While the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers entered the season among the favorites to win the 2017 World Series, the year has unfolded in drastically different means for both clubs.
The Dodgers overcame a slow start to race out to the best record in the Majors, while the Cubs hovered around .500 until surging out of the All-Star break. Now they’re seemingly jockeying against one another, as well as other teams, to acquire a left-handed reliever ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.
Chicago and Los Angeles have both been connected to each Zach Britton, Brad Hand and Justin Wilson. They represent the three-best lefty relievers currently available.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, the Cubs and Dodgers are bidding to complete a trade prior to the 1 p.m. PT deadline on Monday:
The #Dodgers and #Cubs are in a bidding war now for #Tigers reliever Justin Wilson. Wilson will definitely be gone by tomorrow
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2017
A similar sentiment was shared by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:
#Cubs are pushing on Justin Wilson, but #Dodgers also still working at it.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2017
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has already shown a willingness to part with prospects necessary to acquire a reliever of Wilson’s caliber. Last season, Epstein completed a trade for Aroldis Chapman and said of dealing prospects, “If not now, when?”
Meanwhile, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has exercised more restraint, particularly with the organization’s top prospects. Los Angeles has traded the likes of Jharel Cotton, Jose De Lone, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas over the past calendar year.
Wilson replaced Francisco Rodriguez as closer in May. Prior to that, Wilson went 1-1 with one save and a 1.23 ERA in 16 games. Since being named Tigers closer, he’s 2-3 while converting 11 of 13 save opportunities, and yielding a 3.65 ERA.
Wilson is under team control via salary arbitration through next season. In addition to the Cubs and Dodgers, the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have also been linked to the Wilson sweepstakes.
