Chicago Cubs Rumors: MLB Insider provides insight into potential sell-off

After a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, the Chicago Cubs enter the weekend with a record of 31-37 on the season but have improved their standing in the National League Central as the team is only 3.5 games out of first place.

The fact remains that this week's performance against the Pirates this week was the exception and not the norm for their season. The Cubs benefited from timely hitting and a bullpen that was able to thrive in high-leverage situations. That is what the Cubs will need over the course of the next month if the team is going to prevent a sell-off for a third consecutive season at the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

The rumors are circulating about potential trades that the Cubs could make if they deem themselves sellers and the market is shaping to where the team could benefit from selling multiple pieces at the deadline. To that end, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic provides more insight into what the Cubs will do at the deadline if they fall out of contention.

"Before sweeping the Pirates, the team had produced only one three-game winning streak and one four-game winning streak, both in the first 2 1/2 weeks of the season, the second requiring a sweep of the A’s. If the Cubs determine their best chance for long-term success is to sell, they’ll sell — and Bellinger, Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks all could go."

- Ken Rosenthal via The Athletic

Cubs fans may not want to hear this but the best course that the Cubs could take at the deadline may be to sell. Outside of the pipe dream scenario of the Cubs acquiring Shohei Ohtani at the deadline, which is not happening for a multitude of reasons, there is no player that the team can acquire at the deadline that will make them a legitimate World Series contender this season.

Therefore, the best course for the Cubs, if they choose a lane for the deadline, would be to sell. And when we say sell, Cubs fans have the prevailing thought that trading someone with the stature will be equivalent to the Cubs trade of Yu Darvish. That will not be the case. If the Cubs do make the decision to move Stroman, it will be for pieces that can help in the immediate to short-term future and that could fall in line with their belief that 2024 is when their contention window will open.

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