Absurd Mason Miller trade will have Cubs fans thankful for Daniel Palencia's breakout

It feels like just yesterday that we were naïve and optimistic enough to assume the Chicago Cubs could be a suitor for Mason Miller.

Well, in hindsight, we should know better than to doubt A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres, because HOLY MOLY:

Leo De Vries is one of the very best prospects in baseball — certainly better than anything the Cubs have in their farm system right now — and you can be those three pitchers aren't mere "throw-ins".

Though the Padres have now built a bullpen of the gods and have turned themselves into one of the scariest potential opponents for the Cubs in the playoffs, it's a good time to remember how nice it is the Cubs have an elite, fireballing closer of their own.

Daniel Palencia's emergence gave Cubs trade deadline flexibility

Of course, the Cubs have already executed two bullpen trades of their own, bringing in Michael Soroka from the Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles yesterday.

Those trades didn't come cheap either — Ronny Cruz and Wilfri de la Cruz were two of the highest upside prospects in the system — but the Cubs didn't need to gouge their farm system for them thanks to Daniel Palencia running away with the closer's job.

In 38 2/3 innings this season, the Cubs' closer has locked down 14 saves (just six less than Miller) to go along with a 1.40 ERA, 2.60 FIP, and 28.4% strikeout rate. His 100 mph fastball might not be quite as good as the now-Padres' closer's, but it's a mighty weapon in its own right.

Thanks to that performance, the Cubs were able to narrow their search for bullpen help to middle relievers. Given the market for ninth-inning arms this deadline, it's not hard to see why Jed Hoyer and company have stayed away from that end of the market.

Because they haven't had to spend their best resources on relievers, the team's pursuit for a high-end starting pitcher remains ongoing. Shane Bieber is off the market, though it's known that the club prefers a controllable starter like Edward Cabrera or Mitch Keller if it's going to deal one or more of its top prospects (Owen Caissie remains the most likely to go).

Likewise, the Cubs still need a bench bat and/or third baseman, though those dreams took a hit when the Mariners swung a blockbuster deal for Eugenio Suárez late last night.