The Chicago Cubs kicked off what should be a busy week on Monday night as they announced that they have agreed to a trade with the Oakland Athletics that has has sent reliever Andrew Chafin to the Athletics for two prospects in outfielder Greg Deichmann and starting pitcher Daniel Palencia.
The Chafin trade on Monday is likely the first of many for the Cubs as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches on Friday at 3:00 pm CST. After Chafin, all eyes are now on closer Craig Kimbrel, third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Javier Baez, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo as Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer attempts to replenish the team’s farm system with prospects.
The Cubs’ return for Chafin sets them up nicely for the return that they should receive in the eventual trade of Kimbrel. Kimbrel is considered to be among the most valuable trade pieces available at the trade deadline considering his ability to close out games.
Looking at what Chafin netted the Cubs, the team received the Athletics’ No. 8 overall prospect (per Fangraphs) in Deichmann and the Athletics’ No. 12 overall prospect in Palencia. Of the two, Deichmann is the closest to being Major League ready as the 26-year old is hitting .300/.433/.452/.885 in 261 plate appearances with Athletics’ triple-A affiliate.
The Chicago Cubs trade of Andrew Chafin is an important indicator of how the Major League Baseball trade deadline will play out for the team.
There has been some drawback to Deichmann being 26 already and only in triple-A, but once you factor in the fact that he was selected in the 2017 MLB Draft and the 2020 Minor League Baseball season was cancelled, the left-handed hitting outfielder appears to be right on track. Depending on how the rest of the deadline plays out for the Cubs, there is chance that Deichmann sees some time at the Major League level with the Cubs before the end of the season.
All in all, the Chafin trade was an excellent trade for the Cubs. The Cubs’ received two organizational top-20 prospects, including one in the top-10, for a left-handed setup reliever. Standard operating logic at the Major League Baseball trade deadline is that closers have more value than setup relievers.
For the Cubs, who have the best available closer on the market in Kimbrel, it stands to reason that the Chafin deal confirms that they will be able to receive at least one organizational top-10 prospect for their current closer if not two. That is exemplified by the fact that the acquiring team of Kimbrel does hold team option to obtain the closer for the 2022 season.
If the Chafin trade on a Monday night is an indicator of what is to come for the Chicago Cubs as the week progresses, then it will be a very prosperous week.
