Chicago Cubs: Five potential trades with the American League West

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 24: Manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs smiles with Willson Contreras #40 following their team's 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 24: Manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs smiles with Willson Contreras #40 following their team's 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

In perhaps the most intriguing division in terms of past and potential future trades with the Cubs, our divisional trade series looks at a possible reunion in the American League West this week.

Some trades are about money. Some are about winning right now. Others are about winning in a few years. Sometimes, you’re just looking 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, 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 two editions in this division by division trade series (out of six) was the American League East and Central, but today it’s time to discuss some trades with the most friendly of any divisions in terms of recent Cub trades- the American League West.

Chock full of trade storylines both past and future, this division has bore fruit both rotten and ripe with the likes of Addison Russell (Athletics), Mike Montgomery (Mariners), Cole Hamels (Rangers), and Tony Kemp (Astros) all coming over to the Cubs via trades from the AL West.

Add into that already spicy and fertile divisional feeding grounds the somewhat familiar guy who now occupies the top step of the Angels top step, and this division might just engender the most intriguing trade targets and ideas yet. Shall we?

(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Could Haniger be the 2020 Castellanos?

The Cubs landed Nicholas Castellanos at the deadline in 2019 and he was everything they expected… and then some. However, with a money crunch and questions concerning Big Stick Nick’s outfield defense, is it possible the Cubs could get the same kind of guy to smack some doubles around Wrigley Field for a good deal cheaper?

Well, as a matter of fact, it might be. Mitch Haniger, a late bloomer who had a breakout 2018 campaign at age 27, just might be an option should the Cubs want to go that route despite persistent (if illogical, based on money) rumors of interest in Castellanos. Haniger is no stranger to trade speculation, and there have even been reports and trade propositions floating around out there on the interwebs about the Cubs possibly going after Haniger. Is it possible the Cubs could go from “Big Stick Nick” to “Mashed Pitch Mitch” in an offseason?

Haniger had a physically painful season in 2019 after his monster 4.5 fWAR 2018 campaign, rupturing his testicle on a foul ball in June and then missing the rest of the season with a bad back. If he is now completely healthy, the Cubs could be interested in pivoting their focus on a right-handed-hitting rightfielder from Castellanos to a much cheaper (and better fielding) Haniger. Despite being older than Castellanos, Haniger isn’t even close to hitting the open market and is still under team control for three more seasons. Those seasons also happen to line up with what should be prime years, potentially ensuring the Cubs get the best years out of Haniger before he hits free agency.

The fact that Haniger is under team control for three more years should mean he’d cost a ton in a potential trade, however his age and injuries in 2019 could whittle that price down for the Cubs. A rebuilding and out-of-contention club wouldn’t usually want to give away a guy with so many years of team control, but the Mariners have basically no shot to do anything in the AL West the next couple years given the fact the rest of the division is so much better. The need to send back close to MLB-ready prospects probably isn’t even there with the M’s either, as they have time on their side in terms of development.

Outfielders Cole Roederer and Brennen Davis are only 20 years old and shortstop Aramis Ademan is only 21. Package one of those top prospect fielders with one of Kohl Franklin (20), Yovanny Cruz (20), or Richard Gallardo (18) off the mound and you have a good start for Haniger. Throw in another young lottery ticket of M’s GM Jerry DiPoto’s choosing and Haniger could be manning right field at Wrigley for three years.

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Could Kemp be heading back to Houston?

Let’s be honest here- does Tony Kemp fit into the Cubs plans at all? Does anyone view him as a better option than any of the backup outfielders, second basemen, or utility guys we already have? Maybe it was just an underwhelming couple months with the Cubs or maybe I just think we have better options, but maybe Houston would want Kemp back?

With Nico Hoerner waiting in the wings and Ian Happ more than capable to play a few games at second or in the outfield, why would we need Kemp? Add to the mix AAA guys Zack Short and Robel Garcia, (and even lackluster Daniel Descalso) and Kemp just seems utterly redundant on the 2020 Cubs. That being said, Houston used him better than the Cubs did and he could be one of those guys who holds more value to the Astros than anyone else- or maybe it was just the garbage cans too…

My proposition is to send Kemp back to the Astros (if they’ll take him) and take on some salary for the Astros, whose payroll will skyrocket in 2020 and have already been rumored to be trying to get some relief. Speaking of relief, the salary the Cubs could take on would be reliever Ryan Pressly, a reliever who fills an area of need for the Cubs and is only signed for 2020 with a vesting option the Cubs could keep at bay if push came to shove.

This move would require the Cubs to take on $8.75 million in Pressly’s 2020 contract, but they need to sign a veteran reliever anyhow and it is an extreme area of need. Kemp is still a pre-arb player and has four more years of team control, but I just don’t see the Cubs ever needing Kemp in any significant role, nor do I even see him being a suitable utility guy. Let’s hope the Astros are serious about shedding salary and value Kemp more than me.

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: A bag of balls might get this deal done

Barring a monetary miracle in the new year, the Cubs aren’t going to be able to pay Mike Minor or Corey Kluber, even if they could pry either away from Texas in a trade. Thus, we’re left with a bit of a reach in my prospective trade with the Rangers- for a guy who isn’t even on their major league roster right now.

