The Chicago Cubs deserve a curtain call for their blockbuster trade, but how about an encore as well?
Bringing in Kyle Tucker solves a lot of issues for the Cubs–it gives them the superstar they desperately needed while setting up more trades to come, since Cody Bellinger and/or Seiya Suzuki would be out of the Opening Day starting lineup as of now.
A Bellinger/Suzuki trade might not be the last move the Cubs have left in them, either. Second baseman Nico Hoerner has been a frequently discussed trade candidate as well, and elsewhere in the league, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo has been all over the rumor mill.
Recently, Zach Pressnell of Newsweek proposed a trade that would send Castillo and $25 million to Chicago in exchange for Hoerner, outfielder Kevin Alcántara, and pitcher Jack Neely. The latter two are MLB.com’s No. 6 and 17 Cubs prospects, respectively.
“In this deal, Castillo goes to the Cubs alongside $25 million,” Pressnell said. “That money would be good for paying about 33 percent of Castillo’s remaining contract. This deal gives Chicago a high floor, high ceiling starter that’s under contract for a few more seasons.”
“For the Mariners, they would be adding a win now infielder in Nico Hoerner… With the addition of Tucker and a few outfield prospects above him, (Alcántara is) expendable for Chicago, but valuable to Seattle.”
Castillo, 31, has three All-Star selections to his name, which would give the Cubs a fearsome trio atop their rotation with Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele. In 2024, he posted a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 175 batters.
Hoerner has two years remaining on his contract, and infield prospect Matt Shaw is big-league-ready, putting the former’s name atop the trade block. However, trading third baseman Isaac Paredes in the Tucker deal may make a Hoerner trade less likely, since Shaw plays third as well.
The possibilities are endless–and exciting–for the Cubs the rest of the way. When Opening Day does roll around, the roster seems certain to look quite a bit different.
More MLB: Cubs could follow Kyle Tucker trade with blockbuster deal for $13 million superstar
