With declining attendance and increasing no-shows, the Cubs will have
to financially write off this season. It will be the second
non-competitive campaign in a row. But in the corporate speak that is
the New Cubs Way, the silver lining in this dark cloud is salable
assets.
The Cubs plan to again trade as many veterans
to get more youthful depth in their minor league system. This is a small
market approach but with one catch: small market teams like Oakland
have a track record of actually developing prospects into real major
league players. The Cubs have yet to mine consistent gold in their
system.
The Cubs have only a handful of "untradeable"
players: Soriano (contract and veto rights); Rizzo and Castro (long term
commitments); E. Jackson (big contract) and T. Wood & Russell
(young potential building blocks).
The rest of the roster should have sale tags sewed on the front of their uniforms.
For
a contending team hoping to bolster their late season push, many
general managers are now looking toward relief pitching as a key area to
upgrade in the stretch. Besides Russell, the entire Cubs bullpen is
open for bids.
Closer Gregg may get a look if their are
injuries to other teams closers. Fujikawa and Marmol are set up guys
who may not have any value. Villaneuva may have promise both as a spot
starter and long reliever which has good value to the right team.
Of the position players, not many fit into good roles on good teams.
A
case could be made for Navarro if a team is looking for a switch
hitting pinch hitter specialist. Navarro is 5-for-11 with 2 HRs as a
pinch hitter.
A team desperate for defensive upgrade in the field may want to take a low flyer on Barney, or DeJesus.
Teams
will always be looking for starting pitchers when their rotations wear
down. In the off season the Cubs pushed to build a staff of starters
that they could flip in July: Baker, Feldman, Garza and Villaneuva.
Baker is still hurt and not coming back to contribute in any meaningful
fashion before the deadline. Garza returns tonight from rehab, but his
trade value is very low unless he is lights out in his next five starts.
Of the Cubs starters, Feldman and T. Wood have the most trade value.
But do you trade young players like Feldman and T. Wood for potential prospects that may be years away from the big leagues?
The fans may already be tired of this sign-and-trade merry-go-round.
