Stock Down: Trade deadline loser – Chicago Cubs
It would not have been surprising to see the Chicago Cubs sell at the trade deadline. They had some pieces that could have got them a big return for the future with players on expiring contracts this winter.
A last-minute winning streak changed the Cubs’ trade deadline approach and they went from trading pieces to becoming buyers, but that may turn out to be a bad approach. Their winning streak before August 1 could be considered fools gold and they could end up regretting that decision.
Pitcher Marcus Stroman struggled in July, but there was still a market for the right-hander, which included the Blue Jays where a reunion would have made a lot of sense. There are questions surrounding the staff in Toronto and whether or not it’s good enough for the final two months and Stroman would have been a tested option to acquire.
Outfielder Cody Bellinger was another player that they could have sold high on and there were plenty of teams that were in need of a left-handed outfielder. The New York Yankees, who did nothing at the deadline, are one team that needed an outfielder and his left-handed bat would have fit in perfectly at Yankee Stadium. Not selling could turn out to be a mistake as there are just too many teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings.