Jed Hoyer makes it crystal clear when the next Cubs trade may take place

Jed Hoyer stepped out of his comfort zone last week when the Chicago Cubs made an urgent trade with the New York Mets. The Cubs have a clear need for starting pitching, David Peterson is an intriguing upside play, and in order to push the deal across the finish line, Hoyer parted with an ascending prospect in Cole Mathis.

Cubs have grown used to Hoyer mentioning that June is often too early to consider trades as a crutch for the team's needs. There's a reliance on internal depth, but that was the problem facing the Cubs. Between injuries and regression (Jordan Wicks), the Cubs had run out of depth options.

It's why the Cubs' trade for Peterson likely won't open the door to more deals in the near future. Hoyer spoke with reporters late last week, and suggested that most deals of consequence likely won't happen until closer to the deadline.

“Realistically, are there gonna be trades in July? Of course there will be, but I think we have to assume that we’re going to be mostly focused internally,” Hoyer cautioned. “We’ll talk to every team, we’ll explore things, but realistically, I would imagine, given how teams are clumped together, it’s going to be pretty late toward Aug. 3.”

Will the Cubs' internal depth bridge them to the MLB trade deadline?

The Cubs actually made two depth additions within the past week. Peterson is clearly going to fill in the rotation, and likely will remain there until the end of the season. But, the Cubs also claimed Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. It stands to reason that Wilson, as a starter or bulk option in the bullpen, will be part of the equation of how the Cubs bridge the gap.

There certainly is path available to the Cubs navigating through this stretch, but it's narrow. If there's another injury between now and the All-Star break, that feels like the one that will truly end any remaining hope for this season.

Even then, there's no telling what version of Jameson Taillon the Cubs will be getting back. It's also not clear if either Ben Brown or Edward Cabrera will have resumed their throwing programs by then.

If nothing else, Hoyer is setting the stage for what will likely be a deadline that is a means to an end for the Cubs. It's hard to envision there being a big-ticket addition to the Cubs' pitching staff this season, but adding an established veteran or two could plug the gaps enough to get the team to October.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow