Cubs Rumors: Yankees could be eyeing outfielder Joc Pederson

It seems like it’s way too early to be talking Cubs rumors, but apparently I’m mistaken. More than half of this roster is on one-year deals, so there could be widespread turnover ahead of the July 30 trade deadline this summer that goes far beyond just the three big-name stars we’ve talked about for months now.

The latest on the rumor mill? It starts with this report from Jon Morosi, detailing the Yankees’ desire to add some much-needed left-handed pop.

On the heels of that report, CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry ran with some speculative trade targets for the Bronx Bombers, who entered the week at 22-18, two games back of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. Among the players he specifically noted was Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson, who has been on an absolute tear of late.

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Over his last seven games, Pederson has hit .391/.391/.522 and over his last 14, he’s batting .400/.432/.475 – a major improvement from how he started the year. He makes a ton of sense as a trade chip for Jed Hoyer, especially if he keeps playing well over the next month.

Cubs: A lot to love about Joc Pederson

For starters, he’s on a one-year deal – so there’s no long-term baggage that comes with him. Teams know what he can do in the huge moments (remember, he put up a 1.200 OPS last fall as the Dodgers won the World Series), so a big market team like the Yankees aren’t going to be worried about his ability to handle the spotlight.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nobody on this roster is untouchable at this point. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made that perfectly clear when he traded Yu Darvish last winter. It’s about the next era on the North Side – plain and simple.

Among the others noted in the CBS report include Rangers star Joey Gallo, Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander and Arizona utilityman Eduardo Escobar. I’d say the asking price would probably be lowest on Pederson, but that will also be shaped by how the next month or so plays out.

For now, add Pederson to your list of potential Cubs trade pieces. If Chicago can get some long-term assets in a deal, there’s little reason to expect the front office to hold onto him for the duration of 2021, especially if the team continues to tread water in the standings.