31 July, 2017
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during Major League Baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
CHICAGO - If a trade for a front line starting pitcher along with a long stretch of success after the All-Star break somehow didn't convince you that the Cubs are still all in for 2017, then another deadline deal should prove that.
The Cubs and Tigers are reportedly close to finalizing a deal that is centered around highly touted prospect Jeimer Candelario. MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal reported that the Cubs are heavily involved in talks.
After tearing it up in Triple-A Iowa over the first month of the current season, Candelario received his first promotion of the year back up to the Cubs. But of all of the players who have been part of a trade rumor, it's closer Justin Wilson who seems to have the attention of the greatest number of teams around the league. He played in 11 games, and while he didn't necessarily make waves, he did hit the first home run of his career. Wilson has compiled a 2.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio (55-16) in 41 appearances for the Tigers this season.
Avila's addition allows the Cubs to ease the workload of second-year catcher Willson Contreras and also provides insurance in the event of an injury.
The left-handed Wilson was acquired by the Tigers in a 2015 trade with the New York Yankees, while Avila has spent eight of his nine big-league seasons with the Tigers.
With the trade of Candelario, the Cubs are giving up their last player in MLB.com's Top 100 prospects. Paredes is playing in the Midwest League this season as an 18 year old - an advanced league for his age - and is performing admirably.
