Jed Hoyer is open to early Cubs trades regardless of the Rafael Devers blockbuster

In the aftermath of the Rafael Devers blockbuster, the question has been whether this was a special case of the right teams coming together at the right time, or if it's the opening salvo kicking off trade season. More specifically, could other teams in the National League look to respond after the San Francisco Giants add a star bat? The Chicago Cubs are expected to be buyers this year, and if the hot stove is going to heat up early, they need to be involved.

One person who doesn't see the trade spurring a flurry of early action is Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer. Appearing on the "Spiegel & Homes Show" on 670 the Score on Tuesday, he addressed the Devers deal and the status of the market, asserting that he highly doubts anything will change from prior seasons. That might be true, as it looks more like the Giants took advantage of a contentious situation in Boston to land a key long-term player. However, the North Siders still need to be ready if an opportunity to strike well before the deadline presents itself.

While he's not too concerned about the market jumpstarting, Hoyer is well aware of how valuable it can be to get a trade done in June. The Cubs, in particular, could benefit from an early move for a starting pitcher by providing more flexibility, upside, and depth in a rotation that's still missing its top two arms. When asked if he feels compelled to act before the deadline by the team's success, coupled with its obvious need, he mentioned how the front office is on the lookout for those opportunities before adding how "every turn through the rotation or every outing you get extra out of a player adds value. So, it makes a lot of sense. When we were on the sell side, we were very aware of that."

Jumping in early to get a little extra is something the Cubs have done well as sellers, as Hoyer mentioned. However, they've occasionally done the same on the buy side. Back in 2017, Hoyer and Theo Epstein sent Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease off on July 13 to acquire Jose Quintana to help down the stretch run and beyond. This year, he's not strictly going to wait until the trade deadline or even until after the draft to make a move. “I think as a buyer, certainly, it makes sense," he continued. "If the prices aren’t prohibitive, it makes sense to make an earlier deal rather than a later deal.”

One team stands out as a potential early Cubs trade partner

If the Cubs do pull something off either in late June or early July, Miami could be their go-to partner. The two teams already had a dialogue open during the offseason when they came close to a trade for Jesus Luzardo. Given that the Fish are already clear sellers and would have some knowledge of what they want from the Cubs' farm system, it could make getting a deal done all the easier.

Sandy Alcantara is the big name everyone's been circling for a while. Despite the early-season struggles in his return from Tommy John, the Marlins ace has looked much better in his most recent starts, with only four runs given up across 17 innings. He has potentially the highest upside of any player the Cubs could trade for, but Ryan Weathers (3.28 ERA, 4.41 FIP) and Edward Cabrera (4.10 ERA, 4.02 FIP) have also been mentioned as prospective targets.

It may make more sense to snag someone from Miami early as a sure thing rather than waiting for other teams like the Diamondbacks and Braves that are still on the fence. Hoyer is under immense pressure to make the most of this team by adding at the deadline, and the pitching market is always the most active. Ultimately, the fact that he's showing a willingness to act quicker than usual is a good sign, especially with teams like the Dodgers already eyeing Alcantara as their big deadline prize. He may need to take risks to keep the Cubs rolling through the trade deadline and beyond.