**Official Trade Deadline Thread**

[JD94]

14 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I think Alcantara certainly should be in play. Theres a pretty slim chance that he ever plays for the Cubs, they need to solve that roster crunch, and he's dripping with tools on a rare physical stature, he should be quite coveted. 

Wicks and Ferris probably aren't going to be enough to headline a deal like that. I do think that Ferris would be quite a secondary piece with his pedigree and easy LH velo at a young age.

 

These are exactly the guys that we should be packaging; guys with high ceilings that probably won't be of major consequence for a few years to our MLB roster. Not crazy about buying a reliever and I'll be less than surprised when he falls off a cliff upon donning the Cubs uniform. But it would fill a huge need and keep the near future intact. The Cubs have the depth to withstand a deal like that easily.

I might could budge a little on my initial stance on nobody in the top 10, but not much. If Ferris is a secondary piece, then I’m 100% all the way out. If this team was a closer away, like in 2016 with Chapman, sure. Sign me up. But we aren’t. Alzolay has been electric as the closer. Bednar would be awesome, but if we are trading high end prospects, I’d much rather that be for guys of Alonso’s caliber. Not a reliever. No way am I doing that. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, JD94 said:

I might could budge a little on my initial stance on nobody in the top 10, but not much. If Ferris is a secondary piece, then I’m 100% all the way out. If this team was a closer away, like in 2016 with Chapman, sure. Sign me up. But we aren’t. Alzolay has been electric as the closer. Bednar would be awesome, but if we are trading high end prospects, I’d much rather that be for guys of Alonso’s caliber. Not a reliever. No way am I doing that. 

I agree. 

[Tryptamine]

I have no interest in getting into a bidding war for Candelario 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/rizzo-nationals-have-eight-suitors-for-candelario.html

[Derwood]

Is there any confirmed reports that Alonso is available or is this just wishful thinking?

[Tryptamine]

3 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Is there any confirmed reports that Alonso is available or is this just wishful thinking?

At this point it's just from a Met's insider. Though it looks like Verlander may want out too.

[UMFan83]

Cron is off the table for those who wanted him

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

Posting here as this seems most relevant to this thread based on it's title...

I get that having all the separate articles might help drive traffic from an SEO standpoint, but these forums feel like a disorganized mess now.  There have been attempts to consolidate posts into single trade deadline threads, but other threads and articles continue to pop up.  It's great that we have more people posting, but the activity is way too fragmented for my liking.  I don't know what the right answer is, but I don't think the answer is having 5 separate ongoing conversations about the trade deadline.

[KCCub]

Westburg pulled. We’ll see if this turns into the O’s big move or if it’s nothing. 

[SOFNR]

52 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Cron is off the table for those who wanted him

 

Works for me. The Cubs should be aiming higher then C.J. Cron.

Edited July 31, 2023 by SOFNR

[JD94]

53 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Westburg pulled. We’ll see if this turns into the O’s big move or if it’s nothing. 

I wanted Westburg bad in a Stroman trade right before he got called up. 

[Tryptamine]

Anytime now Jed, there's like 36 hours left.

[Tryptamine]

I can't imagine being an Oriole fan right now. They're on the cusp and they just aren't doing anything despite having a historically loaded farm/ young mlb talent base. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

If you all want to discuss general deadline stuff, here's the thread. I've featured it and outside of articles and rumors (I will retire one article/rumor for every new one that posts to keep this forum sane), we will try to avoid as much forum clutter as possible through tomorrow evening.

[We Got The Whole 9]

13 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

Anytime now Jed, there's like 36 hours left.

He does like to play his hand at the 11th hour. Not sure it really squeezes out the absolute most juice but that's the way he has operated.

[Tryptamine]

9 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

He does like to play his hand at the 11th hour. Not sure it really squeezes out the absolute most juice but that's the way he has operated.

I'm just dreading the absolute worst option, which is the do nothing option. If you think they have a shot at the playoffs then add a few pieces even if they're cheap pieces that aren't huge upgrades. If you think they're not a playoff team then sell, but do not do absolutely nothing.

[We Got The Whole 9]

12 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm just dreading the absolute worst option, which is the do nothing option. If you think they have a shot at the playoffs then add a few pieces even if they're cheap pieces that aren't huge upgrades. If you think they're not a playoff team then sell, but do not do absolutely nothing.

