Cubs could capitalize on Dodgers' and White Sox's sudden trade deadline needs

Earlier in July, I put together a piece focused on the creativity Jed Hoyer will need to demonstrate if the Chicago Cubs are going to check off their entire wish list ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. The idea? Shop backup catcher Miguel Amaya and see if you can address one of your numerous pitching needs in the process.

Now, with less than two weeks until the deadline, that idea may no longer seem as far-fetched as it may have felt to some fans when they initially read that column. A number of playoff contenders, chief among them the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, have glaring needs behind the plate and the Cubs could offer a solution.

The Dodgers seem poised to be without catcher Will Smith for the forseeable future. He's already missed more than a month with a neck injury and was recently shut down from all baseball activities. The three-time All-Star is in the early years of the 10-year extension he signed with Los Angeles, so the hope for everyone involved is that he can clear this hurdle and get back to being a key cog in the Dodgers' machine.

But, at least for the time being, he's not part of the team's short-term plans. They have controversial backstop Dalton Rushing, sure, but it's clear they could improve their big-league depth at the position - and Amaya could be a perfect option. In a deal, the Cubs would no doubt target a controllable arm - one that, hopefully, could plug a hole on the staff not only in 2026 but for years to come.

Latest Kyle Teel injury has White Sox desperate to add a catcher

The White Sox, who've emerged alongside the Marlins as the surprises of the 2026 season, also have a clear need behind the plate after Kyle Teel left Monday's game with a left ankle injury - as another lower-body issue sidelines the young catcher. You may recall he's already worked his way back from a hamstring strain and LCL injury this year and has been limited to just 19 games.

Adding a quality catcher is a nicety for Los Angeles - but it's a downright 'must' for the Sox, who only have two catchers on the 40-man: Drew Romo, who stepped in when Teel went down, and Edgar Quero, who was added to the big-league roster when Teel was placed on the IL.

I know the White Sox view themselves as buyers and, in a laughably weak American League field, they should. But they might have to come off an arm or some prospects if they want to address this need because Teel's health is a major concern at this point - and their lack of internal options offer little in the way of hope.

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