Latest MLB Trade Deadline prediction has the Cubs as sellers

With each passing day, it's looking less and less likely that the Chicago Cubs will be reaching the postseason in 2024.

Even after the Cubs' 5-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep, the North Siders enter Friday with an 11.3% chance of making the postseason. If the Cubs were to make the postseason, it would almost certainly have to be as a Wild Card team, as they only have a 3.6% chance of getting back into the conversation for the National League Central race.

For all the talk that there has been over the course of the past month that the Cubs can't be sellers at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline next month, that is their only option. The Cubs are not a good baseball team and considering the amount of teams that they would need to leapfrog in the Wild Card race, there is no value in buying at the deadline.

Sure, standing pat may be what the Cubs ultimately decide to do, but even that would be a mistake. Something needs to be salvaged from a season that has otherwise been a failure. That is why Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggested that most teams view the Cubs as sellers ahead of the deadline.

Selling may be the best option for the Cubs at the MLB Trade Deadline

Given the contract statuses of the players such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Jameson Taillon, it's not an ideal situation for the Cubs to be in but there could be some wiggle room if the team is willing to include some financial relief in such a deal. Cody Bellinger could be an attractive trade candidate, however, the team acquiring Bellinger would need to be comfortable with the increasing likelihood that he will be picking up his $27.5MM player option for the 2025 season.

It's an uncomfortable position for the Cubs to be in but this is the one that is in front of them after the season came off the rails during the first half of the 2024 season.