Cubs Rumors: Kyle Tucker extension, Joe Ryan not on the block, Red Sox are now buyers

There are a matter of weeks until the July 31 trade deadline - a critical date for the Chicago Cubs, who head into the second half with the slimmest of leads in the division race, just one game over the reigning NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers.

So even as the game hits pause this week with All-Star Week festivities in Atlanta, things could quickly pick up on the rumor front once the second half kicks off this weekend. The closer to the end of the month we get, the higher the potential for big-time trades.

Here's the latest.

Cubs' Kyle Tucker isn't focusing on his impending free agency

According to FanSided's Robert Murray, Cubs All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker is enjoying every moment this week's festivities have to offer - and isn't allowing his looming foray into free agency to become a distraction, either for himself or his teammates.

“We’ll see how that all turns out,” Tucker said. “It’s been really fun. The All-Star break, had a good first half and we’re leading the division right now, although I know it’s pretty close ... Right now, I’m just trying to enjoy the All-Star Game, get through this week, and we’ll see what happens.”

Tucker has somewhat flown under the radar thanks to fellow Chicago outfielder and All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has become a walking highlight reel amidst a breakout MVP-caliber season. But make no mistake: Tucker himself is playing like a legitimate MVP candidate and if Shohei Ohtani should falter, either he or PCA could bring home the hardware this fall.

Twins aren't talking about selling or trading Joe Ryan

The Minnesota Twins wrapped up the first half two games under .500 and four games out of a wild card spot in the American League. Regardless of that fact, Murray reports the club hasn't talked about selling at the deadline - and they have no plans of unloading their most valuable asset, right-handed starter Joe Ryan.

Ryan, who turned 29 in June, has pitched to a 2.72 ERA this year for Minnesota, punching out 121 batters in 109 1/3 innings of work. He won't be a free agent until 2028. Paired with his ace-caliber performance this year, he could fetch a king's ransom at the deadline (and would be a perfect long-term pick-up for a team in need of impact rotation pieces like the Cubs. But, as of now, there are no signs the Twins are shopping the former seventh-rounder.

Red Sox, winners of 10 straight, have flipped their fortunes

Remember when the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants and everyone assumed they were mailing it in on the 2025 season? Not so much. Boston closed out the first half on a heater, running off 10 consecutive victories to pull within three games of first in the AL East and gain control of a wild card spot in the AL.

That's bad news for the Cubs, who made sense, at least on paper, as a trade partner for Boston. A reunion with Aroldis Chapman made sense, and we've heard Lucas Giolito as a name Chicago had circled as a potential rotation target. Instead, it looks like the Red Sox could end up as buyers, as well, further crowding an already full list of teams looking to add.