Cubs Rumors: Mitch Keller's price goes up, Ke'Bryan Hayes suitors, Aroldis Chapman

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals square off in a nationally-televised rubber match on Sunday night, with Craig Counsell's club looking for its 30th win of the year at Wrigley Field behind All-Star hopeful Matthew Boyd.

From there, the Cubs close out the first half with a six-game road trip, featuring three games in Minnesota and a three-game set in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. They'll open second-half action at home against the Boston Red Sox on July 18 at 1:20.

What the Cubs' roster may look like by that point is anybody's guess, with reports indicating Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins are already hard at work looking for starting rotation additions, potential bullpen upgrades and improvements to the bench mix and third base. Chicago is casting a wide net, and executives around the league expect the club to be very aggressive in the weeks to come.

Cubs Rumors: MLB trade deadline is just over three weeks away

Cubs Rumors: Mitch Keller's price tag is quickly climbing

One of the top names the Cubs have been connected to already is Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller. The Cedar Rapids, IA native is in year two of the five-year, $77 extension he signed with the Bucs - a deal that runs through the 2029 campaign that only adds to his value as a trade chip.

According to Bob Nightengale, the Pirates' asking price on Keller is on the rise. He's carrying a 2.40 ERA over his last five starts, seemingly hitting his stride at the perfect point in the season. Nightengale cautioned, though, that he's hearing some speculation over whether Pittsburgh will sell, given they've played roughly .500 ball since firing manager Derek Shelton.

Keller carries a 3.24 FIP 1.194 WHIP in 18 starts this season. An unsightly 3-10 win-loss record is a testament to just how little support he's gotten from the Pirates offense in 2025.

Cubs Rumors: Ke'Bryan Hayes drawing interest from Cubs, Yankees, Tigers

Look, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't love Ke'Bryan Hayes as a trade target for the Cubs. I'd much prefer Eugenio Suarez and, if Chicago misses out on him, going with the bench upgrade plan of attack instead of committing to Hayes, who hasn't been a productive offensive player in several years and is under team control through 2029 with a team option for 2030.

According to Nightengale, the Yankees and Tigers both have interest in Hayes. For New York, they really only have one direction to go, and it's up. The combination of Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza leaves much to be desired - and Hayes' defensive floor and potential offer at least hope for improvement.

Hayes entered Sunday slashing just .244/.293/.300 - good for a 66 OPS+ in 325 plate appearances.

Aroldis Chapman continues to dominate, despite being in his late 30s

One name to keep an eye on as far as potential Cubs' bullpen additions is left-hander Aroldis Chapman. Acquired at the deadline during the team's World Series run nearly a decade ago, Chapman is enjoying yet another dominant season, this time in Boston as the Red Sox' stopper.

In 38 appearances, the 37-year-old regularly sits north of 100 MPH on his fastball and carries a 1.29 ERA on the year. He's punching out more than 13 batters per nine and seems to have finally figured out the control issue that had been a major thorn in his side for much of his 30s.

On a one-year, $10.75 million deal, he'll draw far-reaching interest at the deadline - and it would surprise very few if the Cubs are among the interested suitors.