The Dodgers and Cubs announced a trade sending rookie infielder Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte from Los Angeles to Chicago for prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. The deal clears a pair of 40-man roster spots for L.A. — one of which will go Teoscar Hernández once his free agent pact is finalized. The Cubs designated catcher Brian Serven for assignment in a corresponding move.
Busch has the more significant value of the players headed to Chicago. Los Angeles selected the UNC product with the 31st overall pick in the 2019 draft. Regarded as a bat-first prospect with questions about his defensive fit, Busch has mostly lived up to that billing during his time in the minors.
Over parts of four seasons, the left-handed hitter owns a .283/.390/.529 line. That includes a robust .293/.385/.544 showing in just under 1000 plate appearances at Triple-A. Busch has connected on 48 home runs and 58 doubles with an excellent 11.8% walk rate at the top minor league level. His 22.5% strikeout rate is closer to league average, but Busch has shown a strong combination of power and patience.
Despite his excellent Triple-A production, the 26-year-old hasn’t gotten much of an MLB opportunity. He didn’t reach the majors until last April. He appeared in 27 games scattered over the course of the season. Through his first 81 plate appearances, he hit only .167/.247/.292 with a pair of home runs. He struck out in a third of his trips.
There’s not much to be gleaned from such a small sample of MLB work. At the same time, that the Dodgers haven’t given Busch extended run is indicative of a few factors. The Dodgers have had strong position player groups in recent years. That’s an impediment to a young hitter, but L.A. had some questions at second base and left field last season. Were Busch regarded as a better defensive player, perhaps he’d have forced his way into the discussion at one or both of those spots.
L.A. has given Busch opportunities at a few positions in the minors. While he has played primarily second base, he’s also gotten work at both corner infield spots and in left field. Prospect evaluators have graded him as a below-average defender at every spot, raising questions about his athleticism and arm strength. Baseball America nevertheless ranked him as the top prospect in the Dodgers system this offseason on the strength of his offensive ceiling.
In some respects, the Cubs will face the same question on Busch as they do on Christopher Morel — where to find at-bats for a promising hitter who hasn’t defended well at any position. That’d most likely come at a corner infield spot or at DH. Morel projects for a starting role at either first base or DH. Some combination of Patrick Wisdom and Nick Madrigal are the top options at the hot corner. The Cubs could still pursue a free agent target at either spot — they’ve been tied to Rhys Hoskins and Matt Chapman this winter — but Busch adds an affordable, high-upside lefty bat to the mix.
Busch still has a pair of minor league option years, so he’s not a lock to open the season on the MLB roster. He’s at least three years from arbitration and won’t be eligible for free agency for at least six seasons. Future minor league assignments could push that back even further.
A secondary part of the return, Almonte steps into the middle relief corps. The 29-year-old righty pitched in 49 games a year ago, working to a 5.06 ERA across 48 innings. He struck hitters out at a solid 23.6% clip but issued free passes to more than 11% of opponents. That continues an up-and-down career for Almonte, who has three seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and a trio of campaigns allowing more than five earned runs per nine.
Almonte and the Dodgers already agreed to a $1.9MM arbitration salary back in November. The Cubs will take on that near-$2MM sum to add a pitcher with a mid-90s fastball and a low-80s sweeper that has generated a strong number of whiffs throughout his career. He’s out of options, so he’ll very likely have a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The Cubs could control him via arbitration for the 2025 season as well.
To add immediate MLB help, Chicago parts with two promising lower-level players. Ferris, who turns 20 next week, was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft. A 6’4″ left-hander, he signed for a well overslot $3MM bonus as a high school prospect. Ferris made his professional debut last season, turning in a 3.38 ERA over 18 starts for Low-A Myrtle Beach. He punched out nearly a third of his opponents while walking almost 14% of batters faced.
As a young, lanky pitching prospect, it’s not particularly surprising that Ferris has yet to dial in his control. Baseball America praised a 93-95 MPH fastball and a pair of potential above-average or plus breaking balls this offseason, slotting him as the #10 prospect in the Chicago system. He’s a high-upside development play whose future will largely be determined by how well his command develops.
Hope was an overslot signee for $400K in the 11th round last summer. A left-handed hitting outfielder from a Virginia high school, he played in 11 rookie ball games after the draft. In a pre-draft report, BA wrote that Hope was among the fastest players in last year’s class. He’s regarded as a viable fit in center field with a line drive approach, although BA expressed trepidation about his aggressiveness at the dish.
Juan Toribio of MLB.com first reported the Dodgers were discussing Almonte and Busch in trades with the Cubs. Jon Heyman of the New York Post confirmed an Almonte deal was agreed upon. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported the Dodgers were receiving two players not on the 40-man roster, which Toribio specified included a highly-regarded pitching prospect. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 was first to report L.A. would receive Ferris and Hope.
Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.
NickTheDev
Ugh, have to think there is someone worse to get rid of, but that’s what happens when you are at 41 players on your 40man 🙁
charlie 6
I was surprised they didn’t non-tender him.
Sour Bob
And now the Cubs are at 41.
roob
Cubs get their first baseman and save big dollars. I like it.
rdodger32
He doesn’t even play first!
ChiWin7
Plays 1B and 3B
Sheep8
It’s not hard to play 1B..:tell em Wash
alwaysgo4two
It’s incredibly hard.
roob
His natural position all through college is 1B. They tried him everywhere else to get his bat in the lineup.
I’ll bet he plays more 1B for the Cubs next year than anyone.
JoeBrady
GS for the minors and pros:
2B 240
3B 71
1B 21
OF 15
Go Go Power Rangers
Sheep8 -it’s not hard to play 1b tell ‘em Wash
alwaysgo4two- it’s incredibly hard.
You guys made my day.
shibbynotdude
He really doesn’t have a position.
Jerry A Truth or Dair
Love that line!!!
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Hoping Jackson F. and Walker B. can pitch both games in a double-header some day – then we can all take the day off.
FrankRoo
Cubs just keep acquiring and developing guys who can mash in AAA, but can’t seem to prove themselves in the MLB. Mervis should be starting 1B yet couldn’t hit MLB pitching. They’ll need to give both Mervis and Busch a look as both have proven to hit well in the upper minors. Cubs seem to end up with more of these type of hitters than the teams for some reason, both home grown and acquired.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
It’s when happens when you overspend and monopolize the free agent market. Something has to give
BlueSkies_LA
That record broken, man.
BrianStrowman9
I think this is a great deal by LAD. Busch is an old prospect without a real defensive home. His ceiling is limited. He could be a league average regular but that’s about it @ this point. I’d take the gamble on the $3MM overslot lefty.
YourDreamGM
A LA. F Chicago. This had nothing to do with 40 man. I would imagine LA would have done this trade at any point in time.
FrankRoo
Busch destroyed upper minors pitching the last two years so let’s give him more than a handful of ABs before writing him off as a league average hitter.
Baseball Purist
Just turned 26. Somebody please bring him a walker
HalosHeavenJJ
It is what happens when you have a greater number of talented players than roster spots.
Mickey Solis
Wherever there is someone rightfully upset about the Dodgers is some bandwagon “fan” poster defending the team’s “honor.” That is the most broken record of all.
paddyo furnichuh
I tend to be indeterminately irritated when someone limits themselves to cliches, tropes, and generalizations on a comment board.
BlueSkies_LA
But only generally, right?
Dodger Dogg
Hahaha!
HalosHeavenJJ
I absolutely detest the Dodgers but a huge portion of their roster is either home grown or was acquired via trade for homegrown talent.
You can acknowledge the truth and respect a well run franchise even while rooting against them. 162+ times per year.
Hammerin' Hank
No, the Dodger haters are indeed the more broken record.
iverbure
Im not a fan and I will defend the dodgers. What the Mets did last year is way worse than anything the dodgers have done and the dodgers are smarter
CommentsSectionCommenter
@Mickey Solis
“…rightfully upset about the Dodgers…”
I’ll bite, Mick.
Short of having lunch money stolen, why would the OP (and you, apparently) be “rightfully upset at the Dodgers”…?
Mickey Solis
Well, funny enough, one of my close friends worked for one of the owners and he and the entire staff were fired without warning. So in essence I now also have a personal reason to hate the team. But besides, how can you say the Mets were worse? Seriously, they never spent $1B on two players who used the rest of the league to drive up the price.
iverbure
Chaim breslows purse were you saying that last year when the dodgers didn’t sign anyone and tried to dip below key Luxury tax thresholds?
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I don’t think that was me. I don’t mind that they spend at all, I just think they’re highly overrated.
CommentsSectionCommenter
@Chaim Breslow”s
What are you talking about?
mp9
The stove is on FIREE!!
UncommonSense
Get ready to write Ferris/Buehler in your Dodger score cards
Smelly_Cobb
Did the Dads break his confidence in the 2022 NLDS?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
This is a solid little add.
iml12
Ferris is going to be good.
YourDreamGM
Yeah I think LA won this one. Time will tell. Bush will really have to hit to make them regret taking a shot with Ferris.
hoof hearted
Cubs looking to catch him on a hot season. his career is hot, cold, hot, cold,hot,cold
Catuli Carl
A -0.5 WAR, 5.06 ERA, and 1.4 WHIP.
Nice, Jed. Hope you’re trading a bucket of balls.
DeusSexMachina
Almonte has flashed some greatness, but Busch seems to be the better get here. He’s always raked in the minors. Most Dodgers fans feel he just needs a runway to hit in the bigs. Hopefully the trade works out well for both sides.
Catuli Carl
Yeah I posted that before we knew about Busch. I’m pretty pleased with the trade.
So now I can say without sarcasm: Nice, Jed.
YourDreamGM
Yeah they weren’t trading Ferris for 2 years of a decent reliever with some potential still. I wouldn’t trade him for Bush.
carlos15
He’s due for a good year being that every other year he’s effective and then a disaster and then effective…
Zerbs63
Umm what was the return
Gwynning
A Windy City pizza, half of which is deferred until lunchtime on 1/11/2025
robert-5
Gwynn- thought it was 01/11/2035..?
paddyo furnichuh
The “casserole” won’t last that long
fivepoundbass
Pizza or not, it sure is good
theathlete
2024 will be an odd numbered year in his career so Almonte is due for a solid year. He will be bad in 2025 though.
