bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Starling Marte would be who I'd go after. Considering where the Pirates are, I imagine they want prospects. So you'd probably trade Contreras (or Schwarber or whomever) for prospects and then combine some of the prospects you got with some homegrown prospects to get him.
Haniger with Seattle would be another target. I have no idea why they'd want to trade him, but Seattle is so trade happy, maybe they could work something out. He's mainly a right fielder, but has played about a quarter of his games in center.
Mark Canha - Oakland - would be another.
Fewer attractive middle infielders... Maybe someone like Brock Holt or Greg Garcia, but it feels like the Cubs have already gone down that route with Descalso. Whit Merrifield would be really expensive.
I believe he has no trade restrictions on him this year. His 5 and 10 rights kick in next year. If the Cubs are going to be able to off load him (a really, really big IF), this is the year to do it.
Who to trade them to... The Mets make a lot of sense. Both guys would go right into the starting lineup. Heyward and Contreras to the Mets for Seth Lugo and Brandon Nimmo? Remember, we're assuming the only reason the Cubs would do this is if they were also going to unload a dumptruck of money on free agents. Check out the spending spree Theo went on in 2013 after unloading Gonzalez and Crawford.
Thanks, agree on Marte. I don't know the other two guys you mentioned so I'd have to look at them. And your Mets scenario makes some sense, too.