Levine: Cubs, White Sox Should Be Active Until Trade Deadline
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The next few days ahead of Monday's trade deadline could prove pivotal for the two baseball teams that reside in Chicago.
The White Sox have been busy working the phones, with four or five possible deals that could come to fruition.
While they like their current starting staff, it remains a priority for the Cubs to add another rotation pitcher with contract control. The thought process comes down to this: With 60 games left in the season, would the Cubs have a better chance of going on a deep playoff run with a viable sixth starting pitcher? The Cubs front office has long preached the value of depth.
The Cubs' starting staff has been really good, with the lowest ERA in baseball at 3.05. Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel have taken big steps forward, while Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey are rock solid. In a short series, the Cubs are confident in rolling out Arrieta-Lester-Lackey.
The premise for a deal is based on the unknown. What does fate have in store for the Cubs? What if they lose a pitcher to injury? Are they prepared to replace one of the starting five?
These are easy discussion points for the media but tougher decisions for the Cubs front office.
The Cubs don't have a sixth starter they can count on right now. Nobody in the majors or minors currently fits that bill.
So would a deal for Rays right-hander Chris Archer or left-hander Matt Moore make sense for the Cubs? Archer was formerly in the Cubs organization, and it's a good time to re-acquire him. While he's had a down season, scouts say his stuff is as good as ever.
Archer is contract control through 2019 at just more $19 million total, and the Rays have two options on him for 2020 and 2021 at $16.5 million total.
That type of team-friendly, long contract control is what Cubs executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer desire. The Cubs have some attractive position players whom teams would love to trade for. While it's been a rocky season for him, outfielder Jorge Soler has tremendous upside and could be a force in the American league as a designated hitter. Soler is expendable with other power bats and quality young coming through the system. The Cubs would also like a short-term contract like that of lefty-swinging Josh Reddick to balance the outfield and supply some run support if Jason Heyward continues to struggle.
The White Sox could deal right-hander James Shields, closer David Robertson, third baseman Todd Frazier and/or outfielder Melky Cabrera. If another team wants top pitchers Chris Sale or Jose Quintana, they'd better be prepared to package their best young players who are near MLB ready. The White Sox will ask for and get big offers for Sale and Quintana, two players who are under team-friendly deals. The Rangers may step up with the best offer, as they boast highly regarded prospects in Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo. Sending those two to the White Sox for Sale would be a huge price to pay, but that what it will likely take to get him.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.