One noteworthy National League team may be going after Vladito at this year’s trade deadline.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported Sunday that the Chicago Cubs have privately discussed the possibility of trying to acquire Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the trade deadline. Nightengale notes that rival executives believe the Blue Jays would be open be moving Guerrero (as well as shortstop teammate Bo Bichette) if they do not turn it around this season.
Guerrero, still just 25, is back to his usual level of production this season for Toronto. He is batting .294 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 64 games and looks poised to make the fourth straight All-Star team of his career. But Guerrero only has one more year of club control remaining after this season, leading some to believe that he could be pried away from the fourth-place 32-33 Blue Jays.
As for the Cubs, they are actually even worse this year at 32-34. But with a good roster of very young talent, their window of contention might still be ahead of them. Chicago also has a need at first base (where Michael Busch has cooled off a bit after a hot start to the season) as well as a farm system that MLB.com ranked as the second-best in baseball before the season.
Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins did recently have some interesting comments about the possibility of the team selling at the July 30 trade deadline. But if Toronto comes off of that stance any, the Cubs could be at the forefront of the trade conversation for Guerrero.
