Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team still determining direction at the Trade Deadline

The Chicago Cubs enter play on Friday with a six-game winning streak and winners of 8 of their last 10 games overall.

The Cubs' play over this stretch of games has started to push the team into the "buyer" conversation as the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline approaches and rightfully so as the team is doing exactly what the front office was asking for.

Over the course of the past month, when asked, both Cubs' president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins have stated that the team must first make up ground on their path to the .500 mark and within the National League Central division.

The Cubs are now at the .500 mark on the season and 5.5 games out of first place in the National League Central division. Not to mention, the Cubs are only 4 games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League.

Despite the team accomplishing the goals that the front office set, the Cubs have yet to pick a lane in regard to the MLB Trade Deadline. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the team will wait until the "eleventh hour" to make a decision.

It would seem that the Cubs' weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals will be the determining factor. The question becomes, what is the outcome that the front office will need to see?

Do the Cubs have to take two of the final three games against the Cardinals this weekend and the team will buy? What if the Cubs drop two of three and ultimately split the series?

Chances are we are past the point where the Cubs would be exclusive sellers at the trade deadline. The decision now for the Cubs may be do they stand pat or thread the needle between selling and buying in an effort to remain in contention this season. Regardless, decision time is nearing for Hoyer and company.

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