Yankees Rumors: Jorge Soler Is An Option In Trade With Chicago Cubs

By Kenneth Teape | Jun 14, 2016

May 22, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler (68) reacts after striking out against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at AT&T Park. The Giants defeated the Cubs 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees Rumors: If the Yankees begin moving pieces, Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Jorge Soler is one player they could target.

New York Yankees rumors have not yet begun to heat up, as the organization still evaluates the team. The Yankees are currently under .500 with a 31-32 record, and have an extremely important 11-game stretch coming up against the Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins.

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The Yankees have an excellent chance to beef up their record in the next 11 games, as the Rockies and Twins are both under .500, and the Twins have the second worst record in the major leagues. While the Yankees are confident that they can get things going again, what happens if they don’t?

We could see the Yankees be sellers at the deadline, something they are not used to being. While they are saying that it is too early to make any moves right now, things could change once the trade deadline comes along August 1st. If the Yankees are still under .500 and the playoffs look like a long shot, it would make sense to begin selling off some of their pieces.

The Yankees have a ton of players that contending teams could be interested in. Carlos Beltran has shown that he has plenty left in the tank, as he is one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball right now. We have seen Beltran be traded at the deadline twice in the past, and each time he has performed out of this world.

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While Beltran has the track record of being successful upon being traded at the trade deadline, all of the attention for the Yankees will be focused on their pitching staff; namely the three-headed monster in the bullpen, Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman.

There has already been plenty of rumors surrounding Miller, with the San Francisco Giants emerging as a potential suitor. There will undoubtedly be more teams interested if the Yankees make him available, and one of those teams is the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs already have the best record in baseball at 43-19, but are in the market for at least one or two additions to their pitching staff. The Yankees are a team that they have pinpointed as a potential trade partner, as they have sent scouts to their games recently to look at the bullpen trio.

While it has become apparent what the Cubs are looking for in a trade, the next question is what would the Yankees want to receive in return? The Chicago Sun-Times may have an answer to that question, and the answer is some impressive talent.

"Cubs executives have made no secret in recent weeks of their desire to add more pitching before the deadline.Kyle Schwarber, Javy Baez and top catching prospect Willson Contreras are expected to be non-starters in talks. But the Cubs have a handful of other intriguing young prospects (and possibly Jorge Soler) who could be made available."

Depending on who it is that the Cubs are targeting, those players that are untouchable could be where the Yankees start. If the Cubs are asking for Miller or Betances, two players under team control for at least the next two seasons with favorable contracts, it would make sense for the Yankees to swing for the fences for someone like Schwarber or Javier Baez.

But, for a rental, which Chapman is, the package would undoubtedly be less that the Cubs would be sending back. That is where Soler could come into play, and someone that the Yankees should jump at the opportunity to get.

While Soler has struggled this season with a .223/.322/.377 slash line with five home runs and 13 RBI, there is plenty to like about Soler. He is only 24-years old, and is locked into a team friendly contract that is arguably the biggest steal in baseball; Soler signed a nine-year, $30 million contract when the Cubs signed him in 2012. He won’t make more than $5 million in any season, but he can opt-out once his arbitration years hit.

Even with the opt-out, his contract is still very favorable for the Yankees. He has a five-tool skill set, flashing power, speed, defense and plate discipline at times, but not able to yet put it all together. Soler hasn’t had much playing time in parts of three seasons with the Cubs, compiling only 585 at-bats but flashing immense power with 20 home runs.

Soler is the exact type of player that the Yankees should be targeting if they decide to be sellers at the deadline; young with a ton of raw talent and under team control for many years to come.

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The only problem with acquiring Soler for the Yankees is that there is already a logjam in their outfield. Even if they move Beltran, they still have to give playing time to Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks, with Aaron Judge looming at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But, if you are presented an opportunity to acquire a player the caliber of Soler, you cannot pass that up.

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