Of course, the Chicago Cubs won a game against the Milwaukee Brewers right after President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer talked to the media about moving forward to 2025 and beyond. For some, the win gave a glimpse of hope things were not over. For others, it was just nice to sing our favorite song again.
Yes, the Cubs are just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. They have crawled out of the basement of the National League Central. With the expanded playoffs, anything is possible. But it’s also true that the Cubs should not mortgage their future on rentals to shoot for the stars once in 2024. There’s a fine line between being reasonable and being delusional.
2024 can absolutely go down in the record books as a failure. This team was favored to win the division and be a shoo-in for the playoffs. Instead, they’re on the outside looking in with a week to go until the trade deadline. Hoyer seems to be prepared to weigh his options in the next week. The Cubs could be quiet at the deadline and give the team a chance. They could do light-selling with tradable contracts (there aren’t many). But they could also make favorable moves to improve themselves for 2025 and beyond.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan took a deep dive into what each team may be thinking ahead of the cutoff at 6:00 pm EST on July 30th. Although they are seemingly in no man’s land, he had plenty to say about the Cubs.
It’s no secret that the most available and acquirable asset the Cubs have to offer is starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. After starting the season on the injured list, Taillon has been great in the rotation since returning. His contract is favorable to move, too, at $18 million a year through the 2026 season. Teams like the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Atlanta Braves could be interested.
It could be an annual tradition, and it basically is. But contenders will be looking to improve their bullpen down the stretch. The Cubs have a couple of reliable, veteran arms in there that contenders will probably be interested in. Keep in mind that trades like this could significantly shape futures in the franchise (for example, David Robertson for Ben Brown in 2022).
Passan names Mark Leiter Jr. and Hector Neris as possible trade targets for contenders. While both relievers have had their share of shakey moments during the season, the broader scope shows that both have the reliability to take the ball in needed situations for teams. The New York Yankees can outbid anyone, but keep an eye out for a team like the San Diego Padres or Philadelphia Phillies to improve their bullpen under the radar.
To the dismay of many Cubs fans, Gold-Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner keeps being mentioned. Passan mentions him in his article. Someone else who keeps popping up that he did not mention is All-Star Justin Steele. While the Cubs are taking phone calls on anyone, the price tag on either of these players would be astronomical. Both of these moves feel unlikely, but you never truly know what teams are willing to pay to win right now.
After a breakout season in 2023, Hoerner is keeping about the same pace in 2024 – even after a tough start. He’s quickly become a fan favorite because of his play on the field and personality off of it. However, Passan is right when he says prospects Matt Shaw and James Triantos are having great seasons below him in the minors. While Shaw may have a more direct path to the majors at third base, the Triantos piece makes things a little more interesting, but it would still take a jaw-dropping offer for the Cubs to move Hoerner.
Meanwhile, Steele was an All-Star last season and a candidate for the Cy Young Award into September. After pulling a hamstring on Opening Night, he returned to the team and resumed his role as the ace of this squad. He is under team control through 2027, which makes his value incomprehensively high. But even with the reinforcement arms quickly coming through the pipeline, acquiring him from the Cubs would take a package of only a few, maybe zero, teams can afford to pay.
Although he is still recovering from a broken finger, Cody Bellinger is someone Jeff Passan says could still help a team with playoff aspirations down the stretch. His contract is semi-favorable, at $27.5 million next year and $25 million in 2026. But Bellinger holds an opt-out option after each season if he chooses to exercise it.
In the past, we have heard rumors of Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki possibly being moved. Those rumors have died as people have learned more about the language of their contracts. Christopher Morel was being shopped before the season began, but the Cubs reportedly valued him higher than teams were willing to pay. As far as everyone else on the roster, there are not many contracts with value. It would be surprising if more interest was generated. But, of course, contenders could pay silly things if they think they have a chance.
As mentioned before, the Cubs are not necessarily making phone calls themselves. They’re not actively selling. But they will take calls on anyone. There are probably only a couple of players that can be labeled as untouchable assets. There are still a few games to be played before Hoyer and the Cubs make these tough decisions to shape the organization’s future – again.
