The Cubs have been rumored to in on a reliever as the deadline continued to get closer, and have finally landed their guy in Tigers’ closer Justin Wilson. The Cubs also got their veteran backup catcher in left-handed hitter Alex Avila.
#Cubs, #Tigers trade is complete. Medical review is done. Officially official. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
The deal would be Justin Wilson and Alex Avila for Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes and a Player To Be Named Later or cash, I'm told.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) July 31, 2017
The Cubs send 3rd prospect Jeimer Candelario, who took the place of Ian Happ, Dylan Cease, and Eloy Jimenez as the clubs No. 1 prospect, hitting .266/.361/.507 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI in Triple A Iowa. Candelario, a switch hitter, has just a .136 career BA in 50 majors league plate appearances. Candelario has a high ceiling, however, it is very unlikely that the 23-year-old will ever get a real chance to play in the MLB consistently with the Cubs as long as Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are still there.
The other piece is SS Isaac Paredes, who maybe somewhat known to a few Cubs fans, but the 18-year-old has a bright future. The slugging shortstop is likely to be moved to a corner infield spot due to his bigger frame, but is currently slashing .261/.341/.399 with seven home runs in single A South Bend. Most scouts who have seen Paredes play in person have come away impressed, expecting big things from him and his bat.
The Return
What the Cubs get in adding Wilson is a lefty-reliever who is extremely tough on left handed hitters, as Phil Rodgers points out in this tweet, both the Dodgers and Nationals best hitters happen to be left-handed.
For @Cubs, Wilson would be weapon against the likes of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy & Cody Bellinger but he's as tough on RHH as LHH.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) July 31, 2017
Regardless, Wilson has excellent this season as Detroit’s closer, with a 2.68 ERA and an eye-popping 12.27 K/9, the 29-year-old lefty has found himself during his time with the Tigers. Wilson tosses straight heat on the mound, topping out at 96 MPH, with a slider/curve that gets table-dropping tilt in moments, which allows Wilson to mow people down.
Coming with Wilson is veteran catcher Alex Avila, who has been rumored to the Cubs almost as long as Wilson has been. Avila is having a career year, slashing .271/.392/.472 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI, the 30-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher has been raking in 2017. While Avila would clearly be limited in playing time, he could become an a sneaky good pinch hitter against right-handed pitching, with all of his 11 home runs coming against right-handers.
While the price the Cubs may be steep, it is important to remember that the front office was able to fill all their major roster holes without having to move any of their major league talent. Not a small feat, but it was accomplished by Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and the rest of the Cubs staff.
