Ranking 3 Cubs who could be realistically be moved ahead of the trade deadline

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Maybe the Chicago Cubs come off a series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks and somehow sweep the first-place Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field this week to swing the pendulum back toward buying, rather than selling, at this year's MLB trade deadline.

But I'm not holding my breath. The same issues that have plagued the Cubs offense were on center stage all weekend long and it's hard to keep expecting things to change when this group has failed to make the necessary adjustments for months.

So here we are, once again pondering what selling might look like. Here are 3 guys who've already been mentioned in Cubs trade rumors and could be on the move in the next week or so.

3: Tyson Miller could surely draw interest at the trade deadline

Since coming over from Seattle in mid-May, right-hander Tyson Miller has been one of the Cubs' most effective relievers, bringing much-needed stability to the mix for manager Craig Counsell.

The right-hander has made 21 appearances, working to an impressive 1.59 ERA and 0.662 WHIP. He's outperformed his FIP, but he's been able to keep runs off the board - and that's the name of the game. Set to turn 29 later this month, Miller isn't even arbitration-eligible until 2027, offering extreme cost control for years to come.

You can make the case that makes him a perfect long-term fit to stick around in Chicago given how cost-conscious the front office and ownership is. But if you can find a taker willing to part with impact talent or a prospect package with real upside, it's hard to not listen on a guy like this - especially given the amount of young arms ready to make their mark at the big league level who are knocking on the door.

2: Nico Hoerner has been connected to the Mariners in early rumors

Last spring, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner both agreed to contract extensions that run through the 2026 season. Happ focused on a no-trade clause when hammering out the details, and while we haven't heard much on Hoerner's front, he also has the same no-trade protection.

That, in and of itself, makes moving either guy much more challenging, but probably not impossible if the fit is with a legitimate contender. The problem in Hoerner's case is the only team that's been linked to him in rumors is the Mariners, who just coughed up their lead in the AL West to a surging Houston Astros ballclub.

Hoerner is a Gold Glove defender with elite bat-to-ball skills capable of playing either short or second. He's due $11.5 million both this year and next and an even $12 million in 2026. Given the Cubs view the lowest CBT threshold as a semi-hard salary cap, that's a decent chunk of change to move off the moves - but it'll take big league-ready talent coming back to get a deal done.

1: If Cubs want to shed payroll, Jameson Taillon needs to be moved

Since about this time last year, Jameson Taillon has been as reliable as they come - and his numbers in 2024 have already drawn the attention of both the Red Sox and Yankees.

He's made 16 starts for Chicago this season, posting a 3.10 ERA/3.81 FIP across 93 innings of work. The good news is that FIP is almost identical to his career mark of 3.92, suggesting this is far from a fluke and is sustainable moving forward. That element - long-term sustainability - will be of particular interest to suitors, given Taillon is in year two of the four-year deal he signed with the Cubs heading into 2023.

The veteran and former first-rounder is making $18 million this year, and in both 2025 and 2026. Shedding those dollars makes a ton of sense if you're Jed Hoyer and you want to free up some salary heading into the offseason, especially considering you already have several internal options who project to be long-term answers in the rotation, including Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks and Cade Horton.

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