Bleacher Bums Forum

Last year I totally understood the decision to trade each of the big three Cubs, even if I felt sad about them leaving. I seem to feel at least as sad this year about losing Contreras and possibly Happ, but I'm less clear about the necessity of doing it.

I am also very sad about losing Contreras in a trade, as I was losing Baez in the trade last year.  But I think the necessity is exactly the same in both cases.  There is no way the Cub are going to win it all this year, and they can not allow a player of Contreras's value to enter into free agency.  Assuming that they will not sign him before the deadline, and there is no indication that they will, then they MUST trade him and at least help the team in the future.  They weaken the team in the long run by letting him go without compensation, and in this instance, substantial compensation.

I'm not sure what they would do with a marginal defensive first baseman, regardless of his power, although I am sure they have better information to rely upon.  The Mets trade sounds to me like a reporter creating click bait on a slow day.

I think this puts the nail in the coffin that the Cubs are going actively trying to win in 2023.  If the minor leaguers really take off maybe 2024, but I really think 2025 is going to be the year when they try to actually win. 

Sucks with Ohtani being a free agent after 2023, but the rumor is he wants to play for a winner.  The Cubs might have a hard time selling that, unless they can get him to buy into being Lester 2.0.