From the source who tipped me off to the Chris Davis trade rumor three days before Bruce Levine reported it:
The rumor has legs, and the Cubs are strongly considering Davis for at least four reasons: (1) a cheap option at first base frees up money for the Cubs to pursue pitching, (2) it’s a low risk/high reward type move, (3) Davis can play third base, so he could be a valuable bench player for the Cubs if nothing else, and (best of all) (4) the Padres like Davis.
For my part, this is the kind of move that, among others, has marked Jim Hendry’s tenure as GM: low risk move for a guy under contract cheaply for a while who can maybe start, and maybe just fill a bench spot. Acquiring Davis gives the Cubs a reasonable option at first, but does not preclude them from going after a free agent, or Adrian Gonzalez.
It makes far too much sense – from the Cubs perspective – not to be pursued.