MLB trade deadline preview: National League Central
By Tim Haberin
The Cubs made a strong opening move by dealing for Jose Quintana, but what else will the NL Central have in store for us before the MLB trade deadline?
The 2017 All-Star Game is history, and the second half of the season has officially begun. That means we have just over two weeks until the MLB trade deadline. The chatter is starting to heat up, and deals are already crossing the finish line. Things should only get crazier as July 31 continues to draw near.
The National League Central has already provided us with one of the first headline-grabbing trades of the season. On Thursday, the Chicago Cubs acquired starting pitcher Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox for a package of four prospects including Eloy Jimenez. Quintana had been the subject of rumors extending back to last offseason, and the Cubs paid a considerable price for three years of control of the left-hander.
However, Quintana has been picking up the pace since a slow start and should offer a jolt to an underperforming Cubs rotation. The move also sends a clear signal to the rest of the division: The Cubs fully intend to defend their crown. Indications are that team president Theo Epstein isn’t content to just stop here either.
The Brewers won’t surrender their 5.5-game lead without a fight, though. For the first time in a while, they should be buyers on the market. At 6.5 and seven games behind, respectively, the Cardinals and Pirates could also justify making a second-half push for the division or one of the league’s two Wild Cards.
NL Central fans are likely in for an exciting ride over the next 16 days, so let’s take a look at the division team by team and speculate what each might do.
Next: Brewing a winner