Chicago Cubs: The five best Cubs trades since 1980

With trade rumors starting to swirl, the Chicago Cubs are looking to take advantage of what they can offer. What are the top five trades since 1980?

Let the games begin! The Major League Baseball season has hit Memorial Day week which means trade discusses become stories. The Chicago Cubs are no strangers to trade deadline deals, bringing over prospects that turned into All-Stars.

Throughout their history, the team dealt for quality players that played crucial roles in the team’s success. And, there are busts. For example, the team made a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 that sent Lou Brock to their rival. Granted, during his three years in Chicago, Brock never hit above .263. But, can you imagine if he stayed with the Cubs and hit in front of Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams in the late 1960s? The trade changed the history of both the Cubs and the Cardinals.

There have been several great trades for the Cubs as well. In 2003, the team swapped first baseman Hee-Seop Choi for Derek Lee. And, in 1984, the Cubs acquired Gary Matthews and Bob Dernier from the Philadelphia Phillies. Yet, these are not even close to the top five trades in team history.

Here are the top five trades since 1980. Why that time line? Because, honestly, any trade of note that occurred prior to that date was either in 1966 or in the early 1900’s.