Cubs Acquire Arch Nemesis From Nationals, With Mixed Emotions

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Daniel Murphy has been a Chicago Cubs’ killer since the 2015 NLCS against the New York Mets. And since then, he’s continued to kill the Cubs in every series they’ve played against him and his team. It’s uncanny.

So today, the Cubs employed the “if you can’t beat ’em, join/acquire ’em” strategy, by claiming Murphy from the Washington Nationals and working out a trade for him. The Cubs made it official this afternoon.

The #Cubs today acquired INF Daniel Murphy from the Nationals for minor league INF Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named or cash consideration. pic.twitter.com/CKXU3ycjNY

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 21, 2018

So that’s great, right? The Cubs don’t have to worry about another team getting him and killing them in the playoffs? All good?

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Nope. Not close. And it has to do with Murphy’s comments years ago saying he “disagrees” with the “gay lifestyle”. You can read this Deadspin article for more details.

This isn’t about religion, and this isn’t about politics. This is about human beings. The LGBTQ community isn’t a “lifestyle”. They are people. That’s it. It’s that simple. Who the hell are you to “disagree” with that, Dan? It isn’t up for debate.

Cubs fans have already had to swallow their moral compass once in the last three years, when Aroldis Chapman was acquired for the playoff stretch run. And while it culminated in a World Series title, having to root for Chapman to succeed was not fun.

There were rumors about Addison Russell and domestic violence emerging last year too. And Russell is currently part of the Cubs’ core. Rooting for him to succeed is not fun.

And now Murphy. Different circumstance, same “bad human being” situation. Yes, Murphy might make the Cubs “better” on the field, but again, it’s at a cost. I love the Cubs, but this is not a great day for this franchise.

I had this suggestion to remedy the situation: They don’t have to face him, nor do they have to play him on the field. Who says no?