This post was originally published on this site.
The thing about trades this time of year, as compared to free agent signings, is that they are so much more of a black box. See, people know that Alex Bregman is going to sign somewhere. We don’t yet know for sure which team will ultimately land him, but as a top free agent, he’s going to land somewhere. That’s a signing that is going to happen, and the only questions are the team and the contract.
With trades, by contrast, we don’t know if they will definitely happen. We don’t know the teams involved on certain players. Heck, we don’t even know for sure which players are actually being discussed. Sure, there are rumors and reports and sources and informed speculation, but sometimes a trade comes completely out of nowhere and you couldn’t possibly have predicted it would happen. Very much unlike a free agent situation.
All of which is why a report like the following is such freaking catnip for people like you and me.
From Jesse Rogers at ESPN: “Free agent splashes dominated the winter meetings spotlight Tuesday morning, but trade winds continue to swirl in Orlando. The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are all coming up often as teams that could make a deal soon.”
Cubs among the teams coming up often? As making a trade soon? What kind of trade?! With those two other teams? How certain is this? HOW SOON?! WITH WHOM AND FOR WHOM AND WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENINGGNGNGNGNGNGGG?!?!?!?
It’s kinda exciting because it could LITERALLY BE ANYTHING! But also now I immediately need to know so much more.
A report that ties the Cubs to Tatsuya Imai is exciting and, in its own way, mysterious enough. But a completely non-specific Cubs trade rumor? They simply might make a trade soon? That is two parts thrilling, one part exasperating.
The timing makes some sense with Kyle Schwarber and Edwin Diaz signing, perhaps moving various markets along with them. We could always speculate as to the nature of a forthcoming trade based on rumors that have swirled for a while. The Cubs have a lot of money available to spend from here, but adding an impactful starting pitcher AND an impactful bat AND meaningful arms in the bullpen might require a trade for at least one of those components. Maybe the Cubs are going to pull the trigger on a starting pitcher trade. MacKenzie Gore keeps coming up lately.
But, see, that right there is HYPER-specific. Way too specific to pair with this rumor. There’s no way to know to what extent the general buzz about the Cubs (and Red Sox and Padres) doing something “soon” is coterminous with the increasing Gore hype. After all, there’s buzz about the Red Sox and Ketel Marte. And buzz about the Padres doing something monstrous. I’m just kinda flailing around trying to land on something because otherwise the vagueness – but exciting-ness – is going to drive me crazy!
And now you’re right there with me. You’re welcome.