The Cubs have made their first commerce deadline strikes.
The group acquired infielder Jeimer Candelario and a money consideration from the Washington Nationals two prospects, left-hander DJ Herz and infielder Kevin Made, earlier than Monday’s recreation.
The switch-hitting Candelario provides the Cubs much-needed energy as the most effective rental bat obtainable on the commerce market. In 99 video games with the Nationals this yr, Candelario, who’s a free agent after the season, has hit 30 doubles and 16 residence runs with a 128 OPS+.
Although Candelario has predominately performed third base throughout his eight big-league seasons, he’s additionally began 60 video games at first base, most just lately for the Tigers in 2020. His defensive flexibility on the nook infield spots may help the Cubs’ two weakest offensive positions.
The Cubs have particularly struggled with high quality manufacturing at first base. Five gamers have been used there this yr, combining for minus-2.7 Wins Above Replacement with Trey Mancini proudly owning a team-worst minus-1.3 WAR. Candelario’s addition to the lineup makes it deeper and offers the Cubs an extra-base risk.
With a logjam of outfielders at Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs reallocated their depth in a separate transfer Monday night time by buying and selling outfielder Nelson Velázquez to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander José Cuas.
Velázquez, 24, was one among three Triple-A outfielders on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, and the Iowa outfield is including the Cubs’ high prospect following the promotion of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on Monday. Velázquez didn’t have a transparent path to common enjoying time for the Cubs with the three beginning spots locked in and the consistency they’ve been getting from Mike Tauchman.
Velázquez appeared in 90 video games for the Cubs over the past two seasons, hitting .210 with a .290 on-base share and 92 OPS+. Five of his seven hits this yr went for further bases, most memorably a grand slam that helped erase a seven-run deficit within the Cubs’ comeback win April 11 versus the Seattle Mariners.
Cuas owns a 4.54 ERA, 27.1 Okay%, 10.9 BB% and 98 ERA+ over 41 2/3 innings in 45 appearances for the Royals this season. The 29-year-old right-hander depends closely on a sinker-slider mixture.
Candelario, 29, was initially signed by the Cubs as an newbie free agent in 2010 and appeared in 16 video games between 2016-17 earlier than getting traded to Detroit in July 2017 for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson.
The depth the Cubs have constructed of their minor-league system set them up with an asset on the commerce deadline and preemptively tackle looming offseason choices. Herz and Made are each eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December if they don’t seem to be added to a 40-man roster. MLB.com had rated Herz (No. 16) and Made (No. 14) throughout the Cubs’ high 20 prospects whereas Baseball America put Herz at No. 19 of their top-30 record. Made was unranked.
The Cubs (53-51) get a lift as they start an essential four-game sequence at Wrigley Field towards the division-leading Cincinnati Reds. During the remaining hours earlier than Tuesday’s 5 p.m. commerce deadline, the group might nonetheless bolster the again finish of the bullpen.
“I think everybody’s aware, right?” Dansby Swanson stated Monday of the commerce deadline. “I mean, you can sit here and we can say all we want about how we don’t pay any attention to it. It’s our livelihoods and it surrounds us every step of the way. But we know that no matter what that the guys upstairs are going to do their job, do what’s best for our team and we’re going to continue to go out there and prepare and play the way we can.”
Standing at his locker Monday afternoon earlier than the Candelario commerce was introduced, Swanson described the “positive reinforcement” that comes from a entrance workplace including gamers on the deadline.
“We feel like we can always improve in certain areas and whether that’s just continuing to get better or add a piece here or there, we just boost the morale … and it injects a little bit of confidence and positivity.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com