Will Cubs move Christopher Morel as Marlins are open for trades? |
It's incredible what one deal can do to a team and the overall impression of an offseason. Sure, the fans of the Chicago Cubs would love them to add Cody Bellinger, Rhys Hoskins, and maybe a few more pieces, but they are the very least added a starting pitcher in Shota Imanaga ahead of the Cubs Convention.
They then turned around and traded with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Michael Busch was acquired and could be the centerpiece of the deal. Those moves alone brought a more positive feel to the Cubs convention as the energy is much better than it initially could've been. Still, this team is far from satisfied, and with five weeks until pitchers and catchers report, what other moves could Jed Hoyer and company have up their sleeves? All the focus from here on out will fall on Bellinger and whether or not the Cubs can do enough to get him to return. If they can, everything else after that point would be seen as icing on the cake, as the Cubs still have an opportunity to address some of the holes Craig Counsell has going into year one of his managerial tenure. Free agency still seems like the most likely option for the Cubs to fill needs, but the trade market remains a possibility, especially should they covet another starting pitcher with multiple years of control. Tyler Glasnow appeared to be the focus early on, but Shane Bieber seemed to be their primary target after he landed in Los Angeles. Now, it looks like Bieber is off the market due to the asking price for him, which puts the Cubs in a tough spot for trade partners. Seattle remains a possible team when you look at their young pitching staff, but one team that keeps popping up is the Miami Marlins, as they continue to be the team to watch in this whole process. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Marlins are open for business as they are telling them they are willing to listen to any trades for their players. Jesus Luzardo was a name mentioned earlier this offseason, and he will continue to have his name mentioned for quite a while. Considering he is a 26-year-old lefty with multiple years of control and ace-caliber stuff, he is a perfect match for the Cubs. Like Bieber, the asking price appears too high, so you haven't had much traction surfacing from those conversations. However, the Marlins have other young options in their rotation as potential fits, and one of them comes from one of the hardest throwers in the game, Edward Cabrera. Like Luzardo, Cabrera is one of the front-line starters for their staff, and at just 25 years old, he hasn't even hit the arbitration portion of his current contract. That gives him four more years of control, which the Cubs would happily take on and stash in their rotation for several years. When you look at Cabrera, his 6-5 frame and 230-pound stature is intimidating, but he is more than an intimidating figure on the mound. His stuff is equally intimidating, making him one of the more intriguing arms should he become available. He is coming off a 20-start season for the Marlins last season, where he posted an ERA of 4.24. What stands out the most about him is his fastball, which sits in the 96 MPH range but can easily reach 99-100 MPH. To go with that comes a change-up in the 91 MPH range and an 88 MPH breaking ball, as everything he throws comes out hard and not often straight. Command has been an issue at times for Cabrera, which is one of the reasons his ERA was as high as it was this season. However, with a strong 27.2% strikeout rate, you can see his potential, as he would instantly become this team's No. 3 or 4 starter. His walk rate was a primary concern this season, as he was near the top of the NL most of the year. Should he be able to harness that and get that under control, the sky is the limit for him as he could be a name to watch.
Another Marlin to keep tabs on is Luis Arraez, although it is doubtful he will end up in Chicago when you look at how their current infield is constructed. Expected to make close to 11 million in arbitration this season, Arraez has one more year of team control after that but will be approaching a contract figure that the Marlins may not want to pay.
This is one of the best hitters in the game, as he led the National League in batting average from start to finish last season. He did that from a leadoff spot, which the Cubs could desperately use should they find a position for him. Either way, any trade made with the Marlins would be challenging and circle around Christopher Morel. That will be a question all season long, as virtually every trade has Morel linked to it.
If it were up to Counsell, Morel would be going nowhere, as he has repeatedly said they want his bat in the lineup. We will see if the owners feel the same or if he is the trade piece needed to get them what they want.
