The Cubs need to stay aggressive in the trade market.

   The Chicago Cubs window is now.  From an earlier Blog entitled "If I were Jed for a Day", I pointed the need for the Cubs to sign Bregman as a middle of the order power bat.  In that same blog I suggested the Cubs put together a giant package of prospects and make a deal for a front line starter like Skubal.  The Cubs did eventually sign Bregman and they traded their highest ranked prospect for the Marlins starter Cabrera.  I still think the Cubs have work to do if they want to battle the Dodgers. 

    I still think the Cubs have a lot to offer the Tigers, who seem very unlikely to sign Tarik Skubal at the end of the year.  Currently the Tigers two shortstops are 30 year old Zach McKinstrey and 33 year old Javier Baez.  Both players have been more role players in the past two seasons than reliable starters.  The Cubs have Matt Shaw to offer.  He was a first round draft pick and played shortstop in college.  His glove work was considered elite by scouts, and his hitting makes him more attractable as a shortstop than third baseman.  Shaw alone will not get you Skubal.  The Cubs would have to include number one prospect Jaxon Wiggins, a hard throwing right handed pitcher.  The Cubs would also likely have to part with Moises Ballesteros, who is penciled in as the everyday Designated Hitter.  Giving up your top major league prospect, your top minor league prospect, and your current DH is a bundle, but the Cubs are a big market team and need to act like it.  The window is now.

     If the Skubal deal can't be made, I would like to see the Cubs address the issue of lead-off man.  The Boston Red Sox have too many outfielders, and they are all top flight.  With Roman Anthony in left field, Ceddanne Rafaela in center field, and Wilyer Abreu in right field their outfield is set. Assuming Masataka Yoshida is the Designated Hitter (or rookie Marcelo Mayer) the Red Sox might want to deal Jarren Duran.  Duran is a dynamic hitter with exceptional speed. He would up the Cubs offense in every aspect and likely allow Seiya Suzuki to be the DH, where he is more comfortable.  The Red Sox have a giant whole at third base with the departure of Bregman.  Matt Shaw would fit there nicely and cost them tens of millions less than signing a free agent like Eugenio Suarez.  Again the Cubs likely would have to depart with Jaxson Wiggins and/or Moises Ballesteros.  The Red sox might have interest in Miguel Amaya instead of Ballesteros as they currently catch Connor Wong.  

     Either way the Cubs need to stay aggressive.  Skubal makes the Cubs the second best team in the National League.  Duran makes the Cubs offense dynamic and can be huge in the post-season.  Don't tell me it puts the Cubs over the tax threshold, I don't care.  You are billionaires.  Build a winner.