4 Cubs who will be off the 40-man roster by the 2026 trade deadline

A little over a week remains until the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and the Chicago Cubs should be active. The Cubs have needs in the bullpen and starting rotation, with the latest impression being they are seeking controllable arms beyond just this season.

Recent rumors have connected the Cubs to Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels, and his teammate, Jose Soriano also is an obvious target.

Here are four Cubs who might be off the 40-man roster after the 2026 MLB trade deadline

A starting pitcher under control beyond this season is going to inherently be more valuable than any rental starting pitcher moved at this year's deadline. Tarik Skubal is the obvious exception to the rule, but assuming he remains with the Detroit Tigers or the Cubs aren't involved, if the Cubs move pieces off their 40-man roster, there's a good chance it will be due to them getting back a starting pitcher under control after this season.

Of course, even in the aftermath of the trade deadline, there's going to be shuffling across the 40-man roster.

Tyler Ferguson

The Cubs bullpen has been revolving door since the start of the season. While the Cubs will almost certainly be shopping for a controllable starting pitcher, the assumption is there's a rental or two added to the bullpen. While the Cubs have found diamonds in the rough with Trent Thornton and Ryan Rolison, Ferguson has been the opposite.

The 32-year-old has an ERA of 7.11 through his first 13 appearances out of the bullpen. He's striking out nearly 30% of the hitters he's faced this season, so that's the silver lining, but if the Cubs find more established options at the deadline, Ferguson will be the odd man out.

Jordan Wicks

Given that the Cubs are in search of pitching at the deadline, teams they are dealing with almost certainly will want pitching in return. Specifically, if a seller is looking for a starting pitcher with Major League experience as one of the final pieces of an offer, Wicks is certainly one to check that box.

To be clear, Wicks is not someone capable of headlining an offer from the Cubs. He very much would be filler, but he's a pre-arbitration former first-round pick with two options remaining. Even with his struggles, there's value in that.

Pedro Ramirez

Since spring training, it's been clear that the Cubs are fans of Pedro Ramirez. Through 77 plate appearances, Ramirez's wRC+ is up to 111, and he's proven to be a solid addition on the bench.

There's just a few things working against him. The first being that Matt Shaw is on the roster. If the Cubs get bad news on Shaw's recovery from a wrist sprain, perhaps that's the path to Ramirez sticking around. Beyond Shaw, there's the fact that the Cubs' starting infield is under contract through 2029. But in their search for controllable starters, Ramirez is a valuable trade chip, and the Cubs might not be able to avoid putting him in a deal.

Kevin Alcantara

There's not much to say here. The Cubs have made it very clear that they aren't as high on Kevin Alcantara as they once were, and the best move for all partiers would be a trade at the deadline. Alcantara's prospect shine has worn off, so he might not be able to headline a trade, but he should still prove capable of being a means to how the Cubs find an upgrade in their pitching staff.

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