Last week, Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts made a statement the fan base has been dying to hear for years: the Cubs plan on buying at the trade deadline if they are still in striking distance of a playoff spot. With how disappointing the NL Central is this season, the Cubs won’t have to do much to maintain their current position. Entering their series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs are just two games under .500 and are three games back of the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds for the NL Central lead. Barring a complete collapse in the mold of their infamous 2021 West Coast road trip, the Cubs are likely to be deadline buyers.
Blockbuster Moves On the Way?
Most Cubs fans would love for team president Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins to make a deal for a superstar like the San Diego Padres did last summer for Juan Soto or the slew of deadline moves the Los Angeles Dodgers have made over the years like Trea Turner, Max Scherzer, and Manny Machado. It’s highly doubtful that the Cubs make a move like this at the trade deadline, especially considering the fact that their real playoff window hasn’t even opened yet. None of the top prospects at the center of their rebuild, including Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cade Horton, and Ben Brown, are in the majors yet. Brown is the only one of the three projected to get the call within the next year. A series of supplemental moves appear more likely than a blockbuster.
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Who Could the Cubs Acquire at the Trade Deadline?
The Cubs’ most glaring needs are corner infield and left-handed relief pitching. Patrick Wisdom has struggled mightily with making contact since his blistering month of April and is currently on the injured list. They also only have one left-handed relief pitcher on the 26-man roster in Anthony Kay after Brandon Hughes was placed on the 60-day IL.
1: RP Scott Barlow
Scott Barlow wouldn’t be a season-altering move, but he wouldn’t have a huge asking price and would be under team control through next season. He currently possesses a 3.90 ERA in 27 2/3 innings with the Kansas City Royals this season, but his underlying numbers suggest some improvement on that front with his expected ERA being a mere 3.21. He is also striking batters out at an elite rate, punching out 33.6 percent of batters. That figure is in the top five percent of all pitchers.
2. 3B Jeimer Candelario
Jeimer Candelario could see a return to the Cubs after being traded by them to the Detroit Tigers in 2017. He has been one of the few bright spots for the Washington Nationals in 2023, posting an .802 OPS with 10 home runs. Candelario is a switch-hitting corner infielder, which would meet two needs for the Cubs, as they are in dire need of more players who hit well against left-handed pitching. This would be a rental trade, so Washington’s asking price will not be too high.
3. 1B/OF/DH Brent Rooker
This is probably the least likely option of the three, but Brent Rooker could fill a hole that the Cubs desperately need. He could serve as a platoon bat at first base, designated hitter, and even the outfield if necessary. Rooker has put together a fantastic season with the Oakland Athletics after bouncing around the majors for a few years, clubbing 13 home runs with an OPS of .810. He has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but he also sports a 12.1 percent walk rate, which is in the top 15 percent among qualified hitters.
Brent Rooker played a total of 16 games in 2022 at the big-league level.
2023? He’s got 13 homers, and it’s only June.@Athletics | #Athletics pic.twitter.com/n7qyVQmSxV
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 23, 2023
Rooker does not hit free agency until 2028 and doesn’t even reach arbitration until 2025, so the odds of Oakland moving him this season aren’t high. However, the Cubs could make this deal if they view a bat like him as a long-term option once their competitive window fully opens back up.
Photo Credit:
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned:
Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Max Scherzer, Manny Machado, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cade Horton, Ben Brown, Patrick Wisdom, Anthony Kay, Brandon Hughes, Scott Barlow, Jeimer Candelario, Brent Rooker
