Trade Discussions Heating up Again
Right now, there isn’t anything imminent, but it sounds like some discussions that gained momentum this weekend has started to pick up again. While I do not have confirmation that Willson Contreras was being actively shopped, it is starting to seem more and more likely that he was the player being talked about Saturday.
Miami clearly with Chicago talks peaking interest on Willson Contreras. To get Contreras, Cubs would certainly like to go young and Miami has those assets. Still this is all very fluid and the Cubs have big decisions to make across the board.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) January 12, 2021
Since that tweet, there has been some additional noise across baseball talking about the possibility. All this after I went to bed having a very bad feeling something was popping soon…
Have a weird, bad feeling something Cubs related will drop tonight. No reasonings behind it, just a weird feeling.
— Jamie Baker (@rljmb23) January 12, 2021
Of course, my premonitions don’t mean much. I can suggest to you all how I have had feelings in the past and things come to light, blah blah blah. But there’s a lack of proof thing and a “this guy’s crazy” think I’d like to avoid.
Regardless, the Cubs are definitely shopping Contreras, which will make Jed Hoyer look kinda weird when he answers Paul Sullivan’s question on how he could straight-faced lie to everyone less than a month ago. If you recall, Hoyer told the media during the Yu Darvish trade press conference, that the rumors of them feverishly trying to trade Contreras was “fictional” and suggested other teams have simply called them.
The Miami Marlins have the youthful talent the Cubs are looking for. While I would love to see someone like Sixto Sanchez come back in return, that is highly unlikely. Perhaps Max Meyer is someone that they would move in a deal, the Marlins third-best prospect. He has a power arm, topping out at 100, and has been able to produce fastballs at 98-MPH in the ninth inning of games. But the real reason to drool over this kid is his wipe-out slider, this was rated as the best pitch in the 2020 draft and helped him get picked third overall.
One thing that could squash any deal is money. The Marlins don’t want to use any more of their own, and if Contreras is scheduled to earn upwards of $7.5m this season, it could tap them out. Which, for a team owning a $59m payroll is pretty laughable…
Per Roster Resource, Marlins are currently projected at $59M payroll including Marte option after being at $85M in 2020. Their CBT payroll is $75M. Contreras is projected at $7.5M at the top end. https://t.co/L0laxsfQ2U
— Evan Altman (@DEvanAltman) January 12, 2021
I don’t really know who might come back to the Cubs. Starling Marte? He carries a $12.5m figure in 2021, which is the last season of his deal. It could serve as the CF piece the Cubs need in 2021, the salary coming to the Cubs in exchange for Contreras, but it also likely limits the long-term value the Cubs are looking for in any Willson trade. So it would be understandable if this idea stalls a bit. There are a lot of players and considerations the Cubs would need to make here.
We do know that another team has sniffed around looking at the Cubs catcher. The Los Angeles Angels have contacted the Cubs. I do not know how far those conversations have gone, but I am sure Joe Maddon would love to reunite with his former catcher. I would closely look at them since they have the bullets to get a deal done without the need for salary concessions (on a $7.5 million contract).
Others? The Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and possibly even the New York Yankees.