StPeteStingRays
Is the trade deferred?
VinScullysSon
Gets funnier every time…
paddyo furnichuh
@Vin, we have to be patient with those that have permanently deferred cognition.
maxmilna
I deferred your mom last night.
DeusSexMachina
Word on the street is you came up “short” on your first payment.
StPeteStingRays
She wasn’t happy about the size of your incremental payments.
Enrico Pallazzo
funny how no one has ever cared about deferred contracts before. Been happening since the 80’s. Time to get over it.
DeusSexMachina
They can’t help it. Their feelings are still hurt because Shohei chose the Dodgers.
HalosHeavenJJ
There was no luxury tax in the 80s nor were the magnitude of the deferrals on this scale.
scjohn92
Bobby Bonilla claims: “Magnitude of deferrals? Hold my beer, while I cash in 7 figures every year!”
HalosHeavenJJ
$1 million is not $68 million. Nor was Bonilla’s contract structured to avoid the Mets from paying luxury tax.
But keep reaching.
CommentsSectionCommenter
@HalosH
What does the “magnitude” have to do with it?
Ohtani is a one-of-one player, able to give the gift of financial flexibility to the team he chose. While doing so, he also did right by the union by pushing the AAV record forward,
The fact that he was able and willing to conceive and agree to a contract that allowed LA to take the monies saved and re-invest them in the team is just one reason why he was worth the money–ya know, aside from the fact the Dodgers will reap tens (and tens) of millions in sponsorships and additional revenue streams, and the whole best-player-ever thing.
And here’s the BEST PART:
EVERYONE can do this! Every team can offer such a deal, and EVERY player can accept such an offer.
The only way “magnitude” matters here is that we’ve never seen such savvy deal-making on such a scale before.
And the only reason you’re keyboard-warrioring is because Ohtani didn’t pick the team you root for.
HalosHeavenJJ
Magnitude means you can’t really compare the deferrals of a few million here and there in the past with the nearly billion the Dodgers have between Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and others. Don’t pretend it’s one contract.
The deferrals of the past were simply for team cash flow. The Dodgers are specifically to avoid paying the luxury tax, the one instrument MLB has to somewhat even the playing field.
Let’s be real. Only a handful of huge market teams will ever do this. Technically I can date Jessica Alba. But the likelihood of that and the likelihood Milwaukee strapping themselves to a decade of paying huge coin to players who are no longer there are the same.
Manfred’s playing with the balls
Please GalosHeavenJJ
You’re just like every other angels fan. You’re obsessed with the Dodgers even though they don’t care about you guys. Angels franchise is a joke and their fans even more so. Of course Ohtani left you guys like a loser at altar
Habitual Truth Teller
Im more appalled by the sheer fact ohtani is dodging taxes in California. You and me dodge taxes we go to jail. Not ohtani though.
HalosHeavenJJ
Ooh. Homophobic joke. Nice and mature.
People have been pissed at the super rich using loopholes only they can use to avoid paying taxes for decades. Now it applies to one baseball team too.
FanOfTheUmpires
The Chicago Cubs: The Dynasty That Never Was. WHITE SOX and White Sox Stadium and Southside Chicago in general is so much better in every way.
windycity89
Ah yes. Of course…then again, at least the Cubs actually won a championship with their core, instead of losing 100+ games during their championship window like the White Sox have done. Lmao.
FanOfTheUmpires
The White Sox are primed for a playoff run/World Series championship ***immenently*** and they also just won a World Series of their own as well. Enjoy.
windycity89
Lol, sure they are. Keep drinking whatever makes you as delusional as you’re sounding.
ortsacnilrats
Just won?
Kayrall
LOL
LMAO even
sports_fan9921
They are still there? Thought they moved to Nashville.
fox471 Dave
Fan of the Umpires – silly take. However, i loved the old Comiskey Park.
King Floch
lol no
adkuchan
Any team can be bad during a rebuild. The White Sox manage to be bad during windows of contention.. The White Sox are the little brother no one asked for.
iml12
The cubs were actually pretty darn good from 2015-2020. I’ll take a 5 year stretch like that any time.
sblocko
Said no one ever…
Eric Olson 2
The Cubs to send a “deferred PTBNL” to the Dodgers.
TheProjectedMan
So they’re going to send a player piece by piece over time?
This one belongs to the Reds
You know what certain guys in Chicago do…
HalosHeavenJJ
Yes. Torso now. Extremities and head to be delivered 2030-2038.
Susannah
Can you make this trade? PtBNL for PtBNL?
UncommonSense
They traded for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
Dread Pirate Roberts
Morel going to L.A?
Unclemike1526
Now that’s funny.
Unclemike1526
I’m way more interested in who goes off the 40 man when Cubs start signing guys.
Candidates are:
1. 3rd C Severn
2. Horrible Wisdom
3. Brennen Davis- been passed by at least 5 guys
Sits at 39 with Imanaga. Almonte would be 40.
Unless somebody on the 40 man not listed is part of the trade
NicoHoerndawg
This is probably a reach, but I’m hoping it will be Morel, Wisdom, and Brennan Davis all going over to the Dodgers. There probably will be a pitcher involved too though. So maybe scratch one of those guys, probably Davis since he’s worthless.
Unclemike1526
The Dodgers are trying to get a guy OFF their 40 man. Not add 3 more they’ll cut anyway. It’s probably a prospect not on the 40 man like Triantos or Rojas, Someone like that.
NicoHoerndawg
Yeah I wasn’t thinking very deeply about any of my comment. Especially the dodgers side.
Unclemike1526
Ferris? That’s a horrible deal.
Unclemike1526
I guess with Imanaga, Steele and Wicks they felt that Ferris wasn’t needed anymore. They also have Little and Drew Gray so LH starters aren’t a problem but they must really like Busch. Shaw and Busch a 3B platoon soon? It’s a lot cheaper than Chapman and leaves more room for Bellinger.
Joeydonuts
Ferris will be needed in high A this year
swagsuperawesomeepiccoolman123
I really don’t think it would be a smart idea to platoon Busch, it’s about time he gets a chance. It would be really stupid for the cubs to waste his talent and not let him have time in the big leagues just like the dodgers did.
KennyF’nPowers
Ferris has high upside. That’s a good get back for the Dodgers.
Unclemike1526
Shaw is already a top 100 prospect already and Callis said on a Cubs show that he’s going to move up when the next list comes out and some more Cubs prospects might be included. The Cubs find themselves suddenly with a very Left Handed Pitching system and a very RH hitting system. So the trade makes sense from that perspective. Ferris is a very good P with high upside so it’s a fair trade from that angle. Both teams seem to be winners here. The best kind of trade.
Don Zimmer
Agree. Cubs will run this one!
paddyo furnichuh
Don’t underestimate a Buehler!
Oh wait, you meant Jackson.
fivepoundbass
From a numbers perspective, Busch looks a lot like Mervis
northsidecrossrifles
Little is likely a reliever in the majors at this point. Has too much trouble repeating his mechanics, and has been dominant in short stints. I don’t think he’s even started at AAA.
swagsuperawesomeepiccoolman123
you forgot about 1B, my guess is that Busch will be their first baseman
Unclemike1526
Maybe. But he was a starter up until last year in June when they brought him up to let him rot on the bench. Probably a big reason Ross is gone and Counsell is here. He is probably a Reiever this year for sure, I agree, But he could be stretched out in the future except the Cubs are still extremely LH’ed in the starting dept. Time will tell.
Unclemike1526
swag- and I’m not filling out the rest of that, LOL. The 1B will be either Hoskins or Bellinger. I’m positive 1 will be here, If not both.
northsidecrossrifles
Its pretty common to let talented guys with mechanics issues start for the majority of their MiLB career. They get more live innings to hone their craft, and the team gets more exposure and data to make a more informed decision. Best case scenario is they fix their issues, which Little never really did. I’d love to be wrong and Little be a legit starter. But he profiles so well as a late inning reliever, that I’d rather not go another Alozay route and essentially derail a guy for a few years by putting him in a role he just isn’t suited for, while he could be an extremely valuable high leverage guy. I see Little as potentially being our multi inning “stopper”
Unclemike1526
I can’t wait to see what Counsell has for a pen. He’s a master at crafting one out of what he has and using them the right way. I wish ST was starting tomorrow, Not the Convention. LOL
northsidecrossrifles
Me too brother! I honestly don’t enjoy the convention. The players haven’t had that star power effect since before I scared KB at 5am in 2016, and you and I are baseball nerds to the point that we don’t really learn anything at the convention.
Counsell’s deployment of the pen should steal us at least several wins this year. That was one of Rossi’s major shortcomings.
NicoHoerndawg
What’s the story on scaring KB at 3a??
mike127
Uncle—I think I am resigned to the Wisdom lock on the roster. (although Busch is a 1b/3b guy).
Hope the winter is treating you well.
Ferris seems to be a little bit of hit in the gut—but let’s hope Horton and Brown are close to as advertised.
Unclemike1526
mike127-Doing fine hope you are too thanks! Yeah I thought Ferris and Horton were untouchable but it’s nice to know Hoyer isn’t going to waste the prospects. There must be something in Busch’s profile I’m missing but I’ll trust the Scouts judgement. He was the #2 prospect on the Dodgers and another LH bat the Cubs sorely needed. As painful as it is to watch Hoyer let the market come to him, He seems to be getting what he wants. It’s driving me nuts waiting but hey 4 weeks- P’s and C’s report and the convention this weekend!
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
What this tells me is that Hoyer is willing to go to the beginning of spring training in a staring contest with Boras over Bellinger and Hoskins. Busch still has an option remaining, but could develop into a strong side platoon DH/CI. If Boras blinks and Hoyer signs Bellinger long term and Hoskins for a year, Busch goes to Iowa. If Bellinger and Hoskins go elsewhere, Busch and Wisdom form the 1B platoon.
