Chicago Cubs: Four possible trades within the National League Central

Chicago Cubs: Could one of these two find their way down Interstate 94?

While it may be next to impossible to pry Christian Yelich away from the Brewers, imagine the double whammy that would be the fleecing subtraction of Yelich from Milwaukee and the addition of Yelich to the North Siders. Now that you’re done with that exercise in futility, take a look at the other guy in the picture above and imagine him rounding back into form as a healthy 34-year-old who puts up similar numbers as 2018.

If Lorenzo Cain could be had for less than full salary in a sort-of purge of salary for Milwaukee, the Cubs would be crazy not to listen and at least inquire as to what it would take to get him. If fully recovered from minor injuries suffered throughout 2019, Cain could be a perfect addition to the Cubs as he can man centerfield at an elite or at least above-average level even as he ages the next three years of his contract. He’s also a high average guy who gets on base to the tune of a .347 OBP for his career. If he does that, he’ll be good; if he can replicate 2018 when he posted a .395 OBP, he’ll be great.

Pencil him at the top of the lineup and in centerfield 150 times during the season, and new manager David Ross will already have two answers to questions Joe Maddon couldn’t solve the past couple seasons. Making $51 million over the next three years after signing a 5 year/$80 million contract in 2018, the Cubs would be interested only if the Brewers could eat some of that money. If they were willing to eat $10-20 million of that, I think the Cubs might be interested, even with their current budget shortfall.

Also, depending on what kind of package the Cubs would send back, the numbers might adjust a bit. Ian Happ, Brennen Davis, or Adbert Alzolay could be in play for the Cubs if they think Cain will return to form and give them three good years. Of course, the flip side to all this is, of course, what if one of those guys ends up killing the Cubs 19 times a year for five years down the road? That’s what you get by trading in your own division, though.