MLB Trade Ideas: Analyzing 10 Top Cubs Prospects' Odds of Being Moved
The Cubs are a team that is currently strapped for cash as far as their payroll is concerned, but with the contracts of Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Pena, Carlos Silva, and John Grabow all coming off the books at the end of the season, they could be in line to make a splash this off season.
Another option could be dealing for one of a handful of top players that will be hitting free agency this season, in order to get a jump on re-signing them to a long term deal, and to contend this year.
Any deal of that sort would require the Cubs giving up some young talent, something they already did this past off season when they dealt three of their top 10 prospects for Matt Garza.
So here is a look at 10 of the Cubs top prospects, and their chances of being involved in any sort of deal the Cubs could look into this coming season.
Trey McNutt
1 of 10
Drafted: 32nd Round, 2009 Draft
MLB ETA: Late 2012
McNutt came out of no where last season, going 10-1 with a 2.48 ERA and reaching as high as Class-AA after opening the season at Low Class-A.
Still just 21 this season, McNutt would benefit from another season or two in the minors, but he has the makings of a future middle of the rotation starter at least.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 40%
After dealing top pitching prospect Chris Archer in the Matt Garza deal, McNutt is now arguably the Cubs top pitching prospect, and any major move they try to pull off will require giving up a young, promising arm. Chances are he or Hayden Simpson would have to be part of any major deal.
Josh Vitters
2 of 10
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007 Draft
ETA: 2013
Ideally, when the Cubs drafted Vitters third overall in the 2007 Draft, he would have been ready to take over the third base job from Aramis Ramirez when his contract was up at the end of the 2011 season. That doesn't look like it is going to happen at this point, however, unless something really clicks for Vitters this season.
Last year, he was plagued by injuries and struggled to a .247 BA, 10 HR, 39 RBI season as he saw his first Class-AA action and posted a uninspired .223 average in 206 at bats. Still, he is just 21 years old and has a ton of potential
Chances Of Being Dealt: 30%
Despite his struggles, there is a reason Vitters was the third overall pick, and he has all the physical tools to be a solid power hitter for years to come if he can improve his plate discipline. Aside from Jackson, he is still the most attractive position player in the system, and would no doubt be among the first brought up if a big trade were in the works.
Rafael Dolis
3 of 10
Drafted: N/A, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2004
ETA: Late 2012
After missing all of the 2008 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, Dolis' progress is back on the right track, and he reached Class-AA last season, and looked more than ready to contribute at that level.
He is capable of hitting triple digits with his fastball, and has a plus slider to go along with it, so while he is a starter for now, he may project as a back of the bullpen guy down the road. Regardless, if he continues to progress he could be in Chicago within the next couple years.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 25%
There are only so many guys in the league capable of dialing it up to the level that Dolis can with his fastball, and now that he has shown he is back from his surgery, he is one of the most attractive trade pieces in the Cubs organization. You can never have too many good, young arms.
Hayden Simpson
4 of 10
Drafted: 1st Round, 2010
ETA: 2013
Simpson was the surprise pick of the first round of the 2010 draft, as his selection raised more than a few eyebrows around the league.
He was dominant in college against lower level competition, and he is fairly polished, so if he can enjoy some of the same success he had in college in his first pro season, he could be on the fast track to the majors.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 20%
As said before, any major deal the Cubs pull off would more than likely have to include either McNutt or Simpson, and while McNutt is the top pitching prospect at the moment, that could quickly change if Simpson proves to be worth his first round selection status.
Jay Jackson
5 of 10
Drafted: 9th Round, 2008 Draft
ETA: Late 2011
Jackson has had an up-and-down tenure with the Cubs, and much like Jeff Samardzija, he has bounced back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation, perhaps too much for his own good.
After a stellar 2009, in which he went 8-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 24 appearances, all of which were starts, he was unable to match that success last year. In 32 appearances, 25 of which were starts, Jackson went 11-8 but saw his ERA shoot up to 4.63. He could get a few spot starts this season or a bullpen spot if the team is in need.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 20%
While McNutt may be the most appealing pitching prospect in the Cubs system, Jackson is the most major league ready of the Cubs prospects, and that gives him added value for a team looking for big league ready talent.
Chris Carpenter
6 of 10
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2008 Draft
ETA: Late 2011 (as a reliever)
Carpenter has risen through the ranks fairly quickly over his three seasons in the Cubs organization, reaching Class-AAA last season, making three late season starts there after going 8-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 23 starts at Class-AA.
He could be destined for the bullpen, as he has a plus fastball but nothing overwhelming in the way of secondary pitches at this point. If the Cubs need bullpen help this season, it could be Carpenter or Jay Jackson that get the call.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 15%
Because he has projected as more of a reliever, he loses some value on the trade market. However, he could still be a solid addition to a deal as a second tier prospect to round out a deal.
D.J. LeMahieu
7 of 10
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2009 Draft
ETA: 2013
With the trade of Hak-Ju Lee as part of the Matt Garza deal, and the promotion of Darwin Barney, LeMahieu now becomes the team's top middle infield prospect, and he has done nothing but hit in his two pro seasons thus far.
Last year in a full season at High Class-A, he hit .314 BA, 2 HR, 73 RBI with 15 steals, and he did that while splitting time between second, shortstop, and third base fairly evenly. That type of versatility along with his continued offensive progress could make him a big leaguer in the years to come.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 10%
At the moment, LeMahieu projects as a solid fielder who is capable of hitting for a high average, but little else. In essence, he is Ryan Theriot II at this point, and players like that generally don't have much trade value until they are big league ready.
Matt Szczur
8 of 10
Drafted: 5th Round, 2010 Draft
ETA: 2013
Szczur is among the more intriguing prospects in the Cubs organization, as he was a two-sport athlete at Villanova, not only serving as the team's top hitter and center fielder, but also as one if its top receivers and kick returner.
So it goes without saying that he is a gifted athlete, but with just two seasons of college baseball under his belt, it will be interesting to see how quickly he progresses now that he is able to focus entirely on baseball.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 10%
He is a wild card at this point in his career, but Szczur has the tool to be an everyday player, and he could be someone who moves up the prospect rankings quickly. Still, he is too much of a question mark at this point to be at the center of any deals.
Reggie Golden
9 of 10
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2010
ETA: 2015
Golden, the Cubs second round pick last season, was selected out of an Alabama High School where he compiled 36 home runs and 156 RBI over his prep career, and he passed on a scholarship to Alabama to sign with the Cubs.
He projects as a 20/20 player with potential for more, but at this point he has plenty of developing to do and could just as easily be a bust. As far as athletes go, he is one of the best in the Cubs organization.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 5%
Golden is far to big of a question mark at this point in his career for teams to be more than aware of him, and the chances of him being involved in any deals are slim at this point.
Brett Jackson
10 of 10
Drafted: 1st Round, 2009 Draft
MLB ETA: 2012
Jackson enters the 2011 season as Baseball America's 38th overall prospect, and as the undisputed top position player prospect in the Cubs minor league system.
He did a little bit of everything last season, finishing with a line of .297 BA, 12 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB and he threw in 32 doubles and 14 triples for good measure, as he reached Class-AA at the age of 21.
With Kosuke Fukudome's contract up at the end of the 2011 season, and Marlon Byrd's deal done the following season, the time is quickly approaching when Jackson could be chasing down fly balls in Wrigley Field and it would take one hell of an offer for the Cubs to part with him.
Chances Of Being Dealt: 1%
Jackson is as close to untouchable as a prospect can be, he's not going anywhere.
