Jed Hoyer just completed the most aggressive Cubs trade deadline in a decade

The Chicago Cubs front office delivered big time at this year's trade deadline. With the team holding the first Wild Card spot with a chance to still catch the Milwaukee Brewers, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer put his foot on the gas to bolster his roster. The result is the most aggressive Cubs trade deadline in the last decade.

The only deadline that comes close is 2016, when the team sent a significant package of players to the New York Yankees to land closer Aroldis Chapman. It was one of the boldest moves in Cubs history, as the front office shipped their No. 1 prospect (Gleyber Torres), MLB pitcher Adam Warren and two outfield prospects to land the Cuban flamethrower.

It was an expensive move, but it solidified the team's World Series campaign and gave the Cubs an ace for the ninth inning. Although the move defined former Theo Epstein's gunslinging tenure in Chicago, his longtime deputy may have just outdid him.

Jed Hoyer finally cooked, giving the Cubs exactly what they needed

With his team in need of reinforcements, Hoyer went out and landed two of the best starting pitchers on the market. Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes will instantly transform Chicago's rotation into a playoff-caliber group. Both men have the talent to spearhead the Cubs' playoff rotation come October, giving them the competitive edge they need to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Hoyer also landed a bullpen weapon from the Angels in Ryan Zeferjahn. The right-hander's 97 MPH fastball and elite 33.6 percent strikeout rate give Craig Counsell a reliable high-leverage arm to group with Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia for the late innings. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor will also give the bench more depth, with the 32-year-old providing great speed, defense and offense against left-handed pitching.

It was a great haul. And the best part is, Hoyer accomplished all of this without gutting his roster or farm system. Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez were heavily rumored to be attractive trade chips this year, but both are still with the Cubs. Top prospects like outfielder Josiah Hartshorn (No. 1), catcher Owen Ayers (No. 3) and pitcher Jaxon Wiggins (No. 6), who all figure to be key pieces of the team's future, also stayed put.

It stings to see talented young players like Jefferson Rojas (No. 2) and Moises Ballesteros leave, but that's the cost of doing business. And Hoyer clearly understands that his team has a great chance to do some damage in the playoffs this year.

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