Two weeks ago, on July 17, the Chicago Cubs gave up a two-run homer to Jeimer Candelario in the first inning and lost to the Washington Nationals to drop to 43-50. Losers of three of four coming out of the All-Star break, their playoff odds dove to a nadir of just 6%, and they looked primed to sell off key pieces, such as Cody Bellinger, at the trade deadline.
Instead, on Monday, they traded for Candelario to add to a team that has lost three times since then.
Forget selling Bellinger or Marcus Stroman, which at one point appeared to position Chicago as the clearinghouse for the most impactful players to be moved this week.