Rafael Devers trade fallout leaves Cubs with huge Jed Hoyer question

The Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants may have secretly called Jed Hoyer's bluff. Of course, the Red Sox dealing Rafael Devers to the Giants on Sunday was a loud reminder to expect the unexpected when it comes to Major League teams ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. As it stands, there likely won't be another trade that is as jaw-dropping as the Devers trade, but it's a move that will have an aftershock for teams like the Chicago Cubs.

First and foremost, teams are ready to make deals. Reports are that the Giants and Red Sox were working their way through the Devers trade for the last three weeks. That would seem to be a direct contradiction to what Hoyer has said about the trade market.

“It’s really early and we talk about trades this early, but the truth is that all these things happen between the draft and the deadline, so we have to continue to play well,” Hoyer told reporters last week. “That’s the most important thing. The position-playing group has been fantastic in all areas. Hopefully that continues.”

The truth of the 2025 season is that these trades are happening now. Sure, Devers was the first domino to fall ahead of the Trade Deadline, but chances are, it could create a flurry of early activity.

Cubs front office quietly enters spotlight in Rafael Devers trade chaos

In the wake of Devers being traded, ESPN's Buster Olney listed the front offices that are under the most pressure ahead of the deadline. It's not a surprise that the Cubs were mentioned. In talking about the Cubs, Olney caps it with a question from rival executives on whether Hoyer will have the green light to spare no expense at the deadline.

To answer that question, the green light certainly better be there. Two things to remember from the end of the offseason, the Cubs entered the 2025 season approximately $30MM below where they ended the 2024 season in terms of luxury tax payroll, and in not matching the Red Sox's offer for Bregman, the messaging was that the Cubs would have flexibility at the deadline. We're at the point, money shouldn't be a question.

Along those lines, Devers now being in the National League changes the calculus of how aggressive the Cubs need to be at the deadline. The Wild-Card isn't a certainty, and winning the division remains the best path toward making the postseason. Just as the Giants were aggressive and got their target, Hoyer needs to be aggressive and land his target.

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