Jason Ross

One positive about the Cubs trading Ronny Cruz to the Nationals (from a purely Cub perspective) is that the Nationals can't develop horsefeathers in the minor leagues right now, so they will probably ruin him. For his sake, that sucks. For our sake lamenting losing Cruz? It probably won't be a name we remember in three years.

Thanks! Over the years I feel like I get a decent feel for him and how he operates. He has kind of a type. Soroka hits that type.

Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz go the other way.

Image courtesy of © Brad Mills-Imagn Images Late Wednesday night, as the trade deadline looms, the Chicago Cubs have made their first pickup, acquiring Michael Soroka, a starting pitcher. I wrote a profile of Michael Soroka a few days ago, pleading with the Cubs to nab him, and they did. As illustrated in the piece I linked to above, Soroka has pitched far better than his results would suggest. Washington's terrible defense likely plays a large part here. However, Soroka has been snakebitten by the opposing lineup getting to see him a third time, as his wOBA against jumps from .251 the first time, to .308 the second time through, and a whopping .451 the third time through. If you're starting to feel a comparison to Ben Brown here, that's probably fair. It's also why, as Rogers suggests, he could be destined for the bullpen, filling a similar role to the departed Chris Flexen. Soroka would represent a substantial upgrade in that regard. The return for Washington is a pair of Cubs minor leaguers, Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz. Both were routinely placed outside of the Cubs' top-10 lists. Franklin, an outfielder playing for Iowa, likely profiles as a backup at the next level, capable of playing all three positions. He has a strong approach and batted ball data that is improving, but likely never fields well enough at center to allow his mediocre power to find a permanent home. A career that reminds you of Mike Tauchmann feels like a realistic outcome for the (now) former I-Cub. Ronny Cruz was the Cubs' 2024 third-round selection in the amateur draft. Cruz has played with the Arizona League Cubs this season, posting a 91 wRC+ and playing primarily third base. The infielder is a developmental prospect who has some intriguing power but needs to continue to develop physically before much is known about him. The move for Michael Soroka is likely just the first trade of a handful that the Cubs are likely to make before 5 pm CST tomorrow when the trade deadline closes. What do you think of the move to get Michael Soroka? Do you think the value was fair? Do you think he will be a starter or a reliever? Let us know in the comment section below! View full article

I am! I just wish his velocity was still up! My hope is that he basically coasted and tried not to get hurt. But like, if his velocity is suddenly 91-92 instead of 95....

...I just wish his velocity hadn't tanked his last three starts

Soroka. Cubs. Done.

Jed Hoyer is nothing if not a pragmatist. He refused to budge on his valuation of Willson Conteras a few years ago. My reading of him being involved in Suarez is that especially as teams drop out of the running (for example, the Yankees grabbing McMahon, the Reds nabbing Hayes) that his belief is not that he would eventually meet the Arizona Diamondbacks asking offer, but that the Diamondbacks will eventually fall down to his base valuation. Frankly, if the Cubs were desperate and willing to meet that price, they probably would have done so already, not be sitting here waiting around. The Cubs just are not going to trade Owen Caissie alone for a rental, let alone package Kevin Alcantara with him. Jed would almost assuredly turn to another 3b that did meet his valuation, not give in. For better or worse, Hoyer doesn't budge much off of how he sees a player's value. He has done this with free agency and in trades. If there is one thing I have zero worries about, is Jed getting desperate and just wildly overpaying (what he feels is fair value) just to get something done. You may not agree with his eventual valuation, but I am sure that Jed will have a deal he deems fair, or none at all.

I think Edward Cabrera is the guy they want most.