Unclemike1526
Brickhouse-It tells me more about Boras than Hoyer. It’s obvious at this point that either one or both of Hoskins-Bellinger wants to play in Chicago and Boras is trying to drive the price up. If he had a better deal they would of signed already. I haven’t figured out yet if the Cubs actually WANT BOTH of them or would settle for one of them.. I’m hoping we can find out more from the convention this weekend but I doubt it. Busch still has 2 options left and is under arb control longer than that so he’ not going anywhere. Shaw and Busch both have 45 ratings for arm strength but it’s not a big deal at 3B( See Madrigal ). There’s still a bunch of drama to play out.
northsidecrossrifles
Don’t really want Bellinger back at this point. He’s going to get a deal that won’t really make sense for this franchise. I’d rather they allocate their funds toward something else. Our top prospect is a CFer, and we still have a lot of corner OF talent in the minors, as well as at least 3 good 1B prospects that will be starting at AA or higher (Mervis, McGreary, Stevins). We would likely be paying Bellinger (who comes with many question marks) 150 mil plus to essentially play 1B where his projected performance (115-125 wRC+) is less valuable, and easier to replace at that position.
I just don’t think spending a massive junk of the budget on a guy who projects to spend the majority of his contract at 1B is a smart move, especially for a non-elite bat.
NicoHoerndawg
@northside- you’re basing not wanting. Bellinger and his flexibility to be a CF, 1B, DH, RF or LF on 4 prospects that we’ll be lucky if one of them really pans out. Bellinger likely brings a .900 OPS or close to it. I wouldn’t say know to that unless he had sure things at all those positions. I’m all for getting him at the right price.
northsidecrossrifles
No projection system has him close to .900 OPS. Maybe he bucks the trend, and his abysmal 2 years really were 100% due to injury. However, that’s not something I’m risking when offering a contract in the 160-220 million range. That’s not what good organizations give to a guy who has a .768 projection in ZIPS.
Also no, you’re misconstruing what I’m saying. I don’t want Bellinger bc he projects to be a slightly above average bat, and his likely future home is 1B. I don’t want to allocate a large chunk of my budget to a guy who is a none-elite hitter at 1B. PCA can be a below average bat and still be a 2 WAR player bc of his defense. Happ and Suzuki are locked down in the corners the next 3 years and project better than Bellinger. Then when you factor in our quality cost controlled depth in the upper minors, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to give a massive contract to a nice player with a great ceiling, albeit a low floor for the price tag. Especially seeing the plethora of internal options that project better and we can then utilize the money given Bellinger toward other assets.
northsidecrossrifles
They’re going to try to pass Severn through waivers. Next guy has to be Davis. Too many corner OF options ahead of him at this point. I’d be interested in throwing Wisdom in a deal with Cleveland for Clause or Bieber. They still desperately need power, and thats all Wisdom really offers.
I know you have to give up something of value to get value in return, but I’m not a fan of dealing Ferris or Hope. It says a lot that a quality org like the dodgers asked for these 2 players. I understand they’re young and there is a ton of risk associated with players of their respective ages, but both have massive ceilings and aren’t close to being on the 40 man. Would have preferred to deal from our quality depth a bit closer to needing to be added to the 40 man. However, there will be a crunch coming up essentially every year bc of the quantity of quality prospects the system has accumulated, so on a glass half full note we had to lose something to acquire a legit hitting prospect who has nothing left to prove in the minors.
IMO, Shaw isn’t far away, so would have personally told the dodgers no thanks, and tried for a stopgap option or give Matt Chapman a high AAV offer with opt outs and minimal years.
CubsWin108
huh?
AL B DAMNED
DANSBY SWANSON HEADING TO DODGERS?
paddyo furnichuh
With hopefully your caps lock setting too!
THEY LIVE!!!
Dodgers getting who in return? Michael Busch is a top rated player.
Gwynning
Some young arm their scouts love…
roenick99
Cubs just found their everyday 3rd baseman.
Unclemike1526
No they just found a better LH bat than Mastrobuoni.
nando390
Dodgers got fleeced. Busch should have been packaged for luzardo
Habitual Truth Teller
Assuming he had value you think he does. Fans tend to value prospects more than MLB teams do.
Joel P
Busch is 26 years old and has done nothing at all in the big leagues.
vacommish
And doesn’t play good defense
roob
Perfect fit for Cubs first base. He didn’t do anything because they’re not gonna sit Freddie Freeman for him.
Great move by Cubs.
Joel P
He will definitely get a chance to play in Chicago. I think he’s a good fit for the Cubs.
JoeBrady
I don’t follow the Cubs that closely, but I don’t get it. What does Busch provide that Morel and/or Wisdom do not?
Joel P
He’s probably better than Wisdom.
northsidecrossrifles
He’s a lefty bat, with more control than either. The cubs desperately needed a lefty middle of the order thumper, which be may be. He also has a great track record in the minors, just has only gotten a tiny amount of PAs in the show.
Phree4u
Left handed hitter
JCL10
Don’t like this trade at all from the Dodgers perspective. Would much rather have traded away rojas or vargas. I think Busch will eventually be a great hitter. Almonte had to go though.
iml12
Ferris is going to be very good. I cringed when I saw he was included.
mlbdodgerfan2015
I would have just DFA’d Varland. Or if you’re going to include essentially 2 MLB level players at least get one in return like a dependable MLB LH reliever rather than 2 lottery tickets. Both HS players drafted in last 2 years. It don’t get more speculative than that.
DeferredFan
Nah Yency is not that good and Busch is 26. Getting 2 young guys to supplement the big league club in 3-5 years is exactly why Friedman keeps this team in contention. Busch had no place to play. Figure Vargas and or Lux will be next to go and maybe a young pitcher or two.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Yency is inconsistent but when he finds the command he’s very difficult to hit. Key for him is not falling behind counts so he can break out that sweeper/slider or whatever you want to call it. I would have kept him.
Busch is 26. Everyone loves saying that. The reality is that most prospects do not make it and many do not even come close to making it. Busch is a guy that is on the cusp of making it. I’m all for trading prospects but I’d rather trade for less speculative options. MLB ready guys. Dodgers have a couple of needs including a lefty reliever.
Lux is not going anywhere. LOL. Unless they’re 100% sold he can’t field the SS position he’s finally getting his shot at SS. They didn’t sign Seager or Turner partially because of the Lux intrigue. He has been a bit of a disappointment and doesn’t have the same upside but he’s still cheap and controllable. You think the Dodgers are going to trade away all their first round picks? They should deal some of their younger pitchers if they’re going to deal. They need more hitters through the pipeline.
DeferredFan
Yeah, I think they will trade guys no matter where they were drafted if they feel they can upgrade the position. Muncy and Lux on the left side will lead to some horrendous defense. If they can upgrade I think they will. If Mil took Lux back along with some young pitching for Adames and maybe Burnes then yeah I could see that move being made.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Funny that they would do that after just giving Muncy the 2 year deal when they had a club option. If he is so bad why bring him back? Everything is relative. The Dodgers are not going to lead the league in fielding. But if the hitting more than compensates the fielding you’re positive. Dodgers are well aware that Muncy and Lux are not the best gloves.
Lux has some question marks on defense but they’re going to give him a shot in my opinion for better or worse. His bat should take a step forward and he can probably play average defense with some work. Rojas can always fill in defensively in later innings. It will come down to his bat and if he can at minimal provide adequate defense.
Everyone keeps saying Adames. But Lux’s bat will be much better than his. Sure, Adames will give you much better defense but he’s also older and more expensive. Everything is relative. You don’t need all-stars or gold gloves at every position. Lux is staying.
northsidecrossrifles
Jackson Ferris has legit TOR upside. He was considered a mid 1st round talent by a lot of scouts in his draft year. Signability was a concern. I believe the cubs gave him a record contract for his slot position, and were only able to do so bc of the savings from taking Cade Horton at 7, which the average fan was screaming it was a reach, but they’re looking dumb at this point.
Zyhir Hope is already a steal. He’s a highschooler that only was drafted in the 11th bc of signability concerns, but was considered a legit prospect. I didn’t think the cubs would sign him. He’s a speed/power guy who can stick in CF who also has a great feel to hit.
Basically, Ferris is already a top 100 caliber, who could have a meteoric rise. Hope is scouting community favorite who will be on all top 100 lists if he just maintains progress. Both are young, so there is certainly risk. However, the dodgers are some of the best in the biz at identifying talent. They likely got in on the upswing. As a cubs fan, thesw were 2 players from our incredibly deep system that I did not want to lose.
Joel P
Yeah a guy like Ferris isn’t one most teams would trade. This is a hard trade to judge right now because Busch will be a big leaguer in 2024 and Ferris isn’t close. But again this is not a guy most teams would have dealt. This deal could look really bad for the Cubs down the road.
northsidecrossrifles
Agreed on all points. Best case scenario is Counsell gets 2 good years out of talented, albeit inconsistent reliever, and Busch becomes a LH middle of the order thumper for the next 5 years.
Ferris and Hope both have massive ceilings. Its unlikely, but in 4 years, both could be key pieces in the dodgers empire.
LAD needed to shave 40 man roster spots, and they basically got 2 great prospect depth pieces who could pay off down the road and dont need to be added to the 40 man for multiple years, for 2 pieces that weren’t bonafide starters on whats shaping to be a championship roster. They’re just a very well ran org. People may not like it, but its the truth.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Statistically the odds are in the Cubs favor. Most prospects even elite ones don’t pan out. Busch is essentially an MLB level player, having already gone through the minor league test and passed with flying colors. Just needs playing time and Almonte has flashes of brilliance or else the Dodgers wouldn’t have given him the $1.9mm. I would have preferred to have kept Almonte and dealt Busch for something less speculative.
northsidecrossrifles
Your org needed to clean up its 40 man and create more flexibility in the coming seasons. It accomplished that while increasing its 3-4 yr depth with 2 high ceiling guys on the upswing. Ferris has front of the rotation upside, and nowadays you only acquire that prospect upside at the early stages of their careers. It was a necessary risk for LA, and they hedge their bet with an athletic, up the middle player with a great feel to hit.
