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Here’s all the latest buzz around the Cubs and their reported trade targets.
The Cubs have emerged as a serious suitor for Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos. He’s pretty much the best hitter available in the trade market, but the cost still shouldn’t be high. Castellanos is owed about $4 million for the rest of the season. The right-handed hitter will be a free agent following this year. His defense isn’t good and if the Cubs trade for him that means Jason Heyward would have to move over to center field.
Despite Castellanos’ limited abilities on defense, he kills lefties, posting a 184 wRC+ against LHP and 111 wRC+ overall.
He’s the impact bat at the top of the Cubs wish list, but they’re also keeping an eye on Toronto’s Eric Sogard.
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Sogard, 33, is having the best year of his career and it’s not even close. He’s slashing .305/.369/.491, that’s good for a .860 OPS. His previous career high in OPS came in 2017, when in 94 games with the Brewers he had a .771 OPS.
The left-handed hitter could be an option as the leadoff hitter.
Of course, when it comes to potential trade targets being a leadoff guy for the Cubs, fans will yell out Whit Merrifield. However, the price is still too steep and it doesn’t look like any team, including the Cubs, is willing to pay it to the Royals.
And here’s the newest trade target linked to the Cubs. Veteran outfielder Jarrod Dyson.
Dyson, 34, is still pretty good out in center field and despite being a decade older than Albert Almora Jr., Dyson can actually be a threat to steal bases, swiping 21 bags this season with the Diamondbacks.
Getting Dyson would be an upgrade for the Cubs, as the left-handed hitter is slashing .254/.335/.369, compared to Almora’s slash line of .239/.275/.384. But really the upgrade is because Almora has been one of the worst hitters in baseball for the past calendar year. Any hitter who’s close to average at the plate is an upgrade over Almora at this point.
I mean, I’d be fine with getting Dyson, but it would still kinda be an underwhelming move. He doesn’t help against LHP, but I guess he could provide a decent option at the top of the lineup.
Dyson has been great away from Chase Field, which has played as a pitcher’s park in 2019. Dyson has a .833 OPS in 132 at-bats on the road this season.
So, the Cubs are linked to at least three outfielders, as we’re now nine days away from the trade deadline. Ideally the Cubs get two guys for depth, but according to the report in The Athletic, the Cubs may only have the financial flexibility to add one hitter.
Cool.
