Cubs: 5 players who should already be on the trade block

Drew Smyly is in the same spot as Wade Miley on the Cubs roster

Drew Smyly and Wade Miley may be the same person. Both lefties are around the same age, they’ve bounced around with many major league teams in recent seasons and had mixed results. Smyly is coming off of an average year with the Atlanta Braves featuring an 11-4 record and 4.48 ERA. Yet another veteran added by the Cubs during the offseason, Smyly is off to a strong start but also a guy who has spent an entire career falling short of expectations.

As well-known as he may be in baseball circles, Smyly last topped 150 innings in 2016. Injuries have gotten in the way at times. Now with a World Series ring around his finger, he’s onto the next chapter of his career.

Like Miley, the Cubs shouldn’t expect to get a whole lot in return for Smyly. His salary is cheaper and includes an option for next year which could help. The better he pitches for Chicago, the more likely he is to get traded. The worst thing that could happen to the Cubs is they don’t play well and Smyly is either hurt or underperforming. If that’s the case, any plans of using this veteran starter to help the farm will go to waste.