Chicago Cubs: A perfect offseason blueprint to win in 2019
Step Three: Trade Kyle Schwarber or Ian Happ for a controllable starter
At this time last year, Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber looked like two of the Cubs’ franchise cornerstones.
Following a pair of rough 2018 seasons, the Cubs can afford to let one, or both, go. Especially if it means bringing in a controllable starter.
For one, Happ and Schwarber essentially split playing time. Letting one go would benefit the other.
On the other hand, both are still very valuable. Happ and Schwarber are two young, controllable former first-round picks with major upside despite struggles in 2018.
Additionally, this year’s winter trade market is full of controllable starting pitching. Michael Fulmer, Marcus Stroman and Zack Wheeler are just a few of the names that should be on the move by December.
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The Cubs would certainly be willing to include one as a centerpiece of a trade. Trading a Major-League piece would:
- Limit the amount of farm system output, and,
- Increase the value of the Cubs trade package.
We’ll get to the final benefit of dealing Schwarber and/or Happ in the next slide. However there’s nothing more valuable than controllable starting pitching, and the Cubs, who are only getting older, could use a refreshing input of young but Major-League-Experienced talent.
The Cubs outfield, while at times it was a productive unit, was also a glaring weakness for most of 2018. Work needs to be done, or else the Cubs will experience the same high-strikeout, low-production woes that plagued much of the second half of the season.