2021 Team

[Butcher]

Butch, I can't believe we're talking about the same Nick Madrigal. His defense was absolutely fine (some might even say good!) this year; anyone telling you different is probably going off of his SSS from last year. I think the trade is fair, perhaps in the Cubs favor. The idea that Hahn took Hoyer is fantastical.

 

And Kimbrel has been outstanding this year, sure, but he wasn't in 2019 nor 2020, and Madrigal and Heuer are players with major track records, not proven prospects. I can't help but think that if this same trade was done but it was with the Rangers instead of the White Sox, you'd be fine with this trade.

To be fair, I havent seen much of his actual play. So maybe his weakness on defense is overblown. But Ive seen his baseball reference page and I know for certain that if Nico and Nico Jr is our double play combo, we are fucked. You might have been able to get away with a 2B and SS who combine for 4 home runs back in the 70s, but not anymore.



You also have to look at Kimbrels value in context. What type of player helps a playoff team more in October than an absolute lockdown reliever? He was our most valuable trade chip and he isnt even really a rental. And this was the best Hoyer could get in return? He got fleeced. Theres no other way to look at it. Its embarrassing how badly he got fleeced.