Cubs Rumors: Are the Cubs about to ‘clean house’?

Face it. The Chicago Cubs would be in an ideal situation to sell-off the assets and start over. So should they too, or try to squeeze one more year out of it?

The Chicago Cubs will be without Jose Quintana, Billy Hamilton, Jason Kipnis, Stephen Souza Jr., and–Anthony Rizzo? Rizzo’s okay, for now. But what will happen when the team includes Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Ian Happ to the trade block? It’ll be pandemonium. I don’t think that will happen–but I’ve been wrong before. Just ask.

The Cubs’ Jon Lester and Rizzo have options for next year. I see Rizzo’s being picked up. It’s $16.5 million, and to be honest? It’s not that bad a deal. But with Lester? It’s $25 million and a $10 million buyout. What do they do? The key is to get inside that $25 and $10 million. Say two-years at $10 million? And I’m not sure you want Lester for two years. He’s had a dip in velocity, but I have to be honest? He battles.

More from Chicago Cubs Rumors

• The latest Cubs rumors on the morning of the trade deadline
• Cubs could give White Sox badly-needed bullpen help
• Cubs trade piece Mychal Givens riding an insane scoreless streak
• Cubs Rumors: The latest on Juan Soto, Ian Happ and Willson Contreras
• Cubs Rumors: Mets, Yankees both have sights set on David Robertson

But Schwarber, Happ and Heyward? Maybe Yu Darvish? That’s considered ‘cleaning house,’ and that’s considered ‘muy mal’ to the Cubs. Happ and Heyward were considered top of the class by the team. Happ hit .258, but he had 12 home runs and 28 RBI. J-Hey batted .258 with six home runs and 22 RBI. Not good enough for a league MVP, but plenty to be MVP of the team.

Darvish is an interesting one. He had a Cy Young season, posting an 8-3 record with 93 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched–but he’ll likely get beat out by Trevor Bauer. He went 5-4 on the year but had the best ERA with 1.78 and two complete games and two shutouts.  Still, Darvish will get a few votes for Cy Young. Two or three pitchers for Darvish and a PTBNL? It’s possible, but not probable. I say they keep Yu.

I’d say the four or five guys mentioned here are good, besides Schwarber. He’s got the ‘most likely chance’ to leave. I don’t assume that. But as I’ve mentioned, I’ve been wrong before. But Happ, Darvish and Heyward are set for now. Now, they’re not in the mix for the playoffs? And they’re playing well enough to be traded?

Pandemonium.