Chicago Cubs Rumors: National narrative still has the team selling at the deadline

The Chicago Cubs embarrassed the St. Louis Cardinals on multiple fronts last night as the team defeated their National League Central rivals 10-3.

The Cubs are now at the .500 mark on the season for the first time since May and the team is 5.5 games out of first place in the National League Central division. While still early, it's worth noting the Cubs are only 4 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

The Cubs have won 8 of their last 10 games and it would seem that the team is inching closer toward being buyers at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline on August 1.

With their victory over the Cardinals on Thursday night, the Cubs have gone on the run that Jed Hoyer and the team's front office were hoping for. That would be why the latest report from Jon Heyman of The New York Post should be taken with a grain of salt as it was before the team's victory on Thursday night.

1. Cubs: Teams are still expecting them to sell despite their recent hot streak, and they have two great trade pieces — Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger.

It would seem for the Cubs that one more victory over the Cardinals over the course of the next three games would solidify the team's position as buyers at the deadline.

There still will be a mystery surrounding Marcus Stroman. Stroman has struggled over the course of his last six starts with an ERA of 8.00 and one scenario could see the Cubs trade Stroman while adding pitching and another bat to the lineup.

As for Bellinger, it would seem highly unlikely that the Cubs move their center fielder. Bellinger has been large part of the Cubs' recent success and there is a clear need by the team to have the former MVP return for the long-term.

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