That’s Cubs’ president Jed Hoyer and he’s cooking up a word salad to explain that we don’t have a closer right now and probably won’t any time soon.
It’s a shitty situation and has people curious when the trade deadline really starts for the Cubs. Do we wait until July when there’s an obvious need now?
Easy answer is yes but it’s a much more complicated question and really not one I’m even thinking about at the moment. Obviously we’re going to beef up the bullpen and obviously Jed Hoyer is smart enough to fix it in July. No shit.
What’s far less obvious right now is who we add to the starting rotation and that’s why I want to argue for Zac Gallen from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
I think the Cubs can get him for 3 reasons:
- The Diamondbacks are creative and realistic
- The Cubs have a butt load of top prospects
- The Diamondbacks need young every day players in the immediate/near future
Zac Gallen has been one of the best right handed pitchers in the world over the last 4 years.
He kinda stinks this year though with a 5-something ERA and would be passed over for a number of other starters if the playoffs started tomorrow.
However I think a change of scenery towards Wrigley Field would do wonders. Especially with our propensity to resurrect pitchers – in particular ballplayers.
And while I understand a lot of people think this is stupid, I believe he is a realistic trade option that meets a lot of needs:
1. The Diamondbacks Are Creative And Realistic: They know Gallen is leaving in free agency this winter and he will likely return a compensation draft pick as a result. Alternatively, they could get a couple prospects for him at July’s deadline knowing he’s at best the #3 in a playoff series in their own rotation. And that’s assuming he bounces back from a string of really bad starts. So being realistic, the Diamondbacks can realize they’re competing for maybe the 7th seed this year with a core to win 90+ games in the future. They just need a little more talent in the lineup and I think everyone’s smart enough to see Zac Gallen isn’t in that plan. So while they may not be your textbook seller, I think they’re creative enough to understand trading Gallen doesn’t mean a complete surrender on the 2025 season. You can still make a run while adding prospects in this case based on where he fits into the Diamondbacks right now.
2. The Cubs Have A Butt Load Of Prospects: And only 1 true prospect would be enough to lead a package right now. Then you add a couple high ceiling fringe guys that emerge this year and I think for 3 minor leaguers, the Cubs could have a decent group for the Diamondbacks to consider. At least enough to have a real conversation and that’s the whole point of stockpiling prospects like Jed Hoyer has the last few years. You have the capital to make a move without even coming close to compromising the future of the organization.
3. The Diamondbacks Need League Minimum Players to compete long-term. They gave a lot of money to Corbin Burnes and will look to add more big players in future winters to compliment Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo. To offset this, they need to find more younger cheap players that can fit into the core which is why I think they could be quasi-sellers at the deadline which makes a AAA ready prospect more enticing than a compensation draft pick when Gallen leaves in the winter.
For these 3 reasons I think we should be far enough along to have a good conversation.
From here the question is whether or not Gallen is an improvement to the rotation and I say the upside is worth the risk. Right now he looks like shit and his command is uncharacteristically bad. Admittedly that could mean much more than just having a bad few starts.
But when he’s good, he’s an elite and filthy righty that would look very good behind Shota and Boyd.
And I don’t think it would cost too much to get him the more I think about it, which has been nonstop since the idea came to me.
So what do you guys think?
Is he washed or should Jed pick up the phone and call the Diamondbacks?