Chicago Cubs could look to the American League East in trade talks

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The Chicago Cubs could conceivably made trades with just about any MLB club. In that vein, let’s take a look at possible trades, starting with the AL East.

With reports surfacing about the Cubs desire to make a trade of some sort this offseason, rather than continuing to look at blockbuster-type trades, I’ve decided to go around the league, division by division, and propose a trade with every single team in Major League Baseball. Every team, whether great or small, small-market or gargantuan-market, contender or pretender, is in the market for a good trade.

Some trades are about money. Some trades are about winning right now. Some trades are about winning in a few years. Some trades are even just to bolster organizational depth. You know it and I know it. With that being said, we’re going to be going through each division with all of those possible trades in mind. Not for the Cubs per se, as my goal in every trade is to win.

I don’t really know (and probably never will) if that’s the order of the day for the Cubs front office and Team Epstyer, but that will be my goal. Every trade I propose will have the sole purpose of putting the Cubs in a better position to win now and possibly even going forward. You’re only promised today, so why worry about next year or 2022, right?

The first edition in this division by division trade series (out of six), this article’s focus will be the American League East. Even though the AL East has three possible contenders in its midst, some of them are looking to shed payroll, find some diamonds in the rough, and try and get better with guys they think will work for them who maybe didn’t in Chicago. Read on to see who the Cubs might target and be willing to give up for said targets.

Chicago Cubs: If not Mookie, maybe Jackie?

The Boston Red Sox want to slash payroll. Mookie Betts seems destined to hit the open market in free agency after this season. Seems like a match made in heaven, right? Yeah, I already covered this one.

While Betts would most certainly become the pièce de résistance on an already contending Cubs squad, it’s doubtful such a trade would work out, both because of money and because of what the Cubs would likely have to give up to get him.

While Betts might not work out, one of his fellow outfield mates just might. Rumors have long connected Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and the Cubs, what with the Cubs desperate for a center fielder since the first supposed “departure” of Dexter Fowler and then most definitely with the real departure when he actually signed with the Cardinals. Bradley represents a truly elite centerfield glove who has some pop and could be primed for a monster year being in a contract year.

The Cubs would only get the defensive whiz for a season, but the stopgap would give the Cubs and elite defender at two outfield positions, rather than settling for moving Jason Heyward to center and giving up his elite performance in right field. Bradley hits from the left side, walks around 10% of the time, and has had two seasons of at least 20 home runs. His career strikeout rate of 25.5% might be contrary to the Cubs contact-oriented offseason wish list, but he does fill the centerfield hole.

With career lines of .236 in the batting average department and an OBP of just .317, the 29 year-old Bradley wouldn’t be a leadoff guy, but might be a perfect candidate for hitting in front of the pitcher, as his ability to take a walk might put him on base should the lineup turn over. He also wouldn’t cost much of anything, as the Red Sox would be looking to jettison his $11 million contract a guy like Cole Roederer or Nelson Velazquez.

Chicago Cubs: This guy also knows a thing or two about playing defense.

While it would certainly be nice to pry Blake Snell away from the Rays for a bag of balls, it’s unlikely that would happen. I’m all for trying if we can, but I doubt the Rays want to get rid of a guy they control on a super team-friendly contract until 2024.

Another Rays pitcher, Charlie Morton, might be a guy of interest, but Morton is 36 and is making $15 million next year. If the Cubs wanted to spend that kind of money, they probably would have paid Cole Hamels or gone after Madison Bumgarner, who got a measly $17 million AAV in his new contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

And so, we’re left with a guy the Rays would love to keep, if only for his glove. But alas, but alas. Kevin Kiermaier, he of the three Gold Gloves, would make the same kind of defensive impact as Bradley in center field for the Cubs. Like Bradley, however, Kiermaier is only mediocre at best as a hitter. In fact, he’s more anemic than the Red Sox center fielder, with less power and plate discipline.

If the Cubs wanted to shore up defense in centerfield with no thought to offense, though, this would be the guy. Kiermaier is set to cost the Rays $36 million over the next three years (if they don’t pick up the option for the fourth season), which is probably way too much for them. If the Cubs wanted a truly elite center fielder, perhaps they send back some prospects or even their very own center fielder, Albert Almora. as part of the deal.

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Do you know the man above? Didn’t think so.

The Orioles may have been a dreadful team in 2019, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are no trades to be won between the Cubs and Baltimore. After all, the Cubs do know a thing or two about taking Orioles and making them into stars.

While this guy might not become Jake Arrieta, he could very well be the next Pedro Strop at second base for the Cubs- consistently great for a long time. The Cubs are on the record as looking to become better at contact going forward. How does a guy who strikes out less than 10% of the time sound? How about a .305 batting average? Granted, it may not make any sabermetricians tingle with delight, but it may make the Cubs front office happy.

