Cubs Saved Themselves From Deadline Disaster With Craig Kimbrel Signing

Despite one of the worst farm systems in the league and having lost their grip on first place in the NL Central, Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs managed to have a solid trade deadline, picking up outfielder Nicholas Castellanos from the Detroit Tigers.

While his numbers may not bear it out, Craig Kimbrel, who was acquired last month to shore up their poor bullpen, might have actually beeen the catalyst for this unexpected windfall.

If they missed out on Kimbrel, the Cubs would have been desperate for a closer, likely having to sell the best prospects in the system to bring in an elite reliever (many of whom weren't moving). While Kimbrel has struggled so far, a pitcher of his caliber will figure it out sooner rather than later.

With that need patched up, the Cubs could deal from a position of strength rather than one with minimal leverage, which allowed them to swing the Castellanos trade without giving up their best prospects.

Teams panic buy almost every deadline, vastly overpaying for a minimal return. The Cubs would have almost been forced to do that without Kimbrel pitching the ninth.

With him, they were able to turn their attentions elsewhere, and add a slugging outfielder for the stretch run.