By: Jake Russell
With the trade deadline just a few days away, we asked you guys to send in mock trades for the deadline. Jacob was going to respond to these, but asked me if I would help him out, so of course I told him I would take this article here. Let’s see what kind of mock trades you guys came up with!
This feels like an unlikely trade, since I feel like Taillon is more likely to command multiple prospects than a single prospect. Fitts isn’t a bad prospect, to be fair. He has the ability to touch the mid-upper 90’s (he’s maxed out at 97.5 this year), and has a Stuff+ just above 100 at AAA. I would be intrigued if the Cubs were to net a return that included him, but it seems less likely now that the Red Sox will make a move for a Starting Pitcher.
Well, Baumeister is off to Tampa Bay in exchange for Zach Eflin, and it seems like the Orioles are going to be out on Taillon altogether after that move. Crazier things have happened, but we know for sure that Baumeister won’t be included.
As for Bellinger, the only scenario something like this happens is if the Cubs eat almost all of his contract. Klassen has displayed better command this year than he ever has before, walking just under 9% of batters this year. He sits in the upper 90’s and can touch triple digits. I would love this kind of return for Bellinger, but it just won’t happen. Bellinger’s contract leaves almost no possibility to be traded, and he hasn’t exactly torn the cover off the baseball this year. In all likelihood, Bellinger returns to the Cubs for the 2025 season.
I will say, Hoerner to Seattle got a bit more likely after JP Crawford went down with an injury. Hoerner’s profile plays much better at shortstop than Second Base. That being said, given Aidan Smith is now with Tampa Bay, this feels unlikely. I do think Smith is good, though, and would have been content with him as a headliner. As for Teddy McGraw, he has yet to pitch professionally due to Tommy John surgery. He sits 93-96 according to MLB Pipeline. Gough’s velocity is a little bit worse, though his fastball displays good vertical movement according to Pipeline. Honestly, I think this is a good trade proposal, but obviously it’s impossible with Smith being traded to Tampa.
This is just straight up unrealistic–there is no world where the Orioles move Coby Mayo for Jameson Taillon (or any team moves any prospect anywhere near his caliber for Taillon). There are maybe two players on the Cubs who could command this type of prospect, Justin Steele and maybe, I mean MAYBE Nico Hoerner. Plus, Taillon isn’t going to be traded one for one.
I have basically the same comment here as on the last one. Leiter is a valuable asset, but neither him or Jamo are getting you this, even if you pay down part of Taillon’s contract.
This is a clear troll, but I wanted to address the possibility of Steele getting traded anyways. I think it’s very unlikely, though the Cubs will surely listen to offers. Obviously, Steele will command a much better return than Povich, who wouldn’t even come close to being a headliner for Steele. Steele could get Mayo, or really any team’s top prospect. However, Steele being traded has a negligible chance of happening.
Logan Evans was tearing up AA through 10 starts, before curiously being moved to the bullpen. I’m not sure the reason for this, though he seems like a solid prospect, who survives on his command. Dylan Moore has just 1.5 years of club control, but has a 112 wRC+ since 2022. He seems like a solid bench player, but this return for Nico Hoerner would be VERY underwhelming.
This would be something. I would be a little bit surprised if the Dodgers traded Ferris back to the Cubs, though Ferris has been good this year. Rushing is 46th on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects list, and is tearing up AA. He may be blocked by Will Smith, and with both Mookie Betts and now Miguel Rojas on the IL, Nico Hoerner could potentially be a Dodgers target. I could see Rushing included in a trade for Hoerner as a headliner, but it’s unrealistic that Ferris is also included.
Emiliano Teodo throws gas. He’s apparently touched 102 MPH on his fastball, and has a 31.1 K% in 71 innings at AA this year. Of course, that’s coupled with a walk rate at 13%, so the command is an issue, and there is reliever downside. Would I take this for Mark Leiter Jr? 100%. Would the Rangers? Perhaps. I’m not totally sure if they are full buyer mode, but Leiter is a really good relief pitcher, and probably has more value than David Robertson did back when the cubs traded him to Philadelphia for Ben Brown. Teodo might be a slightly better prospect than Brown was, but I don’t think this is super unrealistic.
I would be a little bit surprised if Tauchman was traded to Baltimore. He will almost certainly be dealt, but Baltimore has a plethora of young outfielders. Unless they decide to deal away someone like Kjerstad, this feels unlikely.
Ooh, we’re going bold here. Vlad Jr would be a great addition to a struggling Cubs lineup, but it’s already been reported that the Blue Jays aren’t going to sell any of their “stars”, including Vlad. This seems like a bit of an overpay, but not significant. You could convince me that this is fair value. Good mock trade, but won’t happen.
Picture Credit: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images
Ivy League Cubs 
Leave a comment