3 Chicago Cubs players guaranteed to be traded before the deadline

3) Andrelton Simmons will not be on the Cubs roster after the trade deadline

There were a lot of shortstops the Cubs could have signed this offseason. They chose to go cheap and add Andrelton Simmons. It’s probably for the best. Instead of wasting tens of millions of dollars on one of the prized possessions, they will only spend $4 million at the most on him.

Simmons has missed significant time this season so if you haven’t followed the Cubs closely it’s okay if you never realized he was a member of the team. On the downswing of his career right now, Simmons might be someone the Cubs can trade away to provide another team with infield depth—or at least a defensive replacement at the shortstop position.

There is one other way Simmons’ time with the Cubs ends. He might not be on the roster after the trade deadline because of a DFA. His contract isn’t too costly. And with the team already giving Jonathan Villar the DFA treatment, maybe they decide to do the same with Simmons to clear a spot for a younger player.

More likely, the Cubs scour the trade market to see if they can get anyone to take Simmons away. Even for some bonus slot pool money or a 27-year-old player still in Single-A. Anything they can get, expect the Cubs to take it.