While the Yankees’ season inches another day closer to the non-waiver trade deadline on August 1, it remains to be told if New York will reflect as a contender or pretender by the All-Star break.
But regardless of where the Yankees are in the standings come mid-July, the Chicago Cubs will be making phone calls, eager to talk business.
Baseball’s best team has already begun to inquire about New York’s three-headed monster of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman, and with the Cubs missing its final piece of the puzzle in the bullpen, a blockbuster deal is viable.
According to a report in the Chicago-Sun-Times, catcher Kyle Schwarber and infielder Javier Baez appear to be off limits, but outfielder Jorge Soler might not be:
Cubs executives have made no secret in recent weeks of their desire to add more pitching before the deadline.
Kyle Schwarber, Javy Baez and top catching prospect Willson Contreras are expected to be non-starters in talks. But the Cubs have a handful of other intriguing young prospects (and possibly Jorge Soler) who could be made available.
Soler, 24, who is currently on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, has earned a slashline of .223/.322/.377 in 50 games this season, and has only driven in 13 runs along with five home runs.
While Soler’s numbers have been lackluster, he is in the third season of a nine-year, $30 million deal with the Cubs, and can opt-out of the contract once arbitration eligible in 2018.
