And he’s obviously been a good bit better than that at plate in the years before (123 wRC+), and if you just plunked him down at DH and never messed with him in the outfield, that could be a very good everyday bat – exactly the type of one-year, bat-only DH type the Cubs arguably need. But that just means the acquisition cost would be negligible. Jimenez is coming off his healthiest season since his rookie year, but it was still just 120 games, and he didn’t hit like he needs to (.272/.317/.441/105 wRC+). So if you add him, you’re on the hook for $16.8 million, at a minimum. If the Cubs were actually going to pick up a guy from that ill-fated trade, what about getting Eloy Jimenez back? The 27-year-old slugger makes $13.8 million this year, and then has team options at $16.5 million and $18.5 million for the following two seasons ($3 million buyouts).Obviously if some actual rumors percolate, I’ll dig in deeper, but I don’t really love the fit, and I don’t think these two teams are making a trade involving this player (again) anyway. There is some superficial sense there, as Cease is a bat-misser and the Cubs do need that, but (1) you’re paying a steep price for two years when this kind of acquisition makes a lot more sense for a cheaper one year guy for the Cubs (or a long-term free agent signing with no prospect cost), and (2) there were some concern down-trends in Cease’s performance last year that make me wonder if you’re actually going to get a front-two guy those two seasons anyway. I really don’t see it as a particularly logical deal for the Cubs.

4tAGdFFkpy- Locked On Cubs December 23, 2023

Sox seeking top pitching prospects as they rebuild. The White Sox trading Dylan Cease to the Cubs is the “most logical deal for both teams,” says Bruce Levine this morning on 670 The Score. This seems sufficiently thin that I’m not going to give it a dedicated post, but it did generate a lot of chatter (which I suspect was the intention, given the Chicago-Chicago connection and the specific trade history there):.

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