2022 Trade Deadline

[champaignchris]

I still can’t get over how utterly insane it is that a team would even consider trading away 2.5 years of a talent like Soto on his rookie contract instead of spending the remaining time you have control of him trying to make a run at another WS.

 

Miguel Cabrera is the only similar example I can think of, and that was the Marlins and the worst owner in baseball history.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I still can’t get over how utterly insane it is that a team would even consider trading away 2.5 years of a talent like Soto on his rookie contract instead of spending the remaining time you have control of him trying to make a run at another WS.

 

Miguel Cabrera is the only similar example I can think of, and that was the Marlins and the worst owner in baseball history.

 

The Nationals roster is pretty bleak to look at. Here's the list of Cubs who are playing at a 2+ fWAR rate, and are under contract for next year:

 

Hoerner

Happ

Suzuki

Morel

Wisdom

Steele

Thompson

Stroman

 

Now here's the same list for the Nationals:

 

Soto

Ruiz

 

And if you keep Soto they have about 90 million committed next year just to him, Strasburg(31 IP since 2019), Corbin(5.84 ERA over last 50 starts), and Cruz's buyout.

[chopsx9]

Are they allowed to get feelers (or more) on an extension prior to trade? I just don't know that it makes sense for the Cubs in their stage of the competitive cycle to mortgage the farm for the privilege of paying the biggest contract in MLB history. Don't get me wrong I'm watching Schwindell, Higgins and Wisdom so I'll certainly watch Soto and 8 Schwindells "Trout it out" for last place but he would seem to be a better fit for a team like the Blue Jays - who even if they only have him till the end of this contract could help them win the WS.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Are they allowed to get feelers (or more) on an extension prior to trade?

That's the problem. With Boras, an extension is EXTREMELY unlikely. If it were any other agent, there would be the thinking that you can make the trade and then work out a deal to extend the player, but I don't think that is the case for most Boras clients.

[chopsx9]

Are they allowed to get feelers (or more) on an extension prior to trade?

That's the problem. With Boras, an extension is EXTREMELY unlikely. If it were any other agent, there would be the thinking that you can make the trade and then work out a deal to extend the player, but I don't think that is the case for most Boras clients.

 

So he's of no use this year - he'd likely just cost the Cubs a draft slot or two - and the chances of the Cubs being competitive next year seem relatively slim - if odds are he's not going to get extended anyway I just as soon hold on for a Free Agent bid.

[Bertz]

 

You wouldn't think any of the Cubs guys would warrant him (even packaged), but then again you wouldn't think Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas would either.

[Rex Buckingham]

 

You wouldn't think any of the Cubs guys would warrant him (even packaged), but then again you wouldn't think Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas would either.

 

Soto

[Tryptamine]

 

You wouldn't think any of the Cubs guys would warrant him (even packaged), but then again you wouldn't think Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas would either.

 

Soto

 

I can't think of anyone else who is widely known as available and could snag Alvarez. Even Contreras+Happ+Robertson probably isn't enough

[d_money]

 

You wouldn't think any of the Cubs guys would warrant him (even packaged), but then again you wouldn't think Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas would either.

 

Soto

 

I can't think of anyone else who is widely known as available and could snag Alvarez. Even Contreras+Happ+Robertson probably isn't enough

+Amaya too?

 

Cubs would be locked in at C and we’d give the Mets a short term solution in Contreras, and if they didn’t sign him - a long term solution in Amaya

[CubinNY]

I think the payout in prospects is going to be more cost prohibitive than the actual dollar figures for Soto + Corbin for most teams. He’s a great player though.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

BN summarizing a possibility Keith Law floated on his podcast, that Willson could go to San Francisco for Bart (and change): https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2022/07/20/could-the-cubs-try-to-target-mlb-ready-talent-over-prospects-in-a-willson-contreras-trade/

 

That's a fit I've wondered a bit about, but assumed it wasn't practical kinda like Alvarez for NY. Bart's K's are a definite concern, but as the link notes it is something the Cubs have had some organizational success in improving. Given the rest of the tools it's not hard to see a slight tweak essentially turning him into Mike Zunino.

[Bertz]

 

Cleveland feels like an inevitable trade partner this deadline is whether it's in a bigger deal or a smaller one. They've got such a deep farm, plus the Hawkins connection, and they could use help at catcher, in the pen, and even a Drew Smyly to help in the back end of their rotation.

 

Xzavion Curry would be extremely in line with the org's current tastes.

