3 Players We Can’t Believe Jed Hoyer Hasn’t Acted On

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 6: Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly #11. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs were expected to be one of the more active teams at the close, but Jed Hoyer surprisingly didn’t trade those three players.

OK, so these Chicago Cubs didn’t hold all at this year’s close. But baseball operations president Jed Hoyer also didn’t commit to a full reconstruction. The Cubbies were supposed to be sellers as of the deadline, and while they certainly weren’t buyers, the team stuck to a few likely trade candidates.

The Cubs said goodbye to assists Mychal Givens (New York Mets), David Robertson (Philadelphia Phillies) and Chris Martin (Los Angeles Dodgers), but unlike their division rivals, the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago held on the most to some of the players Fans and expected to be treated.

Marcus Stroman might have attracted more commercial interest if his contract had been cheaper and if he had been producing that season. Wade Miley would have been another commercial contender had he been sane. But it’s not surprising that the two are still at the club. However, it is curious that these three players still play for the Chicago Cubs.

1. We can’t believe the Cubs didn’t trade Drew Smyly

The Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation wasn’t one of their strongest attributes this season, but Drew Smyly had a moderately successful season on the North Side. It’s a bit confusing that a left-handed veteran like Smyly wasn’t dealt at the close.

Smyly is 4-6 with an ERA under 4.00. With 52 strikeouts in more than 65 innings of work, he’ll never terrify the opposing batter. But Smyly induces gentle contact. According to Baseball Savantopposing batters averaged just 85.6 mph in terms of exit speed.

With this little nugget, left-handed and an expiring contract, Smyly looks like an attractive trade target for a team looking for pitching depth. But either Jed Hoyer didn’t buy him in, the southpaw didn’t attract much interest from other clubs.