Chicago Cubs fans are not taking the news of a looming Andrew Chafin trade well on Twitter on Monday night.
The Chicago Cubs are expected to be one of the biggest sellers at the MLB trade deadline. A promising start was curtailed by an 11-game losing streak, which forced the Cubs into abandoning making one last run with their core and opting to trade prominent players for a return. The Cubs have already traded outfielder Joc Pederson, and a member of their bullpen is now on the move.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Cubs are on the verge of trading left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Chafin to the Oakland Athletics. The move is pending medical reviews, but the Cubs will be receiving two players in return, including outfielder Greg Deichmann. MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand first reported that the Cubs were close to trading Chafin on Monday night.
The A’s are on the verge of acquiring left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin from the Cubs, pending a review of medical records. @Feinsand first reported a trade involving Chafin was close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2021
Triple A outfielder Greg Deichmann one of two players Cubs are acquiring for left-hander Andrew Chafin, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deichmann, a second-round pick in 2017, is batting .300 with an .881 OPS for Las Vegas.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2021
The Cubs are close to a deal to trade LHP Andrew Chafin, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 27, 2021
After this news was reported, Cubs fans mourned the trade of Chafin, but decided to take to Twitter to “salute the stache” and pay respects to the “failed starter.”
Cubs fans react to Chicago trading Andrew Chafin to the Athletics
Salute to the ‘stache. Thanks for the good work, Chafin.
— Randall J. Sanders (@RandallJSanders) July 27, 2021
https://twitter.com/fieldstoday/status/1419836562985013249?s=20
Now Andrew Chafin is REALLY gonna look like a pornstar wearing that green and yellow
— Maddux (@CubsHateMe) July 27, 2021
https://twitter.com/GTCubsEagles10/status/1419839970207014912
I’m not emotionally prepared for Andrew Chafin to get traded away #Cubs #CubTogether
— johnny trash (@theMATThatter__) July 27, 2021
Man I loved the Sheriff Andrew Chafin. Sucks to see that he’s the first Foligno to fall this week…
— AJB 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@Arjun_AJB15) July 27, 2021
You’ll be missed, Sheriff! #CubTogether
Me:"man this Cubs team is not good.... but at least Andrew Chafin always fun to watch on the mound"
— 🐑💜Enigmatic-Ice: Perpetually Vibin Lad🐑💜 (@EnigmaticIce153) July 27, 2021
*Chafin traded to the Athletics*
Me: pic.twitter.com/MdStLwzsYO
For a #FailedStarter, Andrew Chafin was awesome for the #Cubs. Good luck with the #Arhletics @BigCountry1739. pic.twitter.com/ovgKy7KQfI
— Newt Huntley (@newthuntley) July 27, 2021
Andrew Chafin was a lot of fun as a Cub. Wish the sheriff well in Oakland
— Brian Boyd (@brianklboyd) July 27, 2021
Nooooo Big Country/“failed starter” is the one guy I wanted to keep!!! https://t.co/R9hoslCOTu
— Kyle Carlson (@Cubbykid33) July 27, 2021
As a Cubs fan, I am in mourning with the trade of @BigCountry1739 to the Athletics. We will surely miss you "Failed Starter" and Mr. Mustache. Great personality and fantastic pitcher. Good luck man! Will definitely follow you to the A's!! pic.twitter.com/kioTakuTC6
— Ilan (@44_cubsfan) July 27, 2021
#failedstarter https://t.co/MOgO21NolR pic.twitter.com/TUQcGQQxa0
— Kevin F. (@GreenEggsNFran3) July 27, 2021
Chafin started off his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, dating back to 2014. However, the Cubs decided to acquire him at the 2020 MLB trade deadline to help them make their push to the postseason. Through four games with the Cubs that year, Chafin recorded a 3.00 ERA, a 1.000 WHIP, three strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work.
After the season ended, the Cubs signed the reliever to a one-year, $2.75 million, which included a mutual option worth $5.25 million for the 2022 season. Chafin appeared in 43 games in 2021, where he posted a 2.06 ERA, a 0.839 WHIP, 37 strikeouts and 12 walks over 39.1 innings of work.
The Athletics, as of Monday night, have a 1.5 game lead over their rivals, the Seattle Mariners, for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. Not to mention that the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians are all within five games behind the Athletics.
Cubs fans know that a fire sale is coming, but it still does not take away the pain of seeing a fan favorite like Chafin being traded out of the Windy City. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.