Chicago Cubs: Did the front office do enough at the trade deadline?

Chicago Cubs: Did the Cubs add enough to the bullpen?

Had you ever heard of Jesse Chavez before the Cubs traded for him? Were you disappointed when the Cubs acquired him? Did a little piece of you fear that he was the only trade the Cubs were going to make this year?

I had those thoughts and feelings when the Cubs first traded for Chavez. It felt very similar to when the Cubs traded for Dan Haren in 2015. But Chavez has turned into one of those sneaky great moves such as when the Cubs added Mike Montgomery in 2016.

The Cubs weren’t done adding to their bullpen. They also added Brandon Kintzler right before the dealine, when the Nationals dumped him. Just this week they signed Jorge De La Rosa, too.

And once again the Cubs will make a big acquisition via a guy coming off the DL when their closer, Brandon Morrow, returns from injury. The Cubs also have a couple of other Major League pitchers rehabbing in minors who will probably join the team after Sept. 1 in Anthony Bass and Drew Smyly.

I wasn’t sure the Cubs needed to make any trades at this year’s trade deadline. But the pitchers that they acquired might be difference makers. The front office acquired these pitchers without giving much. And the Cubs are due to get back one of their best hitters, an ace starting pitcher and their closer from injury.

The fact that the Cubs have so much depth that they have been able to tread water so well without those three is a great compliment to the front office and the players who have stepped up in their absence.