Hot Stove gets Fired Up - MLB Playoff Run Trades Begin via the Cubs

Theo Epstein's phone is going to be ringing off the hook these next few weeks. Two moves today:

• Closer (kinda-sorta the closer) Carlos Marmol sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers for RP Matt Guerrier
• SP Scott Feldman and C Steve Clevenger sent to the Baltimore Orioles for SP Jake Arrieta and RP Pedro Strop.

Let's examine them further:

Marmol/Guerrier

Both pitchers were designated for assignment last week. This was a matter for both teams to try and resuscitate some value. According to Dodgers beat writer Dylan Hernandez, "LAD identified mechanical flaws in Marmol's delivery ... confident they can fix him the way they did League last yr." Brandon League is pretty awful (I really dislike him a lot), but if they can figure it out, more power to the Dodgers. I would bet the Cubs will use Guerrier as much as possible to build his trade value. He's an impending free agent and the Cubs need the long-term pieces.

Feldman and Clevenger/Arrieta and Strop

Baltimore: These are nice playoff run pieces, and if they work, long-term potential solutions for Baltimore. Feldman has been quite good this season, and rather surprisingly too, 7-6 on an awful team with a 3.46 ERA. Take away his two awful starts against the Reds, and that ERA is a tidy 2.81. BUT, Feldman's poor starts have been against high powered line-ups: Reds, Braves, Cardinals all have a combined 8.02 ERA. It doesn't get easier with a rebounding Blue Jays (and hopefully NYY) lineup and a tough Boston line-up. He's a vast improvement over what they have, though. Clevenger has shown in the minors he can hit, and give Matt Wieters a day off.

Chicago: I like these as long-term solutions. Strop has been well, awful this year with a 7.25 ERA. But, he's had success as a middle-reliever before and adds to what expects to become a depleted Cubs bullpen via trades. Or, he like Guerrier, can be trade fodder if he improves. (Also a sleeper at closer). Arrieta's got the stuff: he throws gas, topping out at 97 MPH but he has not translated to the bigs well. He's got plenty of opportunity with the Cubs and could be like Jeff Samardzija and figure it out to be a solid MLB starter.

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