The Chicago Cubs, a team who has been somewhat of a lightning rod this season, took their first action in the trade market Monday night by acquiring catcher Jason Kendall from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for catcher Rob Bowen and minor league left-hander Jerry Blevins. But does this make the Cubs any better for a late summer race with the Milwaukee Brewers? Kendall, while he is a more experience commodity behind the plate and can play everyday, isn?t a significant upgrade over the tandem already with the Cubs in Bowen and Koyie Hill. Out of the everyday catchers in major league baseball, Kendall is last in batting average (.226), on-base percentage (.261) and slugging percentage (.281). He also has lost much of his speed that made him a base stealing threat in his younger years. Kendall?s defense is better than his offense though, but still can be considered below average. His best attribute is his handling of a pitching staff, which he has shown he can do with multiple pitchers during his time in Oakland. However, Oakland didn?t think his defense was good enough to keep him in the line-up over their top catching prospect, Kurt Suzuki. With this move, the Cubs also blocked the paths of two promising young catchers in Hill and Geovany Soto. Dealing Bowen though allowed them to at least recoup some value after they demoted him, but they also gave up Blevins, who is having an excellent year in the lower minor leagues with a 3-2 record and a 0.86 ERA. It is clear that the Cubs are riding their momentum train right now and trying to upgrade talent wherever they can to overtake the Brewers at some point this summer. However, Kendall is a marginal upgrade at best and trying to integrate him in mid-season to a vastly different approach and clubhouse could pose major problems. This deal alone won?t change their fortunes for 2007 and if they think otherwise, Cubs fans can expect another October lacking baseball in Wrigley. Grade for Cubs: C- How do you think the Cubs did on the Kendall trade? Email your thoughts to [email protected]