NEWSLETTER
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Switching this over to a new post to keep it a little tidier, now that we’ve got multiple reports indicating a deal, specifically between the Cubs and Tigers, is close:
sources: cubs are close to a deal to get justin wilson
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2017
Justin Wilson trade from #Tigers to #Cubs is close, source confirms @JonHeyman report. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
Waiting for it to be final, but sources say Justin Wilson should be a Cub tonight. Relief market has busy 16 hours ahead.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2017
If the deal is solely for Wilson – a dominant reliever under cheap team control through 2018 – you can figure a very good prospect like Jeimer Candelario will be involved, and probably a second (and maybe third) good piece.
Wilson would make for an ideal bullpen addition for the Cubs, not only providing cover in 2018 as a number of relievers (including Wade Davis) could be leaving in free agency, but also down the stretch and into the playoffs. Wilson has closer-caliber stuff, and would present the Cubs with that additional late-inning, lock-down, high-leverage arm that becomes all the more valuable later in the season and the playoffs.
UPDATE: Hey, it’s the trade deadline, so now it’s back to being both Wilson and Avila:
Source: #Cubs, if deal is completed, will get Justin Wilson and Alex Avila from #Tigers for Jeimer Candelario and at least one other. Close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
Avila’s really struggled at the plate in the second half, but still: you get him in a package deal with Wilson for Candelario and another good Cubs prospect? That seems like a very good trade.
UPDATE 2: Well, the “another good Cubs prospect” might be “one of our favorite Cubs prospects”:
Told other Cub minor league player going to Detroit in Wilson deal is SS Isaac Paredes. (South Bend)
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 31, 2017
Paredes, 18, was a big money signing out of Mexico, who has been putting up Gleyber Torres numbers at full-season South Bend at the same age Torres did it. To be fair Paredes is much less likely to stay at shortstop than Torres was then, and the projection for the hitting ability is not the same, according to scouts, but still. Paredes was a breakout guy this year. He, plus Candelario, is a steep price for Wilson and Avila. Not inappropriate. But steep.
UPDATE 3: A local take from Patrick Mooney uses less certain language on a deal, but does echo that the Cubs are pursuing Wilson and Avila, and Candelario could be involved.
UPDATE 4: A report out of Detroit has it as Candelario and Paredes, too:
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
I wouldn’t get too worked up about the PTBNL or cash – when you see “or cash” appended, it usually is a signal that the PTBNL list is not expected to involve significant prospects.
UPDATE 5: One-yard line.
The Tigers-Cubs trade is "at the one-yard line," I'm told. Medical records are being reviewed before it's finalized.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) July 31, 2017
UPDATE 6: Done done?
#Cubs, #Tigers trade is complete. Medical review is done. Officially official. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
