Live From DC: Cubs News & Notes – 12/7/16: Soler on the Block, White Sox Deal Sale, Cubs Fans are Best

Well here we are, the final day of the Baseball Winter Meetings. So far, there have been a few big signings and one really big trade but otherwise, things seem to have been moving a little slowly. Today could be moving day though and we’ll keep you apprised of any moves that will impact the Chicago Cubs. Of course, there have been a lot of rumors too, most of which have panned out but some of which haven’t, at least not yet.

• The latest, and biggest rumor involving the Cubs, is a possible trade for the Kansas City Royals’ RHP Wade Davis. The mill was kicking up hard late yesterday as you can see from the tweets below. It’s being said that the Cubs would be giving up Jorge Soler in the deal but right now this is all just a big rumor that appears to be pending physicals.

Sources: #Cubs close to acquiring Wade Davis from #Royals for Jorge Soler.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2016

Source: While the Cubs/Royals’ Wade Davis-for-Jorge Soler trade is “seriously down the road,” it is not expected to be completed tonight.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 7, 2016

Soler for wade Davis is indeed deal on table. Haven’t heard any other names in it. Sides apparently just sleeping on it.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 7, 2016

The #Cubs and #Royals have a deal: OF Jorge Soler to #Royals for Wade Davis. Teams examining physicals. Will be announced in morning

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 7, 2016

• The biggest concerns for me if the Cubs are thinking of trading for Wade Davis is 1) his injury history – Davis sustained two separate injuries in July of 2016, both leading to a trip to the DL – and 2) he becomes a free agent after 2017. For both of these reasons I’d rather see the Cubs move on then sign a guy who they’d only have for one year and, over that year, would be a serious injury risk. I just don’t see it working but if the physicals come back clean and the Cubs physicians sign off, that naturally would make me a little bit more comfortable. We should find out which way this goes soon, as in today.

• The Chicago White Sox traded Chris Sale yesterday to the Boston Red Sox (MLBTR) in exchange for highly rated prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Basabe, and Victor Diaz. It was quite a prospect haul for the Sox and is certain to trigger a further sell-off for more prospects. After Theo Epstein stepped in after 2011 and rebuilt the Cubs from the ground up, it’s no surprise to see White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn trying to do the same, particularly when they have some highly sought after major league players with pretty reasonable contracts over longer terms.

• And finally, in case you missed it, the Chicago Cubs’ fans (that’s us) were named the number one fans in the world by Sports Illustrated’s Fansided. It’s quite an honor and, quite frankly, something that was true long before this year. I guess it takes a team winning a World Series Championship before their fans can be recognized as the best. Maybe that doesn’t entirely make sense but it’s still a pretty cool honor none-the-less.