The Chicago Cubs have a problem. They’re in a weird transitional period where their window is nearing a closure. They have a good stream of prospects in the system, but they are likely several years away from contributing to the big league squad. Finally, they have a core of four offensive studs with three of them entering free agency after the 2021 season. We’ve heard rumors of Kris Bryant (2021) and Willson Contreras (2022) the last two seasons, but now MLB’s Mark Feinstein suggests Javier Baez could be on the trade block.
I wrote about a Baez rumor I heard this winter, and while there was a lot of trade buzz around the Cubs, Baez’s name didn’t come up much.
I have gotten a sense that the Cubs and Baez are pretty far off in negotiations this spring. It didn’t help that San Diego basically said “F” it and paid Fernando Tatis Jr. and raised the potential asking price for elite shortstops. With just under two weeks remaining of spring training, it is now more likely the Cubs and Baez go into the season without an extension in place than with one.
We recently learned that the Cubs and Rizzo have been moving pretty quickly towards an extension, keeping Rizzo in the fold. I’ve also spoken with some involved in the Bryant camp and learned that they are more optimistic than ever that something can happen. This hasn’t really been the case with Baez, in fact, we’ve heard more about deadlines from Baez than actual conversations.
Now, Feinstein suggests that Baez could be on the block come the trade deadline.
Feinstein puts an asterisks on this, suggesting that it will only happen if the team isn’t competing. However, ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers has suggested that the writing is on the wall and it is highly likely that, unless the Cubs have a significant lead in the division, they’re selling at the deadline.
Personally, I fall more inline with Feinstein than Rogers – and this is odd. Usually I find local guys are more connected and in tune with what Chicago teams are doing. But, that has changed a little since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer arrived. I recall at one point, early in their tenure, David Kaplan went on a tantrum because national guys were getting more information on the Cubs than local guys were. While I believe that has leveled off as the years progressed, there are some things I feel national guys see or hear that might hold more weight.
In the Cubs case, if the Cubs had plans of trading guys like Bryant, Baez, or even Contreras at the deadline – even if they were competitive – then they should have just done so before players reported. They should also be calling or actively taking calls on these guys now. But, that isn’t really the case. Since they all arrived in Arizona, the Cubs have moved forward with the plan that they are competing and looking to win the NL Central.
Why play the charade, why lose value, why pretend in a season where you know with or without them, you’ll only be selling 20% of the seats – which won’t be an issue? The idea that they will wait till July 31st, and even if you are within five games, then trade? No, if that’s the case you move them now, or weeks ago.
We will know more in the next few weeks.
