The Chicago Cubs could be looking to make trades at the deadline this season, as the team has reportedly discussed a Starlin Castro trade with the San Diego Padres in a deal that could include James Shields, Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross and this comes as the Padres have also had interest in Javier Baez.
The Cubs and Padres reportedly "discussed" a deal involving Starlin Castro, according to Fox Sports reporter Jon Morosi, but no deal is close in the middle of the week leading into the deadline. The Padres have been out of the mix in the NL West and are likely sellers with players like Justin Upton, James Shields and Tyson Ross as targets. Castro has been mentioned in trade rumors since the Cubs acquired prospect Addison Russell last season and Russell could take over if Castro is moved. The Padres also have interest in Javier Baez, per Jon Heyman.
The Cubs are in the playoff race this year and while moving Castro would be a big trade, the team has Russell ready to take over. Russell is the shortstop of the future, but there is a chance the Cubs will wait to trade Castro, as his value is down this season while having a below average year statistically. Castro is hitting just .233 this season with five home runs and 40 RBIs and those numbers are down from when he hit .292 last season with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs.
According to Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, the Cubs would look at Tyson Ross over James Shields in a deal for Castro. Ross has multiple years of team control on his deal and Heyman reports that the Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays and Texas Rangers have had interest in Ross. The Rangers have been in the mix for Cole Hamels along with the LA Dodgers and if those teams miss out on Hamels, they could look at Ross or Shields as options.
Castro is an intriguing trade option for teams, as he is still very young at just 25 years old and while he is having a down season, he is signed through 2019. Castro is making nearly $40 million over the next four years and in the current landscape that is not a wild amount of money. The Mets have been mentioned as an option for Castro for a couple years, but the team is not willing to make a huge move on a shortstop. The Cubs likely would want Andrew Cashner or Ross over Shields because of the age difference.
ESPN Chicago reports that president Theo Epstein said that the Cubs, if they make a deal, likely will make a move on the "smaller side" that would have a "controllable piece." The Cubs feel that they can make the playoffs this year and they could make a deal or two at the deadline to try and make that push. The team is likely looking to add a pitcher and if they move Castro, they can push Russell to start and add an arm.
