MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Cubs should make

Johnny Cueto and Eduardo Nunez, San Francisco Giants

While the Tigers that might be available would largely be luxury items for the Cubs, the Giants have a couple of available players that line up better in terms of Chicago’s biggest needs.

Johnny Cueto, 6-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 17 starts, hasn’t been close to the dominant force he was in 2016 in his first year in San Francisco, when he posted an 18-5 record and 2.79 ERA and led the majors with five complete games. Cueto wasn’t great in the regular season after a mid-season trade to Kansas City in 2015, but made two solid starts for the Royals in the ALDS and tossed a complete game victory in Game 2 of the World Series.

The 31-year-old is also signed to a long-term contract through 2022. However, that contract includes an opt out clause at the end of the 2017 season, which effectively puts Cueto in the free-agent-to-be mix, carrying with it the usual ability to acquire him at a slight discount.

With the Giants struggling through a terrible season, San Francisco might be willing to part with Cueto in order to improve the team’s roster for the long-term. There’s also hope he could re-sign with the Giants should he opt out of his contract at the end of the season.

Another player that could be of help to the Cubs is the versatile Eduardo Nunez. Though he’s currently on the DL with a hamstring injury, Nunez has hit .287/.325/.415 with eight homers and 30 stolen bases in 114 games for the Giants since he was acquired last summer. A right-handed hitter, Nunez has played third base primarily in San Francisco, but has also contributed at shortstop and left field, giving him the position flexibility Joe Maddon desires.