3 offseason trades the Cubs need to make after playoff exit
By Mike Luciano
1. Go for broke and trade for an elite shortstop like Francisco Lindor
The Cleveland Indians, in their infinite wisdom, seem committed to alienating their perennial All-Star and franchise player as they try to prepare for a trade. Any front office worth their salt is going to be calling Cleveland about Lindor, whom they are unwilling to sign to a long-term contract for financial reasons.
The Cubs need to do the same. They have a thin farm system right now, and mortgaging it could be a hard sell, but they shouldn’t allow a rival like the Cardinals to step in front and make the trade. If they lack the ammunition to get a Lindor deal done, players like Arizona Diamondbacks stud Eduardo Escobar or Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story could be among the backup options.
Oftentimes, when you’re as talented as the Cubs are but continue to hit roadblocks in the postseason, something seismic is needed to shake up the foundation and make this team better-equipped to journey deeper into the postseason. With Lindor, Story or Escobar pairing with Baez in Chicago’s middle infield, the Cubs could be NL Central favorites in 2021.
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