Chicago Cubs: 3 off-the-wall trade destinations for Javier Baez

Chicago Cubs: Off-the-wall Javier Baez destination #1: Milwaukee Brewers

A painful potential trade destination, the Milwaukee Brewers.

With Daniel Vogelbach, Kolten Wong and Travis Shaw all currently on the IL, Milwaukee could be a gut-punching suitor for Javy Baez. Milwaukee’s strongest assets are with a doubt its pitchers, including four current All-Stars in Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Corbin Burnes and closer Josh Hader.

That is exactly why Milwaukee’s key focus should now turn to its offensive production. When you have three All-Stars in your starting rotation alone, all with sub-2.40 ERAs mind you, your run differential should be much higher than +46. Keeping in mind the fact Milwaukee also has an extremely solid bullpen, a stat like this can speak volume to its lackluster offense.

By contrast, let’s look at the Dodgers, whose three-headed monster consists of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Trevor Bauer (although the latter’s future is very uncertain right now). They sport a league-leading +142 run differential, which is certainly where Milwaukee will look to get as the season carries on.

When Baez is hot, he is red hot. Looking at a hypothetical line up card of Kolten Wong (once healthy) Christian Yelich, Javy Baez and Omar Narvaez, one can envision the success that would ensue. Even if it means moving players around the infield with recently added Willy Adames, Craig Counsell would find rotations and different ways to make the lineup work based on splits, matchups and what have you.

With multiple highly sought after players contracts expiring this year, It’s no surprise that just about every team will come calling.