The Chicago Cubs have a number of areas they'd probably like to address on their roster even with the unrivaled young talent they possess. One of those areas of need is in the outfield and the Cubs may have found their top target.
Chicago attempted to acquire utility man Ben Zobrist from the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, but the veteran landed with the Oakland Athletics in a five-player trade. Now that the A's are among the worst teams in baseball, rumors suggest it's likely general manager Billy Beane looks to sell before the trade deadline to get value for the team's veteran players.
The Cubs look to be a top suitor for Zobrist.
"While the Cubs keep their eye on the pitching market as they mull a buyer's approach for the trade deadline, one of their biggest targets heading into June is play-anywhere hitter Ben Zobrist of the Oakland Athletics, according to multiple sources," writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Zobrist played under manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay for a number of years and the 34-year-old would provide great flexibility for the Cubs and also bolster their weak bench. Chicago initially believed Arismendy Alcantara would be that kind of player, but he was demoted to Triple-A after batting .077 in 11 games with the Cubs.
Zobrist recently returned to the A's lineup after missing a month after undergoing knee surgery. In only 18 games this season he has played second base and the corner outfield spots, but he's also capable of contributing in center field and at shortstop if need be.
If acquired, he would likely take over full time in left field, where Chris Coghlan has struggled for most of the season. He's batting just .207 with 11 RBIs in 47 games while fellow outfielders Dexter Fowler (.240 and 14 RBIs) and Jorge Soler (.276 and 18 RBIs) have largely had difficulty providing run support (besides Fowler's team-leading 33 runs scored).
However, there's no guarantee the A's make Zobrist available at the deadline. The club has lost 15 games by one run and Beane is said to have not made anybody available at this point because he believes the team still has a chance to get completely healthy and go on a run. Zobrist and fellow veterans Coco Crisp, Ike Davis and Sean Doolittle have missed solid chunks of time, which have likely contributed to the Athletics' 19-32 record and last place standing in the AL West.
"A trade would, of course, render Zobrist ineligible for a qualifying offer, and Oakland will surely be looking for a return that exceeds the value of a compensatory draft pick if it decides to move him at the trade deadline. That is no sure thing, as Wittenmyer notes, as Oakland still hopes to get back into contention," writes Jeff Todd of MLBTradeRumors.com.
Wittenmyer notes the Cubs have been in contact with Oakland regarding potential trades. The trade deadline is July 31, so the A's have plenty of time to recoup and get back on track. Rumors will likely continue to surface until then, but a deal between the A's and Cubs for Zobrist makes complete sense for both sides if Oakland falls out of the playoff race and Chicago remains competitive in late July.
Chicago will likely have competition on the trade market if Beane is willing to deal Zobrist. ESPN Insider Jim Bowden says the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers are also interested in the veteran, which will allow Beane to explore the best possible return.
All of these clubs remain in the postseason discussion, thus increasing the demand for Zobrist.
