REPORT: Cubs Interested In Trade For Rangers Outfielder

You know what the team the Cubs love making trades with? The Rangers. You know who the Cubs are now interested in trading for?Rangers outfielder Hunter Pence.

Hunter Pence and his great comeback story are drawing interest. Cubs, Rays, Braves, maybe Indians are among logical possibilities

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2019

The good! Pence is having an incredible 2019 season, slashing .290/.344/.558, with 15 home runs in 231 at-bats. Pence has also been great against left-handed pitchers, something the Cubs desperately need.

Was wondering why we hadn't heard more on Pence since he returned. I liked him a lot for the Cubs before the injury.

.902 OPS, 126 wRC+.

.967 OPS, 142 wRC+ vs lefties.

1.032 OPS, 165 wRC+ on the road. https://t.co/pcAOFa1S1o

— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) July 30, 2019

The bad! Pence was on the injured list for a month, dealing with a strained right groin. He just came back on July 16, and although his average has been OK, .270, going 10-for-37, Pence has only hit one extra-base hit, a double, since returning from the injury.

Also, looking at his track record, before 2019, Pence wasn’t a good hitter since 2016. So, how much do you trust him to still continue his good 2019 season the rest of the way?

Seems like Pence is a fallback plan if the Cubs can’t get Nick Castellanos from the Tigers. One day left until the trade deadline passes.