Da Windy City
Fansided

Chicago Cubs: Trade for David Phelps doesn’t address needs

By Jason Parini

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 16: Reliever David Phelps #35 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the bottom of the seventh inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 16, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 16: Reliever David Phelps #35 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the bottom of the seventh inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 16, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The  ChicagoCubs made the first of what is hopefully numerous moves prior to Wednesday’s MLB trade deadline. Here’s why the Cubs need more than just Phelps.

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed pitcher David Phelps in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. In exchange the Cubs sent minor-league pitcher Thomas Hatch to Toronto.

Hatch, a 24 year old, has struggled at Double-A Tennessee this season. He’s posted a 4.59 ERA in 100.0 innings pitched.

Though it’s certainly a positive that the Cubs gave up almost nothing for Phelps, the move is a swing and a miss in regards to what the Cubs truly need.

Phelps hasn’t exactly been dominant in 2019. Having missed all of 2018 with a torn UCL, he’s posted a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched this year. His WHIP is an unimpressive 1.212.

Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the trade is that Phelps is a right-handed pitcher.

That’s not what the Cubs really need at the deadline, as their only left-handed pitchers in their bullpen are Kyle Ryan and the newly acquired Derek Holland, whom the Cubs acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants last week.

Though Ryan has improved from his struggles at the beginning of the season, the Cubs still need at least one more lefty in the bullpen as they enter the 2019 playoff push.

One must assume that the Cubs aren’t done making trades, as Phelps has little value in respect to the club’s truly pressing needs. Then again, that’s far from a guarantee given that the Cubs have made very few impactful roster moves since last year’s trade deadline in which they acquired Cole Hamels to bolster the rotation at the 2018 trade deadline.

The front office is also strapped for cash, depth and minor league talent after numerous blockbuster deals in the past few seasons. That will only complicate the organization’s ability to improve at the deadline, which makes the move for Phelps even more head-scratching.

Related Story. 3 prospects the Cubs shouldn't trade. light

We won’t have long to wait to find out what the Cubs do next, as just over 24 hours remain before Wednesday’s deadline.

Let’s hope that Phelps isn’t the only move the team makes.

Home/Chicago Cubs