CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- After much speculation over the last month, the Cubs set course as a buyer ahead of Tuesday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The Cubs acquired third baseman Jeimer Candelario and relief pitcher Jose Cuas in a pair of trades, marking the first time the team had added major-league talent at the deadline during a full season was 2019. After an eight-game winning streak at the end of July, the Cubs elected to hold outfielder Cody Bellinger and right-hander Marcus Stroman rather than dealing them
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer came away convinced that this team deserved the chance to compete the rest of this season. He felt that as the Cubs came back from down 7-2 to beat the White Sox 10-7 last Wednesday, then again two days later as center fielder Mike Tauchman robbed a would-be walk-off home run in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.
"They were celebrating like it was a playoff game,” Hoyer said. “They were really doing some great things as a group. For me, that was the turning point, showing how much this group believes in each other. It was the right thing to do to keep them together and let them compete the last two months."
The Cubs backed the belief of Hoyer on Tuesday night in a 20-9 win over the Reds, during which they matched a franchise record with seven home runs. Candelario had four hits in his return to the Cubs.
The Cubs tried their best to add a left-handed bullpen arm on the last day. However, a match in money spent and players available didn't sync up. Talks with both the Diamondbacks and the Mets ended when money issues that could not be worked out.
Given how the Cubs pushed back into contention in both the National League Central race and the wild-card battle, Hoyer was not willing to deal key players away and give up on the opportunity this season.
“A lot of years, having a 53-53 record would mean you would not make a decision to add," Hoyer said. "If the division had a runaway team and the wild card was far away from you, we might have made other decisions. But where the division and the wild card sit had a lot to do with our decision.”
Candelario batted sixth and played first base on Tuesday night as the Cubs jumped out to a 5-0 lead five batters in against the Reds. He came up with the Cubs organization and was traded to the Tigers prior to the deadline in 2017.
As Hoyer explored the trade market, Candelario became a clear candidate for a potential acquisition. The Cubs sent a pair of prospects back to the Nationals in the deal.
"He was really the best fit for us" Hoyer said. "When you looked at the board and the guys we thought were realistically available, considering it was such a seller’s market, there was not a ton of talent out there. There were very few hitters we felt could add something to our team. Candy was the one guy who could. He is a switch-hitter and really good from the left side. We know he can play both infield corners and could DH. We know he will give us a high quality at-bat. He was really a very clear target for us. Getting him back six years to the day after we traded him is pretty unbelievable."
The Cubs entered Tuesday at five games behind the first-place Reds in the NL Central and four games behind in the wild-card race.
The Cubs have a lot of work to do in order to make the playoffs, but Hoyer is excited for the organization and the players.
"I think on paper we are a little better than our present record,” Hoyer said. "When you watch the product night in and night out, we do a lot of things really well. We are among the top teams in offense right now, we have good pitching and defense. This team has a chance to come together and really win. That is the goal when you leave spring training so being here and selling is never the goal.
“As we sat here several weeks ago, that was the path we thought we would take. But now having added and showing a belief in this group is a great feeling."
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