Andrew Chafin, Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs are going nowhere fast, so expect them to be selling off assets this month.
The Lovable Losers have lost 11 straight games, and the Chicago Cubs are having a fire sale.
There will be no Mary Christmas in July on the North Side of Chicago this year. After an outstanding May and an excellent first half of June, the pets’ heads are falling off in Wrigleyville faster than a moped could ever hope make it up the Rocky Mountains to Aspen. With an inevitable rebuild coming, look for the Cubs to give up their best players as easily as Lloyd does crisp $100 bills.
Look for the Cubs front office to sell high on these four players heading into the trade deadline.
Chicago Cubs: 4 players they have to trade ahead of the July deadline
4
Andrew Chafin
LHP Chicago Cubs
Andrew Chafin’s trade value has never been higher than it is right now
While many pieces from the Cubs’ 2016 World Series core are expected to be shipped off in the coming weeks, one player who has performed very well in the first half of this season, albeit unexpectedly, is left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin. The eight-year veteran out of Kent State is having his best season to date with a 1.51 ERA and an 0.785 WHIP in his 35.2 innings pitched.
Chafin will be hitting unrestricted free agency this winter ahead of his age-32 season. The longtime Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher is slated to make the most amount of money in his career on a new contract. Sadly, it will not be with the Cubs, who will almost certainly begin rebuilding next season. Chafin’s trade value has never been higher and they have to capitalize on it right now.
Veteran relief pitchers who are in the midst of a career year are incredibly valuable trade commodities. Given that he is left-handed, any contending team would love to add a piece like Chafin at the trade deadline. Though another Cubs reliever will be a more coveted trade asset, Chicago could get way more than it bargained for if it does put Chafin firmly on the trading block.
The Cubs will never be able to get more for him than if they were to trade him in the middle of July.