The Chicago Cubs don’t have near as many assets to sell at this year’s trade deadline, but they’ll still have players in high-demand.
The Chicago Cubs will be sellers at the trade deadline. They’re just ahead of the lowly Cincinnati Reds in the National League Central and are going nowhere fast. While Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant are no longer on the team, the Cubs still have some tradable assets that other teams will find intriguing.
Last summer, Chicago parted ways with the core of their World Championship team and entered the 2022 season with some optimism. After all, the team did sign Marcus Stroman to a massive contract.
But most around the league expected the Cubbies to be a fringe-contender at the very best. Their record reflects an even worse outlook, so Chicago’s front office will be looking to offload some of their short-term talent this week. Who might opposing GMs target?
1. Cubs pitcher David Robertson will be in high-demand at the trade deadline.
Former All-Star and closer David Robertson has enjoyed a solid 2022 season with the Chicago Cubs. Robertson has converted 14 saves for the Cubbies this season and has shown flashes of the player he used to be when he was closing out games for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.
While he has blown five saves this season already, relievers will be in high-demand as the trade deadline approaches. Robertson wouldn’t necessarily serve as a closer on a contending team, but a veteran right-handed reliever could be invaluable for any number of teams during the second-half of the 2022 season.
Robertson will surely get dealt and could fetch a high price for a team in need of his services. The Cubs should be able to secure at least mid-tier prospect and perhaps even more if the right team comes calling before August 2nd.
2. Cubs outfielder Ian Happ will be in high-demand at the trade deadline.
It’s almost a forgone conclusion that Ian Happ will be dealt at the upcoming trade deadline, so the question is which team will offer the Chicago Cubs the most in return. The former All-Star has an OPS above .800 and his ability to hit from both sides of the plate will make Happ a very desirable commodity over the next week.
Happ hasn’t always hit for average, but he’s remedied that this season. Combine that with his always reliable on-base percentage and slugging and the Cubbies have a very viable assets that could fetch a couple of nice prospects before next Tuesday’s deadline.
Ian Happ also brings defensive versatility to any number of teams. While Happ is primarily an outfielder, he has lined up on the infield dirt throughout his career as well. Happ can field some innings at both second and third base in a pinch and has seen time at all three outfield spots during his professional career.
Happ also brings with him one more year of team control. That, in and of itself, should up the price for Happ’s services. Look for the Chicago Cubs to receive a nice return when Ian Happ is inevitably dealt later this week.
3. Cubs pitcher Mychal Givens will be in high-demand at the trade deadline.
While Mychal Givens may not be having the same type of season that his fellow reliever David Robertson has enjoyed, the Chicago Cubs right-hander will still be in high-demand as the trade deadline quickly approaches.
Givens, who was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds at last year’s trade deadline, will surely be on the move once again. Givens has 46 punch outs in less than 40 innings of work and the veteran owns a ERA below 3.00. That’ll be very appealing to any number of contending teams as the deadline creeps closer and closer.
Givens will be a free agent after the season, so acquiring the former Colorado Rockies reliever is the very definition of a rental to the receiving team. Still, with relief pitching so necessary during the postseason, the Chicago Cubs should still be able to secure a decent prospect in return.
While all the talk surrounding the Cubs this week will likely focus on catcher Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Mychal Givens, and David Robertson will all be highly sought after as well. The Cubbies will be one of the busier teams at this year’s trade deadline.