MLB Insiders Reveal Cubs' Trade Deadline Plans, Options
The Chicago Cubs have started 2025 very strong to the tune of a 55-38 record, good for first place in the National League Central and the second-best record in the NL. That means the Cubs will likely be one of the most active teams at the MLB trade deadline, looking to make the moves necessary to prepare for a World Series run.
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Chicago's main need is starting pitching, but there are other spots throughout the roster that the Cubs could also look to improve.
The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma recently compiled a list of the Cubs' options and potential plans for the deadline.
Mooney and Sharma started by noting that the Cubs, financially, are in a good place. In addition, the president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, is in the final year of his contract and has made it clear he's ready to put all the chips on the table.
"The Cubs' financial books are generally clean after 2026. Club officials view this season and next year as clear opportunities to make deep postseason runs," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "With that in mind, rental players won't be their lone focus."
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The two teams in the National League that have a lot to offer are the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins. Pitchers Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney, David Bednar, Sandy Alcantara, and Edward Cabrera all look to be available at the deadline. However, many of those names will come at a high price.
With many teams in the hunt for the wild card and still 14 days from when teams get back from the All-Star break and the trade deadline hits on July 31, the Cubs will have to monitor which teams become sellers.
"The Cubs will be paying attention to how certain bubble teams perform coming out of the All-Star break," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "Knowing that Merrill Kelly and Seth Lugo would be intriguing fits if the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals, respectively, elect to reload for the future."
Looking at the American League, the Cubs could be monitoring a couple of pitchers recovering from injuries in Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck and Texas Rangers' starter Jon Gray.
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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) talks with reporters before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. David Banks-Imagn ImagesDavid Banks-Imagn Images
"The Texas Rangers, yet another team in baseball's vast middle, might be more inclined to move Gray, who has not yet thrown a major-league pitch this year due to a fractured right forearm. While Gray will become a free agent this offseason, the Boston Red Sox can keep Houck under club control through 2027," Mooney and Sharma wrote.
"Assuming he's fully recovered from a right flexor pronator strain, Houck would be one of many pitchers the Cubs see as open to both short- and long-term adjustments, leveraging what they believe is a strong pitching infrastructure."
They also mentioned Washington Nationals pitchers Michael Soroka and Mackenzie Gore as potential targets. Many teams would highly tout Gore if he became available, but Soroka could be a cheaper target for the Cubs that might benefit from a change of scenery and pitching with the Cubs' elite defense behind him.
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Lastly, the Cubs could target an added bat with versatility for their bench. Throughout the season, they've tried guys like Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan, Nicky Lopez, and Justin Turner, but none have provided much production besides Turner's veteran clubhouse presence.
"If the Red Sox and Twins decide to sell — again, if is the key word there," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "A pair of relevant names would be Rob Refsnyder and Willi Castro."
As we approach the All-Star break, there is still plenty of time before the trade deadline at the end of July. The Cubs will likely be active, and it will be interesting to see what kind of balance Hoyer uses in terms of star acquisitions and under-the-radar players.
Related: Cubs Predicted to Land Award Winner to Solve Infield Issues
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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