Cubs: Buster Olney talks Kris Bryant, trade rumors and contract extensions

Cubs have to get it going or the front office could tear it all down

We know the Cubs have to play better than they have in the first two weeks, during which the team has limped to a 6-8 record – pretty remarkable given how badly the offense has struggled during that stretch.

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Olney confirmed as much, but also pointed out that if that doesn’t happen and Chicago is a seller this summer, it won’t be the end of July when we start hearing trade rumors and speculation around key players.

"I think everybody’s on the table. At that point, and I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later, if you decide you’re trading the core guys, you might as well trade everyone who has value this year."

Of course, with more than half of the roster in its final year of control, there could be a lot of moving pieces come the July 30 trade deadlines – namely the aforementioned trio of cornerstones in Bryant, Rizzo and Baez. A trade involving any of those three would send an unmistakable message: the Cubs are, once again, rebuilding for the future.

"If the Cubs don’t turn it around in the next two months, by mid-June I think we could start to hear rumblings of them telling other teams that the ‘for sale’ sign is up on their players – and it would be sweeping."

Sweeping change isn’t something we’ve dealt with at the Friendly Confines for some time. But it sounds like it could be coming for the North Siders in a matter of months, especially if the team fails to pick up any real momentum between now and June.