The Cubs have received interest on young right-handers Ben Brown and Hayden Wesneski, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal notes that the club is “not necessarily inclined” to move either youngster, but could become more open to it if they’re successful in adding a veteran starter this offseason. Chicago has been connected to NPB lefty Shota Imanaga on the free agent market and Guardians righty Shane Bieber on the trade market, among others.
Wesneski, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Yankees in the 2019 draft and was shipped to the Cubs at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for sidearming right-hander Scott Effross. Wesneski made his MLB debut with the Cubs that September and impressed down the stretch, with a 2.18 ERA and a 25% strikeout rate in 33 innings of work across six appearances. Wesneski went on to win the club’s fifth starter job out of camp in 2023. That decision proved to be an ill-fated one, as he struggled to a 5.09 ERA and 5.90 FIP across eight starts before being demoted to Triple-A. After spending a month in an up-and-down role shuttling between Triple-A and the majors, Wesneski settled into a multi-inning relief role in late June and posted a 3.79 ERA with a 27% strikeout rate across his final 22 appearances (35 2/3 innings).
Brown, 24, has yet to make his major league debut after being acquired from the Phillies in exchange for David Robertson at the same deadline the Cubs landed Wesneski. Upon acquiring Brown, the Cubs immediately promoted him to Double-A where he held his own, with a 4.06 ERA and 32.1% strikeout rate in seven starts down the stretch. Brown returned to the Double-A level for his first four starts of the 2023 season and dominated to a microscopic 0.45 ERA while posting an incredible 39% strikeout rate across 20 innings of work. That success saw Brown earn a promotion to the Triple-A level, where he struggled for the first time in his time with Chicago. While he struck out 31.1% of batters faced, the right-hander’s ERA ballooned to 5.33 in 72 2/3 innings of work as he walked a whopping 15.8% of batters faced. If Brown is able to keep those control issues in check, he figures to be a big league rotation option as soon as next season.
While Wesneski and Brown both come with flaws, it’s hardly a surprise that pitching-needy clubs would be interested in either youngster’s services. After all, controllable starting pitching is among the most sought-after commodities in the league, and a deal with the Cubs involving a lower-level arm like Wesneski or Brown could be more affordable than trading for one of the established regulars who have found their names in the rumor mill this offseason like Marlins lefty Jesus Luzardo or any number of young Mariners right-handers.
More from around MLB’s Central divisions…
- The Royals have gone on something of a spending spree this offseason, adding Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo to their rotation, Chris Stratton and Will Smith in the bullpen, and Hunter Renfroe to their outfield mix. That’s a combined outlay of more than $100MM in guaranteed money, and the additions have left them with a projected payroll of $112MM for the 2024 campaign according to RosterResource. That being said, GM J.J. Picollo indicated to reporters (including Anne Rogers of MLB.com) that the club has likely done most of its heavy lifting for the offseason. Picollo noted that the club “would be content” with the additions they’ve made this offseason if they were to enter Spring Training with their current group of players, though Picollo did note that the club is going to continue to explore ways to strengthen its depth throughout the remainder of the offseason.
- MLB Network’s Jon Morosi indicates that trade talks surrounding Reds second baseman Jonathan India “remain active,” and that multiple teams are engaged with Cincinnati on the infielder. Recent reporting indicated that the club feels no additional urgency to part with India or another member of its crowded infield mix even after adding another bat to the logjam in the form of Jeimer Candelario, who signed with the Reds on a three-year deal earlier this month. The 27-year-old started his career off with a bang by winning the NL Rookie of the Year award back in 2021 but has been an essentially league average bat in the two years since, slashing .246/.333/.394 across 960 trips to the plate since the start of the 2022 campaign.
- The Twins look to be parting ways with a longtime fixture in their front office, as Darren Wolfson of Skor North and Brandon Warne of Access Twins report that vice president Rob Antony will not have his contract renewed by the club when it expires at the end of the current calendar year. Antony first joined the Twins organization back in 1988 and has worked in baseball operations for the club since 1996, including a stint as assistant GM from 2007 to 2021. Antony is perhaps most notable for his brief stint as acting GM of the Twins in 2016, when he bridged the gap between Terry Ryan and Derek Falvey as the club’s head of baseball operations.
It’s worth noting that India has played with several nagging injuries including Palantir Fasciitis (sp?) most of last season.
Foolish for Reds to sell low on India, he will bounce back big.
