Cubs ranked #3 on MLB trade deadline grades |
MLB insider Jon Heyman has
released his MLB trade deadline grades on Friday and gave the Cubs management an A- grade on their various trade moves.
"They needed only to aid a so-so bullpen, and that they did," Heyman said. "Theo Epstein’s team got dominating, fire-balling lefty Aroldis Chapman and funky side-arming righty Joe Smith. Two more disparate pitchers you could not find. But that may be exactly the right duo for them. They sought Andrew Miller at first, of course, but word is they didn’t want to part with either Kyle Schwarber or Javier Baez to lead a big package, even for Miller. Instead, they enhanced the pen just as much in the short-term without giving up any top players close to the majors. While they liked shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, some in the organization saw him as a second baseman. They also would have liked Josh Reddick, who was known by Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer from their Red Sox days, as a big outfield boost, and at one time there was such concern about slumping $184-million Jason Heyward that they were wondering whether to actually play Heyward when it came to the playoffs. But Heyward looks better lately, perhaps allaying some of those concerns." Chapman was acquired from the Yankees for Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren, Billy McKinney, and Rashad Crawford on July 25. Montgomery was received from the Mariners for Dan Vogelbach and Paul Blackburn on July 20 while Joe Smith was obtained from the Los Angeles Angels for Jesus Castillo on August 1.
