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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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2) Héctor Neris

For those taking a brief glance at Baseball Reference, Neris’ season to this point isn’t deserving of the anxiety his appearances have produced. A 2.65 ERA across 17.0 innings is nothing to scoff at for a team that is clearly anemic in the pen.

Attending Analytics University for a moment, unfortunately, reveals more troubling data. His FIP is all the way up at 4.80. His strikeouts per nine innings (7.9) is below 10 for the first time since 2016. He’s walking 7.4 batters per nine (!), by far the highest of his major league career. Going off his FanGraphs WAR – which factors in a player’s FIP – he’s been a below replacement level player whose luck and defense carries the day.

Granted, the Cubs are a team that should be seeking out bullpen support rather than shipping it off, but. Neris seems to be a time bomb. High walk and low strikeout numbers are exactly how huge innings are born.

Despite his bat-missing days seemingly being over, however, he’s still limiting exit velocity and forcing a lot of ground balls. His contract is a one-year, $9 million dollar deal with a team option in 2025.

With the Cubs defense likely being able to clean up some of his mistakes, he could be worth enough on a team friendly deal to net comparable assets in return. Perhaps another ball club could help him calibrate his command a find value in the reliever – ideally before his peripheral stats catch up to him.

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