Chicago Cubs: Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease trade won’t haunt the Cubs

When the Chicago Cubs traded Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, people said they would regret it. They said the same about the Gleyber Torres deal. “You’ll be sorry.” But that isn’t going to be the case.

The Chicago Cubs knew what they were giving up for Jose Quintana. The Chicago White Sox weren’t “fleecing” the Cubs. This is the cost of business. It was a high price, that’s for sure. But if the Cubs wanted to get a pitcher under team control, this was going to be the cost. It was a similar situation with Aroldis Chapman and Gleyber Torres. The Cubs were on the verge of winning the World Series and needed that one guy. It was a fair trade for 108 years of misery.

But it seems now that since the Cubs have won, the fans don’t think we should ever give up prospects. Everyone has an opinion of Jason Heyward. I get that. And there’s nothing we can do to change anybody’s mind on him. The Cubs invested a substantial amount of money into him, and here he is. The Cubs, at the time, didn’t have a spot for Eloy Jimenez.

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I hope some eat their words

And as far as Kyle Schwarber? I’m on that hype train. The kid came up, smashed the ball all over the field. When he got hurt, and people were ready to abandon him.

I’ll be honest; I hope that Schwarber sticks it to some of the fans that have no faith in him anymore. That would make me so happy. But the Cubs do believe in him and weren’t ready to pull the plug just yet. So nowhere to play there.

Still the right call

And what about Dylan Cease? Will we regret that one? Not likely. First, Cease has to make it to the majors. He’s on his way, but nothing is guaranteed. And Cease was still the middle of next year before he’d be ready. The Cubs needed pitching now. And while it was frowned upon by some, it was the right move.

This isn’t the first of these types of trades. And it isn’t going to be the last, either. Lou Brock. Josh Donaldson. Chris Archer. Ryne Sandberg. Even Addison Russell. It happens to every team. And every team is prepared for it. It’s not a business for the timid. At times, you have to give up something you know is good for that chance to win.

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Some might think the Cubs are giving up prospects too soon. Others know that the Cubs are doing everything they can to keep the championship window open as long as possible. You can’t appease everyone. It’s just the way it is, and always will be. It’s easy to run a franchise from the safety of your couch. But it’s another to put your neck on the line for every move.