Chicago Cubs Rumors: 3 trade candidates to free up 40-man roster

Three trade candidates - 3. Erich Uelman

Starting with an option out of the bullpen, Erich Uelman. For the Cubs in 2022, Uelman posted an underwhelming 4.67 ERA in 27 appearances. However, there is certainly some untapped potential via adjustments for the righty. You saw it in his Triple-A numbers this season where he posted a 2.79 ERA in 42 frames, recording 53 strikeouts in the process. The 26 years old still has six years of team control, which bodes well in terms of value if you can unlock that arm a little more at the major league level.

For Oakland, relievers are a necessity they can't ignore. In 2022, the Oakland Athletics' bullpen recorded a lackluster 4.37 ERA, which was 6th worst in the entire MLB. Picking up a reliever such as Uelman, who has multiple years of control, coupled with 3 MiLB options remaining, is at least a piece the A's could find helpful in return for trading their premier backstop. Uelman would not be the centerpiece of a trade by any means, but he frees up an invaluable 40-man spot this winter so the Cubs can continue going back in free agency.