The Chicago Cubs completed the first blockbuster trade in July as we head towards the trade deadline. The Cubs acquired Jose Quintana for Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and two other prospects. Jimenez was ranked the No. 5 best prospect in all of baseball while Cease was the Cubs best pitching prospect. However, it seems that might not be enough. The Cubs are reported to possibly make a run at Sonny Gray as well.
Cubs don't have enough in the farm
According to a tweet from Jon Morosi from MLB.com, the Cubs want to try and get Gray as well. Gray isn't set to be a free agent until the end of the 2019 season.
He has been the ace of the Athletics these last two years. Despite having a tough season last year with an earned run average above five, Gray has bounced back with a 3.72 earned run average this year. Gray has pitched well of late by going six innings or more in his last four starts.
However, the Cubs do not have enough in their minor league system after the Quintana trade. The Cubs have no prospects in the top 100 anymore. Jeimer Candelario is the team's best prospect and has been rumored to be ready to play at the major leagues. He would have to headline a package, but he would not be enough.
Almora has become expendable
The Cubs would have to get rid of one of their major league youngsters.
Almora has become more of a trade chip as of late. With the addition of Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward in the outfield, Ian Happ has been moved to center field. That is Almora's primary position. Almora is just 23 years old, and could possibly sway Billy Beane to part ways with Gray.
The Cubs made it clear that the team is not giving up Schwarber once they got rid of Jimenez.
Heyward is under contract for seven more years. If Happ is the team's center fielder in making, it's not impossible to think that the Cubs would pull the trigger on Almora.
Cubs potential rotation
The Cubs do not know if Jake Arrieta is coming back after this year. He is set to be a free agent with John Lackey. The Cubs do know that moving forward they have Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, and Quintana on the books.
Gray would make a nice three or four starter.
The Cubs are attacking starting pitching now. This year's offseason is set to have a weak pitching market. Arrieta is 31 years old. Yu Darvish is the next best pitcher, or the best, and he is set to be 31 years old in August. The Cubs don't want to overpay on a 30 year old starter. Gray and Hendricks will be 28 years old later this year, while Quintana is 28 now. The Cubs could have a relatively young rotation if they decide to go after Gray.
