Chicago Cubs: Four possible trades within the National League Central

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In the most inherently difficult set of trades in my six-part series, I postulate on possible trades the Chicago Cubs could make within the NL Central.

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?

After covering possible trades with the entire American League (East, Central, West) in previous weeks and the NL East last week, it’s time to look in a place that looks a lot like home. Maybe because it is. This week’s set of trades comes home to the National League Central, a division that will be hard-pressed to find willing and plausible trade partners for the Cubs. Nevertheless, the show must go on and propose trades we must. At least until some actual Cubs news occurs.

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.

Chicago Cubs: This guy could also help in center field

The Pirates won 69 games last year and will be lucky to win that number in 2020. That being said, they have some very interesting pieces at the top of their payroll sheet who won’t be around by the time Pittsburgh experiences any kind of revitalization on the field. Chris Archer and Starling Marte, both 31 and signed for two more years, represent assets other teams might desire and a way to shed even more payroll from a team that is going absolutely nowhere.

Archer, the one time Cub farmhand who has teased more potential than actual realization of said potential during his career, could finally find some of that potential on in Chicago. Of course, that being said, he wasn’t very good in 2019, as his nine losses and 5.19 ERA attest. In addition, he also dealt with a shoulder injury in August. Archer is anything but a sure thing, but at two years and $20 million, isn’t he worth as much of a shot as Tyler Chatwood?

Marte is an unnecessary commodity for the Pirates as well given the fact that he’s making $24 million over the next two seasons and they’ll stink. However, he could be very valuable for Chicago, slotted in the same place Cain would be- at leadoff and in centerfield. With similar numbers as Cain with a bit more pop (and a working knowledge of the National League Central and its field/pitchers already) this makes the same kind of sense. A career .341 OBP guy, Marte also put up an impressive .503 slugging percentage in 2019 that would certainly play in Wrigley Field.

Granted the addition of these two former All-Stars would be a bit more costly than the Cubs would go for at the moment, but perhaps with some clarity on the Kris Bryant front, deals can start to be made to free up capital for 2020 acquisitions. If the Cubs are serious about contending for Ross in his first year, this deal wouldn’t take more than a couple young prospects as the salary savings alone would be a welcome thing along the Allegheny.

Chicago Cubs: If KB is lost, Suarez would be a nice replacement

Joey Votto, while a very good player, makes $25 million, only plays first base, is 36, and has a full no-trade clause. I don’t think that ones getting done even if the Reds decided to give him away – he’s just owed too much money at this point for his declining production. With the Reds expected to contend in 2020, it’s difficult to see many trades working out between divisional foes, especially given the fact the Reds have started spending some money.

While the Queen City boys do have some pieces that might interest the Cubs, those same pieces are probably of extreme value and interest to the Reds as well – and they already have control over said assets; ergo, the prices would be steep.

One name that might be a bit interesting to discuss is Eugenio Suarez. With the addition of Mike Moustakas this offseason, where will the Reds put all their infielders? They don’t have a DH and it seems they have three players for third base and first base. Unless they plan on using Moustakas at second or in the outfield (which probably wouldn’t be in their best interest), how are they going to work this out?

If it is possible to make a play for Suarez, the power-hitting third baseman torched the Cubs and seems to love hitting at Wrigley (.378/.419/.730 slash line in 43 plate appearances there last season – and the Cubs pitching was very good at home in 2019 before you start saying it’s because he was hitting against the Cubs). Though I don’t think this is much of a possibility, the acquisition of Moustakas leaves the possibility open for debate. Suarez is on a team-friendly six-year, $66 million deal that lasts until 2025 that wouldn’t break the bank for even the penny-pinching Cubs right now.

Chicago Cubs: Suarez and Baez blowing bubbles on the left side in ’20?

All that being said, it’s highly unlikely the small-market Reds want to part with him on that deal and in the middle of a contention window, even with the somewhat curious addition of Moustakas. If it were a possibility though, this one would hurt- it would require one of the Cubs top three prospects in addition to some other solid prospects.

With the Reds struggling to keep catchers healthy and productive, my guess is they’d prefer Miguel Amaya out of the Cubs top guys. In order to get this deal done, the Cubs would need to send Amaya and two other prospects of value – I threw in a future third baseman to replace what they had in 20-year-old Christopher Morel and 18-year-old pitcher Richard Gallardo.

It might take one more prospect, or even a major league ready guy like University of Cincinnati-product Ian Happ to get it done, but this is a deal the Cubs would absolutely want to make if they end up trading Bryant once his service time grievance has been resolved. Heck, if there’s any truth to the notion of picking up Arenado and moving Bryant to the outfield, why not go after Suarez even if they keep KB?

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Could there be a “You Go, We Go” reunion?

It’s not secret that the Cubs offense and team have not been the same since Dexter Fowler left to seek his well-deserved riches after the greatest season in Cubs history. No one even held it against him that he went to the Cubs most hated rivals, especially since he’s pretty much stunk up the joint over there since signing for $82 million over five years. The Cubs weren’t going to give him that kind of money, and the fact that the Cardinals did seemed to hamstring their future as well.

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It’s also not a secret that the Cubs and Cardinals don’t really trade with one another. It’s pretty tough to trade within your own division and it’s a really bitter-tasting pill to swallow when someone you’ve traded away ends up blossoming for your rival. In that light, there’s only one move the Cubs and Cardinals could really make that wouldn’t upset anyone. Step right up, Dexter Fowler.

While he’s proven exactly why the Cubs wouldn’t give him the kind of money he had earned, at this point the Cardinals would probably rather cut their losses and eat some of the money on Fowler. In addition, with some solid outfield options and the possibility that they bring back Marcell Ozuna or even Cub mercenary favorite, Nicholas Castellanos, there may not be much room for Fowler. With youngsters Tyler O’Neill and Harrison Bader needing time, do the Borings really want to spend $14.5 million on a fourth outfielder?

(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Dexter didn’t look good in red anyhow

Add in the fact that Fowler has hit only .233 and posted a less than league-average 97 OPS+ in his three seasons in St. Louis, and it’s not like they’d feel they’re losing much. If the Cardinals would be willing to eat some of Fowler’s bloated salary, it’s entirely possible the Cubs could see Fowler as a stopgap in centerfield and at leadoff for the next two seasons at a reduced cost.

The change in scenery might just reinvigorate the switch-hitting Fowler, and if he puts up the same .346 OBP he did last year in St. Louis, the Cubs offense would be jump started back into business. Fowler is due $14.5 million each of the next two seasons – if the Cards would eat half of that, they might even get some decent prospects back in return. Or, maybe they’d like Jason Heyward back and we could just do a straight-up swap? Not likely…

Next. Epstein poised to make some deals. dark

In return for Fowler at a reduced rate, the Cubs would send back a surplus outfielder in Almora who could be a fourth outfielder in St. Louis and an outfield prospect for the future in Cole Roederer. Most of this deal would be salary relief for the Redbirds at this point if they feel they want to move on from Dexter. Granted, many could see this as a return to the “winner’s trap” mentality many have speculated about since 2017, but I see it merely as a way to do business and fill areas of need at reduced cost and with a wee bit of optimism.

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