This certainly could blow up in their faces, but these are the type of aggressive, yet calculated swings top notch organizations take. I applaud the dodgers yet again on their foreward thinking. I enjoy how the evil empire of the west is an extremely formidable opponent. It also makes me even more confident in my assessments of Ferris and Hope. Atleast the cubs still have Rojas in the lower levels.
YourDreamGM
Dodgers won this easy. Bush wouldn’t even headline a Luxardo trade if I was Miami.
northsidecrossrifles
Still think its too early to call, but I wouldn’t have made the deal if I was Jed. I see his reasoning, but not my cup of tea.
ElectricJ
Busch included in deal is huge… the return to LA is key here. But the Cubs are definitely staying away from expensive FA with QOs attached, so Chapman was never an option. I don’t think Bellinger is either.
Habitual Truth Teller
Cubs attached a QO to Bellinger. If they resign him they don’t lose anything.
ruckus727
Belli will resign.
roob
Nope
doms272
Any word on who the Dodgers are getting?
YourDreamGM
Ferris
Troy Percival's iPad
What kind of piecemeal ass reporting?
“A middling reliever…”
“Oh WAIT they included a highly regarded MLB Ready Prospect”
“We dunno what the return is lol”
And they gave him a HOF Vote
King Floch
New here, eh?
HalosHeavenJJ
Interesting to see Busch moved. Really wonder who the Dodgers get back.
biffpocoroba
Echoing others here, what are the Dodgers getting? Is this just a roster reduction exercise for LAD to get something useful from the Cubs for the future, or is something material coming back to them?
drasco036
The Cubs have two top 100 prospects not on the 40 man but several sniffing the top 100. Busch is ranked pretty high still on the list but I strongly doubt either Horton or Shaw are on the move… guess we will see.
Dread Pirate Roberts
Ben Brown or Jackson Ferris?
Compo
Brown, Horton, or Ferris?
Compo
oh apparently Brown is already on the 40-man roster. Horton or Ferris than.
Blackouts are racist
You were never getting the Cubs top pitching prospect lol. Ferris has a lot of upside though.
eddiemurraysafro
Busch is AAAA player
Joel P
He might be. He’s 26 years old he really hasn’t had much of an opportunity in the big leagues yet. Who knows what Busch is.
1984wasntamanual
It’s a slightly better version of Busch lite.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
Sneaky good pickup for the Cubs here. (Assuming they’re not giving up any big prospects obviously.) Busch had an ops of over 1.000 last year!
Joel P
He’s 26 years old.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
And your point is?
Joel P
You say he had a 1000 OPS but he did so as a 26 year old at AAA. That matters. Age matters.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
1000 ops in triple a is impressive no matter how old you are lol. The AVERAGE age in aaa is 26.3 years old. You act like he’s ancient but there are still players on the top 100 list that are 25. Busch was one not long ago. He arguably hasn’t even hit his “peak years”.
Joel P
Luken Baker had an OPS over 1000 in AAA last year. Ever heard of him? He’s not worthless but he’s certainly not the Cardinals number 2 prospect.
Yeah there are other guys 25 or older in the prospect list. Half of them are Dodgers……..
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
So? What does them being Dodgers have to do with anything other than them not getting playing time because the Dodgers are stacked. You can’t compare Baker to Busch, Busch is an infielder with versatility and is at least capable of fielding multiple positions, he is a multi-tool guy. Baker is a glorified DH. But to answer your question, yes I have heard of him, and yes what He did in the minors with the bat is still very impressive. My Dad is a Cardinals fan so whenever I come into town to visit with him we talk baseball and he loves to talk about his Cardinals.
Joel P
Busch has a little more defensive value than Baker but there is no way Busch is some top prospect today right now.
Who knows who got the better of this deal. The main pieces are an overcooked 26 year old with a nice track record in the minors and a high upside 19 year old lefty.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
I wouldn’t say overcooked, the track record is there but the Dodgers weren’t going to give him too much of a shot with how stacked they are. I do like the upside of Ferris if he can keep it up in the minors though. It works good for the dodgers too because they don’t have to give him a 40 man spot immediately. I could see it working out for both of them.
roob
He’s hit everywhere he’s ever been. Poor defender. 1B is best position. Blocked by Freeman.
BrianStrowman9
Cubs have to hope he’s max muncy 2.0
Personally, I like the Dodgers side and think they got the upside end here. Busch is a lock to contribute in some capacity but Ferris could wind up being much more impactful
stymeedone
Yes, you are correct, sir! And Cubs will have his services thru age 32. Prime Time!
James Midway
Good pick ups for the Cubs especially if they didn’t have to give up anyone halfway decent.
ruckus727
Jackson Ferris is part of the deal apparently.
Joel P
Ferris ouch
ElectricJ
Had to give some value to get Busch but its a fair deal and locks down 3B for certain with Wisdom, Madrigal, and Shaw also available there. Can also play 1B/DH… Bellinger signing is now seriously in doubt if this is a sign.
Joel P
Shaw isn’t a 3b option in 2024. I do think that 3b is now covered but all 3 of the options have question marks.
The Cubs went cheap to fill their 3b hole. Imanaga didn’t really cost a bunch. If they sign Bellinger could be looking good. Maybe they sign Hader I don’t have a clue where Hader is going. Theoretically there should be room for a big signing still.
robert-5
I disagree that if they sign Belli they’re looking good.
Fans are letting Cubs brass off too easy. I like the Busch pickup but Hoyer has a lot of work to do.
This team wasnt good enough last year with Bellinger, Stroman and half season of Candelario.
Cubs still havent even filled their holes, let alone improve from last year’s club.
Joel P
Absolute best case is the Cubs sign Bellinger and Hader but I highly doubt that happens.
The only team in the NL central who has improved on paper this offseason is the Reds.
Cubs were better in 2023 than their record suggested they were.
I think this opens the door for 1 big signing by the Cubs either Bellinger or Hader.
roob
Busch is not a third baseman.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Busch just has to be a better 3B than Morel for the first half of the season.
dhaab1937
Can’t wait until you see Busch play defense at 3rd base.
1984wasntamanual
That’d be great, but I don’t think he knows how to do that.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
Id take Busch over Ferris any day of the week. We don’t know how Ferris will progress in the upper minors, he’s an A ball player. At least Busch has the track record of raking in the upper minors. That being said, I understand why the Dodgers dealt him. Ferris doesn’t immediately take a roster spot and let’s be honest, with an infield mix of Muncy, Freeman, Lux, Betts, Vargas, Rojas, and Taylor he wasn’t going to get regular at bats so it works for everyone.
Joel P
They are two entirely different players. There is a 7 year age gap between them. Of course Busch has a better track record he’s been in the minor leagues for years because he’s 7 years older.
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
Exactly, that is my point. Personally I would just prefer the more “sure thing” if you can even call it that. There’s more risk with Ferris but that doesn’t mean he won’t be great/better than Busch. Given that he is now with the dodgers he will probably be great..
Joel P
I think it all depends on what else the Cubs do this offseason.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Plus by the time Ferris gets to the majors, there will be a new CBA on the horizon, and the Cubs’ MO is to plan from CBA to CBA. Look how few contract guarantees they have for 2027 right now.
1984wasntamanual
What does this have to do with anything? Smoke less weed…
bucknerkingmansutter
Good deal for the Cubs and we can now scratch Chapman off the possible FA signing list. Now use that money to resign Bellinger.
ryrockak
Ferris is the most talented player in the deal. As a Cubs fan, I am not a big fan of this trade. We finally have a good stock of pitching prospects and we traded 1 of the top 3 in our system for a former top prospect whose stock has decreased and a middle relief guy
YourDreamGM
I would hate this as a cubs fan. Love it as a LA fan.
DeferredFan
Just a word of warning Busch is an atrocious fielder. Otherwise, the Dodgers would have moved on from Muncy. The kid can hit, but he’s a mess on defense.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Nope. Muncy with or without Busch was getting picked up. Busch was not really a third base option, first or second. The moment they said Mookie was going to play 2B full-time is when Busch’s chance of making roster went out the door.
Muncy is a Dodger because they signed him to a team friendly 2 years $24mm deal. Dodgers had a $10mm plus incentives option to pick up and extended him by a year. Even if Busch was ready the Dodgers would have kept Muncy who also doesn’t have a very good glove.
jhomeslice
Ferris is Cubs #8 prospect compared to Busch being #2 for Dodgers according to MLB.com. No brainer win for the Cubs, one would think. Is the question whether Busch can field well enough to play infield?
Joel P
Busch is 26 years old and has barely played in the big leagues. How that was the Dodgers number 2 prospect I don’t have a clue. They will update the prospect lists here soon they haven’t done so in a while.
Who knows who got the better of this deal really. You got a 26 year old vs a high school pitcher who was just drafted.
jhomeslice
Busch’s minor league numbers show he can hit, which is why he was highly ranked. Dodgers don’t have places for some guys to play. All else equal I’ll take a #2 ranked prospect from the Dodgers over a high school pitcher ranked #8 for the Cubs. Will take a while to know if the pitcher is any good, but Busch should get some playing time right away with the Cubs. I think odds favor Cubs getting better end of this one, we’ll see. If Busch can’t field, he might make a good DH.
Joel P
What I am trying to tell you is the rankings aren’t current and there is no way Busch will be ranked that high once they update the list.
stymeedone
You seem obsessed with his age.
Joel P
Age matters. Saying he’s the Dodgers number 2 prospect is ridiculous he’s not even really a prospect anymore at all.
