The Athletic: Cubs Will Add A Hitter Before The Trade Deadline

[Bertz]

The Chicago Cubs are second in MLB in runs scored per game and second in total WAR from their position players, and yet according to Patrick Mooney at The Athletic the plan is still to add offensive help prior to this year's trade deadline.

Two main reasons are cited for the team's search for a bat.  First is underperformance.  The lack of offensive production from Matt Shaw and Justin Turner provides an opportunity to upgrade the team and push additional chips in on upgrading a likely playoff team.  The second is vintage Hoyer: an attempt to limit downside risk.  Knowing that the deadline is the last chance to add help, the front office doesn't want to leave itself vulnerable to something like an injury. 

Mooney lists Taylor Ward, Ryan McMahon, and Eugenio Suarez as "names to monitor", though it's unclear if there is traction with any of those players or if they are simply the type of hitter the team is likely to explore.

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[PeanutPunch33]

I'm not comparing Eugenio Suarez to Kyle Tucker, one is a good player and the other is a top 10 player in baseball. 

But the effect that Tucker has had in lengthening this lineup and making the Cubs the best offense in the game vs right handed pitching - I absolutely think Suarez would have a similar effect for the Cubs vs LHP.  

They would have the most potent all around lineup in baseball with that move and it'll be downright frightening to play this team in October.  All of a sudden, I'm not really scared facing the Phillies or the Dodgers.  Hopefully, they consider it

Edited July 1, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

[Rcal10]

28 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I'm not comparing Eugenio Suarez to Kyle Tucker, one is a good player and the other is a top 10 player in baseball. 

But the effect that Tucker has had in lengthening this lineup and making the Cubs the best offense in the game vs right handed hitting - I absolutely think Suarez would have a similar effect for the Cubs vs LHP.  

They would have the most potent all around lineup in baseball with that move and it'll be downright frightening to play this team in October.  All of a sudden, I'm not really scared facing the Phillies or the Dodgers.  Hopefully, they consider it

Love to get Suarez too. But can’t make Az trade right now and at what cost? What do you trade for 2 or 3 months if Suarez. He is a rental. 

[PeanutPunch33]

32 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Love to get Suarez too. But can’t make Az trade right now and at what cost? What do you trade for 2 or 3 months if Suarez. He is a rental. 

I think the best trade is a Suarez/Kelly or Suarez/Gallen combo deal.  IMO, that would make it worth it for Jed to give up Caissie+, which is where that convo probably begins.  

Just spitballing - maybe Owen Caissie, Ben Brown, Ballesteros and a low level guy with potential for Suarez and Gallen?  I'd bet the D Backs want guys that are near MLB ready, since they have a pretty good roster in place.  Just a bad year for them in a loaded division.  

[Bertz]

I'll say if Shaw keeps playing at roughly the level he has since getting back from Iowa, I don't have a lot of appetite for replacing him.  We saw last year with both PCA and Amaya that the breakout can occur very quickly with talented rookies.  And unlike those two guys in the first half of last year, Shaw right now is just sorta below average.  He's not some worst in the league type bat acting as an albatross around the lineup's neck.

One exception would be Willi Castro, a guy I've been pining for since like October.  His ability to play everywhere would mean we could dial back Shaw's playing time without outright blocking him.

I'm really into Taylor Ward's bat, though I don't love how little 1B he's played the last few years.  I don't need a gold Glover but could the Angels slide him over there a few times a week for the next month?

[Tryptamine]

6 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'll say if Shaw keeps playing at roughly the level he has since getting back from Iowa, I don't have a lot of appetite for replacing him.  We saw last year with both PCA and Amaya that the breakout can occur very quickly with talented rookies.  And unlike those two guys in the first half of last year, Shaw right now is just sorta below average.  He's not some worst in the league type bat acting as an albatross around the lineup's neck.

One exception would be Willi Castro, a guy I've been pining for since like October.  His ability to play everywhere would mean we could dial back Shaw's playing time without outright blocking him.

I'm really into Taylor Ward's bat, though I don't love how little 1B he's played the last few years.  I don't need a gold Glover but could the Angels slide him over there a few times a week for the next month?

He's not horrendous I suppose, but an 86 wRC+ since coming back up isn't exactly glowing in a year where they appear to be going for it based on the Tucker acquisition, 

[We Got The Whole 9]

The 86 is propped up by a ton of weak grounders and bloops as well. Honestly speaking hes probably been the most underwhelming top prospect probably since the SS we no longer speak about. It does not surprise me that they might not be content with him at this point. 

 

I think the dream scenario is getting Suarez, but im kind of not expecting it to become reality. Castro sounds good too.

Edited July 1, 2025 by We Got The Whole 9

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Love to get Suarez too. But can’t make Az trade right now and at what cost? What do you trade for 2 or 3 months if Suarez. He is a rental. 

Yeah I suspect the Dbacks will wait close to the deadline to chose whether to sell.  Would be a nice player to get though.  Doesn't play 1B though.

Annoying that every deadline we're trading for a 3b.

[JunkyardWalrus]

4 hours ago, Stratos said:

Yeah I suspect the Dbacks will wait close to the deadline to chose whether to sell.  Would be a nice player to get though.  Doesn't play 1B though.

Annoying that every deadline we're trading for a 3b.

Or trading them away (Paraedes, Morel, Cam Smith...)

[Rcal10]

9 hours ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I think the best trade is a Suarez/Kelly or Suarez/Gallen combo deal.  IMO, that would make it worth it for Jed to give up Caissie+, which is where that convo probably begins.  

