Chances Of A White Flag Trade, 2B Competition And More Cubs Notes

If you've followed Chicago baseball for a while, then you know about the white flag trade. In 1997, the White Sox were 3.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central, but the team traded away three MLB players to the Giants for a bunch of minor leaguers, essentially giving up and not trying to get to the playoffs at the deadline. The White Sox finished the season six games behind the Indians in the division.

Cubs fans, there's a chance that an even more painful scenario could happen in 2020. You know, we do kind of like a World Series or bust mentality, but what if the bust means selling off at the trade deadline despite being near the top of the division?

As you know, the Cubs are over the luxury tax right now and if there are no major trades before the end of the 2020 season, they probably aren't going to make any big free agent deals that would put them over the luxury tax for a third straight year in 2021. They're stuck in an ugly middle ground, where they could still be a good team in 2020, but if they're not great then you could see the front office trade away some key players in July.

Theo Epstein hinted at what could end up being one bummer of a trade deadline this season.

Via the New York Post.

For now, though, it looks as if the Cubs will begin the season with their core group. But the Cubs know players have much greater value if they are available for two postseason runs rather than one (like Betts), so a July appraisal looms.
“It puts us in a position in which we have to be very objective about what we have,” Epstein said. “In the middle of this season, if we have a legit World Series contender, that is really meaningful. But if we don’t, you can’t be blind to the realities of the following 18 months.”

So, the Cubs can't just be competitive in 2020 to avoid a selloff, they have to be a clear World Series contender by the middle of the season. You'd almost prefer for them to be out of it come July rather than being a few games out or even leading by a game or two and then they trade away guys because the front office doesn't think they'll have a deep run in the playoffs.

Getting mad just thinking about that possibility.

Keith Law ranked the Cubs farm system 28th.

Kiley McDaniel released his top-100 prospects list and it includes three Cubs: Nico Hoerner (48), Miguel Amaya (65), Brennen Davis (73).

Always interesting to see which prospects are left off these top-100 lists, but overall the Cubs have four legit prospects in Hoerner, Amaya, Davis and Brailyn Marquez. Speaking of the lefty...

David Ross says the Cubs second base competition is still up in the air.

Via MLB.com.

"It really is a wait and see," Ross said. "Kip's having a good spring. David Bote's doing well. Nico's continuing to get his at-bats. ... And we'll continue to work on their defense. I'm a big proponent of defense. I like taking away hits and runs. That's a big one for me. So, we'll just continue to watch that."

A reminder that Hoerner is currently the best backup option behind Javier Báez at shortstop.

Ross still won't announce who will be the Opening Day starter.

Gotta think it'll be Kyle Hendricks or Yu Darvish on March 26, in Milwaukee.