Chicago Cubs: Why a trade for Jonathan Villar makes sense

With the MLB Trade Deadline drawing closer, the Chicago Cubs are rumored to have interest in Jonathan Villar. Here’s why a trade makes sense.

With Wednesday’s trade deadline looming, the Chicago Cubs need to figure out how to make both their bullpen and offense better. Lately, the offense has struggled to consistently score runs and the bullpen hasn’t been able to hold the narrow lead they’ve been given.

The Cubs have the worst road record in baseball but are very good at home. It feels like they need their homestands right now to undo their poor play on the road. One way to fix that is acquiring second baseman, Jonathan Villar who has been recently linked to the Cubs in trade rumors.

Theo Epstein should be very familiar with Villar from his days with the Milwaukee Brewers in which he stole an absurd 62 bases in 2016. He’s not a world-beater by any means but he’s a consistent player, slashing 0.262/0.326/0.421 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 47 RBI’s (97 wRC+) in 105 games with the Baltimore Orioles this season.

The Orioles are a pretty terrible baseball team and Villar could thrive on a potential playoff team. The Cubs need a player that doesn’t just hit home runs. Consider this. The last time the Cubs won a game in which they did not hit a home was way back on July 6 against the White Sox. This past weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs scored 15 of their 16 runs via the home run.

Villar’s 22 doubles would only be less than or matching Anthony Rizzo (22), Javier Baez (27), Kris Bryant (30). Second base still needs a resolution with Robel Garcia slumping majorly right now. I knew it was going to happen eventually, but the Cubs need an answer for the position right now. Villar fits the mold for that and he can also play shortstop to relieve Baez when needed.

That’s been a major concern with sending Addison Russell is that the Cubs really don’t have anyone to back Baez if he goes down with an injury or just simply needs a day off. Villar is under control through next season as well so the Cubs could benefit for a year and a half of him. He’s still just 28-years old and they could sign him to a long-term deal if he pans out.

It’s an extremely low-risk, high-reward for the Cubs as Villar likely wouldn’t cost much in terms of the prospect they would have to give up. The trade makes way too much sense to not do it.