Chicago Cubs: Former prospect Gleyber Torres knocking on door in NY

A trip down memory lane

If you remember, the Cubs started off the 2016 season with a 24-6 run, the best 30-game start to a season since the 1907 also-World-Series-winning version of the Northsiders.

But then, things took a turn, and the Cubs hit a bit of a bump which was capped off by going 6-15 upon entering the All-Star break. Not long after the break, the Cubs made the trade that sent Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, Adam Warren and Rashad Crawford to the New York Yankees in exchange for half of a season for Chapman.

It was then that the Cubs took off. Just two days later Addison hit his first career grand slam to lift the Cubs past the Chicago White Sox. A few days after that was the “Brian Matusz game.”

The Cubs turned it around and won their first World Series since 1908. Chapman was just about as good as you can get, despite giving up the gut-wrenching home run off the bat of Rajai Davis.

Without Chapman, who knows what would have happened. Good thing we don’t have to find out.

The one that got away

It was worth it, and I’m sure you agree by now. If you don’t, turn in your Cubs fan card and sit in the corner and think about what you’re doing with your life.

Though I will admit that any and all success that Torres finds in New York is going to sting. And there will be a lot of success (therefore lots of stinging), and it could be coming sooner rather than later.

Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com wrote a piece making a case for Torres being the number one ranked prospect in baseball. Keep in mind this article was written about a year ago, and Torres only further made his case.

Limited by an elbow injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery, which is unusual for a position player, Torres played only 55 games. But even in that small sample size, he found a lot of success. He hit seven home runs, drove in 34 and scored 31 times to the tune of a 138 wRC+ in Double-A that jumped up to a 145 wRC+ when he received the promotion to Triple-A.

He made his impact known at the plate. Add in his crazy fast hands, plate discipline beyond his years and his ability to put the ball in play (much of the time with authority), and an ability to play second base, shortstop or third base at an above-average level and you have a potential superstar in the making.

That’s exactly what Torres is. A superstar in the making.

Uh-oh: The Yankees are the Yankees again

The Yankees are more than set for the 2018 season, but Torres will only add to an already frightening lineup. With this being the year of his ETA (MLB.com), it’s possible that he would have cracked New York’s Opening Day lineup were it not for his injury. I’m sure the shot-callers in New York will be cautious regarding his return.

At some point in this upcoming season, we’re going to see Torres at the Major League level. The Yankees certainly have a vacancy at both third base and second base. Depending on the moves New York makes between now and then, Torres could be penciled in at either of the two positions and it’s likely he’ll instantly make his presence known.

He’ll slot into a lineup behind Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner.

He won’t have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’ll just have to pick up the scraps from the sluggers ahead of him. And my God, are there a lot of sluggers ahead of him.

Coping 101

I’ll give you some advice, when Torres is tearing it up in the Bronx and you’re left disgruntled, just remember these words and allow them to wash over all of your thoughts and feelings: “This is going to be a tough play…Bryant…the Cubs…WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!”

Next: Chances of Jay, Cubs unclear

Sure, it’s never easy to see a guy leave your organization and become a superstar, but if we had to do it all over again, are you really going to tell me you wouldn’t change anything.

After all, flags fly forever.