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Cubs Rumors: Roenis Elias could be a quality option at the trade deadline
Cubs Rumors: With the trade deadline approaching, the Chicago Cubs will likely be ‘buyers’ as they gear up for what is sure to be a chaotic second half to the season.
One name, in particular, Roenis Elias, has been linked to the club as a potential trade target.
Welcome to trade deadline season where the rumors are hot, and teams seek to go all out in an attempt to make themselves better. The Chicago Cubs are one team in the thick of it all and are more than likely to add a few pieces before the calendar flips to August.
Adding Craig Kimbrel back in June became the mid-season talk of the town and can hopefully act as a catalyst to another deep October run. However, the Cubs do not seem to be done as in the coming weeks there is a high chance some new faces arrive in the Windy City.
One such name is Elias. After a blazing hot start out of the gate, the Mariners now find themselves in dead last in the American League West and, knowing the track record of General Manager Jerry Dipoto, will likely be sellers at the deadline. It could be a prime opportunity for Chicago to swoop in and make a deal.
Cubs Rumors: Balling on a budget
After signing Kimbrel to a $45 million deal last month, the Cubs will likely be shopping in the bargain bin come July 31st. While the excitement and allure of going out to land a big fish is always a fun thought, that reality does not exist, and that is entirely okay.
Elias is currently on a one-year/$910,000 contract with Seattle, however, is cost-controlled through 2021, which is excellent as it would not break the bank for the team if they were to bring him in via trade.
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An intriguing option, Elias is not having the best season for the Mariners as he currently sports a 4.07 ERA. There are many things about his season, however, which do not tell the entire story.
For instance, Elias from last season has increased his strikeout percentage from 16.2% to 23.8%. He has also managed to keep his walk rate still relatively low at 8.6%, and batting average against from hitters is at just .220, which is a good sign.
Another exciting aspect of Elias’ game is his fastball and probably profiles as his best pitch. While the velocity for it sits in the 66th-percentile according to Statcast, his spin rate on the fastball is in the 91st-percentile, giving him one of the nastiest moving fastballs in the league.
Despite the higher ERA for Elias this season, over the past two years since the Mariners reacquired him, Elias sports an outstanding 3.29 ERA in 93 innings pitched. In that span, Elias has managed to hold opposing hitters to a .233 average and striking out 19.7% of batters faced. He also has a sub-one HR/9 rate.
Cubs Rumors: Never too many lefties in relief
The Cubs have been one of the more relief cycle happy teams in baseball this season as a smorgasbord of guys have logged innings out of the pen, many of which have not done well. Last season at the deadline the Cubs brought in Jesse Chavez who many believed to be washed up which ended up being the complete opposite case.
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Sometimes a player needs a new home to go back to their old selves. In the case of Chavez, this is precisely what happened. Elias is a few years younger than Chavez was at the time Chicago brought him in; however, it could be the case for Elias in that a new uniform could yield new results.
As Elias is a left-handed reliever, this should only help to bolster the bullpen depth. The Cubs currently have Kyle Ryan who has pitched well himself this season carrying a 3.31 ERA. Outside of that, the left-handed core is pretty thin. Elias could be that guy to change everything throughout the second half.
*Stats current as of 7/15