Flurry of Moves for the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs made a flurry of moves today so I will break them down like this-

 

Trade #1

Orioles received Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger

Cubs received Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop, and $388,000 in pool money

 

Trade #2

Dodgers received Carlos Marmol and $209,000 in pool money

Cubs received Matt Guerrier

 

Trade #3

Astros received Ronald Torreyes

Cubs received $784,000 in pool money

 

In trade one the Cubs actually got a decent haul for a guy having a career year with only 4 more months on his contract.  They also trade away a nice but not great catcher/utility player Steve Clevenger who really was not a part of the future after his injury woes.  The Cubs did not get the prospects we all hoped wanted for Feldman but they did get two younger pitchers with really high ceilings and a nice portion of pool money that could help them net a future top 100 prospect.  Jake Arrieta is a former high level prospect who has all the tools to become an elite level pitcher but has not put it together.  Arrieta is also extremely affordable since he is in his first round of arbitration and not eligible to become a free agent until 2017.  You can find Arrieta’s stats here.  The other piece the Cubs got in the trade is Pedro Strop who up until this year has been a dominate reliever for the Orioles and Rangers. His stats here.  He, just like Arrieta, is extremely affordable going into his first year of arbitration.  Both of these guys are lottery picks for the Cubs and could determine if they win or lose this trade.  But something not a lot of people are talking about is the fact that Jake Arrieta is a heavy target for the Padres (see here) so the Cubs essentially eliminated a trade partner for the Padres and put even more focus on Cubs. Not only do the Padres like Jake Arrieta but they also like Matt Garza so the Cubs may have corner the Padres into dealing with them.  I do see Jake Arrieta as a valuable piece to flip.  All in all it is hard not to like this trade even though there is a big gamble with the players the Cubs acquired.

 

In trade two the Cubs finally get rid of Carlos Marmol and only have to pay $2M of his salary while giving the Dodgers 209K in pool money so the basically save $1M.  That alone would have been a steal for the Cubs but then you add in Matt Guerrier to the equation.  Matt Guerrier has had some past success in the majors posting nothing over a 4.07 ERA from 2009 to 2012 but this year his success has been limited.  He is a guy that could stick in the pen if he proves to be this year’s version of the 2012 Shawn Camp.  Hard not to like this trade because it removes the distraction, the cubs get a guy for the pen, and the Cubs save money.

 

Trade number 3 makes me smile the most because the Cubs do have a lot of middle infielders so trading one for nearly $800K in pool money is just smart baseball.  Ronald Torreyes came over in the Sean Marshall deal and is still a valuable piece to the Cubs and obviously the Astros.  Torreyes does have a nice upside obviously but with the Cubs depth in the middle infield trading him for pool money is a no brainer.

 

Other Related Transactions-

 

-       The Cubs placed Ryan Sweeney on the 60 day DL.

-       The Cubs called up David Sappelt.

-       The Cubs call up LHP Chris Rusin to pitch today.

-       Guerrier and Strop will join the Cubs Weds. in Oakland which means Shawn Camp and another pitchers maybe axed soon.

-       Carlos Villanueva will get a starting job again and a decision on Rusin next start after today will depend on him and the number game and trades.

-       Through these trades the Cubs netted $963,000 in pool money according to Hoyer.

-       The Cubs also signed SS Gleyber Torres who is the #2 player in IFA and also pitcher Jefferson Mejia.

-       Cubs still pursuing Jimenez and Moreno in IFA.

 

Until Next Time…