San Francisco Giants: Building a trade with the Chicago Cubs

San Francisco Giants Trade Proposal #2

To Cubs: LHP Tony Watson
To Giants: LHP Tyler Chatwood, OF Ian Happ, C Jhonny Pereda

After adding Kimbrel and with an already thin farm system, I’ll admit that a Smith trade seems unlikely.  A more prudent approach for the Cubs will be to work along the margins of the bullpen.

On the surface, San Francisco Giants setup man Tony Watson could be another reliever set to bring back some nice prospect pieces. He has a career-low 1.0 BB/9 and a quality 2.70 ERA over 26.2 high-leverage innings.

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However, my fellow Around the Foghorn contributor Jeff Young already touched on how Watson has been quite lucky on the mound this year. He’s still a quality left-handed reliever that would help a number of teams, Cubs included, but not one who will drive a bidding war.

Meanwhile, Tyler Chatwood has been a catastrophe in Chicago since signing a three-year, $38 million contract prior to last season. The 29-year-old has always struggled with command, but for the Cubs his control has relegated him to the bullpen where he has pitched around 21 walks in 35 innings to post a respectable 3.60 ERA.

Ian Happ looked like one of the Cubs future building blocks as a rookie in 2017. At 22, he slugged .514 and knocked 24 home runs. He took a step back in his sophomore season, relying on an unsustainable BABIP to hold a .233/.353/.408 slash line. This season, he’s been optioned to Triple-A and has held his own, but his numbers are far from impressive in the Pacific Coast League.

While Happ lacks a clear future in Chicago, he would still probably be the best corner outfielder on the Giants. At 24, and with his prime years ahead, Happ would be a great addition.

Jhonny Pereda acts as a stand-in for any throw-in that might appeal to the Giants to round out the deal. Pereda projects as a contact-oriented defense-first backup catcher. He would give the Giants some necessary catching depth after Aramis Garcia and Joey Bart, while offering a profile neither one of them has.

This is where I think the Giants could find a fit with the Cubs. Chicago would upgrade their bullpen, unload an albatross contract, and not touch any of their top prospects. The Giants would come out with a young outfielder, a project for their pitching coaches, and a flier.

If the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are going to match up on a deal, it could very well look something like this.

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