Cubs and Giants make a trade, but don’t involve Willson Contreras

The Chicago Cubs have traded away one of their players to the San Francisco Giants, and it is neither Willson Contreras or Ian Happ.

With the MLB trade deadline approaching, there is going to be focus on the Chicago Cubs. Dealing with another season where they are likely to miss the playoffs, the Cubs have been reportedly listening to trade offers on catcher Willson Contreras and outfielder Ian Happ. Well, they made a trade, albeit a minor one that does not involve either of the two star players.

According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs are trading minor league shortstop Dixon Machado to the San Francisco Giants. In exchange, the Giants are sending minor league pitcher Raynel Espinal to the Cubs. Rogers also reports that Machado requested a trade from Chicago.

Cubs trade Dixon Machado to the Giants

The move was made following shortstop Thairo Estrada being placed on the injured list after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch in San Francisco’s game against Chicago on July 30. Estrada was placed on the seven-day concussion list, per the team.

Meanwhile, Machado will be starting for the Giants in the series finale on July 31. This will be his first major league game played since 2018 when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers.

This was Machado’s second stint with Chicago, but did not log any major league time with the team. This season, the shortstop spent the entirety of his time with Triple-A Iowa. In 86 games, Machado slashed .312/.402/.394 while recording 2 home runs, 31 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 106 hits.

Espinal pitched in 19 games for Triple-A Sacramento, where he recorded a 5.29 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, a 5-5 record, 102 strikeouts and 38 walks over 83.1 innings.

Cubs fans, there is no Contreras or Happ trade just yet. We will see if that ultimately comes to fruition by the Aug. 2 deadline.