5 Trades that Would Make the Chicago Cubs Competitors in 2024

Trade 4: The Chicago Cubs send 1B/OF Trey Mancini and RHP Michael Fulmer to the New York Yankees for RHP Chase Hampton and 3B Andres Chaparro

Trey Mancini was a player I was legitimately excited to have joined the Cubs in the offseason but it hasn’t worked out quite the way any of us would have hoped. At one point earlier this season I argued a reason for this trade would be to get Matt Mervis some more plate appearances. That one didn’t age super well as Mervis is back in AAA, but if the season is toast and we want to compete next year it may be worth letting him come back to the majors and get the struggles out in a lost season so that he can be a contributor next year.

Aside from that, Mancini has been horrific at first base and he would likely be playing a corner outfield position for the Yankees where they currently have just a 0.3 WAR as a team in left field and the former MVP Aaron Judge in right. 

The return on this one wouldn’t be staggering. The Cubs would receive the Yankees' number 24 prospect that MLB Pipeline said this about:

"Hampton's fastball usually works at 91-95 mph with high spin rates, good carry and some arm-side run. He has nice feel for spinning the ball, throwing his tight low-80s slider for more strikes than his upper-70s curveball, which has more depth and elicits more swings-and-misses. He complements those three solid pitches with a fading changeup that's too firm in the mid-80s. "

MLB Pipeline

The other piece in the deal would offer the Cubs a little bit of depth at third base. Andres Chaparro played at three levels last year and went .296/.370/.592 with 20 homers. This season he’s followed it up by hitting .240/.324/.458 with 15 homers already. He may not be available in a deal like this but if he is he’d be a nice piece that could contribute early and often next season.