Sometimes trades just work out for the best for everyone involved. That might have been the case in Friday’s deal — the first of the week leading up to Wednesday’s trade deadline — that sent left-handed pitcher Derek Holland from the San Francisco Giants to the Chicago Cubs.
The Giants received cash in the deal, the latest sign that perhaps even with their recent hot streak (they’ve won 18 of their past 22 to storm into the wild-card race in the NL), they still are wary of being buyers at the deadline.
The Cubs get a left-handed pitcher for their bullpen who struggled as a starter earlier this season but has been very good out of the pen for the past month.
And Derek Holland gets out of San Francisco, where he publicly criticized management and seemed to be ripe for a move.
The cash-for-cash in the Derek Holland deal probably has something to do with the $500,000 buyout on his option for next season. Cubs are over the luxury tax this year. So they’re probably covering the buyout and getting the Giants to pay down a chunk of 2019 salary.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 26, 2019
A Bullpen Boon
Holland has been a starter for almost his entire career, most of which came with the Texas Rangers.
He signed a 1-year, $7 million deal to return to the Giants for a second season this year, but he struggled mightily in the rotation and was eventually moved to the bullpen.
Holland criticized the move at the time, saying “he had no idea” what Giants leadership was doing.
But the move actually worked out well. Holland carried a 0.68 ERA over 10 appearances from late June until last Saturday, when he gave up four earned runs in an inning against the Mets.
Cubs Acquire Pitcher Derek Holland from Giants – Dude Has Been Ridiculous Against Lefties https://t.co/FnNyFT5XCo pic.twitter.com/0pea09VIEe
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 26, 2019
Happy in the Windy City?
The Cubs have struggled to get left-handed hitters out late in games, so Holland certainly will help with that.
As for Holland, ESPN.com reports he does Harry Caray impressions and has a dog named Wrigley. Maybe this is a match made in heaven for both sides.
Ian Happ is here, Derek Holland is on his way and Ben Zobrist will be back. But another loss put a spotlight on the Cubs’ flawed roster. One that should expect more change in the coming days. https://t.co/Fdt36RujDK
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 27, 2019
