Royals may have just handed the Cubs a needed lifeline for thinned out rotation

Chicago Cubs fans likely have made note that the Kansas City Royals designated veteran starting pitcher Bailey Falter for assignment on Wednesday. In part, because if there’s an available pitcher, Jed Hoyer is going to make the call. Also because popular Cubs Twitter pundit, AZ Phil, suggested that the Cubs do a one-for-one swap for Falter, sending Jordan Wicks to the Royals.

How AZ Phil still has a following is beyond anyone with comprehension of how baseball works. Partially because most of his takes on all things Cubs aren’t based in much reality, and that point is accentuated by his idea of the Cubs trading Wicks for Falter.

Falter is out of a minor-league options, hence the DFA, and would be required to stay on the Cubs’ roster if they were to trade for him. Meanwhile, Wicks is a pre-arbitration pitcher with two minor-league options remaining. Say what you will about Wicks and his development, but he’s much-needed depth for the Cubs at the moment. Even if there isn’t value in the appearances the Cubs have got out of Wicks over the last couple of years, there’s value in the sense that he can be an up-and-down arm for the organization. A needed trait for a team that has their pitching staff decimate by injuries.

Lazy trade ideas aside, the Cubs may take a gamble on Falter

Even if the argument was for the Cubs skipping the line and simply trading for Falter, his results with the Royals would suggest that is the wrong way to go about acquiring him.

Falter has posted an ERA over 4.40 in five of the six years of his career, and in five appearances with the Royals this season, he’s sporting an ERA of 13.97. That’s simply not a pitcher any organization should give up a controllable arm for.

But, in a scenario where Falter clears waivers and elects free agency, then there’s a case for the Cubs to be interested. Until trade talks begin in earnest, the Cubs’ front office will need to sift through available arms with the hope that someone sticks. If Falter then continues his struggles in Chicago, the Cubs can easily move on while still having Wicks in the organization.