The Cubs’ trade deadline haul may have handed them more than immediate help. It may have given them a clear extension candidate, too.
Jed Hoyer loaded up without touching the organization’s top overall prospect, Josiah Hartshorn, or top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, and the result was a deadline class built around two top-of-the-rotation rentals, a long-term bullpen arm and left-hander Braxton Garrett as a bonus piece. The one box that went unfilled was the most obvious one: a proven starter with multiple years of team control.
For a moment, Reid Detmers looked like he might be part of the mix. That didn’t happen, and the Cubs instead ended up with Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes. Of the two, Holmes looks like the more natural candidate to stick around.
Holmes fits what Chicago does best. He’s the kind of old-school pitcher who keeps the ball on the ground, and that profile should play up in front of the Cubs’ elite defense. The contrast with the Mets’ glove work behind him in Queens is impossible to miss, and it should not take long for Holmes to notice the difference once he’s in Chicago.
None of that means the Cubs are ready to start hammering out an extension before he even throws a pitch for them. There’s still the matter of his rehab and whether he wants another start before rejoining the big-league club, or whether he’s ready to take his next turn with Chicago right away. But once the season ends, this has the feel of a conversation that needs to happen.
The idea wouldn’t require anything outrageous, either. With pitching prices where they are, Holmes could land somewhere in the $20 million AAV range if he finishes strong down the stretch and into October after returning from injury, and a three-year deal makes sense since he turns 36 next March. The Cubs will have plenty of money available and openings in the rotation after the season, and Holmes could wind up being the one who benefits from both.
In Other News...
Cubs Face Ugly Wrigley Questions After Disturbing Souvenir Ball Incident
A disturbing scene from a Cardinals-Cubs game at Wrigley Field has sparked an ugly conversation around fan behavior in the stands, after a video circulating on social media appeared to show a fan pushing a young girl aside during a scramble for a souvenir ball. The clip has quickly become the kind of unwanted attention no ballpark wants, especially at a place that markets itself on family atmosphere and summer tradition.
The identities of the people involved have not been identified, and there has been no public comment from either the Cubs or the Cardinals. It also remains unclear whether stadium security or Chicago police stepped in, leaving questions hanging over how the moment was handled and whether the Cubs will need to address it under their policy that allows unruly fans to be removed. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Face A Dansby Swanson Problem They Couldn't Afford
Dansby Swansons night against the Cardinals ended early when the Cubs shortstop exited with left side discomfort, an issue the team says could be an oblique strain. James Triantos stepped in at shortstop after Swanson left, and for a club trying to keep its infield stable, any uncertainty around the position lands at a bad time.
The Cubs do have some internal cover if Swanson needs to miss time, with Nico Hoerner, Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw all options to help absorb the workload. Even so, losing Swanson would force Chicago to reshuffle again, and the next few days will determine how much of a problem this becomes for a team that would rather not be patching together the middle of its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Face A Big Dansby Swanson Concern
Dansby Swansons afternoon ended early Sunday in St. Louis after an awkward swing sent the Cubs shortstop to the dugout with left-side discomfort. It was the kind of sudden exit that immediately changes the mood around a club, especially with a player whose value goes well beyond the box score and into the daily stability of the infield.
Chicago does not yet know exactly what it is dealing with, but the early read is enough to spark concern because Swanson is such an important defensive piece. Craig Counsell only said he hopes the issue is not serious, and for a Cubs team trying to keep its footing, the idea of losing Swanson for any stretch would be a significant development. [Read more 🡒]