Chicago Cubs: What would a Danny Salazar trade look like?
By Eric Brown
The Chicago Cubs still need another starter for the 2018 season. One interesting option is Indians pitcher Danny Salazar. What would a trade for him look like?
The Chicago Cubs have been busy so far during the winter meetings, signing multiple pitchers. Brandon Morrow, a relief pitcher came over from the Los Angeles Dodgers on a 2 year deal. Bringing key veteran experience, Morrow will help if Wade Davis decides to leave or the Cubs choose not to pay up for him.
Tyler Chatwood, who previously pitched for the Colorado Rockies was signed to a 3 year deal that could be of great value towards the end of it. Also, the Cubs signed Drew Smyly to a 2 year deal as well. Smyly will likely miss most of the 2018 season, if not all of it. Despite signing two starters already, the Cubs are looking for another rotational piece. Bruce Levin of 670thescore.com has reported that the Cubs and Indians have talked about a potential deal involving right-handed pitcher Danny Salazar.
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Still only 27 years old, Salazar would provide the Chicago Cubs with a potential ace down the road. Hampered by injuries in 2017, Salazar was limited to 19 starts while only pitching 103 innings. Only a year removed from making the All-Star game, he has a career 3.82 ERA and could help bolster the back end of the Cubs rotation.
Supposedly, the Indians are looking for left-handed hitting to stick in the middle of their lineup. So what could a potential deal between the teams look like?
The Trade
Cubs receive: Danny Salazar
Indians receive: Kyle Schwarber, Dillon Maples, D.J. Wilson
Why the Indians make the trade
Simply put, the Cleveland Indians do not have room in their rotation for Danny Salazar, and as proven by last season, they do not really need him. Led by Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, the Indians pitching staff set multiple records in the 2017 season, and bring everybody back from this staff. Dillon Maples could eventually become a back-end starter for a championship team, or the Indians could choose to move him to the bullpen where he is best suited.
Kyle Schwarber, the enigma that everybody either loves or hates. If he could play better defensively, he could be an annual All-Star every season. If he were to be traded to Cleveland, he could potentially bat in the DH spot where he has the uncanny ability to hit 30-plus homers.
Why the Cubs make the trade
As previously mentioned, the Chicago Cubs still need a 5th starter to plug into their rotation. That is if Jake Arrieta leaves, and by all the talk of the winter meetings it appears as if the Cubs will be willing to let another team pay him a monster of a contract. If the Cubs do not make this move, they will likely be forced to go after another pitcher, or stick with Jen-Ho Tseng as their 5th starter until Drew Smyly is ready.
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The Chicago Cubs will be looking to get back to the World Series in 2018, with their moves so far this off-season do you think they have bolstered their case as the NL favorites? Let us know what you think in the comments below.