Chicago Cubs nearer David Robertson is aware of what awaits the following 4 weeks.
Robertson, in his 14th major-league season, has been on the transfer forward of the commerce deadline as soon as earlier than and has seen loads of teammates come and go throughout this month all through the years. With the Aug. 2 commerce deadline a month away, the Cubs once more might be sellers. Robertson, who doesn’t have commerce protections in his contract, is anticipated to be on the transfer.
“That’s the way it goes,” Robertson advised the Tribune this week. “You never know how many people you’re going to run through in a season. The trade stuff is above my pay grade. It’s uncontrollable for me. So I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything yet.”
Robertson picked up his eleventh save Saturday within the Cubs’ 3-1 win towards the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. He seemingly gained’t be the one Cub jettisoned by Aug. 2. The clubhouse will look completely different 4 weeks from now, a well-known place after one-third of the 2021 opening-day roster was dealt earlier than final 12 months’s commerce deadline.
Trade talks will warmth up within the coming weeks. With that in thoughts, right here’s a take a look at which Cubs could possibly be on the transfer.
Willson Contreras, catcher
If the Cubs observe their trade-deadline playbook from final summer season, that is Contreras’ ultimate month with the group. It can be an unlucky ending to a Cubs profession that started in 2009, when Contreras signed as an adolescent out of Venezuela. But barring a last-minute contract extension, it’s tough envisioning a state of affairs during which the Cubs hold the catcher, who might be a free agent after the season.
In the midst of the perfect offensive season of his profession, Contreras is positioned to money in in free company and will make his third All-Star Game begin. For a money-making franchise such because the Cubs, who’ve the long-term flexibility to signal him to a giant contract, this is able to be one other painful commerce for followers to endure.
David Robertson, RHP
Robertson figures to be one of the crucial skilled and precious closers available on the market. The Cubs can be clever to attempt to transfer him as quickly as doable. The 37-year-old right-hander has proved he’s wholesome in his first full season again after present process Tommy John surgical procedure in August 2019. In the method, Robertson has returned to kind as among the finest late-inning relievers within the majors.
He needs to be a sizzling commodity for reliever-desperate groups. In addition to hanging out hitters — 39 in 30 innings getting into Saturday — Robertson has allowed solely 14 hits and three house runs. Aside from Contreras, he may web the Cubs their greatest return.
Veteran relievers
The Cubs had a transparent technique within the spring to signal veteran relievers to one-year offers and hoped a pair would pan out — and provides them commerce belongings. While that they had misses — Daniel Norris and Jesse Chavez — the Cubs have two different veteran arms seemingly on the transfer.
Right-handers Chris Martin and Mychal Givens match the combo for what playoff contenders are in search of. Givens was a subject in commerce rumors for years in Baltimore, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him on the transfer within the subsequent month. While the variety of baserunners he permits could be problemattic, Givens’ setup expertise is engaging.
Martin forces batters to hit their means on base, limiting free passes to only 4 in 24⅓ innings getting into Saturday. He has pitched nicely currently, permitting zero earned runs in his final seven outings with no walks and 5 strikeouts. Martin additionally is aware of what it takes to win a title after being a part of the Atlanta Braves’ World Series-winning bullpen final season.
Injured beginning pitchers
Left-handers Drew Smyly and Wade Miley, like their veteran bullpen counterparts, appeared fated to be on the transfer on the deadline. However, accidents have put a wrinkle in that plan. Miley (left shoulder pressure) may not have sufficient time to get wholesome and pitch in a big-league sport earlier than the deadline. He performed mild catch this week however has no timetable for a return.
Smyly, although, is trending in the proper path. He threw a bullpen Friday, and a rehab project could possibly be coming quickly, placing him in play to return across the All-Star break. That timing would permit him to make a couple of begins earlier than the commerce deadline. Smyly appeared good earlier than struggling a proper indirect pressure in late May, proudly owning a 3.80 ERA in 9 begins.
Wild playing cards
Sometimes stunning trades are made on the deadline. And with the Cubs clearly rebuilding with no definitive, public timeline for when the entrance workplace expects a contending crew on the sector, nothing needs to be dominated out.
That consists of outfielder Ian Happ and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Happ is producing probably the most constant season of his profession and is about to succeed in free company after subsequent season. Perhaps the entrance workplace considers him a bit to construct round and appears to increase him within the offseason. But if the Cubs don’t envision him being a part of the group past 2023, Happ’s commerce worth may not be any greater than it’s now with an buying crew getting that additional 12 months of management.
The Cubs want extra — not fewers — good, All-Star-caliber gamers in the event that they need to turning issues round prior to later. They ought to need to retain Happ in the event that they consider what he’s displaying is the true deal.
Hendricks has meant so much to the group, and buying and selling him earlier than his contract ends after subsequent season ― he additionally has a 2024 membership possibility ― can be vital. That’s much less about how he’s pitching — 4.76 ERA in 15 begins — and extra about his stature with the crew.
If any transfer really have been to sever the Cubs’ previous and future, it will be buying and selling Hendricks. This looks like a sell-low scenario, although, given his inconsistency the final two seasons. However, President Jed Hoyer made clear ultimately 12 months’s deadline that he took the emotional facet out of commerce concerns. So if groups inquire about Hendricks, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Cubs at the least hear.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com