CHICAGO — Last Tuesday, at the brink of MLB's trade deadline, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer had a decision to make: Trade catcher Willson Contreras for what he believed was below market value, or keep him and potentially get an extra draft pick if Contreras leaves as a free agent at the end of the season.
For weeks, it had been a fait accompli that Contreras would be moved, especially after Hoyer had pulled off another deadline dump one year earlier with stars Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javy Baez.
The Cubs are rebuilding and focusing on youth, so getting another prospect or two in exchange for a few months of Contreras' service was attractive to Hoyer and his front office.
There were conversations, of course, with Cleveland and Tampa Bay, both organizations that have a need at catcher but are usually loath to give up prospects with team control.