Chicago Cubs Rumors: They should buy if the Nationals are selling

It’s clear that the Chicago Cubs will be in on the action at the trade deadline. How much are they willing to invest/trade to help this team fight its way to the top?

The trade deadline can be its own monster. The Chicago Cubs have needs, and if you mention a player that’s on the block, you can try to make a ‘hypothetical’ trade for them. There is one team though I feel like the Cubs should have their eye on, and that’s the Washington Nationals. Sean Doolittle has been brought up already to help solidify the bullpen. But Mike Petriello over at MLB.com points out another good–but aging–option. Howie Kendrick.

Kendrick has always been a solid player, but in recent years he’s moved to the bench as a consistent contributor wherever he’s been. But Kendrick will be turning 36 when the deadline approaches. The Cubs had good luck when they signed Ben Zobrist to a three-year deal. And even if he doesn’t play again for the Cubs, he was well worth the money. Kendrick would be a rental, as the 14-year veteran will be a free agent in 2020.  He’s hitting the ball as well as he has in the past few seasons. The slugging is up, but that can be attributed to the ball sailing out of parks regularly.

One thing you can’t blame the ball on is contact, and hard contact, at that. A hard hit ball is considered 95+ mph exit velo by Statcast, and Kendrick is sixth in the league at 51.3%. To give a comparison. Kyle Schwarber is the first Cubs player by percentage at 51.2–right behind Kendrick.

Another reason for his resurgence is not striking out as often. This season it’s only 13.5%. How good is that? It’s the 25th lowest in baseball. Right behind Kendrick is Anthony Rizzo at 13.8. I keep pointing out the Cubs ‘comparisons’ because these are starters, Kendrick is a ‘super-sub’ of sorts. He’s played first, second, third and both corner outfield spots over the last two seasons. Rizzo and Kris Bryant have the corner infield locked up, but second base is intriguing.

The combination of Addison Russell and Daniel Descalso has been a pathetic duo at second, hitting just .205/.290/.321. David Bote has played some second, as well, and has fared better with a slash of .258/.315/.455. Critical thinking says the Cubs need to keep Russell as he’s the only backup at shortstop. Descalso? He’s almost become insignificant on the roster, much like Mark Zagunis was before being sent out.

The Cubs might still consider Doolittle, who is signed through 2020 for $6.5 million. But working a deal for Doolittle and Kendrick might help push the Chicago Cubs over the top. It might not cost them an MLB piece, but Ian Happ is sitting down in Triple-A, and other clubs know that, too.