The Chicago Cubs season has almost completely fallen off the rails after what was considered a great start by many when the season began. To this point, no one has an idea of what could happen with the Cubs at the trade deadline. We all know they came into this season with the means to contend, but with them being 5 games back of the .500 mark, it is hard to tell if they would still want to go for a postseason berth and trade valuable prospect capital to acquire Major League talent.
If Jed Hoyer and company ultimately decide to go for it and try to make a splash at the trade deadline to push this team into postseason contention, it will be interesting to see what names the Cubs ultimately try to pursue. In a recent article from MLB.com, one MLB insider could see the Cubs making a big splash and acquiring an offensive superstar from the Southside of Chicago.
In this article, MLB.com writer Mike Petriello ranks the Cubs as the 4th best fit to acquire White Sox all-star Luis Robert Jr. at this year’s trade deadline. Petriello mentioned why he could see the Cubs as one of the best fits for Robert Jr.
“Because a sputtering offense needs to find some spark for an impatient fanbase, and fast. Only three teams have scored fewer runs since May 1 than the Cubs”
– Mike Petriello (MLB.com)
This move would surely spark waves across Chicago and would be the exact kind of bat that the Cubs are looking for. Fans and even the front office have mentioned in the past how the team has been looking for a middle-of-the-order bat that is sure to provide plenty of power and drive-in runs. Plus, Robert brings you gold glove defense in center field.
Petriello also mentions the downside of why this potential trade might not happen, which tends to be a reason many of us are thinking. Crosstown trades don’t tend to happen. But he also mentions that the Cubs must focus on their bullpen before even considering acquiring a bat.
Let’s just say the Cubs are surely interested in the prospect of acquiring Robert, the package to acquire him would surely be one of the biggest of all-time. No matter who ultimately trades for Robert Jr. it would have to rival what the Nationals got in return for Juan Soto from the Padres two summers ago.
You would have to assume that a trade like this would require the Cubs to give up, at minimum, Cade Horton and Pete Crow-Armstrong in return for Robert. Similar to how the Padres had to depart from CJ Abrams and Mackenzie Gore. Plus, the White Sox could pluck away several other of the Cubs’ top prospects in this deal as well.
I already mentioned just how good Robert Jr. has been both offensively and defensively, but what makes him even more valuable is his contract. Whoever ultimately trades for Robert this summer is getting a superstar for the next 3.5 years for right around $15-20 million dollars a year.
At this point in the Cubs season, they will have to have a massive turnaround even to consider trading for Robert, but he brings so much value to a club that they could surely be interested. At only 26 years old, he is sure to be the big fish of the trade market, but will the Cubs be willing to trade their best prospects in return?
