Chicago Cubs Rumors: Is team looking to buy low on O’s Zach Britton?

Chicago Cubs: Remember the Jake Arrieta trade?

Everyone remembers the Jake Arrieta deal. Who am I kidding. The Cubs gave up next to nothing in exchange for eventual an Cy Young winner and one of the best shutdown relievers in the game. Although Arrieta has since moved on, Pedro Strop remains as a reminder to the Orioles’ front office.

Since joining the Cubs, Strop never put up an earned run average higher than 2.91. His swing-and-miss stuff quickly made him one of Chicago’s most lethal weapons in the bullpen. This season? No exception.

The right-hander enters the All-Star Break with a 2.35 ERA and 2.91 FIP across 38 1/3 innings of work. He’s cut down his walks and maintained his strikeout abilities, making him a key stabilizer for manager Joe Maddon’s bullpen.

Despite what people say about him (and if you criticize someone for how they wear a hat, quit reading now because I have nothing more to say to you), he’s one of the most reliable arms in the league – and has been for the last half decade.

So, make no mistake. Baltimore hasn’t forgotten this deal and the subsequent consequences. But would this trade impact a Cubs-Orioles deal in the coming weeks? Probably not. I suspect the O’s will dot their ‘i’s and cross their ‘t’s in any talks with Theo and Jed, though.

Chicago Cubs: Putting together a super bullpen for October?

Last summer, the Cubs acquired Justin Wilson. That deal could have given Chicago the best bullpen in the National League. Instead, Wilson went up in flames and didn’t even make the team’s NLCS roster.

If the Cubs went out and pulled the trigger on former elite lefty Zach Britton, though, you’d have to feel pretty good about what you’re getting. Sure, he’s working back from injury. That’s the real risk in trading for him.

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Over his last seven appearances, Britton has not allowed an earned run. In fact, his 3.95 ERA can largely be attributed to his June 22 clunker, in which he allowed four earned, lasting just 1/3 of an inning. Take that away and you have a guy who’s allowed a mere two earned runs over 13 2/3 innings of work.

From 2014 to 2017, Zach Britton epitomized dominance. He made 242 appearances, pitching to a minuscule 1.61 ERA and 259 ERA+.

The two-time All-Star finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting two years ago, when he put up an unthinkable 0.54 ERA, earning 47 saves in the process.

The Cubs have the ninth covered with Brandon Morrow. But given Britton hits free agency at season’s end, adding him to the mix along with Pedro Strop as a shutdown seventh and eighth-inning arm could give Maddon a bullpen any manager would envy come October.

Chicago Cubs: Following the course of the Royals, Astros?

When the Kansas City Royals won the World Series three years ago, they did so on the back of one of the best postseason bullpens ever. Which, if you’ll remember, was anchored by last year’s Cubs closer Wade Davis.

As the Houston Astros seek a second consecutive title, a task in which the Cubs came up short last year, a similar thought seems to have crossed their minds. Dating back to last year, Houston has maintained a strong interest in the left-hander – which continues to this day. In fact, the Astros represent the Cubs’ biggest opponent should they choose to pursue Britton in the next few weeks.

Next: Make no mistake, the Cubs are the best of the best

Regardless, we know Chicago will likely add pitching – in some variety. With Cubs starters eating fewer innings than in years past, perhaps allowing Mike Montgomery to serve as a sixth starter and shoring up the bullpen would do more than dealing for a starter.