3 familiar Cubs trade partners that could be in play again, 2 who aren’t worth the effort

The Chicago Cubs look like a playoff team and are expected to be among the most active teams leading up to next week's MLB trade deadline. I don't need to tell you what Jed Hoyer is looking for: pitching, pitching and more pitching. More specifically, he needs high-impact arms, as opposed to the revolving door of fringe arms that have somehow helped keep the team afloat to this point.

Where, exactly, he'll find those arms remains to be seen. But looking back at some recent trade partners who could be a match again in the coming days, there are three teams worth sitting down with and re-treading common ground, and two the Cubs should steer clear of.

Cubs are a clear trade match for this trio of National League clubs

New York Mets

The biggest disappointment of the season? Well, that honor falls to the New York Mets who, despite running out a payroll north of $360 million, are once again the laughingstock of the Senior Circuit.

Only a handful of names are safe, and many of those rumored to be available make sense for the Cubs. Reuniting Craig Counsell with Freddy Peralta, who has struggled mightily in Queens, could be a high-risk, high-reward type of move that shouldn't cost too much given he's a rental who hasn't looked anything like the ace he was in Milwaukee.

In the bullpen, names like Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Devin Williams and AJ Minter could be answers to Chicago's late-inning woes. All this to say, expect the Mets and Cubs to talk a lot this week and, hopefully, if they come together on something, it goes as well as the Pete Crow-Armstrong trade did five years ago.

San Diego Padres

If you're even loosely dialed in to the latest MLB trade rumors, you hear 'San Diego Padres' and immediately think 'Mason Miller'. Miller, the game's best high-leverage reliever would be a transformative add for Jed Hoyer and the Cubs, but I don't see him meeting AJ Preller's rightfully sky-high asking price.

That being said, Michael King - a name that's been connected to the Cubs before - could be a great rotation addition and is reportedly being shopped. I'd keep an eye on this name in the coming days as the Padres look to chart a path forward after a disappointing showing so far in 2026.

Miami Marlins

I can't say the early returns on the Edward Cabrera trade have me chomping at the bit to see Hoyer hook up with Miami on another deal ahead of the deadline, but the match is there on paper. Miami's recent free-fall pulled them back into the sellers conversation and the Cubs could again come calling on an arm.

A franchise-record losing streak once again has former NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara popping up in trade rumors. He may not yet have returned to his elite form from a few years back, but the big right-hander is still a workhorse - and can be controlled through 2027 via a team option.

2 familiar trade partners who just aren't worth the Cubs' time

Houston Astros

The Cubs and Astros have come together on trades repeatedly in recent years - and Chicago has demonstrated an affinity for former Houston pitchers on multiple occasions, to varying degrees of success. It stands to reason, then, that Hoyer could call Dana Brown this week. But that probably won't happen - for multiple reasons.

For starters, Brown is looking to buy aggressively (and his job may depend on his doing so) and, while they're seeking outfield help and relievers, there's not a lot they're willing to come off at the big-league level. Houston believes it can make a second-half push, so (thankfully) we might not see yet another Cubs-Astros deal.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The most obvious example of the Cubs and Dodgers coming together on a deal is the Michael Busch trade that sent Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope to Los Angeles. It's been about as close to a win-win as trades can be these days, but that hasn't stopped fans on both sides from re-hashing the move.

The latest reports have the Dodgers showing uncharacteristic restraint at the deadline, as opposed to their common flashiness and headline-stealing moves of years past. If that holds true, a more conservative Andrew Friedman could help the Cubs land the needed arms to bolster the staff in the closing months of the season.

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