The reigning World Series champion Cubs stumbled through the early months of the season, which led president Theo Epstein to inform teams in early July that he’d consider selling impending free agents such as Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis, Patrick Mooney of NBC Sports Chicago reports. The Cubs were at their lowest point of the season on July 9, when they dropped to 43-45 with a 14-3 loss to the Pirates in the last game before the All-Star break. Regarding his thought process at the time, Epstein told Mooney: “Not blowing it up. But when you’re five-and-a-half out, if you have a bad road trip and a bad homestand and then you’re 10-and-a-half out, absolutely, we would have sold.” Instead, Epstein swung a blockbuster trade with the White Sox for left-hander Jose Quintana on July 13, the final day of the break. The Cubs proceeded to go 49-25 in the second half of the season to finish 92-70 and run away with the National League Central.
More from the NL:
- The Cardinals may deal from their surplus of outfielders this offseason, but the highest-paid member of the bunch, Dexter Fowler, seems unlikely to go anywhere. When the Cardinals signed Fowler to a five-year, $82.5MM contract last winter, they included a no-trade clause in the deal. Now, Fowler tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he and his family love their new city. He also enjoys being part of the Cardinals organization. “I see myself being here for a long time. It’s what I signed up for,” the center fielder said. “That’s what my contract says. I’m looking to build a legacy with my teammates.” Fowler had a terrific offensive season to kick off his Redbirds tenure, hitting .264/.363/.488 with 18 home runs in 491 plate appearances, but injuries limited him to 118 games and advanced metrics indicate he had a rough time in the field (minus-18 Defensive Runs Saved, minus-5.9 Ultimate Zone Rating).
- The hammer dropped Monday on Braves general manager John Coppolella and special assistant Gordon Blakely, both of whom resigned over alleged rule violations. Their departures might not be the end, either, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more members of the Braves’ scouting department forced to resign.
- Given that he’s close with Gary Denbo, Blakeley would have been a possibility to join the Marlins’ front office, but that’s now in question after Monday’s events, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. Denbo is currently with the Yankees, but the expectation is that he’ll join friend and new owner Derek Jeter in the Marlins’ decision-making hierarchy, Jackson notes. Meanwhile, there’s a sense that the Marlins will retain manager Don Mattingly and president of baseball operations Michael Hill, per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Hill isn’t a lock to remain in the same role, suggests Frisaro, who adds that third base coach Fredi Gonzalez could depart. The Tigers have asked to speak with Gonzalez about becoming their next manager, according to Frisaro.
“as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweetsthat it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more members of the Braves’ scouting department forced to resign.”
That only makes sense as it is extremely unlikely those two were doing all the shady actions behind the backs of the scouts and others in the organization. Must have been more people involved, and since the accusations seem so wide spread, it might be a lot of people involved from multiple areas
You’re a master of the obvious.
Anyone involve Int. W/braves needs to be let go, period!
Thank you cubs for Eloy Jimeneez
You are welcome , hope he pans out, he had no room on the ML roster
He will be a Stud for years and years..Go Nats !!
Haha! My team hasn’t seen the playoffs in 10 years, lets act like we are 12 years old! Maybe youre a kid so I’ll lay off.
Sox fans have a glimmer of hope for the first time in decades and only then their true inner-scumbag starts to show.
Go Nat’s?? Why do you White Sox fans have so much hate in your hearts?
I think the low educational quality of the south-side of Chicago creates a fanbase of perpetual elementary school children…
I bet they’re happy with that trade, especially since Arrieta will be gone next year
Great move, Theo just can’t lose. Arrieta proved he needs to be replaced at the top of the rotation and now they have in house talent to fill the gap and keep the team in the hunt for a few more years.
Who?
You’ll be able to watch the Cubs lose in a couple of days
exactly what in house talent are you speaking of? Cubs don’t even have a prospect in the top 100 list…
If Eloy reaches his potential the Cubs got destroyed in that trade. Only time will tell
If the Cubs win a World Series with Q actively pitching, the trade is at least a wash for the Cubs regardless of how Eloy pans out.
Q
You can’t say that for sure. I’m sure people will say if Torres lives up to his potential, the Cubs got destroyed in the Chapman trade. But I’ll take that trade and the World Series title that came along with it any day of the week.
If Torres lives up to his potential it doesn’t matter because the Cubs broke the ultimate curse and chapman contributed. Quintanna would have to contribute to a title in the playoffs to make it worth Eloy.
They don’t have any top 100 prospects because Bryant, Russell, baez, Almira, schwarber have all graduated to the bigs
Cubs won the Chapman trade. They possibly got destroyed with the Castro trade. Bascially giving him away for Adam Warren who was trash for the cubs. Brendan Ryan was fired immediately after the trade.
I’d prefer Fredi to Mattingly.
I like Fowler as he can hit…but he is no CF…move to a corner spot and his contract ain’t that bad
Mattingly should be fired very bad with the hitters they have should win mor. Just like in La he broke down many pitcher. He over works relievers and starts alike. Pitcher excel when they leave Marlins.
Not even autocorrect could save this post.
You’re still a Cub, Dex. Once a Cub (and you become a fan favorite), always a Cub!