The Chicago Cubs are primed to be sellers at the trade deadline but there are three players that they should keep
After making some moves in an attempt to get better this past offseason, the Chicago Cubs are poised to be a seller at the trade deadline, and for good reason.
They entered the All-Star break losing nine of their last 10 games and with a 35-57 record. That’s only half a game better than the last place Cincinnati Reds and puts them on pace for a 62-100 season.
They might not have the caliber of fire sale that they had at last year’s trade deadline when they traded Joc Pederson, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Craig Kimbrel, and Javier Báez among a few others but they still could trade a lot of players, if they want to.
The Cubs should trade some of those players but there are three players that they should not trade at the trade deadline.
3 Cubs that they shouldn’t trade at the trade deadline
Cubs outfielder Ian Happ
Of the trio that they should keep, Ian Happ seems most likely to be traded before the trade deadline. However, the Chicago Cubs really should consider keeping him since he is still arbitration-eligible next season.
Happ was an All-Star for the first time this season as, in 90 games, he has hit .274/.364/.443 with an OPS+ of 126, nine home runs, 42 RBI, and 23 doubles. His 2.8 rWAR is second-highest on the team. The Cubs really need some good bats, like Happ’s, to be a playoff contender in 2023. He will be making more next season but he will still be cheaper than most free agents of his offensive caliber.
He also offers versatility that most other players don’t have so that could be an asset for the Cubs in trying to get back to the level of play they were a few years ago.