Are Chicago Cubs Now Buyers at Trade Deadline?

The Chicago Cubs are in a bit of a limbo right now. A strange spot if you will. Heading into the London Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs sit two games under .500.

Perhaps more importantly, they only sit 3.5 games back in the very weak National League Central division and have won eight of their last 10 and are on a three-game win streak.

Those are important factors to a team when looking at whether to sell off stars at the MLB trade deadline or to add them.

Let's be clear: the Cubs front office and ownership group want to win.

They invested plenty of capital into the free agent market this winter and many signings have paid off. This isn't about a fear of spending more money or investing prospect capital to improve the team.

But remember, Chicago is in limbo.

2023 wasn't supposed to be the year they competed for the division. But a hot April raised expectations.

Then a plummet in production brought everyone back to their senses and screams of "sell, sell, sell!" began to ring.

Now, the Cubs are on a winning streak, so will they no longer sell?

A hybrid approach may be most likely.

Chicago may trade away the players they know will not be here next season, have little hope of extending and were signed to be trade chips anyways.

The biggest name that comes to mind is Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger is having a rebound season, is on a one-year deal and there has been zero talk of extension. He is the perfect trade candidate to move in order to bolster their farm system.

One player who does not fit the above bill is Marcus Stroman.

Yes, Stroman will opt-out if not extended, but it appears both sides want to make it work. Keeping Stroman through the deadline allows for more time for those negotiations to come together. Plus, he has publicly stated he doesn't want to be traded or leave Chicago.

But moving Kyle Hendricks could be an alternative. For the majority of the season the Cubs went through life without him. Now, he's back, throwing effectively and the idea of keeping him around next season with the option is not as enticing as it was a few years ago.

With the starting market thin and Hendricks having a $16 million club option for next season, his value may never be higher than it is right now.

In return for players like Bellinger and Hendricks, Chicago should be looking for upper minor league talent that is close to Major League-ready. Perhaps relief arms to help bolster the weakest spot on the roster - the bullpen.

Then, the Cubs could dip into their resource of prospects and pursue a longer term option on the offense or look to give younger players more of a chance to see how they will perform before making a splash in the winter and going for it in 2024.

Neither of those options preclude Chicago from trying to make a push this season, the odds will be ling but they always were.

For now, the Cubs are neither "buyers" or "sellers" but they sure could do a little bit of both.

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