Which Cubs are "untouchable" during trade talks? |
Cubs President Theo Epstein and general manager Ted Hoyer have reportedly been discussing potential trades for relief help before the trade deadline on August 1.
The rumors of different Cubs players involved have many fans worried that their favorite player might be currently on the trade block. Not so fast my friend. "The Cubs have shown no interest in trading top youngsters Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras, or Javier Baez, interested teams say" according to MLB insider Jon Heyman. Since his major league call-up last Friday, Contreras is batting .444 (4 for 9) with two homers and five RBIs and will be getting several starts going forward with the Cubs. "So who would they trade? “Just second-tier guys,” says a rival exec.," Heyman said. "And one rival GM says they should still be able to get what little they need without touching those top guys." One second-tier prospect might be 23-year old 1B/DH Dan Vogelbach, who is a highly regarded hitter for the Iowa Cubs that was a second-round pick in 2011. Other prospects that might have high trade value include Mark Zagunis, Billy McKinney, Jeimer Candelario, and Victor Caratini. "Rival GMs believe the Epstein/Hoyer no-trade list includes Albert Almora–the regime’s first draft pick back in 2012," Heyman said. "The inclusion of Gleybar Torres, the Cubs’ top prospect according to MLB.com, is less certain, possibly because Addison Russell is seen as ingrained as the shortstop of the future." Torres is a 19-year old shortstop that is currently in Advanced Class A ball. He's projected as an all-around player with a great arm, an above average hitter and rated as MLB.com's #1 top prospect for the Cubs.
