Chicago Cubs: Three impact trades to kickstart 2019
Send Jason Heyward to the San Francisco Giants
The Cubs absolutely need to unload Jason Heyward‘s contract if they want any chance at making a run at Bryce Harper, or perhaps any other target that would cost the Cubs a solid chunk of cash.
It’s no secret that finding a trade partner for Heyward will be difficult. J-Hey is owed over $100-million in the next five seasons of his contract, and his poor production doesn’t even come close to matching his contract.
However, as one of the top defenders in all of baseball, and a former All Star bat, Heyward amazingly has somewhat of an appeal to other teams. The Cubs would have to eat a lot of cash for a deal to get done, but any amount of money that is taken off of their hands would be huge in order to make any other signing work.
The San Francisco Giants are the perfect trade partner. They have the money, the need in the outfield, and have been rumored to being involved in talks about Heyward with the Cubs.
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The Giants would need for the Cubs to take at least half of Heyward’s owed money. If that money is put towards the back of the contract, where Heyward is owed the most money, then the Cubs would have the financial flexibility to make free agent signings without issue for at least the next two offseasons.
A reasonable return for the Cubs would be Mark Melancon, a reliever who is owed around $15M in the next two seasons. Picking up Melancon would be a good move for the Cubs, who despite Melancon’s struggles, would be enticed to add a bullpen arm regardless.
In order to convince the Giants to pull the trigger on the move, the Cubs would need to include a young prospect. Aramis Ademan, a young shortstop coming off of a rough season, would be a good candidate to be included, as the Cubs have no future plans for Ademan, who still has a reasonably high ceiling.