Imagine being teleported five years into the future from 2016 and watching the Chicago Cubs and White Sox pull off the moves they made at the 2021 trade deadline.
Back in December 2016 the Cubs were still experiencing their World Series hangover, and their fans were talking dynasty as if it was a fait accompli. The Sox were beginning a long and grueling rebuild by trading ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for Yoán Moncada, Michael Kopech and a couple other prospects, giving up their most popular player in the prime of his career.
“There may well be some pain along the way,” general manager Rick Hahn said that day.