Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer said over the weekend the Cubs were likely done making big moves this off-season. And there was a slim chance a significant trade would be made before Spring Training.
The front office is always looking for ways to improve the roster. The Cubs repeated numerous times during the Convention they feel very good about the work that was done this winter and the team is ready for Spring Training.
“Every day we talk to different teams. We talk to agents,” Hoyer said. “I think we are very happy with our roster right now. If we had to go to Mesa tomorrow we’d be okay with that. If something makes sense over the next month that makes us better obviously we’ll do it. But we are not looking for big changes. Like I said, we like this roster a lot.”
“We have tons of guys we can move all over the field. We have a lot of versatile pitchers. The thing that is important is to give your manager a team that fits with his style and I think we’ve certainly done that.”
The front office feels with making only one trade involving a player on its Major League roster and not dipping into the farm system, the Cubs are in a good position to make in-season trades in order to address needs that may pop-up during the year due to injuries or poor performance.
While Epstein, Hoyer and Joe Maddon were saying the Cubs were pretty much done making significant moves before Spring Training, reports from Nick Cafardo and Marc Topkin said otherwise.
Nick Cafardo reported late Saturday “the trade market hasn’t closed yet and plenty of deals could still be made before Spring Training.” Cafardo explained the Cubs and Rays “seem to line up for a trade.” The Rays would be willing to part with Jake Odorizzi or Alex Cobb if the Cubs are “willing to give up Javier Baez or Jorge Soler.”
Cafardo indicated the Cubs are “trying to turn Baez into a younger Ben Zobrist.” Soler has huge power potential “though he isn’t the greatest right fielder.” The Rays would like to add “controllable young hitters and Soler and/or Baez would fit nicely in their lineup.”
The Cubs, according to Cafardo, “could use another young, controllable pitcher” to slide in behind Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester in the middle of the rotation. And the Rays “have what they want.”
The Cubs and Rays have been discussing various deals since at least December. Marc Topkin reported the Rays “have not given up on the trade route” to improve their offense. Topkin explained that Matt Silverman has “a surplus of pitching” and may prefer to trade a starter rather than a reliever.
The Cubs are believed to be interested in Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb and Jake McGee more than Drew Smyly or Brad Boxberger.
Topkin said the Rays are talking with multiple teams including the Cubs and Rockies. Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon would fit the Rays better than Carlos Gonzalez. From the Cubs, the Rays seem to prefer Javier Baez over Jorge Soler.
Matt Silverman is looking to improve his big league roster for the upcoming season. And the Cubs would reportedly prefer to deal players from the system to acquire another starting pitcher or late-inning reliever.
The countdown has begun to pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. For clubs making deals involving young players and pitchers it would put the players in a better position to succeed if trades were completed well before camp opens.