3 unexpected Cubs who will be traded this season

Cubs could look to flip Andrew Chafin (or any other high-performing arm)

For our purposes, we’ll focus here on Andrew Chafin, the team’s mustachioed lefty who has quickly become a fan favorite on the North Side. But, again, it’s worth pointing out again that pretty much anybody on a one-year ‘prove it’ deal or in their final year of control could be dealt this season.

We’ve talked at length about how a resurgent Craig Kimbrel could wind up being the team’s most valuable trade chip. But someone like Chafin could wind up being a nice piece for a contender looking to bolster its rotation prior to the stretch run.

The southpaw came out guns blazing this season, striking out opponents at an absurd rate of 17.4 K/9. Of course, he’s also battled control issues – but the swing-and-miss stuff is definitely there. He’s made a half-dozen appearances on the year and has had just one poor showing, putting up zeroes the rest of the time.

On a very affordable one-year, $2.75 million deal and with a track record of success (3.22 FIP across nearly 350 big league appearances), it won’t be difficult for Jed Hoyer to find takers for someone like Chafin – and it could be these more ‘fringe’ moves that wind up dominating the team’s trade deadline if they can’t get what they deem fair value for their star players.