The Chicago Cubs find themselves in a good position standings-wise as the trade deadline draws near. As of July 27, they are tied for first in the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers and in striking distance of the best record in the National League at 61-43.
This positioning will prompt the team to feel the need to be aggressive during the final days leading up the trade deadline, especially with its top prospects available. The Cubs seem to be attached to nearly every big-name on the market thanks to their abundance of player assets, including Owen Caissie, Moisés Ballesteros, Jaxon Wiggins, Kevin Alcántara, Jonathon Long, and James Triantos. The team desperately needs pitching, both a starter and bullpen relief, and they’ve been tied to about every option available. Third base was a need, but Matt Shaw has been hot in the second half of the season and may be alleviating some concern at the hot corner. However, that small sample size doesn’t make fans comfortable after watching him struggle in the first half, hitting 41-207 (.198). Third base should still be addressed, but it shouldn’t be Eugenio Suárez unless the Diamondbacks’ asking price reduces. Of course, his power bat would be nice; however, his asking price as a rental for the rest of the season isn’t worth hurting the Cubs’ future by trading multiple top prospects for him, and he’s not needed to sign a long-term deal, as Shaw is still the long-term plan.
If the future is going to be hampered by trading these prospects, then it needs to be for either elite pitching talent or young, controllable players who won’t set the future back two steps. President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer will face significant pressure over the next few days to make the right decisions that set the team up for success without jeopardizing its future. These players are prime targets for the Cubs’ front office to go after.
1. Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
Clase is 27 years old and is under contract through 2026 for $6.4 million, with club options in 2027 and 2028, each valued at $10 million per season. Clase has taken a slight step back this season, following his 2024 win of the AL Reliever of the Year award and third-place finish in AL Cy Young voting.
Still, he’s still having a successful season with a 2.74 ERA over 46 innings. Control has been an issue, as his walk percentage has increased to 5.1 percent from 3.7 percent last season, but his strikeouts per nine innings have also risen to 9.20 from 7.99. Clase brings postseason success and additional firepower to a bullpen that ranks 10th amongst MLB in ERA (3.80) and third in strikeouts (317).
2. Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins
Ryan may be the top starting pitcher to target if made available. He’s 29 years old and is arbitration-eligible in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. For those same reasons, he may be the priciest option, as he’s having his best season to date over his five-year career.
He’s 10-4 with a 2.63 ERA, and has a 132:33 strikeout:walk ratio over 116 1/3 innings. Batters are only hitting .196 off of the righty, which is his second-career lowest batting average against since his rookie season. When runners get on base, Ryan has been able to settle down, as evidenced by his 82.6% runners left on base percentage. The Twins’ ace would vastly improve a starting rotation that ranks 15th among MLB teams in ERA (4.03) and seventh in strikeouts (455).
3. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins
If the Twins are selling, then Duran is a reliever the Cubs should consider. The 27-year-old is a hard-throwing, right-handed reliever who has a 1.96 ERA with 52 strikeouts (but 23 walks) over 47 1/3 innings. His strikeout percentage is at a career-low 26.5 percent this season, down from 28.9 percent last season and 33.5 percent his rookie season.
However, Baseball Savant ranks him in the 100th percentile for fastball velocity (100.3). He’s started throwing a sweeper this season that has a 55.6 percent whiff rate, and his knuckle curve (42.6) and split finger (27.4) have increased in that respect from last season. He’s thrown 477 off-speed pitches compared to 244 four-seamers, which could contribute to the higher walk rate, and may be something the Cubs would want to hone in on. Regardless, Duran would be an excellent addition to the bullpen in the long term.
4. MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals
Gore is having his best season in his four-year career with a 3.52 ERA and a 144:47 strikeout:walk ratio over 117 2/3 innings. Like Ryan, he’s arbitration-eligible through the 2027 season, but he’s also three years younger (26). Lefties are already the dominant force in the Cubs’ starting rotation, although it won’t hurt to add Gore.
Walks have been an issue lately, as he’s walked more than three in five of his last six games and walked six in his last start, though he was able to work around the base runners, only allowing one earned run over five innings. If the Nationals’ interim front office makes him available, he’s arguably the best player on the market.
5. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Keller isn’t the sexiest option for fans, but he’s highly durable. You can’t say that about the four options that I’ve listed above, all of whom have had trouble staying healthy in their careers. The 29-year-old is making $15.4 million this season, and $16.9 million, $18.4 million, and $20.4 million over the next three seasons, respectively.
Keller has thrown at least 158 innings in the last three seasons and has already thrown 125 this season. He has a 3.53 ERA over those innings with 97 strikeouts. He’s gone six or more innings in a game in 16 of 21 starts this season. His durability is a valuable asset when considering trading away prospects, and thanks to the Pirates’ usual frugality, he’d likely be one of the cheaper players to acquire on this list.
6. Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins
Cabrera has found his groove this season, posting a 3.48 ERA over 88 innings with 92 strikeouts. This is his second-best season since his 3.01 ERA over 71 2/3 innings in 2021. The 27-year-old is arbitration-eligible through the 2028 season, making him a valuable long-term asset. The righty’s walk rate is a little high (8.2 percent) this season, but it’s the lowest Cabrera has allowed in his career. This rate is a substantial drop from the 15.2 percent he threw in 2023, and a sign that the best may still be yet to come.
7. Anthony Bender, Miami Marlins
Bender is the oldest player (30) on this list, but he has been outstanding this season out of the Marlins’ bullpen and is arbitration-eligible through the 2027 season. Through 43 1/3 innings, he’s posted a 1.87 ERA. His strikeout:walk ratio (34:21) isn’t too impressive, but hitters are only batting .163 off of the righty. Bender has also set a career-high 17 holds, which may not sound like an important stat, but unlike the other high-leverage relievers on this list, it makes him an excellent option late in games who won’t butt heads with Daniel Palencia for the closer’s gig.