The main target in trade talks with the Baltimore Orioles has been closer Zach Britton, but the Chicago Cubs are reportedly showing some level of interest in three more pitchers.
As of Tuesday, here’s the latest on the Cubs and Britton rumors.
The latest on Zach Britton: It's looking like a four-team scramble among the #Astros, #RedSox, #Yankees and #Cubs. Hearing that Houston and New York both sweetened their offers in the last day or two.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 24, 2018
There was also this report from Jim Bowden.
#Astros #Yankees in the lead for Zach Britton but several other teams still in play as trade negotiations are rounding third and heading for home. #Orioles
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) July 24, 2018
I, and basically every single MLB fan, has made fun of Bowden in the past, but Ken Rosenthal gave that scoop some credence.
Hearing similar, but with #RedSox, #Brewers also involved. Situation fluid and subject to change… https://t.co/swADAk7Cel
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2018
And add another team in the Britton mix.
#DBacks, too… https://t.co/xiWd0r7rFE
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2018
So, by that Rosenthal report you could maybe start to feel not so great about the Cubs’ chances of getting Britton. However, an Orioles’ reporter added this to Rosenthal’s first tweet above.
And Cubs https://t.co/U9VB1uF8GA
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 24, 2018
Basically, teams are sharing different info, most likely the Orioles, hoping to create a bidding war for Britton.
Anyway, in addition to Britton, the Cubs are also in on a few other Baltimore pitchers that happen to be starters Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman.
#Cubs have talked to #Orioles about starting pitchers (Bundy, Gausman) as well as Britton, sources tell The Athletic. As of last night, did not seem as engaged on Britton as other clubs, according to one source. Again: Situation is fluid, subject to change.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2018
Yet, there’s another pitcher the Cubs have shown interest in according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
Even eternal optimist Joe Maddon admits this might not be sustainable. Time for #Cubs to get more pitching. Brad Brach is mentioned as a possible fallback option if Zach Britton goes elsewhere. https://t.co/8TZCUQqF6t
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 24, 2018
Mooney wrote the following.
One source suggested Brad Brach as a potential fallback option if a team like the Houston Astros offers a better package of prospects for Baltimore closer Zach Britton. The Cubs and Orioles would already have a baseline from the Britton discussions and Brach would be a low-cost, change-of-scenery move. Brach has a 4.97 ERA and a 1.737 WHIP this year, an expiring contract, a track record of consistency in the American League East and a 2016 All-Star season on his resume. Brach also has a connection to Epstein’s front office as San Diego’s 2010 minor league pitcher of the year, back when Jed Hoyer worked as the Padres general manager.
Yeah, the numbers for Dylan Bundy (4.25 career ERA) and Kevin Gausman (4.23 career ERA) don’t look good, but who says the Cubs can’t strike gold another time trading with Baltimore.
The Orioles have acquired RHP Scott Feldman & CA Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in exchange for RHPs Jake Arrieta & Pedro Strop.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 2, 2013
As for Brad Brach, he’s having a brutal 2018 season, posting a 4.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 38 innings, but from 2012-17, he had a 2.94 ERA in 386.1 innings.
The track record is there for Brach and for the Cubs would be a lot cheaper to trade for both in players needed to make a deal and the money, as Brach is under contract for $5 million this season compared to $12 million for Britton.
So, we’re one week away and the trade rumors are in full swing, with things still fluid and possibly changing at any moment.
