CUBSDEAL FORTIGERS CLOSER, CATCHER
Epstein, Hoyer address priorities, trading for Tigers closer Wilson, catcher Avila before deadline today
MILWAUKEE — The players kept up their end of the deal, going 13- 3 from the All- Star break to the trade deadline.
And the Cubs’ front office worked late into the night Sunday to keep its promise to add help before the trade deadline Monday, finalizing a deal with the Tigers that brought left- handed closer Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila to Chicago for switch- hitting infielder Jeimer Candelario and Class A shortstop Isaac Paredes.
Candelario, the top- ranked hitting prospect left in the Cubs’ system after trades and promotions in the last year, was pulled from the lineup Sunday at Class AAA Iowa.
The deal landed the Cubs both priorities on their deadline to- do list, including a late- inning reliever who is under club control as an arbitration- eligible player for one more year. With closer Wade Davis a pending free agent, Wilson— who makes $ 2.7 million this season — might be an option to close in 2018.
In the meantime, Wilson adds a fourth member to the bullpen with closing experience ( 13 saves, 2.86 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 40„ innings). In addition to Wilson and Davis, Hector Rondon and Koji Uehara have been closers in recent years.
Avila fills the veteran void in the catching corps created when the Cubs shipped out Miguel Montero for comments critical of righthander Jake Arrieta last month.
Some Cubs said they expected and looked forward to a trade after their 4- 2 victory Sunday against the Brewers pushed their lead in the National League Central to a season- high 2 ½ games.
‘‘ The clock’s ticking,” said third baseman Kris Bryant, who homered in the game and viewed a deadline deal as another boost for the clubhouse. ‘‘ Whoever they bring in . . . it’s definitely going to provide some more energy. We saw that when [ left- hander Jose Quintana] got here.’’
The Cubs already had pulled off the biggest acquisition of the trading season to date with the deal that landed Quintana from the White Sox for four prospects at the All- Star break. He’s 2- 1 with a 2.37 ERA in three starts since.
President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer said before the All- Star break that how the Cubs played in the rest of July would determine how aggressive they would get in trade talks. ‘‘ I think if you ask everyone in here, we’re really confident with our team to make a deep run,’’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. ‘‘ We’re really confident with what we have. And we’re confident with the front office. If they’re going to do something, it’s just going to help us.’’
The Brewers led the NL Central by 5 ½ games over the Cubs at the break. But thatwas before the Cubs opened the second half with six consecutive victories and six winning series in a row. They are a seasonhigh eight games above .500.
The key has been a starting rotation that struggled to a 4.66 ERA before the break but has gone 11- 1 with a 2.53 ERA since.
That includes resurgent righthander John Lackey, who improved to 3- 0 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts since the break after beating the Brewers with six strong innings Sunday.
‘‘ That was like the couple- ofyearsago Johnny,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. “The fastball was that good; the slider was that good.’’
As recently as two weeks ago, Maddon was taking questions about whether Lackey’s spot in the rotation might be on the line.
‘‘ You definitely need some rest as a team,’’ Lackey said of the value of the All- Star break. ‘‘ But some of us could use some medication; some of us, all kinds of stuff.’’
In Milwauke, the bullpen pitched as though it didn’t need any help, allowing three hits in 11 scoreless innings.