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The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have reportedly agreed on a trade that would send 2020 NL Cy Young runner up Yu Darvish out west.
According to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, the framework of the deal is all but done between the Cubs and Padres. We’ll go over the names that are rumored to be part of this blockbuster trade involving Darvish.
Cubs Asking Price
670 The Score’s Bruce Levine wrote about the Cubs asking for two MLB players and two prospects from the Padres during these trade talks that would send Darvish to San Diego. The story also said that Cubs back up catcher Victor Caratini could be included in the trade.
Here are the players from the Padres that are rumored to be discussed in trade talks with the Cubs.
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Luis Campusano
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was the first to bring up Padres catching prospect Luis Campusano as a possible piece in this trade for Darvish.
Catcher Luis Campusano of the #Padres is one of the prospects being discussed in conversations with the #Cubs for ace Yu Darvish
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 28, 2020
The 22-year-old catcher was a second round draft pick in 2017. He made it up to high A-Ball in 2019, and slashed .325/.396/.509, in 110 games that season, hitting 15 home runs, while striking out 57 times and walking 52 times.
Campusano is currently ranked 46th in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list.
Zach Davies
Joel Sherman and Jesse Rogers have both said that right-handed starting pitcher Zach Davies has come up in trade talks between the Cubs and Padres.
1/With Chatwood/Lester/Quintana free agents, if #Cubs trade Darvish it'd leave Hendricks and to some degree Alec Mills as experienced MLB starters. That's why Zach Davies has come up in Darvish talks as possibility to go from #Padres to Chi to help with IP. But keep in mind even
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 28, 2020
Jesse Rogers said Yu Darvish, Victor Caratini, Zach Davies, probably another MLBer, and "a couple 18-19-year-old slugger types" etc.
Said he thinks the deal will get done and ultimately include 5 players (I'm assuming that would be the Cubs' return, going by the obvious math).
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) December 28, 2020
Davies, 27, is under contract for one more season before becoming a free agent. The soft-tossing righty has a 3.79 ERA in 123 career starts with the Brewers and Padres. In 2020, Davies had a 2.73 ERA in 12 starts for San Diego, which came after posting a 3.55 ERA in 31 starts in 2019.
Jake Cronenworth
The 2020 National League Rookie of the Year may be on his way out of San Diego, as the Padres have reportedly signed KBO star Ha-Seong Kim. There’s been speculation that Jake Cronenworth may be one of the MLB players going to the Cubs in this trade and Kevin Acee, who covers the Padres, also tweeted this before reporting that the deal was set in place. Essentially implying Cronenworth won’t be part of San Diego’s future plans.
Jake Cronenworth will not be moving to the outfield. https://t.co/HIpLKnfbUi
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) December 28, 2020
During his rookie season in 2020, Cronenworth slashed .285/.354/.477, in 172 at-bats. The left-handed hitter can play all over the diamond, getting playing time at second, shortstop and first.
Robert Hassell
Robert Hassell was taken with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Padres and he’s one of the prospects being speculated about being involved in this Darvish trade. Hassell, 19, was linked to the Cubs leading up to the draft this past summer, so that’s why some think the Cubs would want him now in these trade talks with the Padres.
As potential trade packages are tossed around, I want to remind you that Robert Hassell (the Padres first round pick in 2020 (8th overall)) was connected to the Cubs. So perhaps there's some sense in that.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) December 28, 2020
Hassell is ranked 74th in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list.
So far, those are the names most strongly linked to the Cubs in what soon will be Jed Hoyer’s first blockbuster trade as team president.
Stay tuned as this trade could be announced at any minute, with many insiders believe it could get done as soon as Monday.
UPDATE
Bob Nightengale reported that the Padres are indeed getting Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini. He also added that catcher Luis Campusano is not a part of the trade.
The #Padres are getting catcher Victor Caratini from the #Cubs in the Yu Darvish trade. Catcher Luis Campusano is staying in San Diego and is not part of the deal.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 29, 2020
Meanwhile, MiLB reporter Jonathan Mayo is the first to report that the Cubs will indeed get Zach Davies along with several prospects including 2020 second round pick Owen Caissie.
Sources tell me that there are still moving parts in @Cubs – @Padres deal involving Yu Darvish. But I’m told Zach Davies plus several prospects are in deal going to Chicago, including 2020 2nd-rd @MLBDraft pick Owen Caissie.
— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) December 29, 2020
Nightengale confirms Davies is in the deal and that it will include seven total players.
Confirmed that #Padres starter Zach Davies will be going to the #Cubs in 7-player Yu Darvish trade.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 29, 2020
Meanwhile, Kevin Acee has named one more prospect.
It's close. May even be done.
Hearing Zach Davies, 17-year-old SS Reginald Preciado (Padres No.11 prospect) and 18 year-old OF Owen Caissie (No. 13) headed to Cubs as part of Yu Darvish deal.
Davies the one major leaguer going to the Cubs. Deal also involves two other prospects— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) December 29, 2020
If true, then that means no Jake Cronenworth for the Cubs as we initially speculated.
Stay tuned for more updates.