Craig Kimbrel trade regrade: Cubs big advantage over White Sox is gone

The Chicago Cubs traded Craig Kimbrel to nan Chicago White Sox backmost successful 2021. Initially nan move looked for illustration a win-win, but is that still nan lawsuit pinch Nick Madrigal’s struggles?

A crosstown trade betwixt nan Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs is rare, but successful caller history it’s progressive a clear victor and loser of said deal. The 2021 waste and acquisition which sent Craig Kimbrel to nan southbound side, however, whitethorn beryllium a uncommon exception.

The waste and acquisition was arsenic follows:

At nan time, Heuer was much of a project, arsenic he had an ERA complete 5 pinch nan Chicago White Sox. As for Madrigal, he was nan existent jewel of this waste and acquisition for nan Cubs.

“We knew that successful nan extremity we were going to person to make a very beardown connection to get a subordinate for illustration Craig Kimbrel,” Rick Hahn said astatine nan time. “We made a conscious determination to prioritize coming complete nan distant future. There was ever going to travel a constituent successful nan rebuilding process wherever we had an opportunity to win. We’ve had to maximize those opportunities.”

At nan clip of nan trade, Madrigal had a slash statement of .305/.349/.425 successful 45 games. He was only 24 years old, and seemingly a cardinal portion of Chicago’s early infield. Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized.

Cubs vs White Sox: Who really won nan Craig Kimbrel trade?

Craig Kimbrel was sadistic pinch nan White Sox. With nan Cubs, he had 23 saves and a 0.49 ERA astatine nan clip of nan trade. Once he headed to nan southbound side, Kimbrel struggled to find nan onslaught zone, and sounded to a 5.09 ERA. That stark quality made it look for illustration nan White Sox were fleeced by their Chicago neighbors.

That really hasn’t been nan case, though. As bully arsenic Heuer looked pinch nan Cubs successful 2021, he underwent Tommy John room soon thereafter and is nearing a return, finally. Madrigal was sent down to nan insignificant leagues connected Thursday arsenic portion of a corresponding move to telephone up Kyle Hendriks.

Madrigal has been among nan biggest disappointments connected nan northbound side. Despite showing truthful overmuch committedness pinch nan White Sox, he conscionable hasn’t been capable to find his groove. With nan emergence of Christopher Morel astatine 3rd base, location isn’t a spot for him successful Chicago’s starting lineup.

Perhaps he’ll rediscover himself successful Iowa, but for now, this waste and acquisition looks for illustration a wash.