Bruce LeVineLine on WSCR 670 “The Snore” just threw out a potential Sox/Cubs trade.

Davis Martin

for

Kevin Alcántara (Cubs #5 prospect; MLB #74 prospect), plus additional considerations

Obviously it won’t happen because Bruce is always wrong but I thought it was interesting.

Edited May 20, 2025May 20 by WhiteSox2023

Martin still has 5 years of control after this season.

For a team that still needs pitching,  this makes zero sense.

10 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Martin still has 5 years of control after this season.

For a team that still needs pitching,  this makes zero sense.

Yeah, to trade him now, I think I would need an overpay.

24 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Martin still has 5 years of control after this season.

For a team that still needs pitching,  this makes zero sense.

21 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah, to trade him now, I think I would need an overpay.

Agreed.  I wouldn’t say no to Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcántara for Martin, but I’m sure the Cubs would.

22 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah, to trade him now, I think I would need an overpay.

Sure, but until that point, this is an exercise in jerking off Cub fans.

Remember all of the Sox front line pitchers have taken a step back this year in terms of their prospects.  We don't have extra pitching in the system.

Was this trade thought of by Phil Rogers before Bruce took credit lol

9 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Was this trade thought of by Phil Rogers before Bruce took credit lol

They are basically the same guy.

19 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

They are basically the same guy.

I always pictured Phil as the Penn and Bruce as the Teller

14 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

I always pictured Phil as the Penn and Bruce as the Teller

I actually always confused Bruce Levine with George Ofman.  Both Cubs fan reporters with the worst takes ever.  Brothers from another mother…

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Agreed.  I wouldn’t say no to Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcántara for Martin, but I’m sure the Cubs would.

let's remember the market has shifted where position players are worth way, way more than even great pitchers. Alcantara would be a-ok with me for a 28 year old SP with only short-term success and coming off a major injury.

8 minutes ago, bmags said:

let's remember the market has shifted where position players are worth way, way more than even great pitchers. Alcantara would be a-ok with me for a 28 year old SP with only short-term success and coming off a major injury.

With very poor advanced stats. You'd run away with this deal. Martin is more likely AAAA pitcher on an average team.

Isn’t Alcantara’s stock plummeting?

I'm still in the Davis Martin is not good camp, so I'd take any top 100 for him.

50 minutes ago, bmags said:

let's remember the market has shifted where position players are worth way, way more than even great pitchers. Alcantara would be a-ok with me for a 28 year old SP with only short-term success and coming off a major injury.

My proposal is expecting way too much but I think Alcantara alone might be a little light.

38 minutes ago, fathom said:

Isn’t Alcantara’s stock plummeting?

I think so, which is why he would be light in a one for one deal.

44 minutes ago, fathom said:

Isn’t Alcantara’s stock plummeting?

I just don't understand why we'd expect a good return for Davis Martin. He's k'ing a bunch but is still young, fast and hits the ball hard. We are the worst organization for him to go with his hit tool, but that's true for all players in the league.

7 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah, to trade him now, I think I would need an overpay.

Absolutely, but we need to keep eyes wide open for teams willing to overpay.

That said, I'm not exactly sure what 5.5 seasons of a pitcher who looks like he'll settle in at 2-3 WAR is worth in terms of prospects.  But in general, I'd like 3 interesting prospects back for such a player.

 

Martin probably is a regression candidate, as he is decently ahead of his FIP (3.49 era vs 4.05 FIP vs xFIP 4.31)  His expected ERA is actually way higher at 5.16.

His K% is pretty low, but he also really dropped his BB% too, so he seems to be pitching to more outs this year.

HIs BABiP is still .296, so it isn't crazy out of line though.  His GB% is up 2 percentage points to almost 48%.  What is wild is that his hard hit percentage is actually up this year to 45%, and his average EV has gone from 87 to over 90.

It might actually be the defense is helping Davis this year.

Bruce has zero credibility, he is and always has been a Cub boy 

Edited May 20, 2025May 20 by Soxfest

No to Alcantara for anyone. The sun is setting on his prospect status.

20 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

No to Alcantara for anyone. The sun is setting on his prospect status.

Anyone? I mean, I'd give them Andrew Vaughn.

55 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:

Anyone? I mean, I'd give them Andrew Vaughn.

It’s too bad Vaughn couldn’t be having a halfway decent season as that trade may have made sense, but I guess the Cubs still have Matt Shaw regardless.

In a vacuum, selling high on a guy like Martin probably isn't the worst idea in the world. But I certainly don't trust what the Cubs would be willing to part with for him. Nor do I trust Getz to be able to find even a Davis Martin level replacement.

In a scenario where you could turn Martin into a top 100 position player prospect + another supporting piece or two, you absolutely should trade him. I don't really care that much about control of a 28 year pitcher that could easily turn into a pumpkin at anytime. &nbsp

I guess didn't realize Martin was not on the MLB roster when he got hurt. Otherwise he'd have way more service time. 

Don't let Getz get wind if this