Chicago Cubs Rumors: Buying at the MLB Trade Deadline no longer an option

The Chicago Cubs losing two of their three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks this past weekend was a reminder that despite the team winning five of their last 7 games before the All-Star break, the construction of the roster remains very much flawed.

That is why despite initial reports that the Cubs were undecided with the direction they were going to take at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline on July 30, it seemed clear that this team is trending toward being sellers.

More confirmation of that likelihood was given by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (Subscription Required). On Monday, Mooney cited sources in his reporting that the Cubs have ruled out buying at the deadline.

With a losing record and so many teams in front of them in the National League, theChicago Cubs don’t foresee a scenario in which they become buyers at the July 30 trade deadline, according to sources familiar with the team’s plans. That comes with an acknowledgment that the Cubs don’t have great pieces to sell, though they do have an expectation to contend in 2025, leaving them stuck in the middle.

Many Cubs fans get word of the Cubs being sellers and immediately think of 2021 as the blueprint for how Jed Hoyer this season. That won't be the case as the Cubs are going to be entering the 2025 season with the expectation of contending. More importantly, 2025 is the final year of Hoyer's current contract with the Cubs, so he wouldn't be afforded the benefit of a complete teardown.

In terms of selling, the biggest piece that the Cubs will and should move is veteran starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. The Cubs can move Taillon for pieces that should be ready for the Major League roster and still be in a position to contend next season.