Desperate for rotation help, the Cubs are poised to trade nearly any prospect—except one untouchable rising star—to land a premier ace before the looming August deadline.
We are just one week away from the 2026 trade deadline.
From now until the August 3rd deadline, rumors and reports will heat up. That has already started to take place. Jim Bowden reported Joe Ryan will not be traded, and Ken Rosetnal reported that teams haven’t been able to meet the Rockies' asking price for Hunter Goodman due to his below-average defense behind the plate.
It’s definitely going to be an interesting next week in baseball, especially for the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are expected to be massive buyers at this year’s trade deadline. They desperately need some starting pitching help because the team can’t keep relying on Jameson Taillon, David Peterson, and Colin Rea to get them through the season.
Taillon has given up 11 earned runs in 8 ⅓ innings since returning from the injured list. Peterson has allowed just one run over his last 11 ⅔ innings, but he also gave up 10 earned runs against the Cardinals earlier this month. Rea hasn’t been as consistent on the mound, with a 4.86 ERA across 105 ⅔ innings pitched.
Those three pitchers will force the Cubs to be aggressive to land a top-of-the-line starting pitcher at the deadline. Some of the names the front office could go after include Freddy Peralta, Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Tarik Skubal, and Casey Mize, among others.
But one of the biggest questions surrounding the North Siders is who they are willing to part ways with to get that premier starting pitcher.
Well, ESPN insider Jeff Passan gave some insight on who the Cubs could get rid of to acquire that big-time starter. While answering questions on Threads, Passan acknowledged that only one prospect in Chicago's farm system is “off-limits” at this year’s trade deadline.
“They’re willing to deal off their major league and minor league rosters,” Passan wrote in response to a fan’s question. “While I think Josiah Hartshorn is off-limits, a majority of their prospects will be available, whether that’s Wiggins, Ramirez, Rojas, Kepley, Ayers, etc. The Cubs are going to get at least one starting arm…”
As we sit here one week before the trade deadline, it appears that Hartshorn is the only Cubs prospect who is untouchable. He has been the biggest riser in the organization in his first professional season, and all signs point to him staying through the deadline.
Hartshorn is having an incredible season down in the minors. He’s slashing .279/.398/.502 with 16 home runs, 17 doubles, 76 RBI, and nine stolen bases across 88 combined games at Single-A and High-A. Since being promoted to High-A in late May, the switch-hitting outfielder has a .283 batting average with 11 home runs, eight doubles, and 51 RBI with the South Bend Cubs.
Outside of Hartshorn, the Cubs could get creative in trying to land a top starting pitcher. Prospects like Jefferson Rojas, Owen Ayers, and Jaxon Wiggins could all be moved, and even Major League players like Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez could be traded if it means landing a controllable starting pitcher.
