3 Cubs trade targets that would be great if they weren’t on teams that hated them

The back half of July and the opening days of August may very well dictate the fate of the 2026 Chicago Cubs. The team somehow overcame injury after injury on the pitching side of things to finish the first half 12 games over .500 and in control of the top wild-card spot in the National League, but there's a lot of schedule left - and if there's one thing this team has taught us, it's that nothing can be taken for granted in this game.

Chicago has won 10 games in a row (twice), lost 10 in a row and has seen expected stars underperform and random pick-ups play key roles, especially in the bullpen. Jed Hoyer can't play it safe at the deadline the way he did last year (just ask Bruce Levine) and needs to make some high-impact moves.

It seems safe to say, though, that his crowning masterpiece of the trade deadline won't come with the help of a hated rival like the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds or Chicago White Sox - which is unfortunate, because there are some key arms that could really help this team.

3 rival pitchers the Cubs would love to have - but won't be able to get

Andrew Abbott

I'll be honest, Andrew Abbott wasn't initially on my radar. Sure, it's another disappointing season in Cincinnati (what's new?) - but the former All-Star southpaw isn't even arbitration eligible until next season, so I don't immediately think of him as a trade chip.

But according to MLB insider Jon Morosi, Abbott could be the perfect guy for the NL Central bottom-feeders to shop in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

Abbott could make sense for a team like the Cubs - one that both needs help in the short-term and is facing major pitching staff turnover at season's end. Abbott was an All-Star just last season and, while he hasn't been as effective this year, is still just 27 years old and should have plenty of good years ahead of him.

Trevor Megill

File this one away under: deals that will never, ever, ever happen. The Cubs have narrowed the gap to five games, but the Brewers have had the division on lockdown for years now and aren't about to help their biggest rival flip the script.

Sure, there's familiarity between Trevor Megill and Craig Counsell from their days together in Milwaukee. There's even familiarity between the towering right-hander and the Cubs - remember, he made his big-league debut with Chicago back in 2021. But he's a critical piece to the Brewers' bullpen puzzle, carrying a 1.46 FIP into the All-Star break.

Yes, the Cubs desperately need to solidify their late-inning mix in the bullpen. But there's no universe where a reunion with Megill comes to fruition.

Sean Newcomb

Of the three players mentioned here, maybe this one has a 3 percent chance of happening. That number could be higher, but the White Sox are one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 season, heading into the second half tied for first place in the American League Central.

Sean Newcomb, a 10-year MLB veteran who has pitched for five different teams - including the Cubs in 2022 - is on the South Side via a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Even with the Sox in contention, they could look to move some expiring contracts to further bolster their long-term outlook.

Newcomb is building nicely upon his strong 2025 split between the Red Sox and Athletics, carrying a 2.52 ERA and 2.69 FIP across 53 2/3 innings of work this season. He limits hard contact, misses barrels and keeps the ball on the ground - all things that would make him a perfect addition to a Cubs team that will be desperately searching for arms leading up to the deadline next month.

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