I don't always agree with Jesse Rogers, but in this case I do. He makes a strong argument for the Cubs heading north with Mike Olt, Javier Baez, and Chris Rusin on the team. We'll see. As much as Baez has impressed, I do not see the Cubs deviating from their plans unless they trade Castro or Barney before opening day.
Incidentally, aside from the ever-present speculation on Samardzija, there were rumors this week the Tigers were interested in Shierholtz and/or Barney. Shierholtz I can see, Barney is a tougher proposition. I could see the Cubs going after a guy like Porcello, who is still pretty young and looks to be poised for a breakout year, but it is going to take more than this combo to pry him loose. Maybe if the Cubs dangle Castro, assuming he is healthy, they could accomplish something.
I, for one, would do this deal. Even though Barney has not progressed much offensively, he is such a stabilizing influence with his defense and heady play that, in the long run, a team with a lot of offensive pop, as the Cubs project to be, can carry a guy like him with no problems.
Castro, on the other hand, looks like he peaked in his sophomore season and that that year, in a best case scenario, is all you will ever get. Looking deeper into his numbers, it is not as much as you would think at first glance.
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