5 Chicago Cubs trade candidates: Who should stay and who should go?

5 Chicago Cubs trade candidates: Could dark horse candidates be on the move?

While I certainly don’t want to see guys like Kyle Hendricks or Willson Contreras dealt and not a part of the 2022 and beyond, if we’re breaking up the band, why wouldn’t Hoyer listen to offers on everyone?

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Hendricks is a top 10 pitcher who no one thinks is. If another team values him as such on a ridiculously team-friendly deal, who knows what they might be offering? Two top 50 arms from a good farm system might be rather enticing for a team that has struggled with homegrown pitching for a decade.

Contreras, likewise, is a top 5 all-around catcher, no matter how you slice it. He could be extremely valuable to just about any team, and if the price is right… well, strike while the iron is hot I guess. `

Do I think either one will be dealt at this deadline? No. Should they be? Well, that all depends on the deal offered I suppose. That’s why they pay Hoyer and I’m not asked for my input.

In terms of other guys you might see go, why not deal guys like Andrew Chafin, Ryan Tepera, or Zach Davies? Anything they can jettison from the sinking ship (or adrift if you prefer that analogy) would be prudent at this point.

Again, not that I want to see any of these guys traded, but we are where we are right now, and may as well make the best of the current situation. If that means selling and getting the most value from each player who’s going to be a free agent anyhow, may as well pull the trigger.