There was a time when June, particularly the second half of June, was the start of trade rumor season. But ever since MLB moved the Draft back from early June to mid-July, you just don’t see much in the way of rumors spinning up until much later. Which is no fun.
So I’ll gladly take it when ESPN’s Jeff Passan wants to kick off June with a very early Trade Deadline Preview. Tons to read in there, and it’s worth checking out.
There, after discussing the four terrible teams that are certain to try to sell this year (albeit with very little to sell – the A’s, Royals, Nationals, and Rockies don’t have a whole lot of great rentals), Passan gets into the Cubs.
Passan doesn’t QUITE lump the Cubs in with the obvious sellers, but the possibility is quite apparent:
The Chicago Cubs are in last place, and maybe they belong among the previous group, but they also have a better run differential than the first-, second- and third-place teams, so counting them out might be premature. That said: The Cubs are also operating on a timeline geared toward the future, so if Marcus Stroman is going to opt out of the final season of his three-year contract — and considering he leads the National League in innings pitched and is holding hitters to a .188/.261/.277 line, he unequivocally should, even in a pitching-rich free agent class like this one — then the Cubs absolutely should deal him. Same with Cody Bellinger, who’s on a one-year deal and is the best center fielder available. Drew Smyly could move, particularly to a team that wants the cost certainty of a left-hander still under contract for ’24. Keep an eye on Kyle Hendricks, also in the final year of his deal.
That’s all just reality stuff right there.
Nobody wants the Cubs to be selling again this season. The fans do not want to see it. The front office does not want to do it. And I certainly don’t want to cover it.
But if the Cubs are not looking MUCH more competitive by the end of this month, then the rumor season – when it kicks in – is going to be all about those names up there, and maybe some relievers who’ve turned things around. The value of these guys in trade will depend a lot of what happens between now and the end of July, but in the aggregate, I would say the Cubs may have a decent group from which to be selling. IF IT COMES TO THAT. WHICH I HOPE IT DOES NOT.
I would also point out that, based on Passan’s early assessment, there may not be a ton of sellers this year, which would also help the Cubs’ market. BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE SO I DON’T EVEN LIKE THINKING ABOUT IT AT THE MOMENT.