Perhaps but with McClain and De LA Cruz where we’re they supposed to play him.The Red’s have so many talented young kids they can’t play them all. McClain looks like an MVP level 2nd Baseman. De LA Cruz is the most exciting kid in baseball not named Shohei. Myself I’d have moved one of them to 3rd but with the Candelaria signing that avenue is closed. I suspect all 3 will be stars which is more than I expect of Candelaria. Their outfield is even more crowded. A few people have to go and India could fetch a nice return. Last year’s Red’s club had talented rookies or sophomores at every position. Now pitching is their need.
A whole lot forget the past two years of injuries, including that nssty one with plantar fasciitis last season.
This whole write up about no urgency just proves the Candelario signing was totally unnecessary and a waste of resources that should have been spent elsewhere.
Po Boy might know how to tear down a team, but not how to build one.
India did say that it started bothering him in June, which was right about the time that his production dropped off a cliff. He had a .795 OPS over the first two months of last season, and was pretty bad after that. So at least some of his struggles last year do seem to have been caused by injury.
Totally agree with you ‘belongs to Reds’. Your team has done a tremendous (IMHO) job of assembling this young talent. I also scratched my head wondering why adding Candelario was necessary. Using that money to strengthen your pitching would have made a lot more sense to me. Even without Candelario the Reds were in a position to make some trades for pitchers and still remain strong in the area of position players.
Totally agree on the Candelario signing. That 15 million per year plus whatever amount they allocate on obtaining a new starter should have been spent on a quality FA starter thus saving all their prospect assets.
For what they spent on Candelaria they could have signed Seth Lugo.
He also tried to plat thru it and had to eventually sit. The guy is a fan favorite who plays hard. Any team would be glad to have him on the roster. I’m like the FO says, not looking to trade him but if the right deal comes along OK
They could keep him but then who sits? McClain and De La Cruz look too good to bench.
Let’s not forget the Field of Dreams game where he was hit on the shin. That could have been substantially worse than it ended up being, but coming back to play the game without an off-season to recover from that had to take a huge toll on his game. Think about it, a baseball sized knot on your shin.. damn! Don’t trade Indy..
I’m surprised the Royals were this aggressive this early. They usually wait until Spring Training and get the scraps at cheap prices.
And they’ve just gone from horrible to bad. Hunter Renfroe, really??? He would have been lucky to get a minor league from anyone else. If they get lucky, maybe they can deal Wacha, Stratton, Smith at the deadline for prospects. Let’s hope one of them does well enough for that.
That rotation isn’t bad but they could use another bat or two. The AL central is really awful. 80 wins could take that division.
The Royals have tons of young guys playing in their first couple full seasons. I’m sure they’re hopeful a couple of those guys take steps forward like Witt did this previous season.
They have enough prospects. They need pitching and their pitching prospects have mostly gone bust. The position players they have will get better in time. Pitching often must be bought. I agree with you on Renfro but they have more outfielders than they can play. Renfro will sink or swim but looks like someone they can flip when the other corner outfielders start producing.
They trying to get that new stadium built gonna win a few more games to win fans over to vote on it…
^^^ 100% Brewers in a similar position with $500m tax-payer funded stadium upgrades/maintenance.
Wesneski looked much better as a multi-inning reluever last season. If they trade him, he’s going to help somebody but only coming out of the pen.
I think you’re spot on.
I never had any confidence with him starting last year.
Great stuff, just needs more development.
Yep. He’s got all the pitches. Just needs to develop them.
We all know that Jed has his eyes on a couple of veteran relievers just like he does every year. He’s actually been pretty good at finding them in the past. Last year was probably his worst with Boxberger who never got off the ground and Fulmer who started out bad, Rebounded then had Ross run him into the ground. They still have Alzolay, Little, Merryweather, Leiter Jr., and Wesneski. If Wesneski loses the Marmol slider that everybody takes or hammers he could even be a closer someday. Turn the slider into a cutter and you might have something. Clase is the most intriguing trade name and Stephenson and Hader are the most intriguing FA names. What will Jed do? What does Counsell want them to do? I don’t know what’s coming but the Cubs are playing things really close to the vest this year and I wish somebody would say something. Anything really.
I said it when Wesneski had his immaculate inning, his sweeper is nasty but he misses his spots with it badly and hangs it often.
I’m with you, I don’t think he should drop it completely but have it in his back pocket because if you’re not sitting on it, it’s dang near impossible to hit even if he misses.
This would sting but I would offer Bellinger a 12/250 million contract with a 13th year player option at 5 million, no buy out and an opt out after two years.
I think Bellinger gets in the 250-275 range on his next deal.
Are cubs still in on shohei?
