The Chicago Cubs made a rather expected move on Monday when they went out and acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros. Fowler fills a need for on-base percentage at the top of the lineup, while also presenting Joe Maddon with an extremely versatile lineup to work with throughout the year. There is also another rather exciting aspect of the deal, that has not at all gone overlooked.
In the trade, the Cubs sent Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily to the Astros. While Straily wasn’t going to fit into the rotation picture, and will have his work cut out for him to grab a spot at the back of Houston’s starting five, Valbuena was hardly a spare part. A fan favorite, Valbuena brought versatility to the lineup and a nice approach, as well as the fact that he was coming off of a career high in home runs. While replicating that performance was going to be difficult, it was likely that Valbuena was going to be the odd man out in the very near future, anyway.
The Cubs have perhaps the most exciting prospect in baseball waiting in the wings in Iowa, in third baseman Kris Bryant. While some question where he projects long term, as far as a position, there isn’t any question as to what he brings to the table offensively. Between Double-A and Triple-A, the super prospect hit .325, with 43 home runs and 110 RBIs. Some gaudy offensive numbers for yet another one of the Cubs’ potential impact prospects.
In moving Valbuena, the Cubs would presumably open up a spot for Bryant in the immediate future. That will be the speculation, and as spring training draws near, there are obviously going to be those clamoring for his arrival in the big leagues at the beginning of the month. However, those folks will likely have to wait until the end of April, at the earliest, before they witness Bryant’s arrival at Wrigley Field.
By holding Bryant down in Iowa until at least the end of April/into early May, the Cubs have the ability to gain an extra year of control on Bryant. That extra year means he’d be under team control until 2021 rather than 2020. That aspect alone makes keeping Bryant down in Iowa for a spell early in the year completely worth it.
In the meantime, the Cubs will roll with either Mike Olt, Arismendy Alcantara, or the newly acquired Tommy La Stella. Olt was the Opening Day starter at third last year, but had some serious strikeout woes. Alcantara and La Stella don’t have extensive experience at the hot corner, but they should each get a decent run there during the spring.
Kris Bryant will arrive soon, and if what he’s done in the minors is any indication, it’ll be glorious. Even in moving the only obstacle to his callup, in Luis Valbuena, it’s important to acknowledge the patience that the Cubs’ front office has preached to this point.
