Cubs: Evaluating the odds each player is traded this offseason

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It seems the Cubs will finally make some long-awaited trades. But who will go?

The Chicago Cubs face some immense decisions as they look at their roster. Will they hang on to any of the players who played a role in ending a 108-year championship drought? Or is it open season on the position player core? It’s a tough decision to make, but it’s long overdue. We’ve potentially got as many as eight players on the ‘chopping block,’ so to speak. So who will stay and who will go?

I present to you, in no particular order, six players I believe will be floated on the block. These are the guys who, if on the roster come Opening Day, could be big stories at the trade deadline. Some may be in a different uniform long before next July though. Heck, maybe all of them will – who knows? Let’s get started.

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks is on a team-friendly deal and oozes consistency

The Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks is signed through 2023 with a vesting option for 2024. ‘The Professor’ is a diamond in the rough. And you know what’s nice? He doesn’t throw that hard. He gets to 88 or 89 MPH, possibly hitting 90 here and there – but that’s it. But the changeup is killer, and he throws two of them.

He may not have the arsenal of his teammate Yu Darvish. But his sinker, paired with a changeup, curveball and his four-seamer, have made him one of the most consistent arms in the league in recent years. Hendricks knows how to utilize his full mix of pitches to hitters on both sides of the plate.

Given his intelligence and the fact he doesn’t rely on velocity (which often decreases over time), I’d like to think Hendricks is going to be a mainstay on the North Side for the rest of his career.

Trade? – 0% chance

Cubs: Anthony Rizzo is the unofficial captain and face of the franchise

The Cubs picked up a $16.5 million option on Anthony Rizzo’s deal that keeps him in Chicago for at least one more season. He’s said he would like to finish his career in Chicago, but you can’t always have what you want. In the end, it’s a business. Hopefully it’s a business that allows him to remain with the Cubs, though.

In 2020, he hit just .222 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI. He’s started with back spasms and inflammation in the last couple of years. In the end, though? He’s good to go. In 2019 through March/April, he slashed .228/.371/.485 – but by the end? He hit .293 with 27 home runs and 96 knocked in, while leading the league with 27 HBP.

He means a ton to the franchise and its fans. Still, if there’s anything we’ve learned this year, you can never say never.

Trade? – 25% chance

Javier Baez – Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports /

Cubs are reportedly willing to listen to offers for Javier Baez

The Cubs’ Javier Baez is a different sort of player. With the MLB logo tattooed above his neck, you know this is a guy who lives to compete. Back in 2014, he homered on his first play. That’s when we knew he was here to stay. He strikes out – a lot. But his game is so much more than that.

He won his first Gold Glove in 2020 (finally) and his infectious energy is something that is rare, to say the least. When he puts it all together, it’s something to behold. Remember. In 2018, he finished runner-up in the NL MVP race after hitting 34 home runs and leading the league with 111 RBI.

By all offensive standards, this wasn’t a good year for Baez. He hit just .203 with eight home runs and 24 RBI (wRC+ 57). But in all honesty, pretty much the whole team underperformed – with the exception of some pitchers. Baez is heading into his final year of team control and we know there’s likely to be interest from other teams. All things considered, I think he’ll sign with the team long-term. After all, it looked like the two sides were close on something when COVID-19 hit this spring.

Trade? – 5% chance

Cubs: Kris Bryant is also coming off a down year at the dish

The Cubs’ Kris Bryant ‘is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.’ In 2020, he slashed .206/.293/.351 with a wRC+ of 76, every one of those marks a career-worst. In terms of average, Jason Heyward was ‘best’ on the team at .265. Not much difference between them, per se. Still, Bryant was barely over the Mendoza line – not what you want to see from your former MVP.

In 2016, he was brilliant. Bryant slashed .292/.385/.554 with an OPS+ 146 with 39 home runs and 102 RBI with 121 runs scored in 155 games. He led the Cubs to a World Series title and MVP honors in the National League, following up on his sensational Rookie of the Year campaign. Since then, it’s gone downhill. He was a 0.5 WAR player in ’20. He was a 7.9 WAR in ’16. Oy vey. Can he get on track? Who knows. Personally, I think he’ll be traded before the season starts.

Trade? – 95% chance

Kyle Schwarber – Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Cubs: Kyle Schwarber could be the most logical trade chip

Kyle Schwarber is one of those players I seem to struggle with. He’s got big-time power, but the average leaves a lot to be desired. He hit for a .188 average this year, but did tally 11 home runs and 24 knocked in. Ian Happ hit 12 home runs and knocked in 28. But he also batted .258. That’s a huge difference between Happ and Schwarber in average. So which way do you go with him?

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In 2019, he hit 38 homers and knocked in 98 runs, putting together an insane second half alongside Nicholas Castellanos. Plus, he finished with a .250 average, his highest in the majors. In theory, you’ll keep him until the deadline next summer.

That way, you’ll find out exactly what to with him. You’re out of the race? Trade him. Even if the Cubs find themselves loosely in the hunt? I say trade him. If he’s putting up eye-popping numbers, regardless of average? You’ll get a good return on your investment.

Trade? – 90% chance

Cubs: Yu Darvish has emerged as a legitimate force to be reckoned with

Yu Darvish is not going anywhere. He turned in one of the best seasons of his career in 2020 with the Cubs, posting an 8-3 record and 2.01 ERA. Not to mention, he had a FIP of 2.23 with a WHIP of 0.961. He’ll be a free agent in 2024, and that’s just fine with me. He’s got a ten-pitch arsenal. Ten pitches? He won’t use it all, but he’ll get close.

Darvish and Hendricks should be the No. 1 and 2 starters in the rotation. And Darvish at the top looks as good as anyone. Darvish finished second in Cy Young voting – and you can make the case he should’ve won the thing. I know it was a 60-game season and all, but he was impressive. In the end, I don’t see him leaving.

Trade? – 0% chance

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So there you have it—six players who will be on the block. Obviously, I don’t know who will stay or who will go. Bryant and Schwarber should be gone, with the other four remaining ‘intact,’ for now.

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