Chicago Cubs: Prospects will be likely trade pieces, not core players

Chicago Cubs: Team could gamble on their prospects instead

The other prospect piece was Candelario who went to the Tigers for left-hander Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila.  This trade is less impactful so far, as Candelario has struggled his last two seasons in Detroit.  Wilson struggled over two seasons in Chicago and left in free agency, and Avila also left as a free agent.

So it’s a mixed bag of results. Both Almora and Happ struggled mightily to break out at the big league level. Jimenez and Cease did as well and Candelario has just disappeared.  What’s to say any of the current four in the top 100 won’t struggle just much?

But this year I’m betting against it, even with the well-discussed needs.  Amaya is only 20 and hasn’t played above High-A ball, Davis is also 20 had hasn’t played above Single-A ball, Hoerner was brought up from Double-A and with fewer than 400 plate appearances needs more time.

As for Marquez, he just projects too high to let him go. We have no idea if one of these guys is another Candelario, or just maybe another Gleyber Torres, and it’s not a risk worth taking.