Buyer Beware, Cubs and Rays Trade Talks are Becoming Dangerous
Does anyone remember the Matt Garza deal? The Cubs and Rays trade that saw Chicago send Sam Fuld and prospects Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, and Chris Archer to Tampa in exchange for Garza and Zach Russcup.
When the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays talk trade, it typically ends in the Cubs getting fleeced.
But here we find ourselves again, in the middle of trade discussions that revolve around several of the Cubs most prized young stars for a Tampa pitcher(s) that several insiders raise questions about. While part of me says, this is why the team has stockpiled young, impressive hitters, another piece of me says this team is dealing from a position of power and shouldn’t have to include the names that are floating around.
Just who are these names I fear dealing?
Javier Baez
Jorge Soler
Ian Happ
Willson Contreras
These are some of the biggest young stars of the Cubs system, and the Rays are dangling Jake Odorizzi in return?
While yes, the Cubs cannot expect to get something of value, without giving up value. I understand that. I also understand these youngsters, while extremely valued by the Cubs and their fans, prospects and young players who haven’t impressed at the MLB level rarely bring back studs unless they are packaged together.
Thing is… Tampa isn’t exactly dangling carrots that motivates you to empty your farm for. Odorizzi, owner of a career 3.77 ERA and a 4.00 xFIP, Jake McGee and Desmond Jennings, who spent significant time on the DL in 2015 have been most recently rumored to come back to the Cubs. McGee and Jennings have both experienced success in the majors, and yes Jennings would give the Cubs a solid center field option that could allow for the team to shift Jason Heyward to right and trade both Baez and Soler, but to also ask for Willson Contreras is starting to push the line.
I would be very wary of investing too much of the Cubs future for a player like McGee, who is just a couple of seasons removed from Tommy John surgery and had two stints on the DL in 2015.
Regardless of the hefty asking prices, there really is an opportunity for a deal here that makes sense for both organizations. And with the admittance that the Cubs and Tampa talk everyday adds to the rumor fire that something will happen sooner, rather than later.
“I talk to Matt (Silverman) quite a bit,” Hoyer confessed of his communication with Tampa’s top baseball executive to MLB Radio. “I think there are only a handful of teams that you look at and say, ‘That is a good match.’ That doesn’t mean a deal will come together right away.”
Troublesome is, the Rays are talking about Baez and Contreras, which neither of them really open up a spot for the eventual shift of Heyward to right field where he becomes an incredible value for the Cubs even at the high price of his contract (8 yrs $184 million). What is also worrisome is, the Cubs have invested a lot of time in converting Baez into a Ben Zobrist-like player, someone that will fill in at just about any position on the diamond.
Additionally, with aging catchers on the MLB roster in Miguel Montero and David Ross, and Kyle Schwarber probably not being a “Major League” catcher, Contreras has turned himself into the No. 1 rated catching prospect in baseball according to MLB.com.
While there legitimately is the potential for a deal to be worked out between the two teams, if there is serious conversations surrounding the likes of Baez, Soler, Happ, or Contreras… this had better be a blockbuster that additionally sends several players back to the Cubs in return.
If they want Contreas, then they should throw in Archer.