Chicago Cubs: AL teams with intriguing trade assets

The Chicago Cubs have started early in making moves, and the American League could be where they find the deals they’re looking for.

This is the time of year that General Manager’s make all of their money. Not because of pay structure, but by making strategic trades that determine the current and future trajectory of their teams.

American League teams have generally drawn the most attention from the Cubs for a multitude of reasons. Chiefly, the player(s) being traded from the Cubs won’t drastically affect the clubs performance during the regular season and the DH position adds flexibility to unload overstock offense for pitching and defense.

Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs (56-37) are in prime position to sit back and answer their phones before the trade deadline on August 1.  Teams like the New York Yankees (47-46), Tampa Bay Rays (36-57), Oakland Athletics (42-52), and Minnesota Twins (34-59) are primed to be sellers and have some intriguing assets to offer the Cubs.

That being said, let’s take a look at what each team has to offer.

Next: The New York Yankees

Oakland Athletics

Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reported that both the Rays and Athletics have been actively scouting the Cubs for trade prospects.

The A’s have greatly improved their farm system after unloading prospects such as shortstop Addison Russell, outfielder Billy Mckinney, RHP Aaron Brooks,  and RHP Dan Straily for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in 2014, but are looking to unload veterans to regain more prospects.

Sean Doolittle and Rich Hill are other A’s players gaining interest from teams in need of pitching. This season, Doolittle has a 2.93 ERA with 35 strikeouts and only eight walks in 30.2 innings. His average fastball velocity is over 95 MPH with an exit velocity under 90, suggesting that hitters have a hard time squaring him up. It’s not imperative for the Cubs to trade for a reliever considering that they have veterans Joe Nathan and Brian Matusz in their farm system, but adding Doolittle would certainly help solidify their ability to play matchups in the playoffs.

Hill is carrying a large price tag because of his success in 2016. The A’s were the only team to offer Hill a contract, even though it was only a one-year deal for $6 million. Hill is 9-3 in 14 starts with a 2.25 ERA is 76 innings. His 4:1 BB/K ratio is an appealing stat to the Cubs, who are worried about the performances of both Hammel and John Lackey. Hill would be a back-end option that could anchor the Cubs rotation heading into the playoffs.

Cubs fans are growing impatient with skipper Joe Maddon utilizing players like Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras in the outfield, especially after the 2-1 loss to the New York Mets (50-43) on Tuesday night. A player like Josh Reddick would fill the positional void in the outfield while also adding a solid contact hitter to the lineup. Reddick is drawing interest from multiple teams including the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, so the price may wind up being too high for the Cubs to make a deal.

Next: Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are an interesting trade matchup for the Cubs. Chris Archer is a player that could solidify the Cubs rotation, though the Rays are apprehensive about letting go of their most dominant starter, barring an offer “that overwhelms [them].” Archer is in the midst of a home run plagued year, already having given up more than he did in all of 2015. At 4-13 with a 4.35 ERA, giving up 117 earned runs in 117 innings, Archer hardly seems like the player he was last year. But, his 136 strikeouts are indicative that he hasn’t lost his stuff.

The Rays have a top-10 ranked farm system, so their needs seem to be at the major league level. It’s highly unlikely that they Cubs would be willing to give up any of their big league players in order to land Archer, especially when there are cheaper options on the market.

Next: Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins

ESPN’s Buster Olney recently reported that interest in the Minnesota Twins assets has increased since the dismissal of GM Terry Ryan. Bringing in a new GM ultimately signifies a change direction, so it’s safe to assume that the Twins are in the market for prospects, something the Cubs have plenty of. Fernando Abad is a player that immediately comes to mind when thinking of who the Cubs could trade for.

Next: Arrieta's start to help define second half

Abad has struggled against NL teams, averaging a 4.65 ERA, but averages a 2.87 ERA against the AL, making him a valuable piece of a World Series bullpen. This season, Abad has a 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings with 27 strikeouts. He’s only given up 2 home runs as well, making his services very lucrative for a Cubs pitching staff that has been plagued by the long ball recently. Theoretically, the Cubs could stash Abad in the minors until the postseason to make room for another player that would immediately impact the club in the regular season.