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3 Cubs Already on the Trade Block After First Two Months of Season

Summer approaches - which Cubs are on the chopping block as the dog days loom?

By Zach Elliott

Apr 29, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal (1) grounds in to a fielder choice, scoring right fielder DJ Stewart (not pictured) during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal (1) grounds in to a fielder choice, scoring right fielder DJ Stewart (not pictured) during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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1) Nick Madrigal

A second baseman by trade, some of Madrigal’s plummeting stock is out of his control. The Cubs have been trying to occupy third base with journeyman and other out-of-position veterans for years. Madrigal has been saddled with the hot corner despite below average arm strength and questionable fielding ability, with Christopher Morel supposedly being the heir at the position (despite being literally in the 1st percentile in Outs Above Average [OAA], per Baseball Savant).

Another contributing factor for the 27-year-old’s fall from top prospect status early in his career is injury. After a brutal hamstring tear suffered while on the White Sox, it genuinely seems Madrigal has lost some of the juice that made him the No. 4 pick in 2018. An ostensible contact-speed player, he’s hit .252 since moving to the North Side and sits 177th in the league in average sprint speed.

Seeing as he’s been forced out of position by Gold Glover Nico Hoerner, Madrigal’s fit now seems awkward and disappointing. He, ironically, eats up a roster spot that could really use the idyllic version of him we saw on the White Sox – a strong average hitter with defensive chops.

So, how does he still have value?

Despite the tumult that he’s endured to this point, Madrigal is still relatively young and demonstrated strong defense when he was allowed to play his natural position last year, finishing in the 95th percentile in OAA.

A cellar-dweller who has a spot for him in the middle infield could reasonably take a chance on him, hoping to revitalize a player that many thought would lock down a spot on one of Chicago’s teams for years.

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