Cubs .792 OPS slugger who makes perfect sense as ‘untouchable’ trade chip originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There are a lot of moves that the Chicago Cubs could be considering at the MLB trade deadline this year, especially with the massive need at starting pitcher.
With the Cubs at 29-20, and very clearly heading towards the deadline as buyers, a natural question comes up as to who might be used to upgrade the questionable rotation.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report identified one player who should be “untouchable” this year for the Cubs, and it’s designated hitter/catcher Moises Ballesteros.
“That leaves Ballesteros, who is making the most of an expanded role this year with a 122 OPS+ and 11 extra-base hits in 120 plate appearances,” Reuter writes.
Ballesteros being named as the Cubs’ lone “untouchable” trade chip this year makes perfect sense. Between his age and talent, there’s not a player other than Ballesteros who better fits this “untouchable” label than him.
Moises Ballesteros makes perfect sense as an ‘untouchable’ trade chip
This year’s deadline might be an active one for the Cubs, a team that looks to be one of the best in baseball thanks to an elite defense and potent offense.
However, the Cubs need more starting rotation help, and badly. But Ballesteros is not someone whom the Cubs should use to acquire elite pitching talent.
He is 22 years old, under club control through 2031, and has a .792 OPS and 128 OPS+ in his Major League career through 60 games and 168 at-bats so far.
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The Cubs should be looking to trade from their farm system for pitching help, or, if they want to part with their MLB roster, Matt Shaw is a perfect high-value player who’s still young and could be moved this year.
The Cubs shouldn’t be trading away any MLB-level talent in a contending year, but there’s no doubt that Ballesteros is someone the club should keep, while Shaw, for example, is a much more expendable player.
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