At this point no one should be surprised at the ludicrous musings of Jim Bowden, but goddamn I can’t help but sit here and wonder how a former GM of not one but two MLB teams can come up with these stupid trade proposals.

So, everyone is trying to get their best Manny Machado to the Chicago Cubs trade proposals to the public and Bowden’s newest hypothetical is in one word: awful.

It starts off, as most of the trade proposals you’ve seen begin with, Addison Russell and some pitchers. The difference in this proposal is that Mike Montgomery isn’t involved, rather the Baltimore Orioles get two of the top pitching prospects from the Cubs: Adbert Alzolay, Oscar De La Cruz, Brendon Little, Alex Lange and Jose Albertos.

I’ve already shared my thoughts on why trading Russell plus a few more pieces for Machado isn’t something I’d do, considering it weakens the defense in the future and there is zero guarantee Machado re-signs, but Bowden makes it even better.

Not only does he think the Cubs should trade a 24-yea-old shortstop who plays elite defense and is under team control for 3.5 more years, two pitching prospects, but why not also include a power-hitting 23-year-old.

That’s right, Jim Bowden suggests, Addison Russell, two pitching prospects and Ian Happ for upcoming free agents Manny Machado and Adam Jones.

Via The Athletic.

Combine Russell with two of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects out of the group of Adbert Alzolay, Oscar De La Cruz, Brendon Little, Alex Lange and Jose Albertos, and there is probably a deal to be made. The Orioles should even consider expanding the deal if they can’t extend free-agent-to-be Adam Jones, adding him if they can get Ian Happ back. There are many ways these two teams can come up with a creative deal that works for both sides.

This is so dumb that I’m shocked it was published.

For starters, Machado and Jones are making a combined $33.3 million this season. Unless the Orioles are sending money to the Cubs to keep them under the luxury tax cap this season the deal is DOA.

But let’s forget about the money for a minute. Straight up the Cubs would be trading four players, all 24-years-old or younger for two players who will be free agents after the 2018 season. Obviously the Cubs would be interested in bringing back Machado, but Jones? He’ll be 33 next season. Hard pass.

While we can all agree that Machado is the far superior player than Russell, there’s no guarantee that one, the Cubs win the World Series because of Machado and two, that Machado would re-sign. But to also include Happ for Jones?

ADAM JONES ISN’T EVEN BETTER THAN IAN HAPP AND HE’S 9 YEARS OLDER!!!!!

Ian Happ: .254/.361/.509, .362 wOBA, 128 wRC+

Adam Jones: .267/.284/.439, .308 wOBA, 91 wRC+

What the fuck is Jim Bowden taking because this is some wild shit.

And if you needed any more confirmation how awful this is, look who agrees with Bowden.

OMG this is perfect pic.twitter.com/XsxloKW14B — Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) May 21, 2018

Yes, it would be great to have two players who aren’t even 25-years-old and under team control for 3.5 and 5.5 more years, plus two pitchers for two rentals.

Holy shit, Jim Bowden, what in the actual fuck.

Despite all of that, the following Jim Bowden trade proposal involving the Cubs from 2017, is worse.