Chicago Cubs should consider these three trade proposals this winter

Dellin Betances for Kyle Schwarber

This was a scenario we floated out there a couple weeks ago.

This trade is less complex in that it is straight-up, and each team gets what they seek. For Chicago, a pitcher at the back end of the bullpen, and for New York, a designated hitter. During the postseason New York snapped an 0-for-41 hitless streak by designated hitters dating back to Raul Ibanez in 2012.

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Dellin Betances (3-6, 2.87 ERA, 100 strikeouts, 44 walks) is a talented reliever who apparently fell out of favor with Yankees fans and brass, struggling with control at times during the season and playoffs. He also filled in as closer when Aroldis Chapman struggled, and dealt with injury.

Betances’ best attributes have been as a setup man, helping form an impactful trio with Andrew Miller and Chapman in 2016, and a vaunted Yankees bullpen in 2017. Now he deals with control issues and has just 32 career saves in 48 chances. He converted 10-of-13 this past season for New York.

In what FanGraphs considers high-leverage situations in the ninth inning, Betances worked 6 2/3 innings, posted a 5.40 ERA and opponents hit .130 against him. In the ninth inning, as a whole, he logged 20 1/3 innings, posted a 2.66 ERA and walked 13 batters while opponents hit .139.

Betances’ situational breakdown:

In saves: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 saves
In save situation: 0-4, 3.38 ERA, 32 games, 11 ER, 19 BB, 48 Ks
In non-save situation: 3-2, 2.37 ERA, 34 games, 8 ER, 25 BB, 52 Ks

Don’t give up yet

Personally, I believe Kyle Schwarber stays in Chicago for at least another year.

Epstein stuck by him following injury in 2016, not relenting in trading him when they were all in for a closer amid a World Series run, and the team maintained confidence during 2017 struggles.

It seems like he’s been a part of this big-league Cubs team forever. But this marked his first full Major League campaign. He’s also now a full year removed from his injury and has the chance to work through a ‘normal’ offseason heading into 2018.

Betances will be an asset wherever he pitches, as a setup man or even a closer.  The Yankees still feature David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green and Aroldis Chapman, so New York could be more inclined to trade the talented reliever. He’s too good not to solve his control woes.