Could an old friend be a trade candidate for Cubs? |
When the Cubs won the 2016 World Series, a lot went into making it happen. I took a lot of losing, excellent drafting, and the willingness to spend money in free agency to improve this team. Along with that, the Cubs also made trades that they felt necessary, even if it meant they sold their soul to the devil.
One of those trades was when the Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees in exchange for Gleyber Torres and Billy McKinnie, among others. That was a deal that seemed like a home run at the time but now has haunted the Cubs for years. Yes, the Cubs got the ring that season, but Chapman was a rental who ultimately went back to the Yankees. That means the Cubs gave up the farm to acquire one piece and then were unable to retain that player. However, here we are six years later, and there is a possibility that Torres winds back up in the Cubs organization as a possible trade between the Cubs and Yankees is gaining traction. There was a time when Torres was the cream of the crop in terms of the Cubs' prospects and found himself ranked No. 1 in 2014. A contact first hitter during his minor league tenure, Torres had the potential to be a top-of-the-order bat while providing speed and gold glove-caliber defense. That is what attracted the Yankees to him and, thus, their decision to ask for him in the trade. The moment Torres stepped on the field for the Yankees, you could see the potential the Cubs saw with him, but even they couldn't have expected what would come from him. Yes, his average took a hit and was sitting in the .250-.260 range, but he turned into a prolific power hitter in a matter of a year. Someone who never hit more than 10 homers in any minor league season, Torres broke out for 30 homers in his first year with the Yankees and has averaged better than 22 homers a season with the Yankees. Throw in his defensive ability, and the Yankees had themselves a gold mine that could lock down the middle of the infield for years. Going back to 2018, Torres has put up a respectful .265/.331/.455, notching HR counts of 24, 38, and 24 again in 2022. Over the last few seasons, Torres has still been a valuable offensive option, but he is starting to become a liability average-wise. Regardless, when you have two years of team control left and come at a cheap rate, the deal makes sense for both the long and short term.
Adding Torres gives the Cubs another great defensive option that the Cubs could use at third, a position of need for this team. He is also a middle-of-the-order bat capable of producing and has produced more than many Cubs players. Torres could also be a DH option for certain matchups, so the Cubs have options should they bring him in.
Adding a guy like Torres, you would think, would cost a lot, but according to reports, it doesn't seem like it is out of reach.
According to Bruce Levine, Torres is not only being mentioned as a trade option by the Yankees, but they would be looking to acquire a left-handed reliever in place of him. If that is what the Yankees want, the Cubs need to make a move now.
Everyone needs left-handed relief help, and the Cubs fall into that category. Brandon Hughes is the only left-hander on the Cubs roster right now, but Brad Weick, Roenis Elias, and several others are in the Cubs system, so they have options. Throw in flame thrower Luke Little and potentially DJ Herz, and the Cubs will have left-handed options in the coming seasons.
Expect the Yankees to target at least one of those young prospects while trying to pry a piece or two away from the Cubs major league roster. In any instance, Torres could be on the trade block soon, and the Cubs could look to bring him back where it all began.
