After starting the year about as well as anyone could have asked for, the Chicago Cubs have cooled off significantly and are making a habit of losing winnable games. Last night was the latest example, as the offense was nonexistent, and one bad inning led to a 9-2 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs are now 4-6 in their last ten games.
This is a significant stretch of games for the Cubs. After their series with the Braves, they will play ten consecutive divisional games. Starting with three games in St. Louis against the Cardinals, they’ll head to Milwaukee for four against the Brewers before coming home for three against the Cincinnati Reds. Right now, the Cubs are 1.5 games behind the Brewers in the division and are one of just six teams in the National League with a winning record.
As bad as it seems, the Cubs are right in the thick of the division race. Additionally, they have the second Wild Card spot by two games. It’s not all bad, and it is still early. However, frustration is mounting because many believe this team is capable of much more.
Injuries have smothered the Cubs, and there is no question that they have hindered some of the team’s early success. But even when healthy, the guys the Cubs rely on are not showing up and doing their part. Something is going to have to change. Luckily, Craig Counsell is showing he’s not afraid to make the tough calls.
It was announced on Tuesday that Kyle Hendricks, a Cubs legend and staple in the starting rotation, would be moved to the bullpen after his horrendous start. Hendricks started seven games for the Cubs this year, holding a 0-4 record and a 10.54 earned run average. Craig Counsell said they needed better from Hendricks for multiple weeks, and he could not give it to them. So, he made the call that others in the Cubs organization may not.
Because of Hendricks’ history with the Cubs, it was understood that his leash would be longer than others. But Counsell wasn’t here for those years. In fact, he was often in the other dugout. He does not have the sentimental feelings fans (and some executives) share, which may be a big reason why he was brought in.
And this may not be the only decision like this to make. The organization is loaded with young talent who are performing and proving ready for the MLB. Pete Crow-Armstrong was sent back to AAA Iowa to get more at-bats and opportunities to play. Brennan Davis is crushing baseballs seemingly every night. Owen Caissie is batting .288.
The Cubs could also choose to use their deep prospect list for trades to improve this roster and win now. Contending teams are starting to separate themselves from teams not built to win right now. Some of those “pretenders” are looking to possibly field offers for some big-time talent. One name has emerged, and the Cubs made the list as a possible fit.
The Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be in the mix for the American League East division. Instead, they find themselves in last place and 10.5 games behind before Memorial Day. After coming so close to landing Shohei Ohtani in free agency, they have plummeted to being a bottom feeder in 2024.
With that, the possibility of them looking to improve themselves for the future has become increasingly more likely. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a name that is already surfacing as someone the Blue Jays would consider moving to improve their farm system greatly. The first baseman has been must-watch television since he entered the league in 2019. According to the Bleacher Report, the Cubs are a team that might be interested in making a move for him.
After starting as hot as possible, Michael Busch has cooled off significantly. May has not treated him well; he is batting well under .200 for the month. Additionally, his defense has been shaky and subpar. The quick fix for the Cubs would be to move Cody Bellinger to first and bring Pete Crow-Armstrong back up to play center. But maybe Guerrero is a viable option as well.
Vladdy is under team control until 2026 when he will become a free agent. The Cubs would undoubtedly need to put a hefty package together to acquire him from Toronto, but they certainly have the means to do it. If the trade deadline was today, it’s likely the Cubs wouldn’t make this move. However, it’s certainly worth monitoring through June and July.
