Darvish to the Padres Likely Complete
Things are progressing very quickly and the San Diego Padres aren’t messing around. Two weeks ago I was laughed off the internet suggesting the Cubs could trade Yu Darvish, last week we mentioned that there could be an interest with the Padres in Yu Darvish, Monday we explained that the talks are “deep” and now we are pretty close to having Darvish traded to San Diego. At least, that is what Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune is reporting.
Within his report, Acee suggests that sources have confirmed with him that, “(they) would not elaborate on the details of the deal but said the Padres have accepted the haul they will have to send to the Cubs.”
The Padres dealt for Cleveland Indians pitcher, Mike Clevinger at the deadline in the 2020 season. They completed a deal for Tampa Bay Rays ace, Blake Snell on Sunday. Then, Monday morning they secured Ha–Seong Kim in free agency. Perhaps Monday they have some more magic and will land Cubs ace, Yu Darvish.
Darvish had a poor start to his Cubs career, losing most of the 2018 season due to a shoulder injury. In 2019, it took him a bit to bounce back, but outside Jack Flaherty, Darvish had the best second half in baseball. Then he was completely dominant in the 2020 season, finishing second to Trevor Bauer in Cy Young voting.
By dinner time in Chicago, Yu might be the next Padres pitcher.
We are also hearing that the Cubs are including Victor Caratini in talks. Caratini has been a solid backstop here in Chicago and should get an opportunity to start in this league. While SD has Austin Nola as their starter, Caratini offers adequate defense and a much better bat than Nola does.
I have spoken with someone in the Darvish camp, while there was no mention of the trade itself, Darvish is committed to being the best pitcher he can in Chicago, and hopes to win the Cy Young for Cubs fans. This might be a moot point now as his name is clearly being floated about. At least Darvish is having some fun with it, joking about a trade on Twitter.
トレード？
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) December 28, 2020
ラジオです。https://t.co/NuPfh2GCxn
As far as the return? No one really knows yet. Jesse Rogers suggests that Zach Davies might be a MLB arm that is returned. While not exciting, he certainly isn’t the headliner. There will be a couple of top prospects included in the deal. One such prospect that we are hearing is catcher Luis Campusano. Campusano is seen as the Padres’ 4th best prospect, and there is still thought of a high-end pitcher.
As I previously suggested, would the Padres now be open to trading Jake Cronenworth since they brought in Kim? His name is starting to get floated around, and Cronenworth adds a MLB-ready bat that can play second and potentially lead-off for the Cubs. This is hearsay, but they aren’t moving Fernando Tatis Jr., and I cannot see the reasoning behind keeping a ton of middle-infielder types with star power.
As a Cubs fan, you should be crossing your fingers for someone like MacKenzie Gore, maybe even a C.J. Abrams? He’s a guy that will be stunted with Cronenworth and Tatis Jr. on the MLB roster with the likes of Kim. So, there are a ton of options for the Cubs on this potential deal.
***As of this post, everyone has gotten very, very, quiet. My assumption is that it is done. I will continue to update here***
UPDATES BELOW
Jesse Rogers believes that the return will be both MLB and MiLB players, five in total. Seems Caratini is definitely part of the package going to San Diego. Darvish loves throwing to Caratini, so perhaps this is an ask from Darvish?
Zach Davies is not a major piece of this deal. His inclusion is to offset money and provide the Cubs a veteran arm that can provide 150+ innings. Davies will earn $8.5m in 2021 and is a free agent after the season. So his inclusion will help the Cubs when they are structuring any extension for someone like Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, or Kris Bryant. They effectively remove $50.5 million in future salary (Darvish is owed $59 million over the next three years, Davies is owed $8.5 million).
6:00 PM Update: There are two reports out there, but both essentially similar. The first, the Cubs will be receiving Davies and Will Myers, and Cronenworth. Meyers would help offset multiple years of Darvish’s contract as he has an AAV of $13.83m (earning $22.5m in 2021 and 2022 and $20m in 2023). Myers and Davies would offset Darvish’s money and would allow them to part with multiple MLB players AND multiple prospects.
The second suggests that the Cubs would receive Davies, and then four other prospects. The return would not include a high-end prospect but would quantity over quality. If the Cubs are willing to eat some of Darvish’s salary, the return would get better.
However, either scenario has been approved by Padres leadership and they are awaiting the Cubs’ decision.
7:15 PM Update: Now hearing that Myers is most likely not included. The deal is likely to have:
Darvish and Caratini going to San Diego for:
Zach Davies, Jake Cronenworth and at least two of Luis Campusano (4th/46th), Robert Hassell (5th/74th), Ryan Weathers (6th/NA), and Hudson Head (9th/NA).
(Padres rating/MLB Rating) – essentially, the Cubs would likely receive two top 100 prospects.
7:20 PM Update: Bob Nightengale reports Campusano will not be included, but Darvish and Caratini are going to the Padres.
8:10 PM: Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com) reports that there are still some moving parts to the deal (as it should when there is a big name being moved). He suggests that Davies is going to be a Cub at the end of this, and 2020, 2nd round pick, Owen Caissie is one of “several” prospects coming to the Cubs. Caissie is the Padres 13th rated prospect.