Maybe it works out. But I wouldn’t have traded Ferris that’s for sure.
ryrockak
Ferris is a future ace if healthy
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
@ryrockak
How can you make that judgement off of one minor league season at 19 years old? (Not saying that he won’t, just want to see multiple years of success first.)
YourDreamGM
Ferris better than 8. Bush much lower than 2.
Joel P
Yeah those rankings are simply not accurate at the moment.
deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger
LAD is getting fleeced! I thought it would be a big MLB player headed back.
SoCalHardBall
no room on the 40 man, hence the trade. they can stash these guys in the minors now
YourDreamGM
LA done the fleecing
ruckus727
LA has plenty of time to let him develop. Ferris is going to be a star. He has elite potential but is still 3 years away.
Joel P
Him and Bruns make for an exciting pair for the future.
BrianStrowman9
Ferris is a high variance player. He may wind up being nothing. However, I think given their roster construction that this is a gamble that I’d make.
Joel P
All high school pitchers are high variance. The Orioles would kill to have a pitching prospect like Ferris.
goldensombreropc
Really good for both sides. Cubs get a top 50 3rd baseman with pop who is ready for the big leagues now, and give away two future top 50s that still need a ton of development.
dhaab1937
Busch is a terrible defensive player.
Catuli Carl
Better than you
1984wasntamanual
he’s not a 3rd basemen
YourDreamGM
Not top 50. Not a 3b.
ryrockak
Not Jackson Ferris Jed!!!
harrycarey
Well all the media claimed he needed to do something before Cubs Convention and this is what he did. So now fans can be happy
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Is Michael Busch any good and worth trading Jackson Ferris?
Moneyballer
He’s very comparable to Matt Mervis, great numbers in the upper minors, crashed hard when given a shot in the big show.
JerseyShoreScore
Mervis got more of a legit chance, Busch’s ABs were sporadic at best.
MC Tim C
Exactly. Busch had a whopping 72 AB’s and they were sporadic. Impossible to take much from such a small sample.
Gwynning
We’re all about to find out… in 5-ish years.
YourDreamGM
Potential to be above average 1b maybe even good. Not worth trading Ferris.
jide
Whoa ferris
Gwynning
Bueller… Bueller?
Joel P
They already had Buehler
RandorBierd
Whatever happened to Danny Almonte?
Moneyballer
He goes by Yency these days.
Salzilla
That’s a heck of trade by the Cubbies. Good on them to take advantage of LAD’s roster crunch. Busch is ready to roll right in the starting line up.
Moneyballer
Why?
ryrockak
As a Cubs fan, it’s not really a heck of a trade. Ferris is the best player in the deal. Has the potential to be an ace. I’m pissed
Salzilla
Or he could be a total bust. It is years away from knowing. Meanwhile you basically got Matt Chapman in the deal without spending the money.
YourDreamGM
Chapman is gold glove 3b. This guy can’t even play 3b. Awful trade for Cubs. Traded a top 100 lefty for a 1b with lots of ?s.
1984wasntamanual
This might be the dumbest comp I’ve seen this offseason.
spudchukar
For a reason I do not fully understand Busch seems to have slipped some in appreciation, by Dodgers and other evaluators.
Moneyballer
It’s probably unfair but his first MLB stint was a complete disaster! I think he just might not have been ready. Tough to cut bait with such a small sample size….see jarred kelenic!
Joel P
He’s 26 years old. No he hasn’t had much opportunity but he should be plenty ready by this point.
MC Tim C
You’ve made the 26 year old comment about 47 times now. We get it. He’s 26 years old.
Suitcase Simpson
is that really even that old? if the guy can hit he can do it til his low 30’s at least
Joel P
It’s old for a guy who hasn’t really had a shot in the big leagues yet and hasn’t been seriously injured.
He might be good. But I have a hard time calling him a prospect at this point.
JerseyShoreScore
Busch is a bat first player and the Dodgers are locked in at DH and unless you forced him into the OF, he is not going to play regularly on the Dodgers.
norcalblue
Doc soured on Busch and stopped using him. This is a great opportunity for Michael and a good deal for Cubs. Almonte, if healthy, is a legit 7th-8th inning add to the bullpen. Much more certainty here for Cubs. Dodgers just hoping the talented lefty develops.
YourDreamGM
1b. Older. Didn’t show in limited sample size. Potential is there but gotta lower expectations.
Moneyballer
Jackson Ferris is actually the best player in this trade. High K guy, huge upside!
cheugy
My first thought was, I thought we really liked this dude.
Moneyballer
I really hope this isn’t the “creative” way to fill some of the holes the cubs have on offense. If they miss on bellinger, hoskins…that offense will regress considerably. Other teams in our division have improved and we expect Shota to be the difference? So far I give the cubs a solid D for their offseason blunderment. (Its a word)
MC Tim C
Are you drunk? The Brewers lost their manager. The Cards have signed a trio of middling pitchers. The Pirates have done nothing per usual. Only the Reds could one legitimately say have improved.
Moneyballer
Cardinals signed Sonny Gray who was second for the cy young last season, maybe you’re the one that’s drunk!
YourDreamGM
Pirates had a A+ off-season. Cards signed 3 solid starters. Gray better than solid. Brewers look to be worse because of lack of moves so far. Manager shouldn’t matter.
NoPlanB
Ferris is a stud. Good get.
Jordan 5
Spudchukar im with you. Not sure why he fell out of favor with them. Never really given a chance to show case his stuff. Not much of a return for either one. Obviously the higher ups know more than we do. Wish him success
Moneyballer
When he’s firmly blocked at every position, you have to move him.
Americanentropy
Dodgers return are for teenagers. It’s a gamble, but I guess they had to do something. Hopefully Bush gets his shot.
cheugy
Weren’t we high on Jackson Ferris?
ryrockak
Yes, very high. I’m pissed
yarritsblake
This is why I am ultimately excited about this trade as a Dodgers fan. If Cubs fans are upset about losing Ferris, and everything I’m reading/seeing about him is accurate, Dodgers made out pretty good.
brood550
Not a bad return. Got a bounce-back candidate RP in Almonte who had a down year last year. Busch is curious. His fielding at 3b is atrocious. However he’s played quite a few innings at 2B and has been surprisingly decent. Only question with him is can he make the jump to MLB. His minor league stats have been very good and his 2023 stats at AAA are ridiculous.
FunkyButtLovin
Future dodger staff of Ferris Buehler.
Datashark
Well Cubs cannot have two versions of Wisdom’s on their team – one has to go.
JoeBrady
I don’t see this aging well for the Cubs. Hope & Ferris look like pretty good prospects so far.
highflyballintorightfield
So one of the opened roster spots goes to Teoscar, but is the other one spoken for?
mlbdodgerfan2015
Not liking this deal. I understand that they had to make a move but why not release Varland? Busch is older and blocked but I have a feeling he’s going to rake at the MLB level and the Dodgers will regret this move. Almonte was inconsistent last year but he has a devastating slider and his fastball is still 96+. If his command is good he’s going to be a bullpen force. The Dodgers have options in the bullpen but several of them coming off injuries (Hudson, Treinen, Feyereisen) so some uncertainty.
yarritsblake
For as good as Almonte’s stuff is, it wasn’t resulting in the K-rates you would hope for. Busch would have been nice to include in a trade for an SP like Cease or Luzardo, but I get the feeling nothing was materializing for the Dodgers there. So, as you put it, Busch is older and very much blocked. Spending yet another year at AAA will only hurt his trade value going forward. He was the oldest (by far) on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects. Even if he performs well, I like the fact we got two really high-upside teenage prospects. Ferris looks especially intriguing. Solid Single-A numbers (especially those strikeouts) last year. And with him joing the Dodgers pitching development lab he could easily vault into the Top 100 and become a top pitching prosepct for us.
mlbdodgerfan2015
They should have dealt Busch earlier in process. Perhaps they tried but when it got to this point you lose leverage. Sure seems like they botched the Busch trade chip. I still thought that he could make a roster spot by playing 2B, and not moving Mookie there. Lefty heavy but whatever. If guy can rake he rakes all pitching hands.
This is potentially one of those trades that the Dodgers will regret. Not Yordan Alvarez bad but potential regret.
As good as these prospects may be they are still lottery tickets. Most prospects don’t perform as well as Busch has in the minors.
I think with Almonte it comes down to command. His K rate is fine in that mid 8s to 9 per 9 IPs. It’s when he issues walks and falls behind batters that was the problem in 2023. In 2022, his stuff was on point and command much better. You get an elite guy when he’s on because that slider with two strikes is hard to lay off.
YourDreamGM
At no point could the have done better than this trade.
rdodger32
Called making room on the roster for another player(Hader)
mlbdodgerfan2015
God, I hope not. That’s a waste money and not sure what he does for clubhouse. He’s so limited. Can’t go back to back nights. Can’t pitch more than inning. Can’t pitch non save, etc. Spare me the drama and millions. Yes, Dodgers need a LH reliever but they don’t need Hader. Nor should they want him.
BlueSkies_LA
It should have been mentioned in the article that Almonte was on the IL for the last two months of the season. Evidently the Dodgers thought he was in good enough shape to tender him a contract, but since nobody has seen him pitch since early August the question of readiness remains. Either way I won’t miss him. Too erratic. Thinking the Dodgers are hoping at least one of the three you mention is going to bounce back in spring training.
yarritsblake
Honestly a decent trade for both sides. As a Dodgers fan I would have rather included Busch in a package for another SP (i.e. a Luzardo or Cease type with a few years control), but eh, I’m not terribly bent out of shape over this. Ferris looks like the real get in this trade for the Dodgers: teenage lefty who pitched well at Single-A and had high strikeout totals. Features a solid FB/CB mix. Dodgers player development can definitely work some magic with that. Don’t know much about Hope. Sounds like he is very toolsy. Had decent stats at Rookie Ball, so we will have to see on him too.
YourDreamGM
Lucky to find a team stupid enough to value Bush this high.
clayton.shields88
Crap, we gave up Ferris?!
yarritsblake
See this is why I ultimately am ok with this trade. Busch in a package for an SP would have been NICE, but probably wasn’t materializing. And having him waste away another year at AAA wasn’t going to help his value.
