The Chicago Cubs are one of the most intriguing teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches because they could position themselves to make a number of fairly big moves. One of them involves Oakland Athletics utility man Ben Zobrist.
Many teams have been linked to Zobrist in trade rumors, but the Cubs perhaps provide the best destination for him because they have the resources to acquire him and manager Joe Maddon spent many years with him on the Tampa Bay Rays. Additionally, the Cubs need some help in the outfield.
Zobrist can play the middle infield and the corner outfield positions, which is exactly where the Cubs could use some depth. Left fielder Chris Coghlan has picked up his offensive production, but still has struggled for most of the season, and right fielder Jorge Soler is on the disabled list with an ankle injury. Shortstop Starlin Castro is going to need some days off, especially if his defense doesn't improve, and Maddon might want to rest rookie second baseman Addison Russell occasionally as well.
Rival executives feel general manager Billy Beane will deal Zobrist and an ESPN Insider predicts he'll land with the Cubs.
"You always know that's a place you can call," one executive told ESPN Senior Writer Jayson Stark of the Oakland Athletics. "Billy is open to anything. And there's nothing he wouldn't talk about. You never know what he might do."
"He's got a lot of trade value," said another NL exec of Zobrist. "If people feel he's healthy and he resembles his normal self, he fits on anyone's roster, because of all the positions he can play."
Stark predicts Zobrist will head to Chicago before the deadline "for a reunion with the president of his fan club, Joe Maddon." However, he says the A's are going to wait until much closer to the deadline to move Zobrist so they can maximize his value.
Oakland (29-39) has rebounded as of late, but they still sit 10.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West and are only a half-game ahead of the AL-worst Boston Red Sox. Zobrist, an impending free agent, can provide a good return for the A's and help them for the future.
"The A's can't simply wait for their luck to change. Their bullpen is not very good and teams are already calling on their players ... if Beane gets the right deal, he almost certainly will jump," FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal mentioned last week.
However, the Cubs will have competition on the market. It's been said the Washington Nationals, New York Yankees and others have inquired about Zobrist and it could get even more crowded if other clubs slip into contention before then.
