3 Cubs players who aren't as safe as they think with the trade deadline approaching

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We've done our due diligence on the obvious Chicago Cubs trade candidates, a list largely comprised of veteran relievers like Hector Neris and Drew Smyly. But Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins are surely having conversations about many other players with less than one week to go until the MLB trade deadline, including some that probably aren't top-of-mind for most fans.

Hoyer has made it clear this isn't a rebuild or a fresh start. This team needs to contend in 2025 because, frankly, his job depends on it. If he thinks outside the box in these final days leading up to July 30, these three players could be on the move.

3: Christopher Morel is drawing at least some interest, despite struggles

The future for Christopher Morel is murky right now. He had the chance to cement himself as the Cubs' long-term answer at third base this spring, but struggled immensely with the glove and his performance at the plate hasn't done him any favors, either.

That hasn't kept interested suitors from calling Hoyer on Morel, though. After all, he's still just 25 years old and is one year removed from a 119 OPS+ season when he played just about every defensive position on the diamond. If the Cubs get the right offer, it wouldn't be overly surprising to see them move Morel given his struggles and lack of clear-cut role moving forwrard.

Three-quarters of the infield are spoken for in Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson. Third base remains a huge question mark, but Morel hasn't shown he can be an answer. The outfield is even more crowded than the infield, leaving Morel as primarily a DH for Chicago.

He's got the tools and the upside. But it's now unclear if he'll put it all together in a Cubs uniform or if he has more value as a trade chip for the front office.

2: Trading Kyle Hendricks might be more feasible than you think

When sorting out who should make this list, Kyle Hendricks wasn't a name that came to mind for me. But given his immense postseason track record and a vastly improved 3.46 ERA since June 1, it might not be impossible like it was back in May.

The veteran right-hander has played a key role for the Cubs as the team weathers injuries to two key pitchers in Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. He's slotted back into the rotation and aside from a June 30 clunker on the road in Milwaukee, has been vintage Hendricks, allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts.

This year, Hendricks attained full 10-and-5 rights, meaning he can now veto any trade. After a decade in Chicago, one wonders if he'd be open to being moved or if he'd prefer to at least finish out the 2024 season campaign with the Cubs.

If he is open to at least entertaining the idea, though, there are a lot of teams out there looking for rotation depth and few options that can match his track record, despite the recent struggles. World Series champion. MLB ERA title. Proven October presence. He's still relatively young and a recent return to form could be just enough to pique the interest of executives around the league.

(And let's not forget, the White Sox managed to trade Lance Lynn last year, despite a 6.47 ERA and leading the league in home runs allowed, so never say never).

1: Don't count out a Javier Assad trade before the July 30 deadline

Jameson Taillon only made Jed Hoyer's job easier with his latest start, a 7 1/3-inning effort against the first-place Brewers in which he allowed just one earned run on four hits. That lowered his ERA on the year to 2.96, which would rank sixth in the National League had he not missed time to open the year, leaving him short of the innings threshold.

The Red Sox and Yankees have been connected to the right-hander, but his market should stretch well beyond just those two longtime AL East foes. For Chicago, moving him offers the chance to unload the $18 million salary he's due in both 2025 and 2026, freeing up much-needed cash to hopefully add some firepower to this roster come winter.

But if the Cubs can't find a taker on those dollars, offering up Assad, a young, cost-controlled arm who has regularly given his team a chance to win, could be a unique approach to the deadline. On the year, he's got a 3.15 ERA in 18 starts, a mark 31 percent better than league average. He isn't even arbitration-eligible until 2026, making him both affordable and controllable for years to come.

Given the organization's pitching depth, which includes Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks and top pitching prospect Cade Horton, losing either of these guys shouldn't be a disaster looking to 2025 and beyond. Taillon makes a ton of sense if the Cubs are focused on unloading that contract, but Assad could fetch a solid return in his own right, as well.

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