Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs ducks away from a high pitch in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo : Getty Images/Drew Hallowell)
The Chicago Cubs are the favorites to win the 2016 World Series and they have been linked with several top relief pitchers in the trade market. According to the latest rumors, the Cubs are still looking for an additional bullpen arm but they will not be trading Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber.
The team from the North Side of Chicago is currently the best team in the league with a 47-21 record. However, they are still looking for ways to improve their roster and the most glaring need is a top reliever.
According to the New York Post, the Cubs are interested in acquiring one of the three relief pitchers of the New York Yankees. Jason Parks, a scout of the Cubs, was recently at the Yankee Stadium to watch Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.
Out of the three pitchers, Chapman and Miller are the prime candidates to be traded at the deadline. Chapman will be a free agent at the end of the season while Miller has been involved in a lot of trade rumors for the past year.
Some of the names that were rumored to be part of any deal to acquire a top reliever include injured are Schwarber and Baez. The former is currently out for the year due to a knee injury while the latter is having the best season of his career.
Both players have big upsides as they possess powerful bats with Schwarber a left-handed hitter and Baez on the opposite side of the plate. However, it looks like the Cubs are not going to include their two young players in any future trade.
According to FOX Sports, the Cubs are unwilling to trade Schwarber because the team believes he is going to be a top ten hitter in baseball next season. On the other hand, Baez also has the same power potential while playing several infield positions.
However, both players still have some improvement to do as they barely get walked while striking out too much. Other untouchable prospects in the Cubs farm system include catcher Wilson Contreras and outfielder Albert Almora Jr.
Nonetheless, the team is still full of attractive prospects such as second baseman Ian Happ, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, shortstop Gleyber Torres and outfielders Mark Zagunis and Eloy Jimenez. Check out the video below for the freak collision that ended Schwarber's season.
