Chicago Cubs: 2017 MLB trade deadline wish list
The Chicago Cubs have played .500 baseball for much of the year. Something needs to change to help the Cubs make it back to the playoffs. Here is a trade deadline wish list that could help.
Any Chicago Cubs fan should be excited about the trade deadline approaching in the coming weeks. In 2016, the Cubs landed Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery at or before the trade deadline. Chapman filled the closer role for the Cubs throughout the second half of the season and playoffs. Most Cubs fans should remember Mike Montgomery inducing a ground out for the last out in Game Seven of the World Series.
The first half of the 2017 season has not happened the way many had predicted. The Cubs are struggling to stay above .500 and are fighting for the first place in the worst division in baseball. The starting rotation has been dreadful, the offense has been inconsistent, the defense average at best and the injury bug has also reared its ugly head.
The Chicago Cubs need players from outside the organization to give them a spark in the second half of the season. Here is a trade deadline wish list.
Starting pitching
The Chicago Cubs have been linked to Sonny Gray and Chris Archer for over a year and nothing has come to fruition. Chris Archer is the more attractive of the two, considering he is more durable and on a longer team-friendly contract. The only catch? His price tag is going to much more expensive.
The Oakland Athletics are in dead last and the American League West, which means they are more than likely going to be sellers. The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to stay in the face with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. If the Rays go on a skid throughout the upcoming weeks, they figure to be sellers as well.
#Cubs inquired to #Tigers on availability of Justin Verlander and Alex Avila, sources say, but sides have not engaged in trade negotiations.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 4, 2017
According to Jon Morosi, the Cubs could be interested in Justin Verlander as well. Justin Verlander is a long way from his Cy Young days, but he has still proved to be a capable major league pitcher. Justin Verlander this season is 5-5 with a 4.96 ERA. He seems to be another player that could use a change of scenery.
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Tyler Chatwood could also be an interesting for the Cubs. He is 6-9 with a 4.41 ERA with the Colorado Rockies this season. Some of his numbers can be explained by pitching in the pitcher-unfriendly Coors Field. Chatwood is a free agent after the 2017 season, so the Cubs could seek him out in the offseason.
Backup catcher
Miguel Montero recently got traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He spoke out against Jake Arrieta and his slow delivery being the cause of his poor caught stealing numbers. Montero’s value to the team was not enough to ignore his comments to the media. This trade needed to happen but the Cubs now need a veteran backup catcher.
Alex Avila, Nick Hundley and AJ Ellis are all interesting options who should be available for the Chicago Cubs.
Center fielder
Denard Span or Cameron Maybin would both be fantastic additions to the Cubs. They are both traditional leadoff hitters, offer a high OBP and quality at-bats. They won’t kill a team on defense either. Most importantly, they are both veterans that could help a youthful Cubs team. The San Francisco Giants are struggling mightily this season, so Denard Span could very well be a cheap center fielder target for the Cubs.
Overall, starting pitching is the biggest need for the Cubs. Jake Arrieta and John Lackey have underperformed, while Kyle Hendricks has not pitched in a month. Jon Lester is the only Cubs starter that has shown any sort of consistency.
Next: Two talented outfielders Cubs should target on trade market
Theo Epstein and the rest of the Cubs front office have their work cut out for them. They need to improve the 2017 season team while still building for the future. It won’t be easy, but there is no reason to do anything besides trust them to make the right moves.