Last week, Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer suggested that the team would be active in the trade market for extra arms in the bullpen and starting rotation beginning in the middle of June. He hoped rookie third baseman Matt Shaw’s batting would improve so the Cubs wouldn’t need to trade for infield help.
Shaw’s hitting has improved in the past week. He’s recorded eight hits in 23 at-bats in the last seven days. He’s scored four runs, taken two walks, hit two doubles, and driven in one runner.
Chicago might get lucky at third base, but the Cubs’ pitching staff continues to see injuries. Porter Hodge is not healing as quickly as the team hoped from his oblique issue.
It’s a seller’s market in the MLB
Unfortunately for Cubs fans, Hoyer sounded a little depressed about the team’s prospects for a trade in the near future. Hoyer told Marquee Sports Network on Wednesday that Chicago will continue to try and find depth in other places because of a “seller’s market” in the league right now.
“(Our depth has) been tested, and we have to assume that that’s not going to stop, that we’ll continue to be tested. We have to continue to find depth where we can find it,” Hoyer said. “Ultimately, it is going to be somewhat sellers’ market dependent.
“If there’s none of one of those things available, you have to zag a little bit, and you have to be prepared to do that. And that could be the nature of this market.”
The Chicago Cubs might have to wait closer to July 31
Hoyer thinks that eventually the market could shift in the Cubs’ favor, but that might not happen by the middle of June. Teams might be more willing to part with players closer to the trade deadline on July 31.
“Certainly trending that way,” Hoyer said of the league having a seller’s market. “Obviously, yes, it’s early. And inevitably, there’s two months to deadline — there’s going to be teams that get hit by injuries or just play poorly and then decide to be opportunistic or fall out of it.”
Chicago is in good shape despite their injury situation.
The Cubs have a three-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. Even so, manager Craig Counsell plans to stay cautious with the roster in a busy month of June, tinkering with the lineup and bullpen to keep players fresh when the team plays 26 games in 27 days.
While the roster appears stable enough to keep pace for the divisional crown, the Cubs know they need extra juice for a postseason run.
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