3 teams that will come calling for Chicago Cubs' starting pitching

We are now less than just 10 days from the MLB trade deadline, and the Chicago Cubs have not picked up where they left off before the All-Star break. All signs point to selling, at least somewhat, meaning Jed Hoyer and Co. will have some serious decisions to make. It will be hard to move Cody Bellinger, given the current IL-stint for a fractured finger, along with the 30.0M player option that the team can't control the outcome of. However, if they do move some players that have the value needed to fetch a notable prospect, it will be from their starting rotation.

We've heard the Justin Steele rumors, and frankly, I'd be appalled with the front office if they moved on from their ace. It's much more realistic that it will be Javier Assad or Jameson Taillon if they make a sell-off move. Taillon has been great for a calendar year now, and Assad has outperformed everything he was expected to do for multiple years now. That being said, here are three teams that will come calling the Cubs' front office regarding their starting pitching.

3 teams that will come calling - 3. New York Mets

The New York Mets have risen above .500 and will certainly be in the mix of adding at the trade deadline. Things are complicated for the Mets, seeing that they're 12.5 games back in the NL East, but are also tied for the third Wild Card spot. Therefore, the Mets' front office will have a hard time deciding how aggressive they should be.

The Mets have their ace, Kodai Senga, coming back, which adds reason for optimism in itself. Given that the Mets' starting rotation is currently 10th in the National League, adding another quality starter to the rotation theoretically would help massively and could be enough to secure a postseason berth this season.

Ultimately, if the Cubs do move on from one of their starters to further strengthen the farm, I don't foresee it being with the Mets. They will check in, but it's more plausible that another team with much higher playoff odds will outbid them. With the multiple years of control for those aforementioned players, such as Assad or Taillon, Jed Hoyer is going to want a reputable prospect that can contribute to the major league roster as soon as next season. Think of the Michael Busch trade all over again.

Assad makes the most sense from a cost standpoint. The Mets likely don't want to add Taillon's17.0M annually for the next two seasons if they can avoid it, and Assad's pre-arbitration status is highly desirable. Their system is one that is just starting to bear its fruit, and it's unlikely they will scrap it apart too quickly for nothing more than a potential Wild Card spot.