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When the Cubs stepped onto the field on Friday to face Arizona, it felt like a final fight. One last homestand, to be precise.
The Cubs will play three against the Diamondbacks and four games with the Reds before the MLB trade deadline next Friday. Cubs fans don’t need to remember the implications.
Put simply, this could be the last time at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform for the Core World Series of Kris Bryant Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo. And there are plenty of other Cubs players who could be traded.
Baez hit a 3-run homer in the first inning and the Cubs started the home game well with an 8-3 win on Friday. Backup wide receiver Robinson Chirinos had two home runs.
“We’re really, really hot and things could go the other way,” said Zach Davies, Friday’s winning pitcher. “So you never know. That can change in no time, and I think everyone in the clubhouse is ready to go out and win tomorrow, win the next day and play baseball in a positive way. and successful. “
So, as a potential take-off day approaches for the Cubs, it’s worth pointing out that there is an example of a successful rebuild with a veteran core. With two return wins in Los Angeles in the past two days, the San Francisco Giants posted the best baseball record, led by three remaining players from their last World Series team in 2014.
It’s certainly food for thought as team president Jed Hoyer prepares the next moves. The Cubs have slashed their payrolls over the past year and laid off dozens of front desk workers, but Hoyer recently said the plan is to stay competitive, not destroy everything.
Here’s how the Giants did it. All three World Series veterans – receiver Buster Posey, first baseman Brandon Belt and shortstop Brandon Crawford – were the team’s best hitters. These guys generate success, not just enjoy the ride.
One factor is the salary. The three signed long-term deals years ago at 2015 prices. This season, Posey makes $ 22.2 million, Belt $ 17.2 million and Crawford $ 15.2 million.
Pending free will is an obvious problem for the Cubs. If Bryant, Baez, Rizzo and 2022 free agent Willson Contreras want to maximize their earning potential, some of them will likely have to go elsewhere. The Cubs are unlikely to be willing to spend $ 30 million a year on Bryant or make a total payment of $ 200 million to Baez.
Will another team make this offer? Well, that’s the dilemma. The Cubs can either trade guys now and hope to get something in return, or risk them going free agency and the Cubs only getting a compensatory draft pick.
Back at the Giants, there was a successful mix of luck and solid decisions from the Bay. The Giants have added their three most efficient pitchers – Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafini and Alex Wood – as valuable free agents over the past two years.
Four straight losing seasons haven’t delivered much local talent. One of their best additions, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, was acquired in a trade with Baltimore. The Giants have done a good job adding effective players between the draft, trades and free agents. That list includes Fremd graduate Mike Tauchman, who was traded from the Yankees to the Giants in late April.
The final piece is that San Francisco ranks third in the ERA majors of relievers. The Cubs led the MLB in this category. Now they are fifth. If the Cubs are serious about being competitive next year, maybe they should keep some of their best relievers.
The Giants are a team with solid depth, quality pitchers on both sides and have been able to get the big hit or great defensive play when needed. They play a lot like the Cubs did when they went 26-11 from early May to mid-June.
There is little doubt that the Cubs could do the same. But deciding which players to keep, which players to trade, and which players to pay will be a tricky process over the next few months.
Cubs players continue to insist the trade deadline is no distraction, even though the team has already transferred popular outfielder Joc Pederson to Atlanta.
“The game itself is difficult,” said wide receiver Robinson Chirinos. “When you keep adding things that you have no control (over) it’s just too hard. win every throw and do what we can control and let them do what they’re going to do. “
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports
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