NL Central Trade Deadline Roundup: Cubs add big, Brewers more quiet

The Cubs made the biggest early splash of trade season, nabbing left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana from the crosstown White Sox on July 13. They made a fairly big add on deadline day as well, getting sought-after lefty reliever Justin Wilson, with catcher Alex Avila, from the Tigers. Here’s a list of all the deadline deals.

The Cubs paid dearly in both deals. Highly-rated outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez and pitcher Dylan Cease headlined the return to the White Sox, while third baseman Jeimer Candelario led the package going to Detroit.

The Cubs were in a better position — and perhaps had more pressure — to sell from their ballyhooed farm system, with loads of cash and a pretty set group of young or prime-aged position players, but also a group puttering along through the first half of the season.

Chicago flipped with the Brewers after the all-star break, though, and the Cubs hold a 2 1/2 game lead in the National League Central on trade deadline day.

Milwaukee has a nice crop of prospects itself, a group it didn’t necessarily expect to be in a position to draw from it to add to this season’s roster. Despite the Cubs’ push, the Brewers took their Lewis Brinson and went home, backing off of a possible Sonny Gray deal.

The Brewers ended up acquiring a couple relievers. On Monday they reacquired Jeremy Jeffress from the Rangers. Five days earlier they got Anthony Swarzak from the White Sox. They also added to their pen earlier in the month, getting lefty Tyler Webb, a former Pirates Rule 5 pick, from the Yankees.

Cardinals

St. Louis is in a similar position to the Pirates, 4 1/2 games out in the division. They traded lefty Marco Gonzales to the Mariners for outfield prospect Tyler O’Neill, but did no more. Rumors swirled around Lance Lynn, and the Cards had a couple other pieces they could have moved, but nothing materialized.

Reds

Shortstop Zack Cozart seemed to be one of the more likely players to be traded, but a quad injury recently put him on the disabled list. At the deadline, Cincinnati sent lefty Tony Cingrani to the Dodgers for Scott Van Slyke and catching prospect Hendrik Clementina.