Chicago Cubs encouraged to trade for one-time top prospect

The Chicago Cubs need help as they make their way to the August 3 MLB trade deadline. There’s absolutely no denying that.

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For as good as they can be in every other regard, their pitching will bring them crashing down unless some serious reinforcement is acquired ahead of the most heated part of the pennant race. By most accounts, the team needs, ideally, two starting pitchers and a steady closer-capable reliever, at the very least.

But could the Cubs also be in the market for a bat?

If there’s one weak point in the non-pitching game of the Cubs, it may be at designated hitter. Currently, with the demotion of prospect Moises Ballesteros, there’s no true, dedicated DH on the team. Michael Conforto has been used, as have a few other position players given a rest from playing defense. But Chicago doesn’t have a full-time (or even platoon) DH with true long ball capability.

Bringing back a Cubs slugging prospects

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Brandon Glick of Cubbies Crib recently tossed out the idea of the Cubs trading for a former top prospect of theirs who might have a shot at assuming that role— the Angels’ Jorge Soler.

The 34-year-old Soler, who was traded by the Cubs to the Royals for closer Wade Davis in 2016, is not doing well, statistically. This season, he’s hitting .209 with 11 home runs in 318 plate appearances over 76 games. Arguably, he hasn’t had a truly “good” season since 2023 when he hit 36 home runs and batted .250 with the Marlins.

But, as Glick points out, he could still have some significant value for this Cubs team.

Per Glick:

“So, why would the Cubs want him back? Well, he’s a readily available rental bat who will almost certainly come attached to plenty of money to offset some his remaining salary. He’s also got an impressive track record with the platoon advantage, smoking left-handed pitchers to the tune of an .846 OPS and 126 wRC+ throughout his career.

That’s obviously a huge strength for this team already — Chicago ranks first in baseball with a 118 wRC+ versus southpaws — but adding some power to that lineup against lefties wouldn’t hurt. Soler would also seamlessly fit in as a platoon partner for Michael Conforto at DH, allowing Carson Kelly to get more rest on the days he isn’t catching.”

Alone or paired with a pitcher?

Well, bringing Soler back aboard is certainly an idea worth kicking around a bit—if the Cubs can get him on the cheap. It especially might make some sense if the righty slugger could be packaged with one of the Angels’ high-end trade market pitchers.

The last place and MLB-worst Angels could have a number of pitchers on the trade market before the deadline. Names such as Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano, Ryan Zeferjahn, Sam Bachman, Kirby Yates, and Chase Silseth could all be of use to the Cubs.

The 27-year-old Detmers, who is under team control through the 2028 season, might be an especially attractive target.

A Detmers/Soler package for a small haul of Cubs prospects with blocked paths to the big leagues—headlined by first baseman Jonathon Long and/or infielder James Triantos—might be something worth considering.

The trade deadline is now about two weeks away.

The post Chicago Cubs encouraged to trade for one-time top prospect appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-trade-deadline-jorge-soler-angels-reid-detmers/