Inside The Cubs

Three Players Chicago Cubs Could Pursue if They Become Buyers

Here are three options the Chicago Cubs could pursue if they do indeed become buyers at the MLB trade deadline.

Kade Kistner

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Depending on how these next few weeks go, the Chicago Cubs could very well find themselves buyers at this season's MLB trade deadline. 

It would be a turn of events after every major outlet, including ours, has labeled them as sellers over the recent weeks. 

Let's say the Cubs wind up as buyers, who could they reasonably pursue? Here are three names that could be on the list.

1B C.J. Cron, Colorado Rockies

The situation at first base is dire. Since the winter Chicago has tried to find a solution to the position. Eric Hosmer wasn't the answer. Matt Mervis is back in Triple-A. So now Trey Mancini and Cody Bellinger are sharing time at the position which means more playing time for Mike Tauchman.

Cron, while currently injured, is on pace to be back by the All-Star break. Over the course of his career Cron is a .259/.320/.470 hitter with a 112 OPS+ (MLB avg. 100). 

However, he will be a free agent and the end of the year making him a rental. That could be a positive for the Cubs however as it would lower the price of acquisition and not block Mervis at the position long-term. 

LHP Amir Garrett, Kansas City Royals

Chicago needs a left-handed relief option in the bullpen and the Royals are most definitely sellers this season. While Garrett isn't Scott Barlow or Aroldis Chapman, he still owns a 3.00 ERA through 21.0 innings pitched this season. 

Garrett was placed on the injured list on June 2 with an elbow injury, but he has already began his rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha. He should be back in plenty of time before the trade deadline.

1B Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

This is the biggest splash the Cubs could make this season and it wouldn't come cheap. But Torkelson would represent the future of the first base position in Chicago and become a mainstay. 

At 23-years-old, Torkelson will come at a premium but Chicago has plenty of prospects to get this type of deal done. 

He is also a change of scenery type guy as he hasn't quite lived up to his billing as one of the top prospects in the game, but he does boast plenty of power. 

More From SI's Inside The Cubs

  1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?
  2. Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?
  3. Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future
  4. Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September
  5. Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?
  6. Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings
  7. Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?
  8. Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation
  9. Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?
Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

Home/News