So, who is this mystery guy from Baltimore? None other than Hanser Alberto. That’s right- Hanser Alberto. 27 years old and in his first year of arbitration, the Orioles second baseman is a solid glove man who makes a ton of contact. Sound like something the Cubs might be interested in? I thought so.

If the Cubs aren’t sold on Nico Hoerner playing second base full-time in 2020, this might be the guy. What would it take to pry a somewhat young and really cheap second baseman away from a team that isn’t going to be contending for a few years? You guessed it- prospects.

And with reports that the Cubs may be trying to lock up their star shortstop Javier Baez, we’re going to send Aramis Ademan (or Zack Short) and Chase Strumpf back to the Orioles – guys they’ll be able to use in two or three years if the Yankees (and Red Sox and Rays, for that matter) haven’t relegated them to another league by then.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Bullpen could be strong with a guy like this

Lets be frank here: despite some measured success at times, the Cubs bullpen was erratic and inconsistent in 2019. With the departure of many established and expensive veterans, the Cubs will most likely have a younger and cheaper pen in 2020. If the Cubs are looking to spend a little money in one area, it could be the guys coming out of the little door in left field. Enter Ken Giles (pun intended).

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If the Blue Jays don’t feel like they’re set to be contenders for another year or two at this point, a closer that costs upwards of $8 million in his last year of team control might be a valuable asset to trade. If the Cubs feel so inclined, they could oblige and give the Jays a guy or two who might be able to help down the road. There’s also the possibility that Cubs could sweeten the return a bit to get the Jays to eat part of that $8.4 million price tag and make it a bit more palatable.

Again, a fair return for the closer would be a couple of mid-level prospects or maybe even one pretty good prospect, depending on how badly the Jays want to be rid of that salary in a year where it’ll still be tough for them to compete. They could also bank on the trade deadline ramping up interest for Giles, but then again- he might get hurt between now and then and bring them back zilch.

Giles appeared in 53 games last year and sported a 1.87 ERA with 23 saves, but did have a cortisone shot in early August. Sounds like a perfect candidate for the Cubs pen and another guy on the back end to close games if Craig Kimbrel or newly re-signed Brandon Morrow can’t. And remember, Giles is in his last year, so he’s going to want to pitch well to earn himself a richer new deal- the Cubs should find that appealing.

Chicago Cubs: You don’t think they’d send this guy our way, do you?

Ok, so the Cubs aren’t prying the $36 million man away from the Yankees now that they have him. They also can’t really use Clint Frazier (who the Yankees don’t seem to need or want at times) and they shouldn’t be that interested in Aaron Hicks, because he just underwent Tommy John surgery. Also, because of the fact that the Yankees are in win-now-mode, it’s tough to match up for a trade.

There might be some interest in a swap for mediocre middle-of-the-rotation southpaws in a J.A. Happ for Jose Quintana deal, but the Yankees would likely have to throw in some money as part of that deal, as Happ makes more than Quintana, and the Cubs lefty is still likely better and younger. The problem is anyone of consequence is going to be someone the Yankees need or want to keep just in case.

So, in essence, the Cubs should look for redundancy in a trade with the Yankees. Who is a player that the Yankees just don’t need because a better player is blocking them? Since we can’t have Gleyber Torres or DJ LeMahieu, could we be looking for a utility or defensive back-up like Thairo Estrada? Could the Yankees look to send 2018 AL Rookie of the Year Runner-up Miguel Andujar packing with Gio Urshela essentially usurping his spot?

If the Cubs deal former MVP Kris Bryant, they’ll need a permanent fixture at third base. If the front office feels like Andujar has healed from his shoulder surgery enough to play third going forward, this could be the deal to make. Not saying I want the Cubs to deal Bryant, but with all the smoke about Bryant lately, it’s tough to believe there’ll be no fire. Andujar could represent an offensive-minded replacement to the uber-talented Bryant going forward and would certainly be a lot cheaper.

With the uncertainty of his injury and his redundancy on the Yankees roster, it’s possible the Cubs could trade for Andujar without breaking the bank or trading away the farm. A guy like Aramis Ademan or Zack Short could begin this deal as well, giving the Yankees a possible shortstop down the road in a starting or utility role. If the Cubs do lose Bryant and Andujar is 100% ready to go, it’s also possible an MLB-ready player like Tony Kemp or even Ian Happ might be the guy to go. It’s hard to believe the Yankees wouldn’t be interested in Ian Happ with his ability to hit bombs and move around the diamond on defense.

Next. 10 best Cub home runs of the decade. dark

With five trades down and the AL East in the books, be on the lookout for the other five parts of the potential trade partner series, with the AL Central up next.

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