(See updates below: If a trade is, in fact, going down, the latest suggests it is not going to be the Cubs).
Eric Sogard’s name has popped up in connection to the Cubs a lot this rumor season, and for good reason: as a relatively low-cost addition to the bench, he makes plenty of sense (he makes decidedly less sense as the impact bat the Cubs need, but that’s a story for another time). So when I see news like this – at this time of the year – my ears certainly perk up.
Check it out:
An Eric Sogard trade is believed to be imminent. He was scratched from #BlueJays lineup, and source says he is not injured. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2019
Obviously, there are a number of teams that could be interested in Sogard, so this doesn’t have to be Cubs-related (note: Addison Russell was scratched from the I-Cubs lineup today, but we’re told it’s probably not connected to a trade), but given the recent rumors I’m certainly on high-alert.
UPDATE I: Sahadev Sharma reiterated that the Russell scratch is not trade related. LOL and now Bob Nightengale gives us the unexpectedly funny reason:
Addison Russell was scratched from Triple-A Iowa lineup today simply because his equipment has yet to arrive. #Cubs
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2019
UPDATE II: Morosi says that one of Sogard’s other suitors, the Braves, are not involved:
#BlueJays and #Braves have had trade talks, but I’m told Eric Sogard is *not* going to Atlanta. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2019
Perhaps things are happening. I’d stay tuned.
UPDATE III: Well, this is a big update, because it eliminates the Cubs from the story, if it’s accurate (I see no reason to not trust Feinsand on this):
Source: Sogard not headed to Cubs, either. Unclear if he's getting traded right now after being scratched, but if he is, it appears it's not to the Cubs. https://t.co/pxcicS4OTZ
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 28, 2019
UPDATE IV: The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly acquired Eric Sogard
Infielder Eric Sogard has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, league sources tell ESPN. Multiple teams were on him but Toronto ultimately settled on a deal with Tampa Bay.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2019
I removed that #Bluejays are getting a player to be named later, it is still possible in final version that Tor gets the player now for Sogard from the #Rays
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2019
This still has Cubs implications though.
Given how clearly involved the Cubs were in acquiring Sogard this month, his removal from the market could push them to act quickly on another player. It could also push the acquisition cost of another player higher, as another option was removed from the market.
I’ll remind you that Nicholas Castellanos has been an oft-rumored Cubs target, but there are several other bats that could pop up on their radar.
The broader question remains: How aggressive should the Cubs really be given this last, frustrating chunk of losses?
How Aggressive Should the Cubs Be in the Trade Market After This 1-5 Stretch? https://t.co/4j5MYgvD5O pic.twitter.com/sH8EBpyxA0
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 28, 2019