Cubs Trade Rumors: Which current players should be moved at the deadline?

The struggling Albert Almora Jr. cannot seem to find much playing time these days, so maybe he should be moved while he still has some value left.

As previously mentioned, there are a few current Cubs players who we thought would be the future of the team for years to come, but they just are not improving as we hoped. One that comes to mind in regards to this is Albert Almora Jr.

The outfielder has been one of the best defenders in the game since making his debut in 2016 but has not been able to figure it out at the plate, especially in the past two seasons. Almora struggled to find consistency, and it has shown during the 2020 campaign: .167/.265/.200 with a .465 OPS in 34 plate appearances this season.

David Ross made it clear from the start he would have a short leash with the struggling outfielder who now shows up as a defensive replacement late in games and occasionally makes a spot start. This role makes it hard to believe he can turn it around in the remaining 26 games and will likely need a fresh start somewhere else to revive his bat.

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It would be hard to determine what precisely the Cubs could get for Almora at this point. At just 26 years old, and unable to become a free agent until the 2023 season, there could still be some upside for teams who would like to take a shot.

Almora’s best season came in 2017, where he slashed .298/.338/.782 with eight home runs, 46 RBI to go along with a .782 OPS. The outfielder hit .277 the previous season in 47 games and .286 in 152 games during the 2018 season. This, combined with some spectacular play in the outfield, makes what we have seen recently, such a disappointment for a player many thought would take his game to the next level.

If the Cubs hang on to Happ (free agent 2024), Heyward (free agent 2024), and Schwarber (free agent 2022), there may not be any room for Almora to get playing time and make necessary improvements at the plate, not just this season, but moving forward as well.

If this is the case, is he worth holding onto as he continues to struggle on the bench?