Cubs Rumors: The latest on Juan Soto, Ian Happ and Willson Contreras

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We’re coming down to the wire – just five days until this year’s Aug. 2 MLB Trade Deadline. Though it has been somewhat quiet in terms of transactions so far, the rumors are still aplenty throughout the league. After the gut-punching realization that both Willson Contreras and Ian Happ will more than likely be moved within a week, Cubs fans gave Contreras an overwhelming emotional standing ovation during what could have been his final game at Wrigley Field.

After an embrace between Happ and Contreras in the dugout at the end of the game, the inevitable seemed ever so apparent as both players seemed to accept the end is near in terms of their time on the North Side.

So what’s holding up the trade market? The Washington Nationals’ potential trade of generational talent Juan Soto, who is just 23 years old and recently turned down a long-term extension worth more than $400 million.

Currently, it seems the St. Louis Cardinals have emerged as the front runners in the packed field of Soto suitors. For Cubs fans, this trade would be the haymaker of blows after watching their rival give up light returns when acquiring Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado in recent years.

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Cubs: Mets, Padres, Braves all teams to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline

We’ve also heard rumblings that the San Diego Padres were among the front runners for Soto, as well. That’s particularly relevant for Cubs fans because we know the back-and-forth talks Chicago has had with the Friars for more than a year – and San Diego looks like a potential landing spot for Willson Contreras and/or Ian Happ, as well.

Here’s what’s important to keep in mind here: should Soto not fall to the Padres or Mets, (Mets more than likely were never an option as the Nationals seem to be unwilling to deal within the division) then the bidding war for Contreras and Happ could take off between those two clubs which will lead to both sides to upping their ante and ultimately yielding a better return for the Cubs in the process.

With Andrew Benintendi going to the Yankees, the New York is presumably out on Soto and Happ. No matter where Soto lands, once that move happens, you can bet other dominos will start falling in short order.

As Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation reported yesterday, now even the Braves are in on a potential Ian Happ/David Robertson combination. We’ve talked a ton about what the team might get back for Contreras, but Happ, who comes with another year of control, paired with a Robertson or Mychal Givens could have an equally impressive return.

Assuming Contreras, Happ, Robertson and Givens are all gone in coming days, what is the best path to wander down to find the best return if you’re Carter Hawkins and Jed Hoyer?

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Chicago Cubs: What’s the best route to take at the trade deadline?

After last year’s flurry of moves that netted a high number of younger prospects, many of whom now rank among the organization’s best, I believe it’s time to go quality over quantity.

A combination package of Contreras/Happ will surely net you more in a return then say a Contreras/Robertson and Happ/Givens combo. In fact, I’d be apt to go all-in on one move and do all three of Contreras, Happ and Robertson in a package for some really top-tier talent. I’m hoping the Padres miss out on Soto, because I wonder about the Eric Hosmer contract shedding and how much more the Cubs can net if they trade several of these guys plus take Hosmer’s contract completely off the hands of San Diego.

As also stated by Bleacher Nation, the prospect return from the Padres for pairing both Cubs’ All-stars could be enormous. Especially if you factor in the aforementioned Hosmer contract into the equation. Adding in Robertson to the mix, could the Cubs add a package headlined by a pair of top 100 prospects such as Luis Campusano and James Wood? On the flip side, do the Mets counter with a significant offer?

New York and Chicago have also reportedly discussed potential trade packages for Contreras and Robertson, with a potential return being (hopefully) being that of Alex Ramirez or potentially Mark Vientos. Vientos is currently not on the top 100 list, though he was on The Athletic‘s list back in February. Can the Cubs net both if they package all three studs together to the Mets, who are clearly in go mode?

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Either way, the answer is simple. Get as many top-tier prospects as possible. It seems like that may be the plan with most of the rumors we’re hearing centering around packages rather than one-off, player-by-player deals like we saw last year. The front office did great at the deadline last year; now it’s time to get some upper-level pieces that can elevate this Cubs team to new heights sooner rather than later.

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Cubs: Mets, Padres, Braves all teams to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline

Chicago Cubs: What’s the best route to take at the trade deadline?

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