Chicago Cubs Rumors: Blake Snell interest does not align with MLB Trade Deadline goal

The Chicago Cubs decision to trade Christopher Morel and two pitching prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes seems to have created confusion.

One of the prevailing thoughts on the morning after the trade is that the Cubs are now "buyers" ahead of the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, not aligning with the comments that Jed Hoyer made last week.

One week ago today, Hoyer ruled out adding players at the deadline where the intent focus was to contend this season. That is very important to keep in mind. Paredes has an additional three seasons of control beyond this season and so no, the move the Cubs made on Sunday is not a dramatic shift from what Hoyer said. In fact, it is the very move that Hoyer said the Cubs were looking to make.

One move that would be directly against Hoyer's goal for the deadline is acquiring Blake Snell from the San Francisco Giants.

The Cubs' rumored interest in Blake Snell does not appear to be adding up.

Snell has a $38.5MM player option for the 2025 season but the belief is that the former Cy-Young award winner will be opting out of his two-year deal with the Giants at the end of the season barring an injury during the final two months.

This would not be a move that Hoyer could defend in terms of being made for the 2025 season. Even if the argument was that the Cubs would quickly sign Snell to an extension, he is represented by Scott Boras.

Instead, this has the smell of the Giants trying to use the Cubs' perceptions as "buyers" against the teams that are actually involved in the Snell sweepstakes. The idea of the Cubs being involved would undoubtedly increase the Giants' leverage in trade talks with teams actually looking to acquire Snell.