This week’s Winter Meetings have been full of buzz, with the Cubs at the center of major trade discussions as they look to move at least one standout outfielder from their roster — and possibly add another one of even greater caliber.
Most of the chatter revolves around the Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker for a hefty package: two years of Seiya Suzuki, three years of Isaac Parades, and one of their top young infield prospects, Cam Smith or Matt Shaw. While Tucker is undeniably an excellent outfielder, that trade price is incredibly steep, especially for just one year of service from a player likely headed to free agency, where he’ll demand a contract higher than any the Cubs have ever signed. It’s a risky move, and I hope Jed Hoyer doesn’t get swept up in the urge to pull off a big trade.
I was struck by a song I heard a few days ago, “Intervention” by Arcade Fire, which played at the end of a podcast I listen to. I’m a little embarrassed I hadn’t heard it before, but I’ve been listening to it non-stop since. The lyrics are so powerful:
“Working for the church while your family dies
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, we’ve got it alone”
The raw emotion of the lyrics, paired with the strong beat, really struck me, and I’ve been feeling the intensity of the music each time I listen.
Another fascinating part of Arcade Fire’s sound is the depth of the instrumentation, especially in the live Austin City Limits version. You can really hear the different layers of sound, from the opening organ to the faint presence of a xylophone:
“Who’s gonna throw the very first stone?
Who’s gonna reset the bone?
Walking with your hand in a sling
Wanna hear the soldier sing.”
It made me think about the Cubs and their trade talks, and the need for a reality check before they make a risky move, like trading multiple years of players for Kyle Tucker. Speaking of trades, what about Cody Bellinger?
With rumors still swirling around the Yankees needing help in the outfield and first base, Bellinger could be an option, especially if the Cubs are willing to eat some of his salary. While moving Bellinger wouldn’t bring back a player like Tucker, it could potentially land them a solid prospect or two, while giving them time to assess their young talent in Triple-A.
Sports Illustrated reported that the Yankees might be willing to part with one of their top prospects, Will Warren. While not a blockbuster deal, this trade could be a more realistic option for the Cubs. Warren, a 25-year-old righty, made his MLB debut in 2024 and has had some issues with home runs, but his strikeout numbers are strong. He struck out 136 batters in 109 1⁄3 innings at Triple-A and 29 batters in 22 2⁄3 innings in the big leagues.
It’s not the headline-grabbing move like the Tucker trade, but given the high price for Tucker and the years of control involved, the Cubs might find a Warren deal to be a more viable option. If the Cubs decide to move on from one of their outfielders, now might be the time for Jed Hoyer’s more cautious approach to kick in, rather than feeling pressured into a high-risk trade.
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