5 Cubs players who won't survive the trade deadline

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This is it. The Chicago Cubs, if nothing else, control their own fate. On the heels of a thrashing on Sunday against the Red Sox, the club has two series spanning seven games left on this home stand. Play well, and potentially avoid selling again. Play poorly or tread water and get ready for another trade deadline filled with saying 'goodbye' on the North Side.

Only a handful of guys would be safe in such a scenario: Miguel Amaya, Nico Hoerner, Justin Steele, Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ. Others, like outfielder Seiya Suzuki, probably aren't going anywhere, but it's not because the Cubs wouldn't be willing to listen to offers.

So let's just do this thing. Here are 5 guys whose days calling Wrigleyville home could be numbered.

5 Cubs who won't survive the trade deadline - #5: Marcus Stroman

Let's get the most obvious one out of the way first. With multiple teams, including the Astros, Rays and Jays interested in Marcus Stroman, it doesn't look like Jed Hoyer will struggle to find interest in the veteran right-hander.

Stroman twirled a gem in his latest start this weekend and leads all MLB starters in quality starts. His passion, energy and love of the game contributes to a value that far exceeds what you see in the box score every five days. Despite repeating his desire to stay with Chicago, the two sides aren't engaged in extension talks and, barring a lengthy winning streak this week, the All-Star is likely ticketed for another change of scenery.

5 Cubs who won't survive the trade deadline - #4: Michael Fulmer

Man, if you'd have told me Michael Fulmer would wind up having trade value early on in the year, I'd have called you crazy. The team's unofficial closer to open the 2023 season has rebounded nicely and teams could come calling looking for bullpen depth ahead of Aug. 1.

Now, a trade of Fulmer likely isn't going to net anything head-spinning in return. Still, he's been on a decent run lately, with a 2.35 ERA and .178 opponent batting average allowed since May 20. On a one-year deal that's affordable for small and large market clubs alike, Chicago could move the right-hander and allow the youth movement to commence down the stretch.

Early on in the year, I - along with plenty of other folks - criticized the front office for this signing. After all, it didn't make near the impression previous pickups of this nature did: Ryan Tepera, David Robertson, Andrew Chafin - they all anchored the bullpen early in the year. Fulmer didn't do that: he got off to a rocky start, before settling in. Now, the Cubs should flip him and see what they can get for the future.

5 Cubs who won't survive the trade deadline - #3: Patrick Wisdom

Patrick Wisdom has had a nice little run with the Cubs - but the time has come to pull the plug. He has one multi-hit game since the end of April, slashing a horrendous .142/.246/.311 with a 49% strikeout rate. The early season power surge aside, it's been a brutal showing for Wisdom and it should cost him his job.

There's always a team out there in need of power at the deadline (the Brewers and Guardians, two teams with postseason hopes, rank in the bottom third of the league in slugging percentage this year, just as examples. Although we all know he'd hit .450 against the Cubs for the next three years just for good measure if he wound up in Milwaukee).

Wisdom is more than capable of changing the game with one swing. The problem is the cure is the disease itself. He swings and misses a ton, ranking in the bottom 11% in whiff rate while also grading out poorly defensively. Maybe there's a place for him somewhere, but it's not in the future of the Chicago Cubs.

5 Cubs who won't survive the trade deadline - #2: Cody Bellinger

If only we knew of a team looking for a dynamic offensive talent to build around long-term... well, since none come to mind, the Cubs might as well trade Cody Bellinger, who's in the midst of a major bounceback campaign in his first year with the team.

Since coming back from a knee injury, Bellinger has been on a tear - even hitting three home runs in two days over the weekend - and is up to .301/.358/.524 on the season. He's only topped his OPS twice in his career: when he won NL Rookie of the Year and then when he won National League MVP.

Capable of playing center or first, as well as DH and a potent left-handed bat, Bellinger is going to have teams lining up around the block for his services ahead of Aug. 1. Numerous clubs have already reportedly expressed interest in the two-time All-Star and Gold Glover. And that list will only grow longer as the deadline nears.

For all of you who are upset about the Cubs not talking about an extension with Stroman, you should be even more upset Hoyer isn't trying to work something out with Bellinger because he's going to be the biggest offensive commodity on the market this winter not named Shohei Ohtani.

5 Cubs who won't survive the trade deadline - #1: Mark Leiter Jr.

Mark Leiter Jr. is a nice story. Makes you feel good about the world. Comes from a baseball family and a former 22nd-rounder, the right-hander got his first crack at the big leagues since 2018 in 2022 with the Cubs and he hasn't squandered the opportunity.

Since the start of the 2022 campaign, Leiter Jr. has amassed 103 1/3 innings of work, pitching to a 3.84 ERA and nearly identical 3.88 FIP, with 126 strikeouts to just 37 walks. He's been one of the bright spots in the Cubs bullpen all season long, really standing alone early in the year out there when it was going to pieces but, at 32 years old, Chicago would be smart to sell high.

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Now this list is by no means all-encompassing. Hoyer could get drastic, trading the last man standing from 2016 in Kyle Hendricks - or even moving off one of his veteran catchers to give Amaya more innings in the second half. Drew Smyly is a prime trade candidate, too. Long story short: if the Cubs are selling, there's the potential for major roster turnover for the third straight summer.

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