I don't know what makes you think they won't do anything :shrug:

 

They're already linked to 2 major pieces. 

[Tryptamine]

18 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Castrovince on MLB.com speculated a Logan Gilbert for Westburg+ trade that would be interesting. Grayson Rodriguez looks alright and brings the velo but Gilbert’s a little more seasoned and durable for the multi-year run they want to make. I say make it happen 

 

If I'm Seattle that has got to be one significant plus and maybe even two.

[Tryptamine]

15 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Oh they’re famous and ranked and such:

I like the deal way more for the O’s too but also think Westburg’s a fine 3B prospect. Fine enough that Cubs can swoop in with a song for Suarez and Speier 

Kjerstad is a great second piece, Hall is a take it or leave it for me. Cade Povich or Seth Johnson would have more appeal.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Tryptamine

[Tryptamine]

13 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Isn’t Johnson like 26 and two TJs in at this point? 

Yup, otherwise he'd be far too valuable to be a third piece. His stuff is fantastic in the time he's healthy.

[We Got The Whole 9]

So who wants to gut the farm for Robert?

 

2/27 remains after this year and 2/40 in club options after that. His plate discipline is worrisome but he is really young, productive AF, and athletic enough to reasonably project positive value across the board for a few more seasons. He's 36th in fwar since 2021 and 21st in wRC+ with a 133.

[ToolDRT]

I don’t want to move anyone of consequence for this team. We have a rough schedule the next week and if it goes poorly we’re right back out of the race. Again. Moving any of our top prospects would only ever make sense in a deal that brings back a long term position of need, or a lateral prospect in said position.  
 

But for the love of god, don’t give up a ton for a rental to help this team barely miss the playoffs. 

[UMFan83]

25 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I don’t want to move anyone of consequence for this team. We have a rough schedule the next week and if it goes poorly we’re right back out of the race. Again. Moving any of our top prospects would only ever make sense in a deal that brings back a long term position of need, or a lateral prospect in said position.  
 

But for the love of god, don’t give up a ton for a rental to help this team barely miss the playoffs. 

I'm pretty sure if they move anyone of consequence it wouldn't be for a rental.  Maybe I'm wrong but just doesnt seem like something Jed would do  He knows the Cubs are possibly better than their record but clearly not a WS contender

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

I'm pretty sure if they move anyone of consequence it wouldn't be for a rental.  Maybe I'm wrong but just doesnt seem like something Jed would do  He knows the Cubs are possibly better than their record but clearly not a WS contender

Any team that makes the playoffs can be considered a contender, so it becomes more about the likelihood of making the playoffs.  The problem is they are still partially buried in the hole they dug themselves in the first half of the season, with multiple teams in front of them in both the division and Wild Card races.  That means whatever the Cubs add needs to either (1) provide value beyond 2023, or (2) make it more likely than not they will make up enough ground to secure a playoff spot this year.  Ideally though, you would try to do both.  

[Outshined_One]

20 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I don’t want to move anyone of consequence for this team. We have a rough schedule the next week and if it goes poorly we’re right back out of the race. Again. Moving any of our top prospects would only ever make sense in a deal that brings back a long term position of need, or a lateral prospect in said position.  
 

But for the love of god, don’t give up a ton for a rental to help this team barely miss the playoffs. 

Maybe this is coloring my opinion of how the Cubs should proceed, but I don't get the same feeling from this team's farm system that I did in 2014/2015.  Don't get me wrong, I think PCA is an incredibly important part of this team's future, but after him, there's enough uncertainty to give me pause.

There's definitely potential in the Alcantara/Canario/Caissie grouping of position players, but I feel like this team has recently struggled developing players with their profiles.  I also really like Brown/Wicks/Horton/Wesneski, but TINSTAAPP always scares the crap out of me, even though this team seems to have gotten over its apparent inability to develop pitching.

If there's a move that makes this team better this year and better in 2024, and the price is right, then they should absolutely pursue it, even if it means giving up someone like Alcantara or Brown.

[Tryptamine]

Depending on the cost, I could have some interest in Ty France. He's having a down year, but posted a 126 and 130 wRC+ the last 2 years. He doesn't have the usual 1B pop, he's more in the 15-20 HR range, but strong bat to ball skills. He's not a FA until 2026. 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/mariners-willing-to-listen-to-trade-offers-on-ty-france-teoscar-hernandez.html