Chicago Cubs: Five realistic trade scenarios for Javier Baez

Chicago Cubs: Who but Baez at short for the Phils?

While it’s true the Cubs have disappointed many of their faithful the past few years with early flame outs in the postseason, they at least got there. The Phillies haven’t even made the playoffs since Charlie Manuel was their manager.

For those of you keeping track at home, that was 2011 – and there’s pretty much hype surrounding the Phillies and their offseason and young players every single year. Trading for Baez to replace the one-year guy in Didi Gregorious would certainly make a splash for the Fightins, and it would be a perfect fit at the bandbox known as Citizen’s Bank Park.

It would just be one year of course, but the Phils have the money to extend a guy like Baez if they feel he’s a good fit at some point during 2021. Heck, they could even make a play to include Bryant if they want to reunite the Las Vegas friends in the City of Brotherly Love.

What the Phils would offer for one year of Baez is the only question mark. The Phillies have two young shortstops who could be targets to eventually replace what the Cubs would be losing at shortstop in Bryson Stott and Luis Garcia. If the Phils bring back JT Realmuto, they might also be willing to include catcher Rafael Marchan in a deal for Baez. That might in turn make Contreras or Victor Caratini expendable in trade, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves now.