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Chicago Cubs Rumors: MLB insider predicts blockbuster trade

By Michael Brakebill |
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New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox / Maddie Meyer/GettyImages
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Over the past couple of weeks, the belief that Rafael Devers will be signing a contract extension with the Boston Red Sox has begun to diminish and that has led to speculation that he may be traded to a team like the Chicago Cubs. When a word such as "galaxies" is used to describe how far apart the two sides are, reality begins to set in that, like so many Red Sox players before him, Devers could be finding a new home this season.

How imperative it is to Red Sox executive Chaim Bloom that a new deal gets inked any time soon remains to be seen, but rest assured, it sounds eerily familiar to how contract negotiations started between the Cubs' front office and their former core in 2021.

Would the Red Sox entertain moving on from their superstar? The same question was asked regarding a plethora of talent that recently left Beantown. So, what does this mean for Devers and the Cubs?

For one, the fit between the Cubs and Devers is too perfect not to draw attention to a team forthrightly looking to compete. The Cubs need a lefty power hitter in the middle of their lineup, and they also desperately need an upgrade at third base.

It may line up perfectly that the Cubs, talent-wise, find themselves ready to put together a trade package by the deadline if they are in contention. If that is the case, will it coincide with when Devers is made available, assuming he is dealt? CBS Sports' Matt Snyder boldly predicts the Cubs to land Devers via trade but also extend him as well.

Glancing over his words, Snyder agrees that the Cubs will need more time to be ready to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal as soon as this offseason, but if the team is near contention this summer, the front office might be more willing to land their guy.

Chicago Cubs Introduce Dansby Swanson
Chicago Cubs Introduce Dansby Swanson / Michael Reaves/GettyImages

Chicago Cubs: What to remember if Devers becomes available

First and foremost, the Cubs can ill afford to drag their feet in this situation. Suppose Devers is made available for the correct package at some point in the season. In that case, it will be immediate that other teams line up as far as the eye can see with different offers, leaving the Cubs in the dust if they approach the situation lackadaisically in any fashion.

Though it won't be as expensive as Juan Soto was this past trade deadline, any team's farm system will undoubtedly take a hit in acquiring him. Another topic of paramountcy to keep in mind is that you are confident you will be able to extend him if you are, in fact, fortunate enough to land him.

Devers has zero reasons to take any lowball offer from a club he's never been a part of. From a financial standpoint, he will be just as costly as any shortstop from this offseason. Given that he is on a contract year, It's risky to trade for him because no matter what, he might not want to extend and instead test the waters of free agency, knowing that a giant payday is on the horizon.

On the flip side of that coin, you risk not acquiring him altogether unless you trade for him. Especially with the way contracts have blown past expectations this winter, it's plausible to believe that whichever powerhouse scoops him up will swiftly sign him to a massive extension. The most challenging task for any front office will be deciphering if you can extend him and, therefore, if it's wiser to pick apart your farm to do so or if there's a better chance you can land him in free agency.

It is important to remember here that it certainly lowers what the Cubs have to give up from a prospect standpoint if they take on the remainder of Chris Sale's five-year/145.0MM deal. Sale is still owed two years with an AAV of 27.5MM, including a vesting option for 2025.

Navigating this situation may prove tricky, as he has a full no-trade clause and thus, it will take obliging from an unbeholden Sale to acquire him in the first place. However, he is no stranger to Chicago, playing in seven seasons with the White Sox from 2010-2016.

Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati Reds
Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati Reds / Dylan Buell/GettyImages

Chicago Cubs: The cost to acquiring Rafael Devers

Circling back to the idea of Cubs prospects needing to gain a little more value, that could all be null and void if the Cubs included the right MLB talent in the deal. Assuming Boston is not in contention, they won't be looking to acquire players nearing the end of a contract.

Devers, though he will come with an exorbitant price, whether via trade or free agency, checks all the boxes of a superstar player that Jed Hoyer needs to be circling like a hawk. As for a trade package, with recent injuries to Alexander Canario and Brennen Davis, the Cubs are stuck in the middle regarding tradeable talent that is of the value necessary to peak Boston's interest.

You could include Cubs' top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, but the odds are that Chicago will hold onto him as long as possible. After that, we know the Cubs want to hold onto and develop their top arms as home-grown pitching becomes ever more vital in today's game. Essentially, should the Cubs preserve their desire not to move any of their top names, the next group of available talent may only be of interest to Boston if they rapidly excel further in the first half of 2023.

If Hayden Wesneski continues to excel in his rookie year throughout the first half, with his years of team control ahead of him, he's far too valuable to move unless you are confident you are getting Devers with the understanding that you are extending him immediately.

In the best-case scenario, talks between Devers and the Red Sox further stall, and Boston has no choice but to wait until the deadline to move him. Should negotiations fail, Boston inadvertently substantially lowers the value of their all-star in terms of another team only receiving half of a season of his services as opposed to the whole year if they were to move him now.

Next. Chris Sale is not a fit for the Chicago Cubs . dark

Chicago adding Devers to their lineup should be priority number one, regardless if they are winning or losing at the deadline. If prospects are ready to be packaged and you can land a perennial MVP candidate, you do it. The Cubs have been forthright about winning baseball games this season, but they are believed to be a potent bat and ace-caliber arm away from genuinely competing. If made available, the fit is too perfect for Jed Hoyer and the company to pass up.

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