Cubs Trade Torreyes for International Bonus Pool Slots

Scott Feldman, Steve Clevenger, and Carlos Marmol were not the only Cubs traded away on Tuesday. The North Siders also dealt minor league infielder Ronald Torreyes to the Astros in exchange for two international bonus pool slots. The total value of those two slots is $784,700 and the net gain after a day’s worth of wheeling and dealing is $963,100. According to the math done by MLB Trade Rumors, that brings the Cubs total to $5,520,300.

June 15, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; (Facing forward, from left) Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer , president of baseball operations Theo Epstein , and vice president of scouting Jason McLeod greet with Boston Red Sox players including Dustin Pedroia (15) before the game at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Torreyes is a second baseman that stands at 5 foot 7 and had some believing the Cubs front office duo of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer were looking for the next Dustin Pedroia based on the short height alone. The 20 year old Torreyes was once a rated Reds prospect that could hit but lacked power. The second baseman had been acquired by the Cubs about a year and a half ago in the deal that brought over Travis Wood and Dave Sappelt for Sean Marshall. The Cubs currently have Gold Glove second baseman Darwin Barney manning the position at the Major League level. With touted prospect Junior Lake being tried out at 3B and the OF in AAA as a result, Torreyes was traded away from seemingly a position of depth at second base.

With Travis Wood seeming to have turned a corner in his career with the addition of a cut fastball, and depending on which top international prospect the additional slot money from the Astros ends up being spent on, the trading that sent Marshall to the Reds is starting to look like a win for the Cubs. That is not to say that Marshall has not been a great pick up for the playoff contending Reds, but with the lefty due to hit free agency at the time, Epstein and Company have certainly maxed out the trade value.