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

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.

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.