The Cubs Were Scouting The Tigers Again And The Rangers Too?

When the Cubs needed to improve their bench depth in 2017, they made a trade with the Tigers, getting reliever Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila. In 2018, when the offense needed a boost, the Cubs traded for Daniel Murphy from the Nationals. It's 2019, and the Cubs will probably need to make another trade to improve their depth.

Since Opening Day fans have been clamoring for bullpen help. I've hated on Kyle Ryan this year, but he's actually been good overall, especially in June. Steve Cishek has been solid and Craig Kimbrel is joining the bullpen Thursday.

You'd still like to see the Cubs make one more move to improve the bullpen, but right now the pressing need is another bat.

Daniel Descalso is 7-for-71, with one fluke extra base hit since May 1. Addison Russell is 9-for-46, with one home run in June. Albert Almora Jr. has a .476 OPS in June. Carlos Gonzalez hasn't been that much better, but at least his OBP % is above .300.

The Cubs and Tigers have reportedly been closely scouting each other since April, but the speculation then was that the Cubs were looking for a bullpen piece. And maybe they still are, as the Cubs were scouting the Tigers again Wednesday night in Detroit.

Or maybe the Cubs were taking a closer look at Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos.

The 27-year-old will be a free agent following the 2019 season. Castellanos is making $9.95 million this year and he could be the guy to boost the Cubs' offense.

The right-handed hitter is batting .273 this year, with a .335 OBP and .453 slugging %. Not the most impressive numbers, but he has a track record. His OPS had been above .810 from 2016-18, including a career-best season last year, when he slashed .298/.354/.500, with 23 home runs. In 2017, he hit 26 home runs.

Castellanos pounds lefties, posting a .880 OPS against LHP from 2016-18. In a much smaller sample size (47 at-bats) this year, he has a .904 OPS against LHP. And even against righties, he's still above average and better than the options the Cubs currently have on the roster.

But the Cubs were probably scouting the Rangers too.

Texas is currently tied for the second Wild Card spot in the American League, just one game behind Tampa Bay for the top spot. So, unlike any potential deal with the Tigers for Castellanos that would simply include prospects, the Cubs and Rangers would be trading for MLB talent.

The Rangers have been desperate for starting pitcher, finally ending the Drew Smyly experiment (remember him, Cubs fans!) and putting Jesse Chavez back in their rotation.

What if the Cubs offer left-hander Mike Montgomery in a trade?

Cubs fans have soured on Montgomery and with reason, as he's declined as a relief pitcher since the Cubs traded for him in 2016. However, when the Cubs have used Montgomery as a starter, he's been solid.

In 33 combined starts in 2017-18, Montgomery had a 3.88 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP in 167 innings.

Also, consider that both of these front offices love making trades with the other. Going back to his Boston days, Theo Epstein and Rangers GM Jon Daniels have made 12 trades. Since, Epstein took over the Cubs, they've made eight trades, including two during the 2018 season (Jesse Chavez, Cole Hamels) and one in the offseason, when the Cubs apparently had to trade Smyly in order to pick up Hamels' $20 million option.

Former Cubs assistant GM Shiraz Rehman also left this past offseason to join the Rangers front office.

Maybe there's a win-win for both the Rangers and Cubs in a trade this season.