Vladimir Guerrero Jr would be BIG addition for Chicago Cubs

Vladimir Guerrero Jr might be available at the trade deadline this summer and would provide immediate impact for the Cubs. Plus: Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings as possible catcher trade targets and Cubs/Rays preview – with trivia!

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the Cubs need a power back could Vlad Guerrero Jr fit the bill let’s [Music] go you are locked on Cubs your daily Chicago Cubs podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day you are locked on Cubs part of the locked on podcast Network your team everyday alongside Sam olber Matt cozy Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs thank you for being part of the show and making us your first listen today and the best way you can help us grow the show is to listen every day like the video and comment anything below today’s episode is presented by our great Partners at prize picks the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports go to prize.com lockon MLB and use code lockon MLB for a first deposit match up to $100 with the trade deadline drawing closer trade discussion has picked up recently with the deadline this season falling on July 30th we’re around the time Early Trades could happen we’ll entertain that possibility for behind the plate uh but trades typically don’t occur until after the All-Star break in mid July and the Cubs still have a clear need for a power bat in the middle of the lineup and according to the US say today’s Bob Nightingale over the weekend the Cubs have discussed internally about having Blue Jay’s first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr at the top of their list of targets Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins just said last week no one is going anywhere but it doesn’t sound like they are in the business of extending contracts either so if the Blue Jays continue to slide perhaps Guerrero and others are available uh from the Blue Jays he is slashing 292 383 424 with seven homers and 12 doubles this season we’ll get more on Vlad in a couple of minutes as well Sam Put Your Hands by the trade fire okay I know it’s June 10th but let’s let’s rub them together even after the exhausting off season of of really no heat by the fire at all until January but can you picture Vlad Jr in a Cubs uniform as we talk trades today um what was that no um uh a lot of emotions uh if I thought if you told me that by June 10th we’d be talking about Vlad Guerrero and Pete Pete Alonzo yes yeah um you know Jimmy Fox and the rest of these guys I would I I would think to myself man we must be having a heck of a year we’re on this early but it’s the opposite the no so the Guerrero thing to me is a really easy diagnosis the Blue Jays aren’t bad enough right now so that that that’s just it’s they’re two games under what are they a couple games out of a playoff spot they’re gonna they’re goingon to make a trade now that’s a later in the deadline type thing July Late July I personally think Alonzo would be more likely because the Mets stink and I think he made it pretty clear that it’s unlikely that he wants to return there and that he has interest with the Cubs um you know maybe it’s a Michael Bush plus a triantos for rental and something like that I think the Guerrero thing you know I just it’s it’s hard for me to put my energy there right now until I see the Blue Jays I think they’ve even won about eight nine out of 12 games the last the last thing that they’re thinking right now is to break this thing up if we’re talking longterm because I get it it’s a day off we got Ries we got we got we got uh uh content to print I get it um if this is a longterm like maybe you know could the Cubs trade for Guerrero at the deadline Hey listen if the Blue Jays are 10 under and the Cubs are six over then then I’m interested I you know who do I like better between Guerrero and Alonzo yeah probably Guerrero uh Ju Just because he’s more of a an average guy although his power has really dwindled over the last few years basically when the blue jays came back to Toronto he became kind of a you know not not the the power guy that he was uh that year that he flirted with the Triple Crown but um yeah you know H how can I how can I look into the camera and be genuine with our listeners and say that this is something I’m excited about until I know the Blue Jays are really selling uh I don’t believe teams that are two games under two games three games I’ll look it up right now how much they are out of a playoff spot they’re and I get it they’re free agents they’re not going to extend them I get it but don’t forget the Cubs were in the same situation in 2021 it wasn’t until they lost about 10 11 12 in a row they were like all right the decision’s been made for us let’s go here um yeah the only thing with flat in Pete Alonzo is that you’d have Guerrero providing immediate