2 trade rumors Cubs fans hope come true, 1 they don't

There's just over one week until the 2026 MLB trade deadline - and it's all eyes on Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs. The team has weathered a storm of pitching injuries while bouncing between 10-game winning and losing streaks, entering the second half in possession of a playoff spot despite it all.

Hoyer has no choice but to shore up the pitching staff. Failure to do so in a meaningful way risks wasting an MVP-caliber season from Pete Crow-Armstrong, not to mention squandering a potential second consecutive postseason appearance. There will be no shortage of rumors between now and Aug. 3 - here are 2 Cubs fans are begging to come to life and one they're hoping never comes to fruition.

Cubs' big moves have to revolve around their battered pitching staff

Chicago pulls off a trade for a controllable front-of-the-rotation starter

Depending on how the market takes shape, there are varying avenues the Cubs could take to reinforce the rotation. Knowing his bargain-loving tendencies, I hope Hoyer doesn't dial in on the upside angle. That logic drove the Edward Cabrera trade - he was a high-upside, controllable arm the Cubs felt could anchor the rotation. To this point, that hasn't worked out.

Controllable, yes. Give us a long-term rotation answer, not a lottery ticket. For me, that comes down to either Logan Webb or Joe Ryan. Many of the alternatives have upside, sure, but can the Cubs unlock that upside - and do so quickly so whoever joins the mix is a net-positive in 2026? Nothing against the likes of Jose Soriano or Emerson Hancock (both would still represent upgrades) - but I want a big-time arm to hand the ball to in a must-win game come October.

Jed Hoyer delivers a trade that solidifies the late innings

With Daniel Palencia facing an uncertain timeline, the Cubs have to add at least one impactful relief arm before the trade deadline. Failure to do so would be an abject failure on the part of the front office. Going out to reinforce the rotation only to watch the bullpen blow games late just makes no sense.

The New York Mets make a ton of sense as a trade partner. Steve Cohen's team is open for business and has a wide range of bullpen pieces to move, including Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley and AJ Minter, to name a few. Chicago must make up for Hoyer's multiple offseason misses in the bullpen (Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey) - if they don't, they risk the entire 2026 season.

Brewers pull off blockbuster trade for Mason Miller or Tarik Skubal

The 1 trade Cubs fans don't want to see (but may very well end up bearing witness to) is a blockbuster move from the rival Milwaukee Brewers. Their hated division foe was recently linked to the two biggest names on the market in Mason Miller and Tarik Skubal and the Brewers certainly have the prospect capital to pull off either move.

If you're making me pick, let it be Skubal, because we know he's not re-signing a long-term deal in Milwaukee this winter. Having to deal with Miller for years to come sounds awful. But I'm warning you now: it's a very real possibility the Brewers make one of the biggest trades of the summer - and, as Cubs fans, it's going to hurt.

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