Latest Chicago Cubs trade rumor would take a wrecking ball to current core

The trade market figures to be where the Chicago Cubs are going to do their heavy lifting this offseason.

One week removed from the GM Meetings, the sentiment remains that the Cubs' biggest move of the offseason will likely be a trade. Of note, Cubs' outfield prospect Owen Caissie was a popular name mentioned at the GM Meetings last week.

The Cubs moving Caissie became more plausible after Cody Bellinger exercised his player option for the 2025 season. Bellinger's return to the Cubs' roster at a $27.5MM price tag seems to have handcuffed what the team can do to the position-player side of their roster. That's why many thought Jed Hoyer was hoping for Bellinger to elect free agency instead of returning to the Cubs.

Hoyer may still get his wish.

In previewing the trade market of the offseason, ESPN's Jeff Passan had a passing mention of Bellinger.

Another Cub available: Cody Bellinger, who opted into a $27.5 million salary for 2025.

"Another Cub available" was how Passan introduced the idea that Bellinger could be moved this offseason. That reads as if Passan has heard that the Cubs will indeed be shopping Bellinger this offseason. Along those lines, the first Cub mentioned by Passan in terms of being a trade candidate was Nico Hoerner.

For Passan's style of reporting, he is not often one to speculate. That is why Passan's coverage of baseball's offseason is among some of the best content of the winter. All this to say that if Passan is listing Hoerner and Bellinger as trade candidates, there likely is some smoke to that fire.

In terms of moving Hoerner, Passan mentioned that the Cubs may target starting pitching. Between Matt Shaw and Cam Smith, the Cubs have the prospects to withstand Hoerner being dealt but it would need to be a trade that dramatically improves the Major League roster.

A trade of Bellinger would need to fall in the same category, though, the Cubs may also be willing to find a taker for the $27.5MM he is owed this season. However, clearing that money shouldn't be the incentive for the Cubs in a trade of Bellinger.