Just spitballing - maybe Owen Caissie, Ben Brown, Ballesteros and a low level guy with potential for Suarez and Gallen?  I'd bet the D Backs want guys that are near MLB ready, since they have a pretty good roster in place.  Just a bad year for them in a loaded division.  

If it cost that much for two rentals I don’t think the cubs make that deal. 

[17 Seconds]

suarez has 30+ war in his career. i would not have guessed that

[Layoutman]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

If it cost that much for two rentals I don’t think the cubs make that deal. 

This ^^.  Way too much.
 

I like the idea of a one stop shop to address needs:

Merrill Kelly - Eugenio Suarez - Shelby Miller

[muntjack]

Romy Gonzalez (BOS) has a 193 wRC+ against LHP.  Makes a lot of sense, and wouldn't cost a ton. 

Baltimore, K.C., and MIA if they stop winning should all be sellers. Some good pitching available there. 

I'm still team Shaw for this season.  The glove is outstanding and I think the adjustment is in there.  If they can get Suarez for Triantos +, go for it. 

 

[Outshined_One]

10 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

He's not horrendous I suppose, but an 86 wRC+ since coming back up isn't exactly glowing in a year where they appear to be going for it based on the Tucker acquisition, 

It's not, but (as @Jason Ross mentioned elsewhere) 3Bs are hitting 96 wRC+ league-wide this season.

This isn't like 2006, when A-Ram's 3.7 fWAR was 11th among MLB 3Bs.  For whatever reason, the position has taken a complete nosedive league-wide.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

11 hours ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I think the best trade is a Suarez/Kelly or Suarez/Gallen combo deal.  IMO, that would make it worth it for Jed to give up Caissie+, which is where that convo probably begins.  

Just spitballing - maybe Owen Caissie, Ben Brown, Ballesteros and a low level guy with potential for Suarez and Gallen?  I'd bet the D Backs want guys that are near MLB ready, since they have a pretty good roster in place.  Just a bad year for them in a loaded division.  

Yikes. I wouldn’t deal two of those guys together in this deal. Let alone all of them. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 hour ago, Outshined_One said:

It's not, but (as @Jason Ross mentioned elsewhere) 3Bs are hitting 96 wRC+ league-wide this season.

This isn't like 2006, when A-Ram's 3.7 fWAR was 11th among MLB 3Bs.  For whatever reason, the position has taken a complete nosedive league-wide.

There are 10 qualified 3B on pace for more than 3.7 fWAR.  There's another 2 that aren't quite qualified and are splitting time elsewhere(Barger and Chisholm) on pace for at least that much.

[JunkyardWalrus]

So... if we sweep Cleveland, and they fall further back (11.5 gb in division, tied with Boston at 3gb) how do we convince Cle that our farm is worth buying for Ramirez? 

Only PCA is off limits? Maybe not?

[Tryptamine]

23 minutes ago, JunkyardWalrus said:

So... if we sweep Cleveland, and they fall further back (11.5 gb in division, tied with Boston at 3gb) how do we convince Cle that our farm is worth buying for Ramirez? 

Only PCA is off limits? Maybe not?

JRam will never be traded. He took a huge discount to stay in Cleveland.

[JunkyardWalrus]

35 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

JRam will never be traded. He took a huge discount to stay in Cleveland.

Yeah, I know. A boy can dream of unlikely scenarios. I mean, it’s still the midwest, he may have been close with Carter… 

I hate how expensive a rental is and we’re in the same boat next year wishing on a Shaw, which I’d rather just do this year while we have an offense that has the Tucker effect.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, JunkyardWalrus said:

Yeah, I know. A boy can dream of unlikely scenarios. I mean, it’s still the midwest, he may have been close with Carter… 

I hate how expensive a rental is and we’re in the same boat next year wishing on a Shaw, which I’d rather just do this year while we have an offense that has the Tucker effect.

How expensive is a rental? Do we know? Kelly and Suarez for Brown and Long or Triantos? Too much? Not enough? I don’t think those two warrant losing Cassie, Wiggins, Ballestaros, Alcantara or Rojas. Maybe any two prospects after those? 

[Tryptamine]

I don't have much for expectations. As was mentioned in the article, I don't expect anyone with ceiling to be targeted it's going to be about raising the floor. McMahon is pretty much the perfect candidate for that. He's incredibly underwhelming but he's pretty consistently okish. Personally he's nowhere near enough of an upgrade over Shaw for me to have any interest in him, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jed goes there. 

[muntjack]

A 61 wRC+ away from Coors this season, 82 career.  Please no. 

[PeanutPunch33]

6 hours ago, TarzanJoeWallis said:

Yikes. I wouldn’t deal two of those guys together in this deal. Let alone all of them. 

I'm not the best at mock trades lol.  Maybe Caissie and just a lower level guy?  But, I definitely think the Cubs have the ammunition to get it done and without much regret.  This would be such a well rounded team with both Gallen + Suarez.  

[Jason Ross]

14 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I'm not the best at mock trades lol.  Maybe Caissie and just a lower level guy?  But, I definitely think the Cubs have the ammunition to get it done and without much regret.  This would be such a well rounded team with both Gallen + Suarez.  

Gallen has been horrendous this year and has been worth -.4 fWAR. He has regressed across the board and on velo. 

[PeanutPunch33]

7 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Gallen has been horrendous this year and has been worth -.4 fWAR. He has regressed across the board and on velo. 

Wow, didn't realize how bad he's been this year.  That really sucks for him going into FA.  If he was a FA last year he probably would have gotten 150m.  

Thoughts on Kelly?  He's extremely old but I guess, half season commitment isn't the worst.  Solid numbers.