Chicago Cubs: 3 trades with Oakland Athletics to blow it up

The Chicago Cubs could trade Craig Kimbrel to the Oakland Athletics

If the Cubs make any deal with the A’s, the most likely of them is going to be deal closer Craig Kimbrel to the West Coast. Kimbrel has had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021 after seeing himself lose his form over the past couple of years. Chicago’s closer has an ERA of 0.57 in just over 31 innings pitched. He has posted 20 saves in 22 opportunities thus far.

Oakland is one of the two rumored teams who will be the top candidates to land Kimbrel, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. In all likelihood, it will be Oakland competing with their fellow AL West rival, the Houston Astros, to land Kimbrel’s services. The huge positive with trading for Kimbrel is that any team to do so will get him for all of 2022 as well, since he’s still under contract for next season. Some think a return for Kimbrel could top any other current Cubs player.

In this deal, the Cubs would get Oakland’s no. 4 overall prospect in righty Daulton Jefferies. In nine games with Las Vegas this year, Jefferies is posting an ERA of 5.93 with 38 strikeouts in 41.0 innings pitched. The most alarming stat is his eight home runs given up, which obviously signals he’s struggled a bit and may take a little longer before he’s ready.

Chicago would also get third baseman Jordan Diaz, the Athletics’ no. 11 overall prospect. Diaz has an ETA of 2022, so the Cubs could see him sooner than later if he was part of this deal. Lastly, the Cubs would get the Athletics’ no. 11 prospect Tyler Baum, a right-hander.