Since most Cubs fans are saying what you said about Ferris, and I’m reading what I’m reading about him, I am perfectly happy with this trade.
Camden453
Dodgers get the best prospect, which in this case is Hope
But realistically, I’d say Cubs eventually end up getting more out of it, since Busch will at least be an optional depth piece
The other prospects probably won’t make the major leagues
But as far as a “prospect”, Hope has the most star potential
yarritsblake
Ferris looks pretty good too man. And it sounds like A LOT of Cubs fans who follow their prospects are more bent about giving up Ferris than Hope. Dodgers pitching development lab is about to
YourDreamGM
They don’t even know who Hope was. And Ferris much more valuable. I like Hope but odds are he doesn’t amount to much. But for his age level draft position he has a better shot than most.
Camden453
Did you even see video of Ferris? But more important, would you even know how to project him if you did?
Or are you just looking at “oh it’s a 2nd rd pick so it’s better”?
Devlsh
Nice get by Dodgers. They don’t OFTEN whiff on guys they ditch, especially those this close to the majors.
Datashark
yes Dodger prospects are often overrated their scouting knows who is worth dealing away and track record shows that they don’t live up to expectations. There are exceptions like Evovali
yarritsblake
Eovaldi took forever to turn into somewhat top of the rotation arm (2021 was his FIRST All-Star appearance and full season, over 150 IP, with an ERA under 4.00).
So far the Nats seem fairly happy with Ruiz and Gray as the return for Turner/Scherzer.
Betts trade, Dugie was good for the Red Sox (but he was never a really high-upside guy, more high-floor), Downs was a bust ultimately (but came from the Reds originally), and Wong was serviceable if unspectacular. This was more on the Red Sox for not getting more high-value prospects. They chose an MLB ready guy (Verdugo) over targetting younger prospects (i.e. Ruiz, May, Lux, etc) or looking at Will Smith instead of Verdugo.
Darvish trade yielded nothing for the Rangers.
Machado trade yielded nothing for the Orioles.
But neither Yusniel Diaz or Willie Calhoun were particularly top tier guys. They were good, but not top top guys like a Busch.
filihok
yb
“Machado trade yielded nothing for the Orioles.”
Dean Kremer
yarritsblake
Also, you could make the argument that the minute a player is traded out of the Dodgers development pipeline, their ceilings drop automatically by default. If the Dodgers prospects were overrated then how come so many that STAY with the Dodgers and ultimately play for the Dodgers are solid players? Doesn’t the fact that they aren’t as good when traded away from the Dodgers say more about the teams’ they are going to worse player development, than simply the Dodgers being overrated?
bravesfan
I’m not expert, but to me, this seems like a silly miss for the dodgers and a team like Cleveland and the white Sox. Their #2 prospect just got traded away and 2 teams that need guys like that and are shopping legit starting pitching weren’t involved in the deal. In the flip side, truly the dodgers pitching isn’t exactly set. They could have easily turned this into a return for Cease or Bieber. Is it ultimately a bad deal for the dodgers, no. But lord, you’re going big to is offseason, go make another splash
yarritsblake
Oh it would have taken a lot more than Busch and Almonte to get Cease or Bieber (but I’m sure you know that). Busch is solid, but he is also 26, and the oldest prospect on MLB Pipelines Top 100. I agree I would have rather sent him in a package for Cease or Luzardo, but this isn’t a terrible return. From everything I’m reading about Ferris, and how upset many Cubs fans are on here about losing him, seems like a pretty decent return for a guy destined to spin his wheels again at AAA and lose even more trade value.
iml12
There seem to be upset fans on both sides. It looks like a good trade. Cubs got a bullpen arm and a major league ready bat, they desperately needed both. Ferris definitely a lot of upside.
yarritsblake
I’m not necessarily upset about losing Busch. If I’m upset, it’s that we couldn’t swing a deal with him in a package for someone like Cease or Luzardo. Not that the Dodgers couldn’t still get a trade done for either of those guys, but I would have rather had an expendable guy like Busch take the place of less expendable prospect.
YourDreamGM
Would just be giving him away because I doubt other teams value him anywhere close to what Cubs do.
rdodger32
Two guys off the 40 man roster! Possibly making room for Josh Hader? Let the dynasty begin!
Moneyballer
Rangers may have something to say about that!
diphthong
Best wishes to Busch. Feel like he never got a fair shake in an extremely crowded MLB clubhouse. Hopefully, he can go to the Cubbies and rake for them while playing decent defense. Rooting for him.
Rsox
I recall commenting here not that long ago about Busch not showing anything at the MLB level and the Dodger fans jumping down my throat because he had just won the PCL MVP. Well your PCL MVP was just made a throw in for a trade centered around Yency Almonte…
filihok
RS
“a throw in for a trade centered around Yhency Almonte…”
No
How could anyone jump down your throat with how twisted up in knots it must be to come to believe the above?
mlbdodgerfan2015
81 plate appearances? That’s pretty quick judgment when the guy has raked at every level. Sure, the jump from AAA and MLB is the biggest but I think the guy still has a shot to be a really good MLB hitter. Doubt it was only for Almonte. Equally Busch and Almonte in my opinion.
filihok
mlbdf
“Equally Busch and Almonte in my opinion.”
Definitely more Busch in my opinion.
mlbdodgerfan2015
Now that I think about it more. Yes, definitely more Busch than Almonte. Agreed.
YourDreamGM
Hardly a throw in.
drprofsps
Looks like the Rich LA Dodgers have signed a second FA or they wouldn’t trade two 40 man roster spots. I am guessing Hader which I was hoping and praying he would come to our Rangers. Must be nice to be a Dodgers fan this offseason, we had two great offseasons that lead to a World Series. I see the Dodgers winning it all in 2025 when they have their SPs back. Good luck LA, not!!!!
YourDreamGM
They make this trade no matter what. 40 man wasn’t a factor.
filihok
YDGM
My dream GM would definitely understand the 40 player roster
You are not my dream GM
pepenas34
To bad we didn’t have the roster spot for Bush. I don’t understand the rule for players on the IL for longer than +60 days that have to be included on the 40 men roster.
Dodgers are not going to draft much in the near future, smart to at least get something.
mlbdodgerfan2015
I believe that the players on 60 day IL after season ends count on the 40 man roster. They can go back to 60 day IL when Spring starts. They should get a couple of more roster spots when May and Gonsolin go back to 60 day IL in early Spring. Probably when they’ll announce Kershaw signing and put him on 60 day IL.
pepenas34
hello and ty, the thing I don’t understand why on players teams know they are going to loose at lest the first 60 games, why not put them on the IL, there are teams down 3 or 4 spots.
Rule should be, if a team puts a player on the IL in the offseason, that player cannot play firs 60 games ( to avoid manipulation ).
YourDreamGM
They wanted the prospects. Couldn’t care less about 40 man spot.
pepenas34
Well, Dodgers had to open a spot on the 40 man for Teoscar Hernandez, they could had DFA some one else but by trading this guys they got some thing in return and knowing the drafts for next seasons are going to be low, they had to anticipate.
Its shame that Bush had not opportunity at ml.
mlbdodgerfan2015
This is why you should always think or at least know what you’re talking about before you post something. They obviously had to clear a roster spot for Hernandez. Yeah, I’m sure it was mere coincidence that they traded Busch and Almonte.
Birdieman2
Dodgers seem to have a pretty good feel for who can play and who can’t. If they send away Busch, don’t be surprised he turns out to be a bust.
revolver
Or he was blocked in LA
ufo1818
I can only believe this is part of a bigger move. The players from Chicago are 19 and 18 single A players.
Something else in the works!
YourDreamGM
Who cares about their age. It’s actually a plus since they don’t take a roster spot and can receive a longer period of superior development.
drasco036
Rumors that the Cubs are negotiating with Jordan Montgomery now…
If that is the case, perhaps another trade will be in the cards
ASapsFables
I have to believe that the Jordan Montgomery ship has sailed in the wake of the Shota Imanaga signing. Montgomery would give the Cubs 3 southpaws in their rotation along with Justin Steele.
I can easily envision the Cubs pursuing another SP before spring training but it will more likely be a right-handed pitcher who can miss bats, hopefully Dylan Cease. 🙂
drasco036
The rumor states the Cubs are still interested in Montgomery.
I don’t think anyone cares which side starter throws from but I’m a little surprised the Cubs continue to show interest in starting pitching. They could be loading up for a buy/sell deadline and/or hedging their bets on Imanaga.
ASapsFables
I believe this trade is a precursor to a bigger move by the Cubs, perhaps one involving Dylan Cease. The Dodgers and Cubs have both been attached to Cease and each have the controllable young MLB talent and/or near MLB ready top prospects to get a deal done with the White Sox.
Michael Busch and his high ceiling/high OPS left-handed bat is player the White Sox might have prioritized in a package deal with the Dodgers for Cease. They can still do that in a potential trade with the Cubs.
The Cubs acquiring Busch might also better allow them to trade Christopher Morel, another player the White Sox would covet in a Cease trade. I can easily envision Busch slotting into the role Morel will be ticketed for with the Cubs in 2024. Morel could then be offered to the White Sox as a centerpiece in a trade.
Morel checks many of the boxes that GM Chris Getz is seeking to improve the ChiSox roster including athleticism, power and a positive clubhouse presence. He’s yet to find a regular position but that could more easily happen on a retooling White Sox team than a contender like the Cubs.
Morel’s arm and speed could solve the White Sox longstanding hole in RF. He might also fit in at 2B if given regular reps at the keystone. Many believe 2B is Morel’s best defensive position but he is blocked there on the Cubs by Nico Hoerner. Morel’s power bat and speed will play anywhere.
revolver
The cubs haven’t been linked to Cease by anyone all off season.
ASapsFables
The Cubs have been frequently listed as one of the better Dylan Cease fits because of:
1-Their desire for a TOR who misses bats.
