have signed in free agency.

[@johnlenon8872]

Having discussions about "trades" is ignorant. Look at the Dodgers. They need pitching? They don't trade anyone. They just sign two aces. They need a closer. They don't trade anyone. They sign THREE closers in Yates, Treinen and Scott. They need an outfielder. They don't trade anyone. They just resign their stud from last year. What do the Cubs do? They sign 8 or 10 catchers, (and Ballesteros can hit in AAA but cannot field) two number 5 starters and a 35-year-old backup infielder. They need to KEEP ALL their talent and now go sign a closer. Because all the good closers are now gone, they have to get 58-year-old David Robertson and 57-year-old Kenley Jensen. The Cubs have no idea what they are doing. Instead of keeping Bellinger who is awesome, they get rid of him. To save money. The owner is a moron. To say that Busch is better at first base than Belli is ignorant. He is CHEAPER. He isn't better. Oh, he had more dingers. So what? Belli played on healing broken ribs and fractured fingers and only missed 32 games, two stints on the IL, in a park that ranked the 29th hardest to go deep in. Why? Wind blew in every day. I'd rather have Belli, Busch, Hoerner, Swanson, Shaw and Suzuki and FIGURE out how to get those dudes some ABs. As it stands now, they have zero options. The cubs are banking on a 2nd year player at 1st base excelling and not getting hurt, hitting and playing defense. Hoerner gets hurt? No option at 2nd base. Except a prospect who maybe has NEVER played major league baseball. If Dansby gets hurt? NO option, unless NIco gets healthy. Who's at 3B? A guy who has never played in the Bigs and has a leg kick that would make Nolan Ryan blush. No one has a leg kick. You aren't got time to be dicking around in the box against 101 mph heater. If Shaw can't hit or play D at 3rd? What's the plan? Another AAA guy who has never played in the Bigs? Shaw can't catch or throw. He's a prospect. He might hit. And the cubs are so stupid they think trading Nico is smart. That's really stupid. He hits .280, steals 30 or 40 bases and plays gold glove defense. When Swanson won a gold glove in ATL, who had the 2nd best defense at short stop that year? Nico. We have 8 catchers but should not say who is backing up Amaya? Amaya sucks. He was a .220 hitter for the whole year until he got some hits in September and why? He finally realizes this stupid leg kick caused him suck. Amaya's back up last year was a good defender with a cannon and power. I'd start him over Amaya, but the Cubs think Amaya is great. He is not. If we had Belli, he could back up all outfield positions and play first base and or DH. He was worth 27 M the year before because he put up better numbers. He played 130 games then too, but did NOT have broken ribs with the wind blowing in. Pitching: Cubs have 0 aces. Steele is NOT an ace. He's a solid 3 on a good team. Shote? He throws 92 and is good. He would be a long relief guy on the Dodgers. Cubs need Trevor Bauer who can play but no one wants to sign him. Why? What's the danger for 750 grand a year? If he sucks or is a distraction, so what? Sunk cost of 750 vs let's say the 20 million they paid Jason Heyward to NOT be on the team. At least with Bauer he is the immediate ace on the team. The only ace on the team. The Cubs have lots of AAA talent and cannot afford to get rid of them. And they are all better than Madrigal and Wisdom. And cheaper. Having said all this, the team has a chance to compete. But they cannot have not ONE position player get hurt and all players have to hit. Pitching, no one can get hurt. But they do have pitching depth. How well those guys perform in the Bigs remain to be seen. And I mentioned Ballesteros. Do they need another first baseman? I guess if he can field. He cannot catch. Is he a DH? He's not better than Suzuki. So he can hit in AAA, can't catch, maybe can play first and can't DH unless Suzuki goes to LF because Happ is hurt. Roster construction? C minus

[@gatorbite9816]

Matt Shaw PCA Cade Horton and Cassie could all be stars

[@williamrogers-y2t]

Does it matter when the Dodgers can buy All-Star teams?

[@kevinbaker4836]

A lot of avg players. Sadly nothing moves the needle. Here is to 83 wins!

[@ponyboy6666]

They're not going to compete for a championship with this roster, absolutely no chance. Ricketts is fine with that.

[@billkelly7973]

I wouldn't count on Horton at all. He needs to prove he can stay healthy for a full year and continue to develop. The fact that he missed most of 2024 has really hurt.

[@baseballamerica]

We acknowledge there are durability questions, but at the same time, to not count on him at all seems harsh. He still has significant talent.

[@sni6941]

No! the only reason they did not make the post season was simply they are not ready! The rebuilding started 2022, you expect them to turn around a team in one year after get rid of so many top guys?? 2023 is a fake good season mainly due to they got lucky with Cody and Gomes! Not the whole team is ready! also 2024 is not ready as a playoff caliber team, unless everything is perfect. If you need everything to be perfect to be a good team, that means you are not a good team, period! So I fully agree with Jed not going all in right now. By adding Tucker and after 3 seasons of developing, I think Cubs is ready to challenge post season as a team, they are talent wise ready to compete with top team now.

[@Teremei]

There were 2 guys in the minors I thought could be "that guy". One of them is Matt Shaw. The other, that I thought had a better ceiling than Shaw, was Cam Smith. And we traded him away for one year of a superstar that we won't sign.

[@jimmyb913]

Geoff feels like a cub hater! Nice video though.

[@baseballamerica]

I can vouch that he is pretty neutral about the Cubs. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@OLECHELLMAN]

Get a starter.w