5 Chicago Cubs MLB trade deadline chips whose value is skyrocketing

The time is coming for some serious decision making in the Chicago Cubs front office. By now we’ve all heard the rumors, we know the speculation. This team is going to be sellers at the end of the month. It is an unfortunate way to end an unquestionably successful era of Cubs baseball that dates back to 2015.

Seems like yesterday they were hoisting the World Series trophy in 2016. At the same time, it seems like forever ago. Nevertheless, here we are. Less than a week and a half away from the July 30 trade deadline, it’s time to look at who currently has high value in terms of trade, whether or not they should be moved and why.

5 Chicago Cubs whose trade value is skyrocketing: 5 – Dillon Maples.

There’s quite a few things I love about Maples. For one, he is currently under team control until 2027. He is still very cost effective, something teams love. Even better, his career ERA is up there at 5.06 in 48 innings of work. However, in 2021 he owns a 33.7 strikeout rate and 1.89 ERA in 24 frames to go alone with a minuscule .122 batting average against. That is half of his major league career thus far. This clearly means he has found something and is putting it all together.

Cost effective with great numbers is the type of combination any GM can’t resist. However, to simply trade Maples by himself if you’re the Cubs wouldn’t make much sense from a financial standpoint or any standpoint to be honest. However, when you pair Maples with the possibly of trading one of your all stars such as Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Craig Kimbrel, etc, now all of the sudden you’re putting together a package that could have a mighty nice return from a contending team looking to stay atop of their division.

With Maples quietly putting it all together, the question would simply be, what is a team willing to give up in terms of their higher prospects for a potential package of Kimbrel and Maples, for example? Kimbrel has a club option for 2022 and Maples’ contract is dirt cheap. Is that enough to net you a blue chip talent in return?

5 Chicago Cubs whose trade value is skyrocketing: 4 – Andrew Chafin

Otherwise known as ‘The Sheriff,’ Andrew Chafin is having a fantastic year in Cubbie blue. For a guy that has been lights out pretty much all season, $2,750,000 is not a bad price to pay for your eighth inning setup man. Not an unrestricted free agent until 2023, his contract for 2022 includes a mutual option and $500,000 buyout.

Legend has it, his mustache grows a millimeter longer for every batter he strikes out. At 8.3 punchouts per nine innings of work, you can see that to be true. His numbers have been remarkable all year. In fact, this is the best year he has had in his entire career. A 1.38 ERA (two whole runs down from his career 3.39), an otherworldly 2.3 percent walk rate and just six earned runs allowed in 39 innings of work has landed Chafin on our list of those whose value is sky-high approaching the deadline

Much like Dillon Maples, putting together a trade for just Andrew Chafin is rather, how do you put it, you’d rather just keep Chafin at that point instead. Putting Chafin together with a guy like Kris Bryant – who a team like the New York Mets have shown real interest in? That’s another story.

A scenario such as this gives them KB and another solid piece to further strengthen their bullpen. What could a return look like? I am not 100 percent sure as KB is a rental. Could it return their number one or two prospect by adding in Chafin?

If Hoyer is looking to retool and turn this thing around quickly, putting together stronger packages for top prospects that are nearing big league-ready status, instead of selling an individual player for lower end prospects may be the way to go. Get yourself the best young up-and-coming player you can. Set yourself up nicely in the next two years by dumping the guys who wont be here then anyway.

5 Chicago Cubs whose trade value is skyrocketing: 2 – Brad Wieck

Though currently on the 10 day IL with an irregular heartbeat since July 9, I’m not sure why people aren’t talking more about Brad Wieck.

In 17 innings pitched, Wieck’s ERA sits at a perfect 0.00. That includes facing teams like San Diego, multiple outings against Milwaukee, the first-place San Francisco Giants, etc.

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Wieck is much like Maples in regards to his contract. He doesn’t hit free agency until 2026. He also still has another full year before even reaching arbitration. His cost for 2021? $570,500. It just doesn’t get much more club friendly for a guy that dominates every time he steps on the mound.

I understand two… three, four outings of lights-out work but 17 innings in 15 appearances is saying something now. With a 14.9 K/9, or 28 Ks in 17 innings, it makes you look twice.

So again, here we have a dominant arm with years of team control remaining. I don’t expect every single one of these young solid arms to be traded, nor should they be. Although, I do think it would be a solid move to put together at least one strong trade package with one of our pending free agent all stars to land a top prospect in the league.

Think about putting together a package for Vladimir Guerrero three years ago before he even got called up. His price tag would have been high but look at what Vladdy is doing for Toronto now.

These are the caliber prospects I would be thrilled to see Jed go after. The ball players that are the stars of tomorrow. A fresh new core.

Last on our list we leave you with Mr. “Well, obviously,” but there are many reasons he is #1.

5 Chicago Cubs whose trade value is skyrocketing: 1 – Craig Kimbrel

Remember in June 2019 when the Cubs had absolutely zero bullpen and had blown more save opportunities than what felt like literally anyone ever? Sitting there watching the Cubs and the notification flashed across your smartphone or tablet:

“The Chicago Cubs reportedly agree to a deal with free agent Craig Kimbrel”

I jumped out of my chair and thanked the Baseball Gods.

And then… he posted a 6.53 ERA, followed by a 5.28 in 2020. What happened?

Fortunately for us, what happened doesn’t matter now, because Kimbrel is as absolutely electric as they come this year. Whatever happened, he figured it out in a major way. Just look at this man’s career numbers. The only two bad seasons he had were 2019 and 2020. This year, to go along with Maples, Chafin and Wieck, is his best ever. A 0.52 ERA (two earned runs) in 34 2/3 innings with a 15.6 K/9. Unreal numbers and 22 saves on top of it. He has not allowed an earned run since May 15, over two months ago.

So what do you do? Given then fact the Kimbrel boasts 370 saves – the most among active relievers – and is still only 33, I am perfectly OK with not letting the man go. Ever. A career 2.07 ERA will do that to people. Kimbrel is destined to be among the greats of all-time closers. However, for Kimbrel, he does have a club option for 2022, making him all the more valuable in a trade in the coming week and a half before the deadline.

I can cook up scenarios in my head for Hoyer all day long. Combinations of Kimbrel and Wieck. Kimbrel and Chafin. Kimbrel and Maples. Want to get crazy? What would a return look like for Bryant and Kimbrel? The prospect return alone would catapult our farm system into the top 5.

Whatever happens regarding our core or our young contract friendly arms, I just hope Jed doesn’t sell them all. Or, sell them off for nothing at that. The Cubs have a truly unique opportunity to become dominant in the standings again very soon if they execute this trade deadline properly.