.
2-Their highly rated farm system with numerous near-ready top MLB prospects that fit the White Sox retool plan for 2025 and beyond.
.
3-The Cubs abundance of controllable MLB talent who are blocked by other veterans at their best positions including INF/OF Christopher Morel and 2B Nick Madrigal. The Cubs also have a few young MLB arms who would instantly slot into the White Sox rotation/pen including Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski.
There has been ample speculation at the national level and even more locally including ESPN’s Jesse Rogers who covers both Chicago teams.
No one is saying the Cubs are the favorites in a Cease trade but their chances certainly weren’t hurt by today’s deal with the Dodgers. 🙂
ryrockak
lol that’s not true at all, I have read multiple articles saying that the Cubs are a rumored match
northsidecrossrifles
Cease is highly unlikely for the cubs. The white sox want at least TWO top prospects and more supporting pieces (additional prospects, and a young controllable starter) for 2 years of Cease. I get it that they want to set the negotiations off in a way that puts them in a favorable bargaining position, but that’s simply ridiculous, especially seeing as he took a step back.
Bieber is a more likely target, seeing as Cleveland will want/need to recoup some value since its his last season, and the price for the cubs will be more palatable. Bieber and Clause for a package centered around Morel +. If they add their 1B who is in arb, one of the cubs young starters plus A ball prospects coming back from Cleveland and an upper level corner OF bat from the cubs could turn this into a massive blockbuster.
Dealing with Cleveland seems more plausible IMO.
ASapsFables
I can also envision the Cubs dealing for Shane Bieber assuming the Guardians actually trade him before opening day. That’s a big IF. I can also envision a blockbuster deal with Cleveland that might also include closer Emmanuel Clase. Bieber lacks the upside of Cease and his 2024 arbitration price is significantly more. A package that also includes Case would cost the Cubs similar assets to what Cease might garner by himself.
Speaking of blockbusters, I can also dream on an even bigger Cease blockbuster with the Cubs that includes slugging DH/OF Eloy Jimenez who has absolutely killed the northsiders in their cross town series, especially in Wrigley Field. It would be quite the story if both Cease and Jimenez headed back to the Cubs in the same deal since both were the centerpieces in their first pro trade for Jose Quintana back in 2017.
northsidecrossrifles
With our pitching infastructure, I’m less concerned about upside at this point. In the post season, these starters aren’t going as deep anyways. I’m ok with a floor move that also nabs us an elite reliever and improves our pen. I trust Counsell and Hottovy to deliver great bullpen results and maximize our pitching. Plus since Bieber is pricey for Cleveland, it will reduce the price a bit.
That would definitely make for an interesting story! I’m not really interested in Eloy. We have a lot of corner OF depth, and I really don’t want a DH only type unless its an Ohtani situation.
ASapsFables
Jimenez has a huge ceiling if he can ever stay healthy, something that is more likely in a primary DH role. He also has 3 more years of relatively cheap control with his two team options. He’d be an absolute bargain if he approaches his ceiling with 500-600 PA’s over that time frame.
The Cubs know Cease and Jimenez better than any other MLB organization aside from the White Sox. Cease would be a clear impact add assuming he maintains his durability. Jimenez would be a luxury if they can re-sign Cody Bellinger and perhaps add another impact bat like 3B Matt Chapman. If the Cubs strike out on each they WILL need a formidable bat to anchor the middle of their batting order, one that Jimenez is certainly capable of providing.
iml12
Eloy is making 20 million on his team options. I’d hardly call that cheap. If he has another down year I wouldn’t be shocked if those options are not picked up. It would be great if cubs picked up another sp but they have more pressing needs in the bullpen and with the bats. Bellinger and Hicks and this team is looking much better than last year.
ASapsFables
Eloy Jimenez remaining contract salaries are less than a $20MM AAV. He will get paid $13,833,334MM in 2024.. His 2025 team option is $16.5MM with a $3MM buyout. In 2026, his team option is $18.5MM with another $3MM buyout. Fact check before you post, like I always do! 🙂
YourDreamGM
I would rather have Ferris and it isn’t close.
iml12
I was approximating. His option years are worth over 17 million aav. I don’t know if I’d value him over someone like Jd Martinez, Jorge Soler or Justin Turner. 3 guys that will likely be making less. I was simply pointing out his current contract isn’t that great of a deal.
northsidecrossrifles
Let Turner play 1B if Hoskins wants to draw this out. Bellinger just doesn’t make a ton of sense. We have PCA, Alcantara, Canario, etc. Center field isn’t a need, and 150 + mil for a guy spending most of his contract at 1B with a wRC+ in the 115-125 range is a waste. Its so 2008.
Edit: Offer Turner 13 mil with 5 in incentives, and a mutal option that pays him 3 if the cubs don’t exercise their end, and 16 mil if they do.
Bryzzo2016
This is a good trade, necessary for the Dodgers BUT I wouldn’t say they got “fleeced”. Yes, they gave up more than they got back but Ferris is a legit pitching prospect and the Dodgers had to clear a 40 man spot.
Cubs did well to take advantage of the Dodgers roster squeeze, but again, Ferris is a legit prospect.
spudchukar
But now they have their own clog. Neither Busch, nor Morel can find a place to play. Both DH candidates at a young age. Speed and defense matter. Advanced metrics are beginning to recognixe this. Run prevention is now in vague!
Bryzzo2016
The Cubs are clearly not done. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Morel, Mervis and/or Bush flipped.
The Cubs obviously value defense(run prevention) that’s why Swanson was key to them last offseason.
YourDreamGM
I have Dodgers winning trade easily.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
What can someone tell me about Zyhir Hope? Another young kid is my guess? High ceiling 3-5 years away?
adkuchan
He’ll turn 19 next week and has played a grand total of 11 professional games. His last name says it all at this point.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Thank you. So in this deal. Jackson Ferris Buhller was the main piece the Dodgers wanted?
YourDreamGM
A nice throw in Dodgers probably got for free. I have made trade for only Ferris. For age level draft spot as good as about any.
towinagain
So we are all waiting basically to see who the Dodgers play in the WS. Fun times bleh.
adkuchan
Or they win 100+ games and lose in the NLDS. ATL vs. LAD in the NLCS seemed like a foregone conclusion as recently as the first week in October.
CommentsSectionCommenter
@adkuchan
Given the Dodgers’ starting rotation was in tatters by season’s end, that conclusion seemed anything but foregone, especially entering a small-sample LDS off a weeklong hiatus that was anything but an advantage.
But sure.
YourDreamGM
No need for Dodgers fans to pay attention until October but anything can happen any round in playoffs as long as a team has 3 good starting pitchers.
Monkey’s Uncle
Cardinal fans cannot be happy to see Busch as a Cub. Maybe there’s a guy named Anheuser available.
Degaz
Busch is a legit prospect but the PCL is also a hitter friendly league. .822 OPS overall last year. He’s also 26
MC Tim C
His OPS was 1.049
mlbdodgerfan2015
Seriously? Here are his career OPS figures. College 0.921, AA 0.921, AAA 0.930. The dude has hit everywhere he’s played. Question will be if he can hit at MLB level but I’d rather have someone with those numbers than living on potential. He can’t field but if he has a plus bat you find a spot to hide him. 2B probably best spot.
Echopark
Dodgers fan here. I mean, objectively, you have to like the trade from the Cubs perspective more. You are getting a MLB pitcher – albeit one coming off a down/injury year, and a MLB-ready player with nothing left to prove in the minors. That’s two MLB players. The odds are against Ferris or Hope no matter how talented because they are young prospects with a long way to go. BUT, and having said that, the Dodgers do develop talent better than anyone and they clearly targeted these two high-upside toolsy talents.
First glance, Ferris looks like another Maddox Bruns. The potential for #2 stuff is there, but the control especially is not and there is lot of development and mechanics work to do. Dodgers have Bruns moving in the right direction. Oddly (to me) MLB now has Ferris as the Dodgers #5 prospect and Bruns as the their #16 prospect. Ferris is younger, and they must feel he has more upside, but I’d love to hear them explain why they see the two so differently. (Bruns was a first rounder, and really, so was Ferris – getting 3 million as a second rounder).
Hope as a prospect looks very much like the Dodgers first-rounder this year – Kendall George (both 80 speed runners). More power than George but also more swing and miss. Still not totally sure why they picked George in the first round – other than to go under slot – but second-guessing the Dodgers drafts coupled with their development record is a fool’s errand.
There are so many high level similarities here, it almost looks like the Dodgers are developing a “type”!!
Relly rooting for Busch. He was blocked and especially as a LH bat now more expendable BUT that should not lead anyone to believe he is not super talented – I really think he”ll hit. And since the Cubs can play him at first, they got a really good one.
BlueSkies_LA
Keep in mind the Dodgers picked up two teenagers. It’s way too early to call them anything but lottery tickets and a restocking of the farm by trading away players who don’t really have a foothold on the roster. Even if you believe Busch has unrealized potential, it wasn’t going to happen with the Dodgers, and Almonte had to be played or traded. This trade seems completely logical to me.
northsidecrossrifles
Ferris is on a totally different level than Bruns. The scouts, nerds, and industry experts all tend to agree on that. This was a guy who was projected go as early as fringe top 10 last year, but fell to 47 due to signability concerns where he got a record deal at 47 to go pro. The stuff isn’t just #2 starter good; were talking 3 plus pitches at maturity, with a great feel to pitch. The main question with him is how he repeats his mechanics. This is a prospect on the upswing, and the dodgers got in while he was still acquirable. This is a guy most prospect nerds who follow the cubs system did not want to lose unless trading for a bonafide MLB stud.
Zyhir Hope is another prospect on the upswing. Great speed/power combo who can stick in center with a much better feel to hit than initially expected. He was an 11th rounder, but only due to signability. If he just holds his own next year, he will be on multiple top 100 lists.
