Trade Deadline day approaches, and all remains quiet on the minor league HugWatch front. The players we would expect to play are playing, there are no suspicious scratches, and generally a complete lack of any signs of imminent deals. Not that any of that means anything. It appears unlikely that the Cubs will make a major trade, so odds are good that we won’t see their few remaining notable prospects changing address.
But you never know.
One thing I do wonder about; what impact does the constant HugWatch have on the minor league teams themselves? Up until last year this organization was not likely to be dealing away prospects at the deadline and everyone knew it. The Cubs were much more likely to be acquiring prospects. Or, from the standpoint of the guys in the minors, they were more likely to gain new teammates, not lose current ones.
But after the Chapman and Montgomery trades last year, not to mention the Quintana trade this year, the indications that the Cubs are open for business and will trade any prospect of any ability at any level are unmistakable. And if we can’t mistake them, I wonder what is like for the guys in the minor league clubhouses. I suspect there is an impact, and that quite a few players will relax a bit once the deadline has passed.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Albuquerque 8, Iowa 1
The Cubs narrowly avoided being shutout, thanks to a run in the ninth.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Montgomery 4, Tennessee 1
The Smokies have lost six in a row.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 5, Potomac 4
The Pelicans got their first win since last Saturday.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
Bowling Green 5, South Bend 4
The Cubs now have a three game losing streak.
Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 11, Hillsboro 2
Eugene had scored ten of their eleven runs by the end of the third.
Rookie: AZL Cubs
The Cubs were rained out.
Other Notes