impact this year and next because he’s a free agent after 25 yeah and even if it’s only for a season and a half I still think it’s it’s worth your time it it’s it’s 100% worth Cubs time but what about the Blue Jays yeah well they’re a game under they have a better record than the Cubs I think there’s a couple things happening here what team tra what team trades a star to a team that has a worst record with them well they’re not again as you as you eloquently point out they’re not going to make the trade right now in early to mid June okay this would be a late July thing but to to keep it on the back burner at least I do think is worth mentioning because in Ross Atkins comments last week Blue Jay’s GM it’s it’s pretty easy to spot that these dudes are not going to get extensions we’re talking about Vlad we’re talking about pette yeah a couple others there as well and so depending on the Outlook of that team in that franchise it would be ho them at some point to not only take these calls um but go back and forth a little bit because Vlad should get a a pretty hefty deal after the 25 season and if I’m the Cubs I think it’s worth the Prospect Capital to get him for a season and a half or or whatever it ends up being um my thing with with him or even a Pete Alonzo is just the the the power impact and how much really the Cubs are lacking in that department which I know we’ve talked about pretty much since we’ve turned the microphones on in July of 22 taking over this show um but Vlad Jr clearly does that and you know he had 48 homers in 2021 32 and 22 26 and 23 he has 7 this year 12 dubs as well um it’s not a lot bad it’s not a lot uh’s slug he’s getting on base he’s hitting well no he’s hit right now Vlad Guerrero Jr is actually hitting a lot like Bo bashet would he’s he’s hitting for a high average of 292 the slug of 424 uh let’s just let’s pull let’s you know let’s have some fun on this show you know what I mean let’s you know what I mean let where would that rank his current slug on this Cubs team well let’s see he would be behind Suzuki he would be behind Bellinger he’d be behind bush in his current slug so I’m just I’m just playing some Devil’s Advocate I I would love if they brought Vlad Guerrero Jr on I personally think for both sides it’s a better match with Alonzo um not because I would I mean I I’ve always thought that because I just think Alonzo genuinely wants to come here and I genuinely think the Mets are bad enough where they’re going to trade them whereas the Blue Jays I think there’s still too much ifs the Cubs got to play Better Baseball the Blue Jays gotta play worse baseball U but I I like I I would welcome either but I am a little bit concerned about Vlad Guerrero Jr’s um you know uh regressed Power a little bit because he’s too young it’s been every year yeah to be seeing that whereas Alonzo’s the opposite he’s not hitting for a high average um in the 230s I think last year he had 216 but um you know you’re getting a Sure Fire 40 plus home runs if he stays healthy so I I do think that by next year the Cubs unless Michael Bush really takes a leap one of those guys will probably be on the Cubs at some point I don’t know if it’ll be at this deadline or not but the big question here is how do the Cubs feel long term about Michael Bush right because it does feel a little bit early on Bush he he got off to a tremendous start his slash line right now of uh uh 242 341 440 is is you know his Ops is in the 780s I said before the season that’s exactly where I thought he would be so you know are you giving up a little bit too early on him or do you just not see the signs do you see a CA ceiling for him and if you can go turn him into a guy like pet Alonzo because I got to tell you with Alonzo being a free agent at the end of the year um I don’t think it should take more than Michael Bush and one other Canario type of Prospect and if if it does the Cubs won’t be involved because the Cubs are going to be the one that have to give him 170 million not the Mets yeah and I I think Michael Bush you could even argue you know shouldn’t it seems like it would tip the scales from the Mets and that’s where I think you mentioned that earlier um but you could even argue that that’s a a steep price if you wanted to just because you get a player for 60 games and Bush is under contract through what 2028 yeah I just don’t think the Cubs are trading for Alonzo without extending him okay and I don’t think they’re trading for Guerrero without extending him they’re not the Cubs aren’t good enough right now to just go for a rental because at the end of the day really you don’t think so no no a rental bat just for 60 games yeah I mean to get them what the second wild card and then you know hope that they get lucky well then let’s ask this question I by the way Alonzo’s not gonna sign an extension because of Scott Boris right but I think they would still resign him in free agency I don’t think