Fansided

Five young prospects the Cubs could target on the trade market

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 06: Gavin Lux #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up prior to the start of game three of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 06: Gavin Lux #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up prior to the start of game three of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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AMARILLO, TEXAS – AUGUST 02: Pitcher MacKenzie Gore #13 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at HODGETOWN Stadium on August 02, 2019 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
AMARILLO, TEXAS – AUGUST 02: Pitcher MacKenzie Gore #13 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at HODGETOWN Stadium on August 02, 2019 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

2. MacKenzie Gore

The San Diego Padres have been pushing their chips to the middle of the table the past two offseasons. They signed Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado to massive contracts, contemplated making a push to add Bryce Harper shortly after giving Machado $300 million and plan to make a push to bring Stephen Strasburg home. It’s been a whirlwind two years for the Padres, but all of that money spent on free agents has not netted the team a winner.

It’s difficult to predict how aggressive the Padres will remain this winter because it was such a shock when they signed Machado last year. San Diego is no longer behaving and spending like a mid-sized market team is expected to. They’re finding sums of cash like never before and have an inexpensive supporting cast led by budding star Fernando Tatis Jr.

Despite their moves, the Padres are still quite a ways back of the top teams in the NL West. They are still young and are still waiting on several prospects to put it together at the MLB level. San Diego finished 13th in the National League in runs and 13th in OPS. Machado struggled to carry a lineup all by himself.

Signing Hosmer to a nine-figure deal looks like a massive mistake, but now the Padres have to figure out how they plan to reconcile with the sunk cost on a first baseman who hit just .265/.310/.425 last year. Kris Bryant attended college at the University of San Diego, so a hometown reunion with him might also make sense.

The Padres have a deep farm system, led by left-hander MacKenzie Gore. The 20-year-old had a 1.69 ERA in 101 innings this year and struck out 135. Gore would bring some much-needed youth to the Cubs rotation.

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