Rafael Devers trade triggers Chicago’s most obvious Cubs debate

The Major League Baseball news cycle is finally returning to normal following the frenzy that was the Boston Red Sox trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Outside of the Giants, there were three teams who checked in on Devers' availability--the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves. It's no surprise the Cubs weren't involved, given that Matt Shaw is at third base and the front office's overall strategy on spending.

Nevertheless, the question was bound to surface. Should the Cubs have made a move for Devers? It was a question asked of Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris of 670 The Score, and for the most part, there was an agreement on the reason why the Cubs weren't involved.

While the hosts came around to the idea of why they understood why the Cubs weren't involved in the Devers sweepstakes, it's important to point out that the Cubs could have easily beaten the package the Giants sent to the Red Sox In fact, the Giants' offer wasn't even considered to be a "haul". Considering the caliber of talent that Devers is, it was an underwhelming return for the Red Sox. The Cubs not only could have topped the Giants' offer, but still would have been a healthy spot with their farm system. In terms of prospect cost, the Cubs wouldn't have scoffed at that trade.

Rafael Devers trade was never in the cards for the Cubs

The pushback for the Cubs would have derived from the idea of them taking on the remaining money on Devers' contract. Devers is owed over $250MM for the next 8 years and change. The Giants are absorbing all of that, and for that reason, the package they sent back to the Red Sox was what you otherwise would have expected it to be.

The other pushback from the Cubs is that they likely don't want to entertain the roster gymnastics Devers' arrival would have signaled. With Matt Shaw at third base, the Cubs are seemingly set at the position for the long term. Sure, if the Cubs don't re-sign Kyle Tucker after the season, it's a much easier fit to imagine. However, this season, it seems that the Cubs are in love with the defense Shaw has had at third base.

Shaw is the reason why third base isn't the biggest need for the Cubs ahead of the deadline. For that reason, the Cubs were not going to bend over backwards to financially fit Devers into their long-term plans. A frontline starting pitcher remains the Cubs' biggest need, and that will be the true test when it comes to what the team should and shouldn't do at the trade deadline.