Chicago Cubs: 3 potential trade packages for Mookie Betts
By Ryan Sikes
Since being called up with the Chicago Cubs, many have felt that Kyle Schwarber would serve better as a designated hitter.
The Chicago Cubs might be able to put together a trade package that includes two major league players and two solid prospects. Any way you look at it, the Cubs are going to have to give up a haul to get Mookie Betts. He is that good, which would require taking pieces from the big league roster.
If the Red Sox would like to start shedding payroll, J.D. Martinez could be one of the first guys to go. He can be a free agent after this season, but he has three players options for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons with the dollar amount set at $23.8 million, $19.4 million and $19.4 million, respectively (via Spotrac).
Kyle Schwarber is under team control through the 2021 season and is making just $3.4 million this season, so he would slide into the DH role if the Red Sox were to move on from Martinez at a ridiculously low price. Schwarber is also a good opposite field hitter, so imagine what he would do with the Green Monster.
Xander Bogaerts is currently manning shortstop. He used to play third base, so he’s no stranger to switching positions, but Javier Baez can play all over the diamond. Dustin Pedroia is on the tail end of his career and the Red Sox will need a better replacement than Tzu-Wei Lin. Baez could play either shortstop or second base.
The Red Sox also don’t have a lot of pitching prospects, at least any that are close to being big league ready. Adbert Alzolay is a guy that is close to seeing the big leagues. Rick Porcello is a free agent after this season and was mentioned as being a guy that the Sox could trade to free up some payroll while getting prospects in return.
Justin Steele is projected to reach the big leagues in 2020, so this would be a solid return for the Red Sox.
It sounds like I am advocating this trade in favor of the Red Sox, but Cubs fans know what they would be getting in Mookie Betts. I am trying to paint the picture of what they would be giving up. Just for the record, I wouldn’t be comfortable parting with Baez, but including him in the deal is what it would take.