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A large part of the discussion surrounding the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline was about the moves the team didn't make. The Cubs didn't make an aggressive pursuit of Eugenio Suarez and balked at the asking prices for a controllable starting pitcher. The Cubs came away from the deadline with a pair of new relievers, Michael Soroka and Willi Castro. Not exactly the "all-in" measures that Cubs fans were hoping for at the deadline, but were the moves the Cubs left on the table really ones that would have moved the needle?
Yes, there is some hindsight required for this discussion; however, it needs to be had. Especially with how widely Jed Hoyer was mocked for the moves that he didn't make at the deadline.
3 players the Cubs are glad they didn’t land at the trade deadline
Eugenio Suarez, 3B
The discussion surrounding the Cubs' potential pursuit of Eugenio Suarez was a fascinating one. Suarez was an All-Star third baseman with the Arizona Diamondbacks, battling with Shohei Ohtani for the home run lead in the National League. Suarez being on the trade market also arrived at a time when Cubs' rookie third baseman Matt Shaw appeared to be turning a corner. Since the deadline, Suarez is carrying a 63 wRC+ with 3 home runs while hitting under .200. Meanwhile, Shaw has 5 home runs with a wRC+ of 172. The Cubs took a gamble on Shaw, and it seems to be paying off.
Mitch Keller, SP
It felt like Mitch Keller was going to be the Cubs' fallback option at the deadline if they weren't able to land one of Edward Cabrera, Joe Ryan, or MacKenzie Gore. Fortunately, the Cubs didn't panic and hand Owen Caissie to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Keller. Keller has been bad since the All-Star break and wouldn't have been the answer the Cubs would have pegged him to be if they did move forward with the potential trade.
Sandy Alcantara, SP
The cost to acquire Sandy Alcantara wouldn't have matched the level of production that Alcantara has been showing with the Miami Marlins. Alcantara was one of the worst pitchers in the National League to open the season, and it's been better, but still bad, since the trade deadline. Alcantara is carrying an ERA of 4.68 in 25 innings pitched since the deadline. Considering a trade likely would have involved Owen Caissie, Matt Shaw, and Cade Horton, it feels like the Cubs made the right move in terms of steering clear of this trade.