Chicago Cubs: Every prospect matters to the plan

The Chicago Cubs maneuvered through the trade deadline having given up their No. 1 prospect, but still have depth within the system. While many feel the Cubs could have dealt more from the stockpile, there’s a reason to be cautious–even with the low-level prospects.

Never enough. The Chicago Cubs were forced to endure some tough years to acquire the stockpile of talent that they have in the minor leagues. It often times seems easy to give up a low-level ballplayer to get a player the team has their eye on (See Gleyber Torres for Aroldis Chapman), and players who succeed at Single-A don’t always continue their growth through the system. And other times, you don’t see the success coming.

Back in 2008, the Chicago Cubs had a lead in the NL Central over the Cardinals and the Brewers, and the Crew had just acquired C.C. Sabathia. So Jim Hendry, doing what he does, he traded for the A’s Rich Harden. Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher and Eric Patterson were all shipped over. Gallagher was the most promising prospect at the time. Oh, yeah and a catcher named Josh Donaldson. Yes, the three-time All-Star third baseman. Couldn’t have known, but this is why guys like Jason McLeod are so important to what the Cubs are doing.

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In 2007, a skinny kid named

Starlin Castro

made his debut–and it appeared the Cubs may have their shortstop of the future. An All-Star in 2011, 2012 and 2014, he was signed to a club-friendly, long-term deal to help be a core part of the rebuild along with

Anthony Rizzo

. But in 2014, the Cubs snatched

Addison Russell

away from the A’s, and the course of the shortstop position in Chicago had been altered.

The Cubs still have several superb prospects, including Eloy Jimenez who has quickly made a name for himself with a stellar showing in the MLB Futures Game for the World Team. Ian Happ is proving to be a pure hitter as well, and the Cubs have six pitchers in the top 10 on MLB.com.

The trades, injuries and unexpected are the reasons you can never say “we have player x, so he isn’t going to make it with the Cubs. The Cubs outfield was overflowing entering 2016, but quickly went south with the injury to Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward‘s struggles and Dexter Fowler‘s injury. The Cubs have versatility, but you want them to be ABLE to use it, not forced to.

It’s possible that a guy like Dan Vogelbach will be a star for the Mariners. He may have been for the Cubs too, if not for Anthony Rizzo. And when Anthony Rizzo arrived, he wasn’t given the job because the Cubs had Bryan Lahair, someone they were very comfortable with at the first base position. Things can change quickly, and it’s why the front office doesn’t make trades for all the players you think they need now using the players they may need later.

Next: A look at the Cubs depth

It’s damn near impossible to project a player’s trajectory through his career, outside of a chosen few (Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper), but it’s also why the fans need to temper the “trade now” to win. It’s easy to say it, but it’s not your money or job on the line. Let’s just hope that if and when Torres or Vogelbach do become stars that they’re still over in the American League.

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Chicago Cubs: Every prospect is important, even if they seem expendable

By Nicholas D. Blazek | Aug 7, 2016

The Chicago Cubs maneuvered through the trade deadline having given up their No. 1 prospect, but still have depth within the system. While many feel the Cubs could have dealt more from the stockpile, there’s a reason to be cautious–even with the low-level prospects.

More from Cubbies Crib