[Backtobanks]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/mets-trade-rumors-dominic-smith-red-sox-cubs.html

 

Mets first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith has been an obvious change-of-scenery candidate for months, and Robert Murray of FanSided reports that the Cubs and Red Sox are among the teams to have recently spoken to the Mets about the 27-year-old.

 

Sure there's 47 playoff spots available for the 13 teams during a 162 game season plus a draft lottery now, but winning baseball games is so far away from the Cubs that it seems odd to be even looking at Smith?

 

I would assume that he would be a throw-in in another deal. I don't think he would be bad for a "change of scenery" flyer.

[Tim]

I would assume that he would be a throw-in in another deal. I don't think he would be bad for a "change of scenery" flyer.

 

Why would they want a 28 YO arb eligible 1B in any deal is what I’m wondering. Smith wouldn’t have much Value in a trade for prospects if they managed to turn him around. The Cubs would be stuck with an arb eligible albatross who is costing draft position and a shot at the #1 farm

1) I don't want any part of Dom Smith

 

however,

 

2) your statement is pretty much what anyone would have said about Josh Bell a year ago.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would assume that he would be a throw-in in another deal. I don't think he would be bad for a "change of scenery" flyer.

 

Why would they want a 28 YO arb eligible 1B in any deal is what I’m wondering. Smith wouldn’t have much Value in a trade for prospects if they managed to turn him around. The Cubs would be stuck with an arb eligible albatross who is costing draft position and a shot at the #1 farm

 

 

 

The team has a huge hole at 1B(never mind DH or LH hitting in general) and the best internal hopes at the moment are two guys(Mervis and Slaughter) with no pedigree who were both probably closer to being released than they were to Wrigley 3 months ago. If you think you can fix Smith, you have a potential short term solution at the position(he's under control thru 2024), and if he doesn't he shouldn't have cost you anything you'd miss and you can non-tender him. They aren't going to stop trying to find MLB solutions because they might win a couple games and sink a little in the draft lottery, to do so would be terrible process.

[Bertz]

 

Very explicitly poo poos Willson to Tampa

 

No, the Nationals multi-talented mega star (likely) will not be traded to Tampa Bay. Nor will top available catcher Willson Contreras of the Cubs.

 

But the tremendous depth of the Rays’ farm system will give them the opportunity to explore voluminous trade options as ways to bolster their injury-depleted roster and improve their postseason chances, in ways small, big and Internet-breaking.

[Bertz]

[squally1313]

Is there any chance someone like the Rays or Indians makes the trade for Soto and then flips him for 80% of the prospect haul in the offseason?

[CubinNY]

So, who do we want from the Padres for Willson?

[Bertz]

So, who do we want from the Padres for Willson?

 

I would do awful things for either of James Wood or Luis Campusano. Those awful things being trades of Contreras or Happ respectively.

[Backtobanks]

So, who do we want from the Padres for Willson?

 

I would do awful things for either of James Wood or Luis Campusano. Those awful things being trades of Contreras or Happ respectively.

 

The Padres have basically been begging people to take Hosmer. Hosmer helps with the 1B situation plus we get a top prospect (or two) in the deal.

[Tim]

Willson + Ortega for Hosmer + Campusano + Robert Gasser

 

We improve their team at two positions for this year, and they have control of a cheap Ortega as long as they want him. Most importantly, they get out from under Hosmer's contract.

 

For us, our cost of taking on Hosmer's contract gets adjusted by its remaining AAV, which means our "cap" hit is much smaller than theirs (at least that's what I recall from the new CBA). We also get our catcher of the future and another left handed sp who is crushing it as an over-age player in high A this year.

 

----- eta

 

Though I'd love to see if Jarlin Susana is available in the trade.

[Backtobanks]

Somebody on MLBTV came up with this deal: Campusano, Hosmer, Kim, Wood, and Zavala for Contreras. (The trade values are almost equivalent).

[Tim]

Somebody on MLBTV came up with this deal: Campusano, Hosmer, Kim, Wood, and Zavala for Contreras. (The trade values are almost equivalent).

I'd rather go for one of the pitchers I mentioned above than Zavala. We have many higher upside OF's in the system. He's essentially similar to Pinango in my mind.

 

But if that's the basic structure, I'd be thrilled.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think the time has come and gone for Hosmer to make sense. He's a barely above replacement level 1B and I don't feel like the prospect capital you get by taking on his 3/40 is more useful to the organization than spending that 3/40 on the roster or in a different way.