For some reason everyone seems obsessed with trading away All-Star players in their prime with multiple years of team control. Hot stove madness? Okay, maybe if you are out of contention at the trade deadline, but, for now, the Cubs have to be in win now mode and remain that way through 2021 when several of their stars become eligible for free agency.
Realistically, for a team that needs to figure out how to avoid falling apart in September, even considering parting with any of the core players is foolishness. Taking Kris Bryant as an example, he was one of the best players in MLB in his first two seasons, then suffered some nagging injuries in 2018 and 2019 that coincided with the team's late season failures. So how does trading him away solve that issue? Thankfully, the market for Bryant has to be among win now teams who are unlikely to trade off key elements of their roster for a player likely to command an enormous multi-year contract in two years. Fortunately for the Cubs, they are discovering this fact right now.
Similarly, the idea of trading Contreras borders on absurdity. Nobody trades the best offensive catcher in the league for prospects. Rebuilding teams make that move, not contenders.
If the Cubs weren't owned by a bunch of right wing billionaires who don't like to pay taxes, they would bite the bullet and get some of the free agent talent that is sitting around and is actually quite affordable. I'm thinking here of the Japanese center-fielder Akiyama as well as the likely ex-Dodger Ryu, who is a solid #2 starter when healthy.
The Cubs could easily re-sign Strop and pick up some free agent talent to fill out the bullpen without breaking the bank.
They have already freed up $20 MM by letting Hamels go, a move I kind of question. They also lose Zobrist's $12.5MM plus a smattering of money from dumping a couple of journeyman relievers.
If the Cubs really need to dump salary, they might try trading the disappointing Heyward ($20MM for who knows how long) and Lester if they want to be ruthless about it. Lester is nowhere near the pitcher he once was and at $27MM clearly an albatross.
Before panicking, they should consider that right now they are likely a 90 win team. Not many teams can survive injuries to Rizzo, Baez, Contreras, and Bryant in September, as well as the loss of a front line starter in Hamels through the second half and come out on top.
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