There are some Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks trade proposals floating around on Twitter

For most people, trade rumors hinge on the legitimacy of the sources. When a connected source floats a potential transaction, antennae activate. However, a dopey trade idea from a third-rate outlet is highly unlikely. As I tend to lean a bit more heavily on the hypothetical, whose idea it is seems less essential. When trade ideas might spur interest, I try to figure if anything can be learned from them, even if the hypothetical seems a bit ridiculous.

Today, I note potential trades for the Cubs two most reliable starting pitchers, found on Twitter. I'm not asking you to cast aside loyalties. Assess the current landscape, prioritize seasons, and make your call. Keep on mind that I expect at least one of the next two seasons to be somewhat minimized by spending efforts by ownership, across the league. The entire 2022 season might be wiped out, entirely, as well. One of my Twitter hashtags is #CubsTeam2023, and for my preference, long term talent seems more desirable than short-term stabs.

Trade option 1

Kyle Hendricks is signed through 2024, and is an understandable fan favorite. Jason Adam was a free-agent signing in January, and won't even be arbitration-eligible until 2022. Clint Frazier has struggled to reach the expectations tossed on him as a prep first round outfield selection. Jonathan Loaisiga and Jordan Montgomery have had mixed success with the Gothams.

My hunch is, offering two pitchers that might cash, as well as an outfielder who loses a bit of National League luster with no designated hitter in the league, is an acceptable loss from a New York perspective. I'll be honest in that my awareness about Loaisiga and Montgomery are a bit limited. If both escape Yankee Stadium to another site and thrive, it looks better for the team receiving three players.

Giving up Hendricks, though, for that seems a bit weak. Hendricks is that good, and has a lengthy run still to go, and neither pitcher has flashed the consistency that should be expected for a top-two starter. What is interesting is Adam being included by a Yankees fan. This indicates that Adam has greater-than-zero draw. His inclusion hints he might have more value than "Johnny Lasagna." Which is an item to potentially be learned.

Trade option 2

This one determines which side of the "present/future" spectrum you're on. Yu Darvish is among the National League's top hurlers. Signed through 2024 at a reasonable rate, the Cubs have no compulsion at all to trade him. On the other hand, he has as much trade value as anyone on the team not on their initial contract.

Rivelkin De Castro, I like for two reasons. He signed in the most-recently lapsed international signing period for $750,000. The shortstop not only has value based on said bonus, but has cost control until 2030 if he produces. Toss in that his first name is unique, and I'm a gusher on him. As to "film" or "stats," those would be less available.

Simeon Woods-Richardson was a second-round choice by the Mets in 2018 and was sent to the Blue Jays in the Marcus Stroman exchange. In six starts in the Florida State League in 2019, at well over four years younger than the average opponent, "SWR" more than held his own. In 28⅓ innings he fanned 29 with a WHIP of 0.982.

This is the sort of trade that is assessed in 15 years as if the knowledge was available at the time. When it clearly wasn't. Woods-Richardson is already tossing at 95, with some muscle to be added. He wouldn't be Rule 5 Draft-eligible until December 2022. If he cashes, he cashes huge. Plenty of things can go wrong with pitching prospects, but 13 months ago, he looked as good or better than Advanced-A Ball. Your assessment now is your initial assessment, regardless how things turn out, in 15 years.