Top Catching Prospect Could Be Included in Big Cubs Trade

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon has been popping up in trade rumors this past week and now we’ve gotten a little deeper in the rumor mill as a catching prospect from one of the interested teams has been specifically mentioned by Bruce Levine.

A few days ago USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have had talks with the Cubs about Taillon. Jed Hoyer has expressed the willingness to look ahead toward 2025 and beyond when exploring trades this upcoming week, which mostly means the Cubs won’t be buying rentals. Yet, they can still use valuable MLB pieces at this trade deadline to acquire MLB-ready or soon to be MLB-ready talent in return.

With that in mind, Levine brought up Boston’s number one catching prospect when writing about a potential Taillon trade to the Red Sox.

Via 670 The Score.

A catching prospect to keep an eye on is 22-year-old Kyle Teel, who’s playing at Double-A Portland in the Red Sox organization. Teel is hitting .305 with nine homers, 51 RBIs and an .861 OPS in 68 games at Double-A this season, and he’s a good defensive player. The Red Sox selected him at No. 14 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.

So, normally you wouldn’t think twice about this and Levine brings up Kyle Teel’s name because the catcher position is certainly one that needs an upgrade if not for this year definitely for the future for the Cubs. However, what stands out about Teel’s inclusion is that he is the only player or prospect mentioned at all by Levine when discussing who the Cubs could be getting in return throughout the entire article.

Teel, who was drafted 14th overall in 2023 by the Red Sox, is having a great season at Double-A, currently slashing .305/.391/.470, with 9 home runs in 68 games this year. In Baseball America’s updated top-100 prospects list, Teel is ranked 31st overall.

Taillon, 32, has been fantastic for the Cubs this season and his quality pitching dates back to last July. Over his last 31 starts plus one relief appearance, the veteran righty has posted a 3.23 ERA in 183.2 innings. In year two of his four-year contract with the Cubs, Taillon is owed close to $43 million for the remainder of his deal that runs through the 2026 season.

So, was Levine simply connecting the dots and looking at the Cubs roster needs at catcher and simply looked at who matches well in a trade or has the insider heard this name behind the scenes in who the Cubs are targeting in a deal with the Red Sox? Did the Cubs leak Teel’s name so they could get something out of the Yankees or even the Baltimore Orioles, who are also in need of pitching help?

A deal that involves one the best catching prospects in the game would most certainly include more than just Taillon, who would give the Red Sox a much-needed workhorse for their rotation. Maybe the Cubs add a reliever like Mark Leiter Jr., who has been perfect since coming back from the injured list.

Taillon is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Could it be his last with the Cubs?