Chicago Cubs: Best deadline trades during the Theo Epstein regime

A worthwhile rental

It was one of the only “weak” spots the Cubs felt they had. Hector Rondon was a good closer, but not a “lockdown” closer. Aroldis Chapman was that guy, and the cost to get him into a Cubs uniform for a half of a season wouldn’t be cheap. As far as the Cubs were concerned, the cost would be worth its weight in gold.

The Cubs gave up their top prospect in Gleyber Torres, as well as sending Adam Warren back to New York. They also sent Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford as well. It was a 4-for-1 deal, and a rental, at that. Did the Cubs give up too much?

A World Series title–the first in 108 years–should answer that. There may come a time when we’ll look at the Cubs and Yankees trade as feel that the Yankees got the best of it. And that’s fine. The deal ended the 108-year drought, no matter how you might look at it.