Chicago Cubs: Dusting off our overly-optimistic 2019 crystal ball

Chicago Cubs: Are you ready for this?

Chatwood and Montgomery present plenty of promise. Not so much as starting options for Chicago, but rather as viable trade options. Monty’s three years of control and Chatwood’s cost controllability and raw stuff are both valuable assets.

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The crystal ball here is quite optimistic. Chatwood and Monty are packaged together with a pitching prospect and athletic shortstop Addison Russell and sent off to the Mets in return for none other than Noah Syndergaard. The Cubs get their new ace and the player that will serve as the bridge to the staff pre- and post-Lester.

Before you shoot this down as typical Cubs optimism, yes, the Mets held onto their arms at the deadline. But they’ve wavered in their commitment to 2019 –  saying they plan to visit trading their controllable assets in the offseason and would prefer to get MLB players – not prospects – in return.

They also have openly lamented that their infield lacks athleticism and needs to get better fielding their positions. Russell addresses those needs, plays a premium position, and is a controllable asset. The pitchers give them options that can step in day one and contribute. It isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem.