Theo, “Out There In Fantasy Land”
Sep 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; From left Chicago Cubs vice president of player development Jason McLeod , general manager Jed Hoyer , vice president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts talk on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Theo Epstein was on AM-670 The Score talking to Mully and Hanley this morning, so he was obviously asked about a certain trade rumor that just isn’t going away. Weeks ago he was on the station and was asked if the team would look to a rental this season, which he pretty much poo-pooed. When he was again on, and again confronted with Manny Machado rumors.
Theo Epstein talked about the season being early, and being in May they are still trying to learn what kind of club they are. That might anger some fans, and I guess that’s in your right, but in sports and especially in baseball, it can take several months to learn what a team’s identity is.
Now Theo wasn’t as cold on the idea of a trade as he was a couple weeks back, but he was still sure to mention what he wants a trade to do for the team. In rentals, it has to be something that puts them over the top improving their odds of winning a World Series. In longer term traded he wants them to compliment the current roster and improve the club in the future.
The examples of each are Aroldis Chapman and Jose Quintana. In 2016 the Cubs were clearly more talented than most teams in the National League. By June the Cubs has the division wrapped up (not numerically, but there was little doubt). The San Francisco Giants made a run in the West and overtook the Cubs for the best record in the game by the All Star break. The team would go on a fantastic run to regain the best record soon after, and seemed to be the team to beat in the NL. Knowing they had organizational depth, Theo pulled the trigger on a trade that would put the team over the top with the trade for Chapman.
In 2017, the Cubs were in the middle of a funk. Looking up at the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals in the division, Theo has admitted that they were preparing to both buy and sell last year. With some improved play, and seeing the defense and offense begin to look better, the thought of a Quintana deal started to come up. This deal was as much about 2018 and 2019 as it was about 2017, so Theo and Jed Hoyer knew this was a no-brainer of a deal.
So you might know where Theo lands on this current rumor. While he still commented on ensuring the team’s future is secure, he is willing to make a deal that make sure them the World Series favorite. But, in May, it’s impossible for Theo to know what this team is. They are talented, they are more poised than any other NL Central team to make a run that catapults them into the division lead. But they could be stuck in mediocre play. They’ve played more baseball in the last three seasons than any other team in baseball. They are also a very young baseball team, a team which hasn’t really gone through a long period of struggle. A team that hasn’t had to make those difficult mid-season adjustments.
So for Theo to seriously consider a Manny Machado trade, he’s have to be crazy. That’s why when asked, he responded that a trade like that is, “out there in fantasy land, at this point.”
Here’s the thing, you don’t add a rental that will cost a lot, UNLESS he improves your chance to win the World Series. Machado is a great player in this league. Coming into the season MLB had him as the 19th best, and he’s played as a top five player in all of baseball. He is an upgrade offensively at short and if he’s incline, a HUGE upgrade defensively at third.
Lets face it, Machado is not on the table right now. Maybe the Cubs play .750 ball over the next month and it makes more sense at the end of June than it does at the end of May. Honestly, if there is a trade made, I don’t see Theo going after a franchise changing type of move. I don’t see him moving one or more of the franchise’s pillars for a two month rental. He definitely isn’t doing it if the ballclub isn’t playing at a bear championship level.
