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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 deals the Cubs could make to reignite the fuse

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Jake Diekman #41 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Jake Diekman #41 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

3. Get a better LOOGY

The last five games have been an absolute disaster for Cubs lefty specialist Brian Duensing. Since June 7, the 35-year-old reliever has given up 10 hits, 12 earned runs and two home runs in only 4.2 innings. Duensing had been very effective the first two months of the season, but may be getting exposed as the Cubs work around a few injuries in their bullpen.

If Duensing was doing his one job, namely get out left-handed batters, well this season, it would be easier to accept his struggles the past week when forced to do to much. That isn’t really the case, however. He has given up a .250/.358/.432 slash line to lefties this year and has allowed two home runs. There are better options that will be available on the trade market, and the Cubs have to consider them.

With the Texas Rangers preparing to move all of their valuable trade chips at the deadline, the Cubs need to check in on veteran lefty Jake Diekman. In 33 games this year, the 31-year-old has a 2.96 ERA in 27.1 innings and is racking up strikeouts at the clip of 11.5 per nine. He has also given up only two home runs and is pitching effectively against hitters from both sides of the plate.

The rise of the multi-inning reliever/converted starter in the playoff bullpen has reduced the impact some of these one-out specialists can have in the postseason, but the Cubs actually have a pennant race to be worried about this year. The playoffs are not a guarantee, and having a more effective lefty specialist in the bullpen could be a key.

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