some_text

Swerski Sports Podcast Player

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Cubs pull of trade of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel

Cubs were able to pull off a trade earlier than the deadline with the Oakland A's.  Oakland will get the two Cubs pitchers, while the Cubs will get Oakland's top 2 prospects, a MLB starting pitcher and a player to be named later.  The players the Cubs will get include: Addison Russell, the #11 overall pick in the 2012 draft and a top 10 minor league prospect along with OF Billy McKinney, RHP Dan Strailey and a PTBNL.

It's an interesting trade.  We expected the Cubs to trade for young pitching, but instead they traded for hitting.  With the pickup of Russell, the Cubs not only have the best minor league system in baseball, but they also have a very crowded future infield.  Assuming nobody changes position (which isn't a safe bet), you've got Rizzo at first, Alcantara at 2nd, Baez and Castro at SS, Bryant at 3rd.

Do the Cubs end up flipping some of that infield talent for pitching down the road?  Will they make more moves before the trade deadline?  No crystal ball, but I think both are fairly safe bets.