3 Cubs who aren't as safe as they think with the 2025 trade deadline approaching

The annual excitement of the trade deadline has only been multiplied this year for Cubs fans, as the team enters the most transaction-heavy period of the MLB calendar as blockbuster-hunting buyers.

Of course, the flip side to adding players for the stretch run is that you also need to get rid of players. There's only 26 spots on the active big league roster, and the 40-man roster can only include so many players not contributing to the immediate cause.

As such, the team is going to have to part with at least a few names Cubs fans have gotten to know well in recent months and years, assuming they fulfill their grand deadline promises.

Note that we'll only be discussing major league players here, since pretty much every prospect in the organization is fair game right now.

3 Cubs who could surprisingly be traded or let go by the trade deadline

C Reese McGuire

Reese McGuire has been a revelation for the Cubs this season, deftly filling in for Miguel Amaya following the young backstop's oblique injury at the end of May. He's been so valuable to the team that some have wondered, however impractical, if the team can retain all three catchers, even with the rest of the bench badly needing a shake-up.

However, McGuire has some trade value, with fellow contenders like the Padres reportedly sniffing around as they try to fix their porous catching situation. With Amaya set to return at some point in August, the Cubs could look to trade the veteran and get something in return with the hopes that they can manage the backup catcher spot (perhaps with Moises Ballesteros) until Amaya returns.

Plus, for all the love McGuire has gotten this year, his production has precipitously declined in recent weeks. After posting a 169 wRC+ in May and 112 wRC+ in June, he's all the way down at a -18 mark in July. Perhaps it's for the best if the Cubs jump off the ship before it completely sinks.

RHP Ben Brown

Ben Brown is having a difficult season, and his future with the Cubs is murkier than its ever been.

After another brutal outing against the Royals — where Kansas City dinked and dunked their way to a victory — Brown's ERA for the season stands at 6.48. He's still striking out 25.1% of hitters and maintains a tantalizing fastball-curveball combination, suggesting plenty of untapped potential, but the 25-year-old is getting dangerously close to "change of scenery candidate" territory.

Would it be wise to trade a former top prospect near the nadir of his value, especially when he may be able to immediately contribute to the bullpen? No, but if another team is demanding a major league-ready arm with upside in trade negotiations, Brown may be the best fit for that description (non-Cade Horton division) on the Cubs roster.

3B Matt Shaw

In reality, if Shaw isn't going to be with the Chicago Cubs after the trade deadline, he's probably going to be with the Iowa Cubs.

A preseason NL Rookie of the Year favorite, Shaw hasn't fared too well in his first few tastes of big league action this season. However, despite porous results, he's shown glimpses of of his immense upside during brief stretches this season.

Since the start of the second half, Shaw is riding a six-game hitting streak, which incudes three home runs and three multi-hit efforts. With solid baserunning and defensive value to boot, he may be starting to emerge as the Cubs' third baseman of the future.

That's the sticking point, though. The Cubs don't need a third baseman of the future — they need someone who can man the hot corner for a World Series contender in the present. They are a frequent sailor in the Eugenio Suarez waters, and perhaps Alex Bregman could become re-re-available if the Red Sox keep struggling over the next few days.

If they can line up a deal for a surefire starter at third, perhaps they can get another team to bite on Shaw's top prospect pedigree in a separate blockbuster.