RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Aug. 3 trade deadline is hours away. The Cubs badly need starting pitchers and could use help in the bullpen . Whenever a potential trade candidate is scratched from a start, the news spreads on social media and ignites speculation about impending moves.
It’s hard for anybody who’s invested in baseball not to pay attention and think about which big names will be in new places by Monday night. Yet rookie infielder James Triantos, a potential trade chip who could be directly impacted if the Cubs do something, isn’t using brain space on the subject.
“It’s not worth it to me to stress out over stuff that I can’t control like that,” Triantos told the Sun-Times before the Cubs’ game Saturday against the Yankees. “So, I just focus on showing up at the field and being ready to go every single day. This is a great opportunity to have, and I just want to take advantage of it.”
Sparingly used since getting recalled July 24 from Triple-A Iowa, Triantos made his first big-league start Saturday, batting ninth and serving as the Cubs’ designated hitter against New York lefty Max Fried. Before Saturday, Triantos had just two at-bats.
That didn’t seem to sour him on the value of his first look at major-league life with the Cubs.
Triantos is eager to soak up whatever information he can during his first stay in the big leagues. He said the experience has been “amazing,” taking bits of info from his new teammates with shiny resumes and track records of producing at the highest level. He’s observing how consistent the veterans are with their routines and preparing, both mentally and physically.
“It’s everything I can dream of,” Triantos said. “It’s such a great opportunity to learn and be around the guys. It’s fun to win.”
For additional pointers on maximizing this time, Triantos said he’s spoken a lot with former Cubs prospect Owen Caissie, one of his best friends. Caissie was called up Aug. 14 last year.
“He learned a lot from these guys,” Triantos said. “Just asking him the ins and outs and what I should be ready for and everything like that.”
That connection might turn out to be ironic or fitting, depending on the point of view.
Caissie didn’t have long to apply what he learned for the Cubs. He played in 12 games and had 26 at-bats but that was the sum of his Cubs tenure, which ended when he was traded to the Marlins as part of the Edward Cabrera deal.
A second-round pick in 2021, Triantos has steadily climbed through the Cubs system. A right-handed hitter with good contact skills, Triantos has attributes that could be attractive to a suitor looking for prospects that should be ready to contribute in the major leagues now or soon.
And there’s also the matter of where Triantos could play for the Cubs. In six minor-league seasons he has 38 home runs, so he doesn’t profile as a hitter who would fully transition to a corner outfield spot. He is further blocked by Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, who will be at second base, shortstop and third base, respectively, for the foreseeable future.
None of these permutations are bothering Triantos. He doesn’t have X/Twitter on his phone and doesn’t look for information or chatter with his name in it.
“I get paid to live out my dream. It’s not that hard,” Triantos said of ignoring the noise. “This is what I love to do. This is my job. This is my favorite thing to do. It’s all I’ve loved to do forever.”
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