From what it sounds like, the Cubs goal is to acquire 1 controllable pitcher, with their preference being a SP. They will pivot to a controllable RP if they cannot acquire that. They will then acquire a more mid-tier rental of the other pitching type. So if they grab a controllable SP, they'd go rental RP. As of right now, the reliever market is churning a bit, but as long as the Cubs are trying for a controlled SP first, they can't really pivot yet to a reliever. If they did, it would likely change how they had to attack SP, which would be backwards for their wants. 3b is a bit different, but the hitter market the Cubs are likely in (Suarez, Castro) isn't really on the move right now. It's likely that the Cubs will wait this out until they either have to move themselves or a team they're working with accepts they have to budge some. For teams trying to trade controllable SPs, the reality is that the Cubs are one of the very few games in town who both have need and means, and the Cubs have to know this. While teams with controllable arms don't have to move them, if they wish to cash in now, there aren't many options, either. It's a game of chicken.

Per Matt, it sounds like they'd pivot to rental types if they have to. There should be enough of them that even if they feel they need to pivot later if a Cabrera or a Bednar type isn't going to materialize.

Yeah, from what Matt said during out live stream, it sounds like the Cubs are pushing to get a controllable arm, be it SP (their preference) or a RP (if they can't get a controllable SP). Preference is Cabrera for SP. So I think they'll pursuit that until they can't.

Patient. The Cubs are fishing in different waters

It wouldn't be my go-to move, but to play devils' advocate I'll say this: Trading for Suarez doesn't have to mean Shaw sits indefinitely. He could play against every LHP, with Suarez at 1b (he just made a start there for Arizona) and play multiple times a week against RHP, giving Suarez, Swanson and Hoener time off (likely not at SS but with Nico sliding over?). And while the difference between the two might not be monumental, it's important to note that while fractional wins mean little when you're talking <90wins, once you start talking getting over the 90 win hump, they become more valuable. There would be reason to find that valuable for a Cubs team sitting in that range. Whatever is traded for Suarez will need to eclipse the value of the QO that he would turn down, and it seems inevitable that his price tag will be more than most rentals recently.

The Cubs have Christian Franklin who is a really nice little fourth-OF prospect. He's sporting a wRC+ over 130 since June 18th in Iowa (he had a really rough run for about a month and change) and is capable at all three positions. They could trade both OF'ers and still have a ready made backup. Don't forget long term, the Cubs just drafted Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley from college. The former has batted ball data at WF before injury that was pretty close to Cam Smith's last year and Kepley is a 70 grade defender and 60+ grade runner with strong contact skills. Both could conceivably be options in 2027. As well as 6th round overslot ($2m to be exact and the 2nd highest bonus in the draft) prep-OF Josiah Hartshorn. The Cubs have gone ahead and nabbed a few more interesting OF'ers. I think any trade in which the Cubs include Caissie to begin with will bring in a controlled player for next year, so while I don't want to trade them all away, I think the Cubs will be fine regardless of what occurs in the next 24 hours.

There are only a few teams left in a Suarez market. The Cubs are not insane enough to trade both Caissie and Alcantara for him. Jed loves his values and he doesn't budge. I do think it'd be Alcantara and something. Jordan Wicks would make sense. But I would be shocked to see Caissie go for a rental let alone with Kevin in a rental.

Yeah, bigger in name value than trade value, IMO.

I'm getting "Bieber and Cade Smith" vibes. I think the two sides really match up in a sense of the Guardians never care about OF'ers who strikeout but have power, and the Cubs have always seemed to fancy Bieber. I know Clase and yadda yadda, but I have a feeling the Guards would consider moving him. They create relievers pretty often, and think they'd probably be more receptive than we think. My prediction right now would be that will be what they do. No information, just vibes.

Ian Happ seems fine.

This would be a cathartic win. Crush the Brewers, head into the TDL and we can all start fresh and invigorated on Friday with a few new additions.

Wicks went 4.1, struck out 6 and had 9 whiffs. Looked good.

Yep. Off the plate. Not an easy pitch to hit for a HR.

Yeah, that cluster of splitters (teal/green) and fastballs (red) is not where you want to throw it.