We've got Bus(c)h

The Cubs trade some of their precious prospects and get...somebody else's?

We've got Bus(c)h

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I, like many of you had the same first thought when I found out that the Cubs had traded for a player named Michael Busch. And I was beaten to it by our old pal Forklift.

The Cubs traded pitching prospect Jackson Ferris and minor league outfielder Zyhir Hope and in return get the Dodgers’ second rated prospect Michael Busch, and big league reliever Yency Almonte.

Ferris was the Cubs’ number eight prospect, which given the incredible depth in their system is like the best prospect in any other system, and most likely a 300 game winner and first ballot Hall of Famer. Or something. I don’t know, it’s been a long offseason, I forgot just how high we’re supposed to crank the hyperbole meter for these unproven Cubs minor leaguers. It’s pretty amazing how optimistic everybody is about how all these players will turn out when the franchise has been pretty much crap at developing anything other than top ten first round picks for about 20 years.

Busch is a lefty hitter with good power, good control of the strike zone, has put up huge numbers in the minors, is 26 years old and can play some first base. He also struggles mightily with velocity and he hit .167 in 72 at bats with the Dodgers last year.

Wow. What a get for the Cubs! They don’t have anybody like that.

Except for Matt Mervis who is a lefty hitter with good power, good control of the strike zone, has put up huge numbers in the minors, turns 26 years old in April, can play some first base, and struggles mightily with velocity and he hit .167 in 90 at bats with the Cubs last year.

Good lord, Jed. Looks like you’ve got a type.