There weren’t too many Cubs trades in 2016, because the team that eventually won the World Series had been put together largely by free agency and guys from the farm system (though one key player on the WS champs, Anthony Rizzo, arrived in a trade we’ve covered earlier in this series).
But a couple of deals in this championship year were very important in October.
February 25: Acquired Aaron Brooks from the Athletics for Chris Coghlan
This trade was consummated on the same day Dexter Fowler made his surprise appearance at Spring Training, signing a one-year deal to return to the Cubs after there had been rumors he’d signed with Baltimore.