I’ll argue that to be a great player one needn’t be a great leader. In fact, some players are destined for greatness even if they are in the back of the room. Some athletes perform better when others take the lead and excel. It’s not necessarily a pressure issue. I’m thinking of two particular players in town (Chicago). Both players have underperformed for different reasons, but only one is considered a potential trade prospect this offseason.

Having more veteran, professionals who push and raise the play of teammates seems to be necessary ingredient for successful teams. I don’t know that the Cubs and White Sox have successful, proven vets on the team that push their younger teammates.

Like him or not, John Laskey was a known commodity when he arrived in Chicago. He won a WS title in 2002 as a rookie with the Angels and later won with the Red Sox. He and Jon Lester were proven winners who provided a road map and impetus for success.

It’s not merely a matter of having a WS ring, but rather the cache to demand more of one’s teammates. I can’t think of a single position player on either the Sox or Cubs that possesses this trait. I wonder if either of these potential stars’ careers would benefit from a trade to a better team with better players. That one might only be the third or fourth most talented player on the team might make it easier to reach their potential.

The Sox situation is far worse because they are mired in yuck and are challenging the ’62 Mets for the worst record in MLB history. The Cubs are merely flopping around like a fish out of water. Neither player is learning spit about winning or being their best self. Editor’s note: I really don’t like the term, but it is oh, so current.

Except for the rare fan, I don’t expect that anyone on either side of town would continue to root for the players should they be traded. We’re going to judge the players based on what we get back. It’s how fandom operates. We can look back to see who won the trade, but we don’t worry as much how players develop once they’re no longer wearing our uniforms.

Even if we truly believe in the players’ abilities and our team’s ability to develop players, I’m not sure either guy has what it takes to be great among mediocrity.

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