Chicago Cubs: Blue Jays’ tantalizing prospects key in Craig Kimbrel trade

Chicago Cubs: Could Craig Kimbrel bring back a former first-rounder?

Should the Blue Jays be looking to make a power move, they would set their bullpen up nicely for 2022 with a dominant tandem of Jordan Romano, Kirby Yates (once back and healthy) and Craig Kimbrel.

That being said; looking at a potential return for Kimbrel, the Toronto Blue Jays boast five shortstops in their top 12 prospects, along with five total players in the league’s top 100, respectively.

Their top prospect and #9 overall talent according to MLB Pipeline, Nate Pearson is a right-hander currently on the IL with a groin issue in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. He has seen big league time, but in a small sample size posts a 6.64 ERA in only 20 1/3 innings between 2020 and 2021. The 24-year-old has posted much better numbers in his minor league career with a 2.61 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 148 frames. 

It is doubtful Toronto would be looking to let go of their top-ranked arm, so let’s turn back to stock of shortstops currently sitting in the Jays’ top 12 prospects.

Chicago Cubs: Austin Martin could be a game-changer for this team

I love the idea of a return of Austin Martin, the Vanderbilt alum who was drafted fifth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2020 draft. In 2019 for Vandy, Martin posted a ridiculous .392/.486/604 slash line in 268 ABs. Fast forward a year, in a shortened season due to COVID, Martin batted .377/.507/.660.

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In 172 at-bats for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Martin owns a .273/.402/.372 slash and is capable of playing in the outfield and infield.

At 22 years old, this is the type of player that could be vital to strengthening a core of young talent on the Chicago Cubs. For the unlimited potential in Martin and the top talent currently available via trade on the Cubs roster, I would be on the horn every day with Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins, in regards to striking a deal for Martin.

I would still be listening even if the Jays wanted the Cubs to spice up the deal with a prospect of their own, perhaps of the Dakota Mekkes variety which would also bolster the Jays’ pen moving forward.

Martin has the versatility to play multiple positions and potential to swing the bat with the best of them. Though his price tag is undoubtedly high, these are the type of players a team looking to retool such as the Cubs should be targeting and, at the very least, doing their due diligence on to see if you can pry them away with an enticing offer.

The best way to buy up these young potential superstars is by selling the current stars they have at the trade deadline, which the Cubs are trying to do anyway. A trade of this caliber would eventually be looked back at as Chicago buying rather than selling.

The time is now for the Cubs to look ahead at a potential new core. With guys such as Nico Hoerner, Austin Martin and Brennen Davis, they would be well on their way.