they’d let him slip so then what urgency is there for a Jed Hoyer built team to make the playoffs yeah it’s a great you saying there’s none there’s no urgency no not at all what I’m saying I’m just saying that if you trade for a Guerrero so they’re not going to they’re not going to buy any hitters they’re not GNA buy any believers for a second straight summer dud no that’s not what I’m saying well first of all candelario and quas last year yeah candelario went 74 and then he didn’t get it hit the rest of the season no what I’m saying is this Matt I thinks have been connected to Pete Alonzo for a year I think they absolutely are going to get somebody but I think they’re going to get somebody that that that are confident that could help him for with this year and Beyond so if they get Pete Alonzo I think in their heads they are going to say we’re not going to let him slip away we’re going to retain him U that’s all that I’m saying I don’t think that 60 games in 2024 with a team right now that sits two under 500 are going to get a bunch of Rental Guys maybe maybe some fillers but the a big move like Alonzo they’re going to make sure they bring him back in free agency or extend him or do whatever they can to keep him because you know the eyes I think are are Beyond 2024 in terms of actually competing for a championship unless unless Mr Ricketts brings in Mr Hoyer and says this isn’t good enough and if you want to keep your job next year you better fix it quick then then that that changes everything and that’s why I’m so excited about the trade deadline because I think it’s gonna really give a nice Peak into where Jed hoyer’s job security is because because if he does sit on his hands and doesn’t do much while the Cubs are flirting around 500 obviously he’s been told that he’s in no Jeopardy that’s great to bring up and point out and and really pose as a question because I do think that Jed Hoyer is a very practical person and Jeff passet has even said that many times too practical and so if he doesn’t think that this Cubs team is in a position where they should even add impact uh then then maybe he won’t but I guess I would just counter that with well didn’t you build the house that you sleep in well and they can’t sell they they they literally they can’t sell they don’t have players don’t let anyone tell you they’re gonna sell no all the players that they have that are sellable are are to go out and buy they’re all in the minor leagues no one has any interest in in Ian hap at 20 20 million per the Cubs would be thrilled to get a team to just take them and take the salary and have addition by subtraction and open up other bats for other guys that’s something I think they might explore doing that wouldn’t be a seller move you’re not the the value you’re going to get back for a lighter or NYS is nothing they’re not nothing vers what what the fans would do if they actually made trades they’re not gonna sell unless they are absolutely seven eight nine 10 games under at the deadline so I do think they’re going to add and to transition to the next segment that there are places to fill just holes for this year that I think they could go rental and I think that’s going to be the back stop one of those places is catcher let’s get to that next today’s episode’s brought to you by iata free app that gives you the most cash back every time you shop on hundreds of items from groceries to Beauty 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player stats and then watch the winnings roll in if you had less every game this year on every Cub’s catcher offensive stats you’d be very very wealthy baseball season is officially underway don’t miss your chance to add your favorite players from the diamond and your prize pick entries whether it’s strikeouts RB or first inning runs take your pick of more or less and add them to your prize pick entry prize picks is really simple to play with your entries taking less than 60 seconds to submit turning $10 into 1,000 with just a few Taps your screen download the prize picks app today and use code lock. MLB for a first deposit match up to 100 bucks that’s a first deposit match up to $100 by using Code lockdown MLB pick more pick less it’s that easy with prize picks America’s number one fantasy sports app the Cubs play the Rays at 5:50 PM Central Tuesday you can hear every pitch of the Cubs Hometown broadcast on SiriusXM by searching Cubs on the sxm app and we will be previewing Cubs Ray third segment right now trade market for catchers because if there was a time for the Cubs to make an early trade then it is certainly right now is almost certainly for catcher guess what the Colorado Rockies have not one but two rental trade options at catcher ellias Diaz and Jacob Stallings will both be pre agents after the season are both playing well for the Rockies who are 23 and 42 Diaz is hitting 305 in 54 games while Stallings is hitting 282 in 30 Games meanwhile