Its too early to call a winner or loser, but the dodgers took 2 players who didnt have bonafide roles on their championship caliber roster, and cleaned up their 40 man with 2 super high ceiling prospects who don’t need to be added to their 40 man for years, and the industry is slowly catching up on. Even by mid season, this could look worse for the cubs than many people realize.
Hopefully these kids are parts of the next wave of the dodgers empire, and the cubs get a cost controlled middle of the order thumper for the next half decade, and 2 years of good performance from a talented, yet inconsistent reliever.
Edit: take comfort in the fact your extremely well ran org handpicked 2 of the developmental guys in an extremely deep cubs system that none of the prospect nerds wanted to part with. At least Rojas wasn’t part of the package lol
Echopark
Yes. Hope it works out for both teams – it really could. Appreciate the informed view on Ferris and Hope. (Since Hope had so few at bats, just not sure how anyone can judge his feel yet). Your views of Ferris and Hope seem very optimistic. – and I hope really you are right!!
northsidecrossrifles
There’s certainly risk on both players. But their upside is worth it. There’s so much risk at all levels nowadays, you just build in depth at each level, and hope you have enough high ceiling guys where enough of them hit.
Hope is obviously a big projection play. However, his hit tool looked great playing in rookie ball against much more seasoned competition, and that was his biggest knock. He has a great eye, plenty of pop, 80 grade speed. It was just how his hit tool would play. He had a great feel for it, and I have more faith in the dodgers to develop an athlete of that caliber than I do most orgs.
Tbh, the dodgers are whom I wanted the cubs to emulate, and they’re starting to do so over the years with their re-emphasis on the farm system, as well as intelligent deals. Unlike most cubs fans, firmly believe the cubs would throw big money at the right player like they’ve done in the past. However, the “right” player(s) haven’t wanted to come to the cubs. Throwing that money at the next best player isn’t how intelligent orgs operate.
Look how annoyed some dodgers fans were bc LAD largely sat out of free agency last year. They stuck to their guns, and got an all world talent and a stud 25 pitcher, plus a great rebound corner OF.
Edit: I think most of the skeptical dodgers fans from last year are now open to admitting they should have trusted the plan. That’s essentially the model I would prefer the cubs to stick to. Ignore 98% of fans; they have ni clue what they’re talking about.
BlueSkies_LA
On the first points, they are both still teenagers. For the time being, even with all the best scouting in the world it’s only barely possible to judge raw ability and certainly way too early to project anything. Let them play some pro ball first, then we’ll know. Maybe. I like this deal for the Dodgers but not because I am already counting the chickens.
On the last point, I give you a hard no. This offseason represents a radical change in approach for the Dodgers, not an affirmation that the previous plan was working, at least not beyond the regular season. In his introductory press conference Ohtani made a comment that seemingly went right over nearly everybody’s heads. He said what closed the deal for him was management telling him they regarded the results from the previous seasons as failures. This is something they’d never admitted to the fans, but they did say it to Ohtani as a way of convincing him that they were truly going all in now. No more nibbling around the edges and hoping for the best. So in reality, this offseason is a new plan, not a vindication of the old one.
northsidecrossrifles
As a dodgers fan, how in the world do you not acknowledge they’ve been planning for this offseason, as well as that the moves this off season were preferable than spending a large chunk of your wad last year on overpriced shortstops and questionable starting pitching?
You do realize the previous plan paved the way for the dodgers to have their current amount of flexibility? Their selective aggressiveness, coupled with restraint was a key factor in their spending this season. This wasn’t a radical deviation; this was a long term organizational plan coming to fruition. This is what happens when you build an org at all levels and create flexibility.
As far as the first point goes… Um ok? Tell everyone something they don’t know. If you want high ceiling players in the minors without paying through the nose, then you acquire them young (usually pre national hype) while praying you can develop them. I’ve said at least 5 times in this comment section that its certainly risky, but its the risk you have to take when given the dodgers current situation with their 40 man. See my other comments if you require more context.
BlueSkies_LA
Because it wasn’t. Little of what you said is accurate.
northsidecrossrifles
Excellent rebuttal. They obviously haven’t been planning for this offseason. Thats exactly why they let Seager and Turner walk without a competitive offers in consecutive off seasons and didn’t use their financial might last off season when there were deals to be made, and they had a need at SS with 4 marquee free agents.
BlueSkies_LA
The only useful rebuttal to someone who makes stuff up and ignores what you say is to point out that what they’ve said is untrue. The alternative is a circular argument that demands endless repetition of the points you’ve already made. No thanks.
YourDreamGM
Cubs got guys. Ones who aren’t difficult to get nor cost a ton. Ferris has potential to be difference maker and not easy to obtain.
northsidecrossrifles
I didn’t love parting with Ferris. Like I’ve said in another comment in this thread, I probably wouldn’t have made this deal the way its constructed. But its a done deal, and I hope Busch becomes a middle of the order thumper, and I hope one of the kids the cubs sent to LA pans out.
msqboxer
Busch and or Almonte don’t move the needle on making the Cubs better. Jackson Ferris seems like someone they may come back to haunt you after Almonte and Busch are out of baseball in 2026. .
MC Tim C
That was a painfully stupid comment boxer.
Bucket Number Six
He’s a White Sox fan.
TrumboRedux
Too many comments for such a minor move.
YourDreamGM
Trading spare parts for a top 100 prospect isn’t a minor move.
TrumboRedux
Small taters DreamGM…Small taters…
rememberthecoop
I don’t get the Cubs interest in either guy. Middling reliever and a utility guy who plays lousy defense and hit a buck something last year (albeit in a very small sample). Yet they gave up two lottery tickets, one 18 and the other 19, with one being a 2nd round pick. Dodgers keep winning the offseason.
Catuli Carl
I think the Cubs are more interested in his consistent .900+ OPS
rememberthecoop
That’s in the minors. Lots of guys hit in the minors. That doesn’t guarantee anything in the majors. He’s an old prospect without a position. Longer term, if Ferris works out, the Dodgers easily win this trade.
YourDreamGM
I get their interest. Can’t believe they traded Ferris to do so.
drasco036
Did you say the same thing about the Cubs trading Cashman for Rizzo?
rememberthecoop
No, cuz I’m not an idiot. What kind of a question is that. Are you trying to say Busch is going to be Rizz? Also, I don’t think a big market club like the Cubs should be going with guys like Busch, Wisdom, etc at 1B and/or 3B. Go out and sign someone – they’re trying to win on the cheap.
drasco036
Apparently you are…
Cam
Have to think the Dodgers feel as though Busch doesn’t have a position to play going forward. He reminds me a bit of Andrew Lambo – a bat-first Dodgers prospect that they just couldn’t develop into a consistent hitter, or even an average defender, so they shipped him out. Yes there was a 40-man roster crunch, but there are a couple of arms they could have tried sneaking through waivers (Gus Varland for example), if they really felt like Busch was worth holding onto, but obviously felt comfortable shipping him out.
The Dodgers scouting is second to none in the league (because of both personnel, and resources), so best believe there is something projectable about these two kids they’ve got in return.
BlueSkies_LA
Willie Calhoun II.
Cam
Great comparison
YourDreamGM
Ferris is fantastic prospect. They would have to project Bush to be all star to not make this trade.
Salad Daze 22-27
Dodgers now have Ferris and Buehler!
Chicks dig bunting
All they need now is a. Day off
YourDreamGM
A+ for LA. A 55 lefty starter prospect for a 50 1b maybe a OK 2b. Like the bat they picked up as well.
F for Chicago. Can get Bush types easier than a 3m lefty starter. Decent reliever but only 2 years and not a late inning guy.
Jed has been good so maybe he knows something I don’t. Maybe Ferris control can’t be improved. I wouldn’t want to give up this early. And not for this return.
1984wasntamanual
Where are you getting that Ferris is a 55 lefty starter?
YourDreamGM
My database
Catuli Carl
Lol A+ and F, eh? Not very well acquainted with nuance, are you?
Chicks dig bunting
Wonder if cubs might trade mevis morel for a staring pitcher
1984wasntamanual
HS pitchers are extremely volatile, but I don’t like guys that can’t play defense, puts a ton of pressure on the bat for them to have any success. Not a big fan of this.
watford dodger
We got Ferris and Buehler.
Let’s hope we see them in a six man rotation so one can give the othe an extra day off.
shibbynotdude
A cubs-dodger trade is perfect for drumming up the comment section!
AL B DAMNED
MAYBE IN A COUPLE-FEW YEARS THE HEADLINE WILL READ: DODGERS WILL START FERRIS & BUEHLER IN TODAYS DOUBLE-HEADER VS RED SOX JOE JACQUES & DICK FITTS !!
UncommonSense
The Dodgers can now have a Ferris/Buehler combo… nicely played
windsnakes
Ferris’ ERA was 3.38 not 3.54 (confused with RA9 I guess). Was our highest-ceiling pitching prospect behind Cade Horton. Not too surprising if he’s top-100 sooner rather than later.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Dodgers elect to Save Ferris. They think he’s a righteous dude.
l9ydodger
I think that Friedman getting both Ferris & Hope allows him to construct a possible future trade which would require a pitcher or pitching prospect without depleting that department. A deal with the Cardinals now or at the trade deadline for Arenado?
Southside Hitman
Dodgers acquiring Ferris, wish they had a Buehler. Oh wait…
mbart33
Now we should make similar move and get Volpe from yankees
midway_monster85
This guy from a numbers perspective is almost identical to Mervis the move doesn’t make much sense to me
drasco036
Numbers do not really tell much in terms of future success otherwise dudes like Brian LaHair would be hall of famers.
That is actually what is amazing about scouts (IMO), they can see beyond the numbers, read swings, telling guys are making adjustments, if guys are hitting quality pitches off quality prospects or getting numbers in “garbage time”
I don’t know anything about Busch, but I trust the Cubs scouting. Cubs scouting and their coaching had very, unkind, words to say about Mervis from his time in Chicago. Basically in so many words saying he isn’t professional enough, hard enough worker with a low maturity level.