The Chicago Cubs were a team that faced a lot of trade rumors as both the July deadline and the August waiver deadline. With their eyes set on the postseason, many believed the Cubs would try and add one more name to the roster in order to complete the playoff puzzle. However, they stayed put and instead pushed at September call-ups to bring back Javier Baez who is expected to shake up the lineup moving forward.
Baez was a player who saw his name pop up in several trade talks over the past month. The Chicago Cubs refused them all. Now, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Baez is back for the remainder of the season and immediately inserted into the starting lineup and playing second base. The Cubs like what they see out of Baez who is impacting the roster now and could later as well.
"Javy has put in a lot of work," Cubs team president Theo Epstein said, via ESPN.com. "Keeping his front foot down, limiting or even eliminating the leg kick. It's been a process. He didn't always embrace it. Over time he's become more consistent with it."
The return of Baez throws both Addison Russell and Starlin Castro for a loop. Castro cleared waivers, but his contract drew very little interest. The short stop has been playing second base, but of course Baez is now in second. Castro should be concerned about his future with Chicago. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Castro is going to be available for trades following the end of the season. He has $39 million remaining on a deal that lasts through 2019. That is going to be a hard sell for teams at the deadline.
Russell has been thriving at this point into the season. The infielder can play either short stop or second and the Cubs are much higher on his future than they are Castro's. The short stop is aware that the players are in place to hurt his future. The Cubs are liking their young core group of players right now and Castro might not be part of the bigger picture.
"Sometimes these kind of moments make you stronger," Castro said, via the Sun-Times. "This is my sixth year, and I've been here, playing every day. And now [getting benched], it's really tough for me. But I think that maybe makes me a little stronger and [helps me] go back on track."
