Chicago Cubs: Is Segura persona non grata in Philly?
The deal that brought Jean Segura to the Phillies last offseason was lauded as an under-the-radar move that could be the best deal of the year. Fast forward a year and Segura may be on the outside looking in as a Phillies infielder, with Didi Gregorius signed and Scott Kingery available to play up the middle. Segura had a disappointing first season in Philadelphia, with lackluster results and effort at times in a city without much brotherly love for him.
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If Philadelphia now sees it as a mistake and wants to make a Bryce Harper-Bryant team finally happen (on the south side of Philly no less), perhaps they make a major play for the former MVP. Starting with Segura going back to the Cubs as a regular starter up the middle (at second, most likely with Javier Baez at shortstop), and then adding their best pitching prospect in Spencer Howard, Philly could complete the deal by sending back some extra cash to offset the Segura deal.
How much cash, you ask? Making over $45 million over the next three seasons (including a million dollar buyout for 2023), Segura represents a mistake for the Phillies. In order to rectify said mistake and bring Bryant in, the Phillies would have to be willing to make that number less than eight digits per year for the Cubs. By throwing at least $5 million at the Cubs for each of the remaining year, they give the Cubs a starting infielder at a bargain $8-10 million per year for the next three seasons.
If the Cubs can somehow harness the guy who had a monster 5 fWAR 2016 season for the Diamondbacks, Segura might just find the North Side to be very friendly confines.