Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chicago Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Let’s just get right to it. Earlier this week I asked you to pick from a list of six starting pitchers who might be available to the Cubs in trade at the deadline. Here are the results:
Diamondbacks righthander Zac Gallen could be a solid choice. He’s not having a good year, but his last three seasons were solid — 5.3, 4.4 and 2.6 bWAR — and Gallen has had his moments this season.
There are cases to be made for pretty much everyone listed above — in particular, Andrew Heaney, especially the way he pitched against the Cubs Thursday, might be valuable if he continues along those lines. Heaney wouldn’t be expensive, most likely, either in terms of prospects or dollars. He’s under contract for $5.25 million this year so the Cubs could easily absorb the slightly under $2 million that would be left for the last two months of this season.
There are other starters — Chris Sale in particular — who I left off the survey because I thought the cost in prospects (and possibly dollars) would be too high.
I will likely revisit this in the future, as much could change in the next six weeks, including which teams are likely to be sellers.
The national question asked of SB Nation Reacts survey respondents was about which of several players having big years so far was the best surprise.
Surprise! (Or maybe not!) A Cubs player topped the results.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a year which, if he continues doing what he’s been doing, could rate MVP consideration. He’s still very young, just 23, and does still strike out too much and sometimes makes baserunning mistakes. But he’s only going to get better from here, I think, and seems to be the sort of player who always wants to improve his game.
Nice work, PCA. You’re getting noticed.
This edition of SB Nation Reacts is sponsored by FanDuel.