Cubs: 3 trade packages involving Willson Contreras

3. Los Angeles Angels

I think a reunion with his former manager would definitely be in the cards this offseason. The Angels are in need of a catcher after they released Jonathan Lucroy, in which the Cubs added him to their roster, and struggled to find anything consistent behind him. Kevan Smith would likely be the next in line on paper but he posted a 0.251/0.318/0.393 line with 5 home runs and 20 RBI in 67 games last year. That’s not exactly the kind of production that the Angels were looking for to fill out their lineup.

I have the Cubs landing the Angels top prospect and 5th best prospect in baseball, Jo Adell. He’s played all over the outfield and could be promoted sometime next year. The 20-year-old was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and put up an impressive 0.289/0.359/0.475 line with 27 doubles, 10 home runs, and 36 RBI in 76 games across three minor league levels last year. He has the tools to be atop the lineup for the Cubs who badly need to figure out their contact issues and the leadoff position.

Andrew Heaney is another player I have coming over in the deal and he’s under team control through the 2021 season. The 28-year-old lefty isn’t going to “wow” anyone but he’s been a steady starter for the Angels and has posted a 4.44 ERA in 77 career big league starts. Last season, he had a 4.91 ERA in 18 starts. He was placed on the injured list in mid-July with some shoulder inflammation but was able to post a 1.82 ERA in four starts for the month of August.

I also have the Cubs landing another outfield prospect in Jordyn Adams. The 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft posted a 0.257/0.351/0.400 line with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, and 36 RBI in 109 games across three minor league levels this past season. He’s not projected to be ready until 2022 but has already shown the potential to be a very patient hitter, drawing 56 walks in 420 at-bats.

He broke his jaw in an outfield collision to close out 2018 and looks to have rebounded from it. Adams would make for a nice eventual replacement for Jason Heyward, who is under contract through the 2023 season.