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MLB Trade Deadline 2019: 5 players the Cubs should trade for

By Joshua Sadlock

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 18: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI double in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during inter-league play at PNC Park on June 18, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 18: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI double in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during inter-league play at PNC Park on June 18, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 04: Eric Sogard #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a double in the eighth inning during a MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on July 04, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 04: Eric Sogard #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a double in the eighth inning during a MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on July 04, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

4. Eric Sogard

The Cubs would absolutely love to be able to pry All-Star Whit Merrifield away from the Kansas City Royals, but the asking price for the 30-year-old is going to be exorbitant. The Royals are well within their right to ask for a high return for Merrifield, as he is on a very team-friendly contract, but they are likely overestimating the demand for a utility player who will be 31 at the start of next season. The Cubs need infield help, but will have to look elsewhere.

Merrifield is having another strong season for the Royals, no doubt, but the Cubs can easily approximate his production by trading for Toronto Blue Jays utility man Eric Sogard. The 33-year-old is having the best year of his nine-year run in the big leagues, hitting .305/.369/.491 in 69 games with 10 home runs, 30 RBI and six stolen bases. It is an entirely unexpected outburst from Sogard, who entered the year as a career .238/.309/.314 hitter. He managed a whopping OPS+ of 12 last year in 55 games with Milwaukee.

The Jays caught lightning in a bottle with Sogard, who signed a Minor League deal before the start of the season. They’ll be happy to trade him for the best return they can get, most likely a mid-range prospect and perhaps some international pool money.

For the Cubs, Sogard represents a solid veteran presence who can slot in at multiple positions around the infield. He has also played a few games in the outfield this season. Sogard has spent the majority of his time at second base this season and has also done well with occasional stretches on the bench, something that would likely happen with the Cubs.

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