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Cubs Should be Cautious About Selling the Farm
That’s not a popular stance.
As the MLB trade deadline bears down on general managers, Jed Hoyer is under tremendous pressure to make a move or multiple moves. Hopefully the pressure doesn’t lead Hoyer to do something stupid. And by something stupid I mean trade Owen Caissie for a rental.
Reports indicate that the Cub are still in on Diamondbacks third baseman, Eugenio Suarez. That would be okay, but Matt Shaw’s recent emergence as an offensive force negates the need for a third baseman. If the Cubs were to pick up Suarez, that might move Shaw into a utility role, which would strengthen a pathetically weak bench.
While picking up Suarez would be okay, the package for a rental shouldn’t include the Cubs’ top farmhands. Suarez, if he comes to the Cubs, would probably be packaged with a pitcher. Likely Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly, both of whom are free agents after this season.
Kelly is having a nice season but is 36 years old. Gallen is 29 but having a rough season, currently sporting an ERA of 5.58. How much or an upgrade would Gallen be?
There are internal options available.
With the Royals signing Seth Lugo to an extension, the pool of potential starting pitchers is getting thinner, and more expensive. The Cubs…