I wonder what that was even all about. Were they just there to help up the ante?
They are waiting to intercept him at the airport in Toronto before he inks his Jays deal!
Yes. I have it on good authority(Morosi) that Shohei Ohtani is on a plane headed for Chicago right now, to finalize his enormous contract.
Well they are definitely not out like erranous reports have indicated.
They were, until they made their Anthony Rizzo offer and had the door shut on their mug
mad1- Are you one of those guys who’s trying to rewrite history so that the South wins the Civil War? You are aren’t you? The Ohtani thing is over and so are you. Get a grip.
Royals looking like they want to compete for the AL Central this upcoming season.
I think they are still miles away from that. This is a first step toward not being a laughing stock.
That division is already a laughing stock, anyone can win it.
Outside of the White Sox that division is wide open. I honestly think the twins, Cleveland, kc or Detroit could win it and not even be .500.
There are no good teams in this division. 75 to 80 wins might take the 2024 AL Central.
Royals might have a chance to win it all just for the fact of the Will Smith acquisition. His team has won the World Series every full season this decade.
Nope – it means he will be traded to the team that will eventually win it.
The Royals might test that theory by holding onto him.
Pretty sure Jed’s more concerned with winning the AAA championship than he is the MLB World Series so I doubt he’ll move any of his top prospects.
Jed’s cheap. Cubs interest in ohtani was never real.
40 mill for their new manager is anything but cheap.
I really thought the Cubs were going to be one of the most active/aggressive teams this offseason. Lots of rumors, but very little action so far. I thought they would make a serious bid for Ohtani, were rumored to be in on Glasnow before he was traded, rumored to be in on Rhys Hoskins a few weeks ago… but nothing so far. Their offseason is going to go down as one of the the biggest disappointments of any team in the league if they don’t start making some moves soon.
Relax bro, lots of contending teams with money haven’t done anything yet
They added new tacky stuff to Pottersville, er Ricketsville
They are in a solid spot. Just don’t do anything stupid and they can run the central. I’d love to see Bellinger at a decent price or turn to Hoskins, one of the top rotation arms and some bullpen pieces. Bregman is available next year, no reason not to try Morel at third in 2024. Just don’t sign chapman to a stupid contract, please.
Hoskins hasn’t signed yet and I think the Dodgers got absolutely fleeced in the Glasnow trade. There is absolutely no way I would have wanted the Cubs to come close to the package the Dodgers sent over.
Cubs off-season has been slow to get started, only adding a no-name left handed reliever and a minor league catcher, but the big names the Cubs are targeting are still on the board and I believe they have some trade idea looming as well.
The Cubs farm appears ripe for dealing with their outfield prospects and tied up corners. Canario, as an example, I feel like is wasted as a forth outfielder. Maybe the idea is having him work through DH but who knows. You also have to wonder how long the Cubs can keep Caissie, Davis, PCA, Alcantara and Canario all on the 40 man roster
Whoever gets India is getting a basket of skewed Great America ballpark stats mixed in with greasy beard and hair. Enjoy.
Cubs need to hold onto Ben Brown
Jammer- The guys the Cubs really need to hold onto are Horton and Ferris. The Cubs have Gray, Little, Steele and Wicks to go with Ferris. I still have not heard what the Cubs intend to do with Little. Up until last year he was a starter. They brought him up because it was an emergency and they made him a reliever and then proceeded to let him rot on the bench. Brown is a nice arm but he’s far from the only one. If you can find a solid 3B or closer candidate for him I could deal him. Horton should be here by the end of next year and he’s the untouchable. The Cubs have a few LH’s and if they sign Imanaga they should make some deals. Brown isn’t untouchable IMO, But he better bring back some nice pieces.
Oddly enough, the only “untouchable” in our farm I believe is Horton and I follow that with Ferris.
For the right deal, I’d move PCA, I actually like Alcantara more than him.
I like Caissie, he’s another guy I would be hesitant to deal but would be open to in the right move.
I wouldn’t trade Alcantara or Caissie if it wasn’t for the fact we have 2 corner OF’s signed for the next 3 years with NTC’s. They shouldn’t have to wait forever for a shot. Not sure Alcantara is a CF but maybe they can teach Caissie how to play 1B. I’d try that before I dealt either one of them.
Alcantara can play centerfield as well, he isn’t at PCAs level defensively but it’s my understanding he’s a plus defender there.
Happ and Suzuki both have NTCs but that doesn’t mean they can’t be traded, it just gives them leverage and some say as to who they can be traded to.
