The speculation surrounding what the Chicago Cubs will do before the trade deadline is constantly being monitored, but two new developments may alter any plans they initially had.
It's pretty evident the Cubs are keeping Addison Russell, who is viewed as the team's long-term option at shortstop, according to various rumors. Chicago is in need of starting pitching and their surplus of middle infielders suggests they'd be inclined to make a deal before the trade deadline.
Shortstop Starlin Castro and prospect middle infielder Javier Baez have been the two names mentioned most in trade talks. Castro is believed to provide the best return because his value as a successful starting shortstop for six MLB seasons likely appeals to many clubs lacking in that department. Baez, despite an inauspicious 52-game stint with the Cubs in 2014 and a poor offseason/spring training, is still only 22 years old and has made strides at Triple-A Iowa this season.
However, Baez is now sidelined for 4-8 weeks because he fractured his left ring finger while sliding into second base on Sunday, according to Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. This is more than likely to hamper any trade plans the Cubs' had in mind (if any existed), but there are a few interesting things to note.
Baez was batting .314/.386/.536/.922 with 19 runs scored, 8 home runs, 29 RBIs and 7 stolen bases in 37 games in the minors this season before the injury. He was emerging as both a viable trade candidate as well as an option for the Cubs' 25-man roster. Mooney noted Baez recently moved to third base to increase his versatility, and if that were to ever come to fruition, the team would consider moving Kris Bryant to the outfield on a full-time basis.
The infield would then consist of Baez at third, Castro at shortstop, Russell at second and Anthony Rizzo at first.
Rumors suggested Baez could have been up with the club as a designated hitter for the upcoming matchups against American League teams. That's definitely not happening now.
But many have been wondering if Castro, who still possesses shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball, would be moved over to third base in the event Baez was promoted and the team needed to make room for all of their young players (and improve defensively up the middle). Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com believes Castro has a greater likelihood of being traded than switching positions, which makes sense because the team doesn't really need to move Bryant to the outfield. They have prospects Billy McKinney and Kyle Schwarber capable of playing out there as they work closer to making their MLB debuts.
Now that Baez is on the shelf for up to two months, the Cubs are handicapped in what they can do with their middle infielders for the time being. On the trade front, the best-case scenario would be if Baez returned in 4-5 weeks and showed no signs of slowing down at Triple-A before July 31, which would then allow the Cubs to explore deals for him or Castro.
However, the Cubs' trade plans are now much murkier.
One thing to know is that Castro is, for the most part, a defensive liability at shortstop, while Russell and Baez are believed to be more reliable gloves. If the Cubs believe that to be the case, then it appears as if they'll look to trade Castro rather than move him elsewhere because his highest value is as a shortstop, and his team-friendly deal will appeal to various teams.
Chicago (30-25) sits 6.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer said they'd be exploring options outside the organization if the club continues to compete, but that's going to be more difficult with the injury to Baez.
We'll see what these two executives have up their sleeves as the deadline approaches.