we know that Jan Gomes and Miguel laaya struggled mightily both on offense and defense this year although Amaya has hit a little better in his last 10 games Sam where you at with the catchers right now and I have Diaz and Stallings as as targets be nice to see one of these dudes in the lineup sooner than later but we know how the trade market works and that I still think that would be a surprise yeah I think it all depends on on where Jon Gomes is at and where the Cubs are at with Jan Gomes because I don’t think the Cubs are ready to give up on Miguel Amaya and for whatever odd reason he has no options left so kind of stuck with him on the roster so it just depends you know what happens with Jon GES I think the Cubs can easily make this deal they could have do it yesterday with all their Prospect depth all that that’s going to take is is is a maybe one top 30 guy going over and you get your catcher back uh you know there are questions in terms of okay the chemistry with pitchers and you know who’s calling the game and and and Framing and things like that but I really don’t think the Cubs have been very good at that position on either side of the ball offense or defense and so I just think it it just depends you know would Jan Gomes be comfortable you know giving up you know he’s got it if if he can’t if he retires how much money is he going to give up would he be comfortable going in a role do the Cubs feel like it’s a slap in the face to him to DFA him um you know and offer him a job elsewhere like that’s that’s where it is because they’re not gonna give up on Amaya he started to show signs a little bit offensively he’s a young catcher I I still think right now at this point of his career he’s about a triple A catcher or at the very best A back catcher at this level uh whereas you know Diaz would be would be a starter but you know Jan Gomes is the guy that’s that’s kind of holding up the the roster and I don’t I want to be very clear I don’t expect Jan Gomes to give up his spot the same way I don’t expect Kyle Hendricks to no that’s not these guys would have to do it yeah the Cubs would have to do it and so so where where are the Cubs on that and are they willing to do that I think that’s really the question when you’re talking about these trades yeah no it’s a great question and it’s good to keep in mind that Amaya is only a second-year player who I’m starting to wonder may have a a little bit of a gap in his development remember he was an emery yeah he was an emergency call up last May when Gomes got hurt and then he went down for only two weeks then he was called back up and he’s just stayed here ever since 100% he pretty much went from double A to the Cubs and and does that work as a catcher both in terms of not only at the plate on offense but really um catcher mechanics and then more importantly pitch calling um you know I know Amaya the Marquee broadcast the other day they were talking about his pitch calling and being more fastball heavy than Gomes you know what how does that play a role right now um and and I just think that some of these holdups right now at that position while it’s easy to to cite the offensive numbers I do wonder about the defensive side too and and just the the the catcher mechanics because on Friday night Sam Justin Steel on the mound there wasn’t even a dirt ball and Amaya just flat out missed the ball yeah he’s a catcher um I don’t think we’ve seen something that egregious from Gomes um in fact at one point this year he was he had 100% block rate at pitches in the dirt much less just his receiving on a fly um but they just they just need to get better and yeah but they also I I do wonder if something with golems could happen around the deadline like it did with man CI last year well they also couldn’t throw out a kid in a toy car trying to steal second base uh yeah they have they have minus arms right now yeah yeah so when you add all those things together um I like here’s the best way to describe it if Jon Gomes got injured and he was on like the he went to the AL they’d make a trade tomorrow yeah there’s no internal options yeah basically the internal options are guys that yeah you don’t even know who they are so so we’ll see what happens on the catchers and coming up next we preview Cubs race this episode is brought to you by FanDuel last night I took the points on FanDuel with the Mavericks six and a half and they lost by seven but I still I still love betting with fan do all be betting on the NBA Finals because that’s that’s kind of the only reason I watch it it’s winner take all time in the NBA and FanDuel is giving you a shot to bring home a big win of your own right now new customers I’m not a new customer uh get $150 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet that’s 150 bucks to bet on spreads money lines player props and more the Boston Celtics are the heavy favorites now after taking a two lead uh to win the NBA