This 'unpopular' Cubs trade idea is rooted in some seriously flawed logic

Leading up to the July trade deadline, Jameson Taillon's name was a mainstay in Chicago Cubs trade rumors. The deadline came and went, and the veteran right-hander stayed put. In a start-of-the-offseason piece proposing 'unpopular' trade ideas over at Bleacher Report, Taillon is mentioned - but the reasoning behind it just doesn't add up.

"There is nonetheless a slight odor of unsustainability with Taillon's 2024 performance, so the Cubs would be wise to sell high. They would be even wiser to swap him for a bat. To throw one idea out there, a Taillon-for-Ozuna concept could be workable."

I'm not questioning the Cubs' need for more offense. Chicago ranked 11th in the National League in home runs and their need for more slug is apparent to anyone who watched this team in 2024. So while I wouldn't rule out a creative trade to address that need, calling Taillon's body of work this season unsustainable makes no sense.

If you're looking at just the last two seasons, sure, maybe you draw that conclusion. His first year with the Cubs was a disaster early on, and his end-of-season numbers left much to be desired. But when you look at the larger picture and his career numbers, Taillon was almost identical to what he's always been in 2024.

• 2024: 28 GS / 3.92 FIP / 1.131 WHIP
• Career: 25 GS / 3.93 FIP / 1.209 WHIP

His H/9, BB/9, HR/9 and BB/9 were all roughly in line with his career averages, as well. It's not so much that he turned in an uncharacteristically strong year this season as it was he got back to doing what he'd done for much of his career - and it simply contrasted with his rocky 2023 campaign.

When Jed Hoyer brought Taillon in, he expected exactly what he got in 2024: a reliable, mid-rotation starter who would take the ball every five days and give the Cubs a chance to win. Again, maybe the front office re-visits trade talks around him this winter to shore up other areas of weakness - but if they do, it's certainly not because they expect regression from him next season.