The Nationals’ lineup Monday, which didn’t include third baseman Jeimer Candelario, made it clear that a trade involving the best impending free-agent hitter available was imminent.
The question was, who had successfully enticed the Nationals? They had plenty of suitors for Candelario. Just the day before, president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo put the number at eight teams in an appearance on MLB Network Radio.
The Cubs made a statement Monday, acquiring Candelario with cash considerations from the Nationals for prospects Kevin Made and DJ Herz.
Then they traded for right-hander Jose Cuas, sending outfielder Nelson Velazquez to the Royals in return.
Less than two weeks ago, it seemed that the Cubs were going to be trading away major-league talent at the deadline for the third straight year. But they went on a run that included an eight-game winning streak to pull above .500 and back into the division race.
“We’ve proven that we can play with anybody,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said before the game against the Reds. “And we really started to build some momentum over the last couple of weeks. And I think it’s just such a positive thing for this organization, for this city, to see what we’re doing is working and that we’re continuing to go in the right direction.”
Committing to adding at the deadline also meant holding on to Cody Bellinger, who, until the Cubs informed teams they weren’t trading him, had been considered the best half-season bat available. That only boosted Candelario’s trade value. He was slashing .258/.342/.481 this season with Washington. He entered the day leading National League third basemen in fWAR (3/1) and extra-base hits (48).
The deal sets up a reunion. Candelario came up through the Cubs’ farm system and made his major-league debut during the 2016 World Series season. The Cubs traded him at the 2017 trade deadline, with Isaac Paredes, for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson.
To bring back Candelario, the Cubs gave up two prospects in whom they saw potential, underlining their belief in their surging major-league squad. Herz, 22, a left-hander ranked No. 16 in the Cubs’ system by MLB Pipeline, was their 2021 minor-league pitcher of the year. In Double-A this year, he had a 3.97 ERA.
Made, the Cubs’ No. 14 prospect, has primarily played shortstop but is versatile in the infield. The 20-year-old’s production at the plate dipped last year when he moved from Single-A to High-A, but this year he’s slashing .241/.328/.355.
In Cuas, the Cubs get a 29-year-old with multiple years of club control. A converted infielder, he debuted last year and has a 27.1% strikeout rate in 45 games this season. The Cubs have the flexibility to send Cuas, who has minor-league option years left, to Triple-A Iowa to begin his tenure in the organization.
They had to part with Velazquez, who had a .933 OPS in 13 major-league games this year. But the Cubs’ outfield is so crowded that Bellinger is playing first base part-time so manager David Ross can get him and Mike Tauchman in the lineup against right-handed pitchers. So Velazquez was blocked in Triple-A.
“Just awesome run for this group to put ourselves right back in the conversation and get some more players to help make a push,” said outfielder Ian Happ, who played with Candelario early in their careers. “That’s what all of us in this clubhouse really want: to have a chance to go play for the division. And I think we have the guys in the room to do it, and excited that Jed [Hoyer] and the front office are adding on.”
And there could be more to come before the deadline Tuesday.
