NEWSLETTER
The good news is the Chicago Cubs are finally taking the development of positional prospects very seriously.
The bad news is it could prevent the Cubs from getting a player of need.
Even though you’ve read suggestions that the Cubs should trade shortstop prospect Starling Castro to the Tigers for outfielder Curtis Granderson, it simply is not going to happen. The Cubs appear to have a bona fide blue-chip prospect at a position other than pitcher, and they are not trading him for Granderson or anybody else. DailyHerald.com Blogs.
Now, I would not go so far as to say that we’ve suggested the Cubs trade Starlin Castro for Curtis Granderson.
HOWEVA, the idea that the Cubs should unequivocally not consider such a trade is simply crazy to me. Castro is a great prospect – but he’s 19, he’s only had moderately high level (AA) success for part of one season, and even then, it wasn’t like he was tearing the cover off the ball. He had a .743 OPS last year at AA Tennessee, and a .731 OPS at High A Daytona.
I get a lot of crap for being what people perceive as “anti-Castro.” But that simply isn’t the case. Despite those not so great OPS numbers, I recognize that the numbers are downright spectacular given Castro’s age, position, and the level of competition. I’m just tired of riding the wave of the next great prospect that never was.
This iteration of the Chicago Cubs has a particularly strong two-year window for winning it all. After that, yes, they could have restocked and the window could be extended (perhaps indefinitely, given the payroll). But if Jim Hendry successfully unloads Milton Bradley, and a gaping hole opens up in center field, I dare anyone to name a better option for the Cubs than Curtis Granderson that has been realistically mentioned.
That’s worth considering – Castro or no Castro.
(And Happy Thanksgiving, you turkeys. See what I do for you? Providing up to the moment Chicago Cubs news, rumors, and anlaysis, even on Thanksgiving.)