Theo Epstein once drafted Blake Swihart in the first round way back in 2011 before departing Boston for bluer pastures in Chicago. After tearing up the minor leagues and hitting the ground running in Beantown in 2015, Swihart has produced negative fWAR ever since. I’m not sure things are ever going to work back out for the once top prospect, but if anyone is going to give it a shot, it might be the guy who originally drafted him.

Swihart signed a minor league deal (with invite to spring training) with the Rangers earlier this month, so there’s not a ton of incentive to make a trade with the Cubs at this point, but a bag of balls or some bubble gum might be enough to let the Cubs give him a go in Spring Training. I admit this trade isn’t glamorous, likely, or likely to succeed, however the connection to Epstein and his pedigree make this an eyebrow raiser for at least two and a half seconds.

If the deal doesn’t work out, it didn’t cost the Cubs very much, and if by some miracle it would work out and Swihart would rekindle some of his once golden sheen, it still wouldn’t cost the Cubs very much at all. Swihart, while mostly a catcher with the Red Sox, was a converted shortstop who has played every position except shortstop and centerfield in the majors. Not that he plays any position well, but he is passable and usable at different spots and could represent exactly the kind of guy the 26th man will become for most clubs.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Will the Cubs need a third baseman in their future?

When you have two contending clubs, it’s hard to make a trade work out that fits both clubs and seems right because anyone a club thinks is valuable is probably worth keeping and vice-versa. Therefore, making a deal with the A’s, a small-market team that is notoriously frugal isn’t likely to shed salary or want to give up cheap and proven major league production. On the other side of the deal, the Cubs aren’t looking to take on salary at this point, and seem totally in flux in terms of their commitment to winning and keeping their core intact. No one even knows if Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, or Kyle Schwarber are staying or going, quite frankly.

In that light, my proposition with the Athletics hinges on the oft-rumored trade of Kris Bryant. Not that I want the Cubs to make that deal, as they will surely be the losers in that deal in 2020 and 2021 at the least, but if it does happen, the Cubs should be ready to pounce on possible replacements. And, given the fact the Cubs don’t really have a third base option in the system ready to go, they will need to either plug and play or go out and find someone from someone else’s club.

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Meanwhile, the Athletics have one of the best all-around third basemen in baseball manning their hot corner in Matt Chapman. If they have no designs on prospect Sheldon Neuse being their full-time second baseman (which, he really isn’t a second baseman at all), the Krukian throwback might just work in a trade.

Neuse, a third baseman who pitched and played in the field at Oklahoma, doesn’t look the part of jacked and sculpted professional athlete, but it seems he’s just a darn good baseball player no matter where he plays. Neuse slashed .317/.389/.550 at AAA Las Vegas for the A’s last year, and even had 14 hits in a cup of coffee in Oakland in September. Neuse is exactly the kind of guy who could man the hot corner for the Cubs, as his strong arm will make up for any range deficiency he might experience as he ages.

The other side of this is the crazy idea that he might even be able to throw out of the bullpen in a Michael Lorenzen-like role, although Neuse hasn’t pitched since college and you wouldn’t want him doing that if he were in the lineup every day. At the very least, he might be a guy who can do more than Victor Caratini in extra innings or blowouts, offering an easy 90mph offering that isn’t laughable. Perhaps the Angels would prefer a middle infielder for the future as they try and fill their second base hole elsewhere this offseason. A Zack Short and Chase Strumpf deal might get it done, and if doesn’t, the Cubs might look to throw in someone like Robel Garcia who could offer some competition there this spring training, or another prospect the A’s could stockpile for later.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: You just know Maddon would love a reunion with certain players

Joe Maddon is now the skipper for the Los Angeles Angels and no longer the head honcho for the Chicago Cubs. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t guys Maddon grew attached to both professionally and personally that he’d like to see join him in sunny California. And, I’d venture to guess that the feeling might be mutual given the love for Maddon from his players during his tenure with both the Rays and the Cubs.

One such warm and fuzzy relationship with Maddon is none other than current Cubs backstop Willson Contreras. Given much of the credit for the rise to success of guys like Contreras and teammate Javier Baez, Maddon could use a catcher like Contreras out in Anaheim. And, with the Cubs looking to shed payroll and starting to think about the future, perhaps they give Victor Caratini a full-time gig behind the plate and use Contreras as a chip to get something back for the near future.

Contreras has three full years of team control and the Angels have Anthony Benboom and Max Stassi. Right. In other words, they need a catcher. The Cubs could also use a centerfielder for the future. Someone like fifth-ranked MLB prospect Jo Adell. Yep. Adell for Contreras straight up. Both fan bases would probably be livid about the trade, which means it might just work out for both clubs. Or, it might not.

However, there’s a need on both side, and it’s the kind of deal that doesn’t often get made but can be productive and valuable going forward for everyone. The Angels give up their only top 100 prospect in a pretty barren farm system, but they also get a huge bat in a position of need on a team that could be very exciting in 2020.

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Thus concludes the Cubs potential trades with the American League – stay tuned for the wheeling and dealing with Senior Circuit clubs in the coming weeks.

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