Finals visit fanduel.com lockon and make every playoff shot count FanDuel America’s number one sports book Cubs begin a three- game series with the Rays on Tuesday all three first pitch times of 550 pm. Central Jameson tyion and Zack effin Javier Assad and Aaron savale and Justin Steele and Taj Bradley effin has been solid his last few starts and most of the the year while svali and Bradley have been up and down with eras both in the fives the rays are 31 and 34 and are the fourth worst in baseball and run scoring and starting pitching ranks of 20th and relief pitching ranks of 24 so this is a winnable series on paper but again teams like the ray might be saying exactly what we are right like locked on Rays Sam Yep they’re saying hey we’re playing the Cubs and here are three games where hopefully we could turn it around 100% it’s the same it’s the exact same and you know I’m just waiting to see here’s what I’m waiting to see Matt I have three steps in my believe process with this oh all right yeah I got my pen number one win a game comfortably okay number two win a game comfortably number two win a series that’s not against the socks remember the last time that happened it was in Pittsburgh back in April of 1991 a three or four game series just win win win win a three- game series and number three get hot and that means you know five out of six so number one win a game comfortably number two win a series number three stack some wins together where you win five out of six that we could say the Cubbies are hot and then I’ll start to believe I want to see signs that this team actually has it in them I’m tired of talking about it already I don’t know a lot about the Rays what I do know is that nobody’s really pitching well against the Rays your fa for the Rays you’re facing three righties who who are the only side that you’ve really been able to hit in the last month or so um effin hasn’t been great Tosh Bradley’s been poor Aaron sali’s been poor right um so you know maybe this is the series in front of about 912 people that you could you know maybe maybe Tuesday night hear me out game starts at 550 Central Maybe by about 710 you have like an 81 lead exactly and then mat can actually do the title and stuff for the live show comfortably in the fifth or sixth right positively and and it is it just I have to wait till the last outs recorded yeah and let instead of it being all right Cubs are down 4-2 but they got Runners on the corners nobody out you know win a game easily it’d be a great week to go five in one that’s for sure yeah no no I’m I my when we come back home I got I got big numbers for for that that need to happen for that home stand I’m grouping that home Stand Together Cardinals Giants match nine games right yep nine games I’m grouping it together save that for Friday’s episode sounds good all right a little bit of trivia before we get out of here 70 players have played for both the Cubs and Rays who are the top five all time in Combined war between these two clubs so meaning the war that they accumulated for both teams combined yes Ben zobrist correct is he first yep by a lot he’s at 35 Fred McGriff correct where’s he at he’s fourth at at 13 Carlos Peña correct he’s second in the 20 20 range Matt Garza I knew you get those four so quick and Matt Garza with a war of 13 between the two clubs this player has a war of 12 between the two clubs but just one season was with the Rays just just just give me a second did you not want that clue are you mad for me for me no no I’m not mad I’m just thinking because I think I might know the answer is it a picture yes go Cubs did he work slowly yeah Steve traxel man I don’t got to clip this I don’t mess around you better clip that and send it to me I’m tired of people call me a meatball fan I don’t mess around on this program that’s Ben zobis Fred McGriff PA Peña Garza Steve traxel bull bu bu bu I should manage this team thank you so much for checking out this edition of lock I’m proud of myself that was a great question thank you you did a great job you give us 20 to 30 some other former Cubs and Rays include David de Jesus St soua J Junior uh Jason Adam Ray oror what yeah Ray adoras really yeah oh I didn’t know that Juan Cruz how about Jose latone he played for the Cubs I think he had a little cup of coffee over on clar I actually think I ran into him with crumble cookie Miguel Cairo Miguel Cairo uh I don’t I let’s see let’s do some more uh um uh um I think Kyle Farnsworth pitched in Tampa Edwin Jackson I think pitched in Tampa subscribe on YouTube smash the like button five star review Apple Spotify everywhere you get your podcast I still remember that Fred McGriff trade Sam did way Davis pitch for the race one of the first Cubs trades I remember Oho yeah yeah good one okay all right of course in the managerial chair Joe Madden of course Cubs Rays let’s see what the north side can do he’s samber I’m Matt cozy this is lock on CBS