Sixto Sánchez, hurt again, could make for an intriguing Cubs trade target

Pitching is a critical component to every team – and nobody understands that as much as the Cubs, an organization that’s miserably failed at developing starting pitching over the last two decades – but also rode a three-headed monster of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks to a World Series championship back in 2016.

As Chicago moves ahead in its rebuild, being able to finally get over the hump and have some homegrown starting pitching make an impact will be a major focus for Jed Hoyer and the front office. That, however, doesn’t mean you won’t see the team look to add from the outside – and Marlins right-hander Sixto Sánchez is a guy whose name should be circled on the whiteboard.

Renowned Marlins beat reporter Craig Mish recently shed light on yet another injury to the 23-year-old, although he didn’t disclose specifics – saying though that he, “definitely can identify when an organization is extremely sour on a player and this is that player.” Reading that, you can’t help but wonder if, once the lockout ends, Miami puts Sánchez on the block.

The Dominican-born hurler played a big role for the Fish back in the shortened 2020 campaign, making seven starts and getting some down-ballot NL Rookie of the Year support after he worked to a 3.46 ERA for the postseason-bound club. Of course, we know how that first-round matchup against the Cubs went – Chicago quietly went two and out against Don Mattingly’s club, scoring just one run in the series.

Sánchez started Game 2 – which wound up being the clincher – at Wrigley Field, tossing five scoreless innings against the North Siders, allowing four hits and striking out six before giving way to the bullpen. He made one more start that postseason, coming against Atlanta in the NLDS, but after struggling, he wound up going under the knife for a shoulder procedure. Recovery from that surgery cost him the entire 2021 season, but he was expected to be back at 100 percent for 2022.

Apparently, though, that doesn’t look to be the case. And with Miami’s patience waning with the former top prospect, now could be the time for the Cubs to swoop in and pry Sánchez away in a trade.

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His stock has never been lower and his 2022 season seems to be very much in doubt, according to Mish. Given he won’t hit free agency until 2028 and the fact he’s still just 23, Sánchez is worth the risk to a team on the rise like the Cubs, who can focus on getting him healthy before turning him loose in 2023 or 2024.