When the Cubs traded Jorge Soler to the Royals for Wade Davis prior to the 2017 season, even the biggest Soler fans (present company included) had to admit it was a total steal. Chicago got a lock-down stopper with all the effectiveness and none of the baggage they had with Aroldis Chapman, and all they had to give up was an oft-injured outfielder with a ceiling he couldn’t climb a ladder to reach.
Davis became an All-Star who saved 32 games en route to an NL Central title, while Soler played most of the season in AAA. But the real risk the whole time was the disparity in the players’ level of control, as Davis is now a free agent.