"During the 2016 trade deadline, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer acquired closer Aroldis Chapman in a deal that wound up turning into one of the most important and impactful trades in franchise history. Epstein understood that the Cubs had a real shot at going all the way that year, so he acquired the best name on the market. It cost them their top prospect at the time, Gleyber Torres, but that was a price they were willing to pay. I'd say it worked out in the Cubs' favor."
"But if you remember back to the time of the trade, the Cubs already had Héctor Rondón closing games, and doing it well: 1.73 ERA, 17 saves. Even still, Chapman's value was too great to pass up. And I wonder if we'll see a similar approach this deadline (i.e., the Cubs go out and get an established closer, moving Palencia out of that role, EVEN THOUGH he's doing a pretty great job in general)."
"In fact, this sort of move might be even more tenable than it was 10 years ago. Palencia already has experience pitching in a variety of late-inning spots during the 2025 playoffs. In the series against the Padres and Brewers last year, he did not throw a single pitch in the ninth inning. That versatility and experience could prove to be extremely valuable later this season."
"Now, the trade deadline is still over two months away, but we're starting to get a sense of which teams should be in contention by that point. The league, as a whole, has felt quite volatile to begin the year, with several well-projected teams now near the bottom of the standings. As long as a few of those teams don't bounce back, there should be some prime talent available on the trade market."
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer acquired Aroldis Chapman at the 2016 trade deadline, a move viewed as among the most impactful in franchise history. The Cubs traded top prospect Gleyber Torres to obtain Chapman because they believed they had a real chance to win the World Series that year. The Cubs already had Héctor Rondón closing effectively, but Chapman’s value was considered too great to ignore. The possibility of a similar strategy is raised for the current deadline, potentially involving moving Héctor Palencia out of the closer role despite strong performance. Palencia has shown late-inning versatility in the 2025 playoffs, including not pitching in the ninth inning in certain series, which could make him valuable in other late-game situations. Volatility early in the season may create trade opportunities as teams fall out of contention.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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