Aug 05, 2022
Willson Contreras free agent favorite: Cubs trade deadline decision could haunt them
This news has been received from: fansided.com
All trademarks, copyrights, videos, photos and logos are owned by respective news sources. News stories, videos and live streams are from trusted sources.
mail: [NewsMag]
Keeping Willson Contreras around sounds good, in theory. Cubs fans get to celebrate their star catcher for at least another few months. But there’s a dark side.
Contreras was expected to be dealt at the trade deadline, given that he’s on an expiring contract and the Cubs haven’t offered him a realistic extension since 2018.
Yet, Chicago couldn’t find a suitor who would meet their asking price. So, they balked, and kept him past the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
Does that mean they’ve reconsidered, and will keep him long-term? That feels unlikely. Jed Hoyer is content with attaching a qualifying offer to Contreras this offseason, and receiving a comp pick for him. While we can (rightly) question him for that, it appears to be the front office’s decision-making.
Could that come back to haunt Hoyer and Co.?
Willson Contreras rumors: Rival is a perfect suitorWith Yadier Molina likely to retire this offseason, the Cardinals will be in the market for a new catcher. Unless the Cubs re-sign him to a new contract, St. Louis makes a lot of sense.
This wouldn’t be the first time a former Cub turned Cardinal haunted the Windy City. Lou Brock sound familiar?
Comparing Contreras to Brock at this juncture is premature, but why even open that door? By keeping Contreras in Chicago, the Cubs not only decreased their potential return, but took away any likelihood of the backstop latching on with a contender this season.
Who knows? With the right organization, perhaps he would’ve been more inclined to sign there, rather than test free agency.
Instead, Contreras will head into the unknown, with zero attachment to the Cubs and little reason to feel remorse for signing with a rival.
Next: Why the Cubs didn’t trade Willson Contreras, explainedNews Source: fansided.com
Tags: willson contreras trade deadline this offseason
ASK IRA: Can Heat do an offseason deal without dealing Tyler Herro?
Next News:
White Sox: 3 players we cant believe Chicago didnt trade
Next1 of 3Prev postUse your ← → (arrows) to browse
Aug 7, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jose Abreu (79) hits a single against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago White Sox have been a disappointment all season and things aren’t getting any better for them.
The Chicago White Sox are one game above .500 on the season at 57-56 and while they are only 2.5 games back in the AL Wild Card picture, they have not shown any signs of getting any better. Since the beginning of August, they are 6-6. Since the All-Star break, they are 11-10. In their last 50 games, they are 26-24. They aren’t getting worse but they aren’t getting substantively better, especially when players like Tim Anderson are now on the injured list.
The White Sox were both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline but if they were all in on selling, then they could have gotten some substantial prospects in return for some of their players.
Here are three players we’re surprised the White Sox didn’t trade.
White Sox: 3 players we can’t believe they didn’t trade1) José AbreuOf all of the players that the White Sox considered trading at the trade deadline, José Abreu would have gotten the most in a trade return.
Abreu is the White Sox best hitter and has been for a long time. This year, he’s leading the American League in hits with 126 and he has 14 home runs, 55 RBI, and 28 doubles. He’s got a .298/.374/.463 with an OPS+ of 137 as well. In the last five seasons, he has received MVP votes four times, been an All-Star twice, and won a Silver Slugger Award twice. His best season was in 2020, when he won the AL MVP award.
He is a free agent at the end of the season so while he wouldn’t have received a Juan Soto-like trade return, there would have been plenty of teams that would have been interested in him to upgrade their first base or DH situation.
Next: 2. A starting pitcher Next1 of 3Prev postUse your ← → (arrows) to browse