The Cubs Will Get “Younger” This Month

While Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry has remained mum on what the Cubs approach will be for this year’s trading deadline, Manager Lou Piniella gave his insights on what the Cubs will do at the Trade Deadline.

"”We probably will be sellers,” Piniella said before the Cubs’ 6-4 victory Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. ”We [he and general manager Jim Hendry] haven’t broached that subject much, just briefly. I would anticipate that if the organization can make a move or two that they might.” CHICAGO SUN TIMES"

Jim Hendry has not really given the Cubs the “buyer” or “seller” label for the trade deadline, all he has said that any trade that is made, would be made with any eye on improving the team for next year. I would suspect that in any trade, I would look for the Cubs to acquire a young ML ready or close first baseman, as well as some pitching prospects. Jim Hendry is as especially good at finding quality arms through trades, as evident by the Mark DeRosa trade of a couple years ago.

Among players that the Cubs are said to be shopping are Ted Lilly, Kosuke Fukudome, and Derrek Lee. The Cubs would like to move Lilly to a team like the Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Mets,  or Dodgers while holding out the chance of bringing Lilly back in the off-season when he hits free agency. The Cubs would like to move Kosuke Fukudome and possibly Xavier Nady, so they could clear up the outfield picture.

Regarding Piniella’s hint at the Cubs getting younger this month, there are a few players in the Cubs system that will likely see the time with major league team in the coming weeks. If the Cubs trade Ted Lilly, that would open up a rotation spot for top pitching prospect Jay Jackson, or former Rangers first round pick Thomas Diamond. Micah Hoffpauir or Bryan LaHair will likely be called up to replace Derrek Lee at first if he is traded. I would expect infielder Darwin Barney to be brought up, if the Cubs decide to trade Mike Fontenot or Ryan Theriot.

To say the next couple of weeks for the Cubs will be interesting, is an understatement. The Cubs are set to do something they have not done in a long time, and that is, trying to win while rebuilding the team.