I like Happ, I was fine with the dollar amount on his extension but giving him a no trade clause was dumb when Suzuki was signed for the same duration and also had a no trade clause. I would have worked in a trade bonus vs letting a NTC be the deciding factor.
True. I made my feelings quite well known what I thought of both Happ’s extension( NOT), And then the NTC ( ABSOLUTELY NOT). I don’t have anything against Happ but I think he’s a limited player with a limited position range, And a low ceiling( As in he’s reached it). Cubs had nothing when they signed Suzuki but I’m not exactly sure why he warranted a NTC. Were teams beating down his door with that kind of money? I mean I don’t remember it that way. Happ was coming off an All Star season and would have turned down a QO and brought back a nice draft pick. I didn’t get it then and I don’t get it now.
Happ still had a year on his deal and yeah, he would have turned the QO for this season.
Happ is a solid player and worth the money but he’s just not worth the money to the Cubs because we lack impact production offensively. I’m hoping Suzuki just figured it out last year and his sprint to the finish is indicative to who he will be from now on.
Reeks of a move the Padres would be sniffing around at.
No,Padres, don’t do it.
Shipping off Cronenworth simply to reduce payroll.
Hyping it.
‘Look fans, at all the moves we’re making’
‘Young arms’
Go out and actually sign someone, Padres instead of gutting the roster to reduce payroll and pocketing the difference.
Dumpster diving, penny pinching, cheapskate, tightwad Padres.
Merry Christmas Padres fans from the Grinch er the Padres who stole Christmas.
They tried buying a WS like the Mets they rolled snake eyes but it worked for Texas
“They tried”
Not good enough
Sell the team to someone who wants to win.
$200MM payroll in a small market and they’re called tightwads LOL
It will not take long for Rob Antony to find a new position.
Rob Is very good baseball guy who can handle any project or role given to him.
With all the turn over In Minnesota Twins front office over his time with them. To last though a couple of new POBO. You must be doing something right.
Best of luck Rob & Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Assuming the end of Antony’s contract is the ownership trying to find areas to cut costs. I think Dave St. Peter would be a better spot since he’s struggled badly in his attempts to hit attendance goals.
I hope the Royals can afford to make Witt the new face of the franchise. It’s the Central, and every team needs that number one guy. The Royals have done it in the past, and I hope they do it with him.
@towin
…instead.of gutting the roster to reduce payroll and not operate at a deficit. There, I fixed it for you.
‘Operate at a deficit’
Have you seen the books?
Why should I care if they are ‘operating at a deficit’?
It’s not my money.
If you cant afford to operate a team, sell.
The Padres bottom line is not my concern.
How about them Dodgers??
Young Reds sweep Dodgers in ’24 NLCS!
Lovely thought but yhey need to get the veteran starting pitching to do that.
Cubs aren’t trading Brown unless they are getting better of deal, Wesneski and Killian could be had
Cubs will be trading Drew Smiley before season starts, he should have opted out he could have gotten a 2 year deal from someone
Struggled badly and was demoted to the pen second half 2023. Was not getting more money elsewhere. No one will want him. Team should not move Brown or Wesneski. Starting five never make it thru the year. They will be needed. Smiley will be used as a swingman. They need half a bullpen too. Wesneski hopefully will be a long man that can spot start when needed. Brown starts in Iowa and comes up to take the place of an injured starter. Hopefully he can be effective as Wicks was and stick.
Royals should trade for Matt Carpenter for their DH/1B Gig. Bat him 5th in their batting order. Veteran club house guy to oversee the Royals youngsters for 2024.
Carp will need to be dropped twice before June if you want him to have a resurgence like King Albert did on his farewell tour. Otherwise he’s cooked. AA will be glad to send him and 3.5m to the Royals for a PTBNL. Probably a player drafted in the final round of the 2019 draft that’s still in A ball.
Combining thoughts the Royals should trade Michael Massey and someone from their outfield log jam for Jonathan India. It would give The team a 2 hitter to put between Garcia and Witt. Meanwhile giving the Red’s a pair of prospects. It would also help clear room on the roster for Wacha and Renfro.
The Yankees trading for Gallo, Montas, and Effros was Cashman at his worst. IMO, he gave up more quality people for Gallo than Soto.
Still waiting on the Twins’ first move of the offseason…….
It appears that all trade and FA pitching options for TOR guys require overpay. Frankly, I’d just a soon the Reds sign Ryu, Lorenzen, or Paxton. Then go after either Matsui. or maybe Y. Rodriguez-either of which come with minor league options and without posting fees.