The Chicago Cubs released their first lineup following the MLB trade deadline on Friday, and it will not make the fanbase happy.
Reports indicated that the Chicago Cubs planned to sell at the MLB trade deadline following their 11-game losing streak prior to the All-Star break. That turned out to be accurate, as the Cubs moved on from Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Craig Kimbrel and many more just before the trade deadline arrived at 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
Cubs fans, who were already a bit in their feels after seeing their favorites get flipped for assets, did not feel much better after seeing the team’s rather depressing lineup for Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals.
Cubs release post-trade deadline lineup on Friday vs. Nationals
This lineup just looks weird without seeing the names of Bryant, Rizzo and Baez on it. It will take some getting used to, because this could be what fans see on a daily basis for the remainder of the season.
Sergio Alcantara will fill in for Baez at shortstop, while Patrick Wisdom takes over for Rizzo at first base. There is no set replacement for Bryant, considering he played all three outfield positions, as well as third and first base throughout the season.
The Cubs began trading their more valuable pieces on Thursday, when they flipped Rizzo to the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaino. Consider that the organization pulling off the proverbial bandaid, as they moved the remaining stars in fast order on Friday.
The first deal on Friday was Kimbrel being traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer. Baez and Trevor Williams were then sent to the New York Mets in exchange for top outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. Finally, the Cubs moved Bryant to the San Francisco Giants just minutes before the deadline in exchange for outfielder Alexander Canario and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian.
Even though the Cubs did receive strong assets in exchange for their players, the fanbase will not be thrilled in the short-term, especially when seeing this lineup.