Cubs reportedly trading Yu Darvish, Victor Caratini to Padres for five players |
Tony Crumpton
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- Monday, December 28 2020
The Chicago Cubs promised an offseason of transition and it has happened.
Cubs ace pitcher Yu Darvish and backup catcher Victor Caratini have been traded to the San Diego Padres for starting pitcher Zach Davies and four prospects according to multiple reports. None of the prospects were in the Padres' top-10 list with 17-year-old shortstop Reginald Preciado (11th best Padres prospect), 18-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie (13th best), 20-year-old shortstop Yeison Santana (16th best), and 18-year-old shortstop Ismael Mena (15th best). The teams have not officially announced the trade yet. Davies is a solid rotation starter who is 28-years old and in his last season under contract. He had a 7-4 record with a 2.73 ERA with 63 strikeouts and a low 1.07 WHIP last season. Darvish had an impressive 8-3 record (tied first in wins) with a 2.01 ERA with 93 strikeouts and a sparkling 0.96 WHIP in 12 starts this past season. He struck out 93 batters and only walked 14 in 76 innings. This was some salary relief for the Cubs as he had three years left on his contract at $59 million total. More to come on this breaking story. Jed Hoyer's first big move is a whopper. Davies is a quality mid rotation starter. ERA under 4.00 every season except injury one in 2018. The rest of the deal we won't know for a while. Cubs in a serious retool for sure now. The cycle of baseball.
Cubs also with one of the softest tossing rotations. Hendricks, now the ace if he wasn't before. Alec Mills and Zach Davies. Still could bring back Jon Lester to eat innings. Adbert Alzolay there as well.
If #Cubs do end up w/ Zach Davies, they'd have 3 of the bottom-10 pitchers in fastball velocity for 2020. And if they re-sign Jon Lester, it'd be four of the top-10.
Cubs get two young shortstops and two outfielders in Darvish deal. The 5-2 trade will help replenish Cub farm system. Davies is a free agent after 2021.The four players are in the top 16 of the Padre system.
They traded Caratini because they have Miguel Amaya.
Our prospects guy @kileymcd likes the upside the Cubs are getting but this is about the future. And not necessarily the near future....would have liked to have seen one close to ready ML pitcher in there along with Davies....
Once the Yu Darvish trade becomes official, I'll jump on @WatchMarquee & "Cubs Live" with @ColeWright to break down the four prospects the @Cubs are getting. pic.twitter.com/RoTrWuWsGf
Hendricks: 87.4 MPH (3rd lowest)
Davies: 88.6 MPH (5th)
Lester: 89.2 MPH (6th)
Mills: 90.0 MPH (9th)
And, because this is officially a rebuild. pic.twitter.com/paBetfEb6b
