Sporting News : reported that MLB trade rumors: Cubs to deal top prospect for Tigers' Alex Avila, Justin Wilson

Unlike Avila, Wilson is under control (arbitration eligible) for 2018 before turning into a free agent in 2019. Tigers general manager Al Avila is working on a trade that will send his own son to the Cubs along with reliever Justin Wilson. Avila is enjoying a breakout season with the Tigers, slashing .274/.394/.475 despite a recent July slump. 1 prospect, according to MLB.com, is batting .266/.361/.507 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 81 games with Triple-A Iowa. He'll slide into a backup role behind Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, a role once occupied by Miguel Montero before he was cut in June for criticizing Jake Arrieta.

MLB trade news: Rockies take calculated risk in deal for Jonathan Lucroy

SN's TRADE TRACKER: Analysis of all deals leading up to deadlineEnter new catcher Jonathan Lucroy, acquired in a trade with the Rangers on Sunday night. Maybe he has been pressing with free agency on the horizon and his trade to a playoff-bound Rockies team is the perfect catalyst for an awakening. The slash line is a rather anemic .242/.297/.338, with four homers and 27 RBIs in 306 plate appearances for Texas. MORE: Worst in-season trade for every AL team | Every NL teamThe Rockies are rolling the dice with Lucroy. Tony Wolters is the primary catcher, and he had exactly zero home runs in 234 plate appearances.

Melky Cabrera deal shows MLB is getting past trade taboo

In the case of the Cabrera trade, that was two AL Central teams continuing to execute their plans aggressively. The White Sox decided on a thorough rebuild last offseason, and there have been no half-measures. The idea is to do what helps your team best — period. They have not only done the big prospect-haul deals when trading Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and Quintana, but since the second half began also dealt Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson, Todd Frazier, Anthony Swarzak, Dan Jennings and now Cabrera. Throw in that one of the biggest deals of July was the two Chicago clubs interacting with Jose Quintana going from the White Sox to the Cubs, and you realize this current group of baseball executives is less restricted to long-held stupidity that you don't trade with a team in your division or city.


This content may collect you by Max Nolan
To stay up to date with the latest news about MLB