4 Cubs prospects who should be traded at 2026 deadline, 2 who should be off limits

Less than a week remains until the 2026 trade deadline, and likely one of the final talking points for the Chicago Cubs is how aggressive should they be. The Cubs certainly are positioned to make the playoffs, but they don't exactly have the impression of a team that can get past the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.

That reality invites a balance for the type of moves Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins will look to make In other words, maybe there's not that 2016 type move that the front office is willing to make. In other words, it's hard to envision a scenario where the Cubs are going to move one of their top prospects for a rental.

4 Cubs prospects who should be traded at 2026 deadline

That said, this is also a Cubs team that is in the middle of a contention window. There should be some level of urgency at the deadline, especially if the Cubs are able to add a piece or two that can help them beyond this season.

Jaxon Wiggins

If this was just last summer, Wiggins certainly would have been lumped into the other group. A year later, it's hard to ignore the circumstances of the 2026 MLB draft. The Cubs used 16 of their 21 selections on pitchers, and most prospect evaluators already consider Cade Townsend to be a better pitching prospect than Wiggins.

The Cubs probably aren't itching to include Wiggins in a trade, but for the right controllable arm, they likely won't have a strong objection.

Kane Kepley

The 2025 second-round pick posted a 180 wRC+ at Low-A last year through 131 plate appearances, and he hasn't slowed down at High-A this season. Kepley projects as a center fielder in the majors, and that's the biggest reason why the Cubs shouldn't be opposed to moving him at the deadline.

Similar to Wiggins, Kepley likely won't be available in talks for a rental, but almost certainly could be available in a larger scale deal.

Pedro Ramirez

There's certainly a path where Pedro Ramirez sticks around with the Cubs. He's a switch hitter, offers positional versatility, and could slot into one of the open outfield spots next season. The problem is that outside of being a switch hitter, Matt Shaw also checks those boxes. Between the two, Ramirez is likely more available in trade talks.

Owen Ayers

Ayers, like Wiggins last year, is probably pretty close to being off limits. That said, if the Angels are eyeing him as a headliner for one of Jose Soriano or Reid Detmers, it's hard to imagine the Cubs scoffing at the idea. That's just about the only scenario where Ayers is moved at the deadline.

2 Cubs prospects who should be off limits

If you ask the Cubs, they probably will tell you that no on is untouchable. But, there are certainly two prospects who come close to that status.

Josiah Hartshorn

Hartshorn is at the top of the list, and of anyone in the Cubs' system, the 2025 draft pick is probably the closest to being considered a blue-chip talent. He entered the weekend with 16 home runs across Low-A and High-A this season, to go along with an OPS of .901. A switch hitter who is just 19 years old, the Cubs would be wise to hold onto Hartshorn.

Jefferson Rojas

Lost in how Hartshorn has looked this season is that Jefferson Rojas seems to be conquering the Double-A level. He enetered the weekend with an OPS of .806 and 14 home runs. A 21-year-old shortstop Rojas has a very high ceiling.

Given the contractual nature of the Cubs' starting infield, there could be a time when Rojas is an appealing trade chip but now shouldn't be that time.

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