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3 bats the Chicago Cubs can target at the trade deadline
Jed Hoyer is not done making this team the best it can be.
Given Jed Hoyer's comments recently about his confidence in what the Chicago Cubs can achieve this season, it makes sense that he addressed the need to add to the offense rather than ever consider selling at the deadline to this juncture. We've seen firsthand what this offense is capable of this season, and given Hoyer's contract status with the Cubs, he knows he needs to keep his foot on the gas and turn this team into a winner. Adding to the offense is a good place to start, and many impactful bats can be had this season at the trade deadline. Let's take a look at three of them now.
3 bats to target at the deadline - 3. Pete Alonso
With the New York Mets in a tail-spin this season, the team will likely be sellers as the trade deadline approaches. All eyes will be on Pete Alonso as one of the most coveted trade chips on the market from a hitter's standpoint, and the Cubs should be right in the thick of it. Making Alonso's availability more likely is his recent hiring of Scott Boras, all but shutting the door on an in-season extension.
Alonso still fits on this roster, even with Michael Busch and Cody Bellinger in the mix at first base. Alonso can simply DH or rotate between 1B/DH, whereas Christopher Morel can still get at-bats if he is removed from defensive duty at 3B. Alonso's offensive numbers are down this season, but his home run total is on pace for his career averages. The Cubs need his power in the clean-up spot and have plenty of prospect currency to pull this off without even coming close to depleting the farm system.
2. Elias Diaz
Trading for Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is a move that kills two birds with one stone. He is both an upgrade offensively and defensively for the Cubs, with Miguel Amaya taking the reins slower than the team had hoped. Diaz's catcher framing skills are vastly better than Amaya's and his offense would be a significant boost to the starting lineup.
With any Rockies hitter, looking at their home/road splits away from Coors Field is essential, and the results are often discouraging. Elias is slightly better on the road, with a line of .300/.356/.425 and a 123 wRC+. When you think about a hitter who can address multiple needs for the team all at once, it's hard to find somebody who fits the bill more than Diaz. He is a free agent this offseason, and like with Alonso, the Cubs have enough prospect currency to pay up in this situation to outbid other teams and ensure they secure his services at the trade deadline.
1. Alex Bregman
We live in a world where the scuffling Houston Astros may make 3B Alex Bregman available at the trade deadline. A mainstay in Houston, Bregman's offensive numbers have taken a dip this season. For his career, he is a two-time All-Star that slashes .272/.369/.482, and I'd put my money on him getting back to numbers such as those as the season churns on. His 14% K rate and elite 98th percentile whiff percentage make me think more production is on its way, even if his expected stats currently disagree.
The need at third base is obvious. Christopher Morel is not sticking well at the hot corner, and the team desperately needs a defensive upgrade. Inserting Bregman's bat into the Cubs' offense gives the team one of the better-hitting squads in the National League, and it's one upgrade Jed Hoyer will undoubtedly have his eye on depending on where prospect Matt Shaw is in his development a month and a half from now. The Astros have time to bounce back, but if they keep losing games, look for Bregman's status to become more apparent once the calendar flips to July.
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