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Chicago Cubs rumors: Marlins reliever David Phelps reportedly a trade target for Cubs

By Dan Schmelzer

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 1: David Phelps #35 of the Miami Marlins works in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 1, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 1: David Phelps #35 of the Miami Marlins works in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 1, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /
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What will the Chicago Cubs do after making their big trade for Jose Quintana? Recent MLB trade rumors connect them to Miami Marlins relief pitcher David Phelps.

The Chicago Cubs got ahead of the trade market when they swung a deal for Jose Quintana with the Chicago White Sox last week. However, after rolling off four wins in a row out of the break, the Cubs are likely to keep adding to their roster ahead of the July 31st MLB trade deadline.

Trade rumors are popping up all over the place. The team continues to be connected to Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila, Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray and now Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton. Well, now we can add another name to the mix, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today mentions the Cubs having interest in Miami Marlins relief pitcher David Phelps.

Nightengale notes that the Marlins are “open for business” and are ” hoping to dump money by moving (Martin) Prado and second baseman Dee Gordon.” Nightengale also mentions that the Marlins are getting the most interest on Phelps.

"“The Marlins are drawing the most attention with veteran reliever David Phelps, with the New York Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers showing the most interest.”"

That is a lot of competition for Phelps but I am not surprised to see the Cubs looking for bullpen help. Wade Davis and Carl Edwards have formed a strong duo on the backend of the bullpen but they could certainly use some help in middle relief. Phelps would undoubtedly be a strong addition to the mix.

Who is David Phelps?

He is a 30-year-old right-handed pitcher who has bounced between the bullpen and rotation since joining the big leagues with the New York Yankees in 2012. Phelps made a full-time switch to the bullpen with the Marlins last season and has performed extremely well.

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Primarily pitching out of the bullpen, Phelps posted an impressive 2.28 ERA and 2.80 FIP last season, according to FanGraphs. He also had a strong 46.2% groundball rate and an extremely impressive 32.4% strikeout rate. The 10.8% walk rate is a bit higher than you would like, but Phelps was obviously able to keep his control in check enough to have some serious success.

He has not been quite as dominant this season, posting a 3.45 ERA and 3.69 FIP in 44 relief appearances. His strikeout rate is down from his ridiculous 2016 mark (25.9%), but it is not at a concerning level. Phelps’ walk rate and groundball rate are extremely similar to last season.

Bad luck in 2017?

His .308 BABIP is higher than last season and suggests that he has run into a bit of bad luck. Basically, we are looking at a guy who has been anywhere from good to dominant as a full-time relief pitcher. Even though he is not as dominant as last season, Phelps is still producing good results while running into a bit of bad luck.

If his luck can just turn around a bit, Phelps will likely have a strong second half no matter where he pitches. It is easy to see why so many teams have an interest in the Marlins’ reliever.

Phelps would be an immediate upgrade for the Chicago Cubs in middle relief. He is only signed through the 2017 season, so it is easy to see why the 42-49 Marlins are interested in dealing him. The asking price on Phelps should not be too high, but with so much expected competition, that could change quickly.

Next: Breaking down Quintana's incredible Cubs debut

As long as the price is right, David Phelps would be a strong target for the Chicago Cubs in this market. If the competition drives up his price too much, no big deal, the Cubs can just move on. However, he would undoubtedly help them compete during the 2017 season.

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