Chicago Cubs News: Theo Epstein previews trade deadline
Chicago Cubs’ president of baseball operations Theo Epstein previewed the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline while speaking with reporters on Tuesday.
Despite only being a month and a half in the Major League Baseball season, speculation has insisted that the Chicago Cubs will look to add a starting pitcher at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
There is no question that the Cubs’ starting pitchers have struggled this season. Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta have struggled to live up their Cy Young billing and Brett Anderson has been disappointing as the fifth starter. Anderson has since been replaced in the rotation by Eddie Butler but the Cubs still may need to address their need for a starting pitcher before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31.
Cubs’ president Theo Epstein spoke with reporters on Tuesday about the team’s possible plans for the trade deadline.
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"“That stuff doesn’t play itself out (yet),” Epstein said. “One six-game winning or losing streak right now takes a team from one category to another. We obviously have to prepare and allocate our scouting resources and whatnot. But it doesn’t make any sense to speculate on the nature of the trade market now, because it will look different in July than it does right now.”"
Epstein did indicate that the Cubs’ trade deadline may become clear after the amateur draft in June.
"“Right after the draft, everyone takes a day or two, catches their breath and then takes a hard look at what they need,” Epstein said. “That’s when more chatter picks up. Trades are basically made at the same time every year. It seems like there’s a little flurry around July 2 and then mid-July and plenty at the end of July.”"
Epstein and the Cubs’ front office have done a tremendous job of staying ahead of the curve and addressing problems before they surface. Last July’s trade for Aroldis Chapman is a prime example of that. Say what you will about Chapman off the field but the Cubs needed him in order to win the World Series.
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If the Chicago Cubs’ need for starting pitching still persists in June and July, then when came expect Epstein and company to make a move.