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Chicago Cubs: A strong showing could help Epstein flip Chatwood
Chatwood pitched in long relief, started five games and even closed nine games. He finished with his second-best season ERA (3.76), WHIP (1.330) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.00). If the veteran hurler starts 2020, his last contract year, the way he finished 2019, the Cubs could absolutely look to deal him. At the trade deadline, his cost would be less than half of his $12.67 million AAV and well worth the bargain for a team looking to bolster its bullpen.
Now, this all hinges on at least a couple of the myriad of pitchers the Cubs are bringing into camp and have signed performing far above expectations. Can Mills, Alzolay, or one of the others step up and fill the back spot in the rotation?
Can one of the hordes of NRI pitchers like Morrow, Hultzen or De La Cruz rise to take a spot in the bullpen? If so, the Cubs could flip Chatwood and/or Quintana to clear payroll and pick up a couple of prospects as those two head out the door.