MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Cubs should make

Yu Darvish and Delino DeShields, Texas Rangers

Where’s Chris Archer? The Cubs have been linked to Archer often over the past few months, and the Rays star is one of the most common listed in MLB trade rumors. However, Tampa Bay is currently 43-40, which is good for the second Wild Card slot in the AL, and just four games back in the East. Also, the Rays recently kicked off the summer trade season by acquiring shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the Marlins – a signal the club will be buyers, not sellers, in July.

Therefore, Chicago will likely have to turn its attention to other starters, and the biggest name potentially on the market is Yu Darvish.

Darvish has been outstanding for the Rangers since coming over from Japan for the 2012 campaign. The 30-year-old has a 3.26 career ERA and 3.24 FIP with 927 strikeouts in 752.2 career innings. He was the runner-up for the 2013 Cy Young Award, and even though Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2015 season, Darvish has a 3.26 ERA with 247 strikeouts in 207.1 innings across 34 starts since returning to the mound.

The Rangers are in striking distance in the AL Wild Card (two games back entering Sunday), but since he will be a free agent after the season, Darvish could be available for the right price.

Next: MLB Trade Rumors: One trade each team should make

If the Cubs can strike a deal for Darvish (probably a long shot, but worth a try), they should also pursue speedster Delino DeShields. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .282/.345/.354 with one home run, 37 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 63 games.

Though he’s not a patient hitter, and wouldn’t be an improvement in the everyday lineup in Chicago, DeShields is a dangerous runner that could play a key role as a pinch runner in the postseason. He’s also a decent fielder and has played second base as well as center and left field.