The most valuable chips on the Chicago Cubs roster right now might not be the stars you see every night. Instead, the front office is facing a hard truth: to get the help needed for a playoff push, they must trade away their own future. This is the reality of the trade deadline.
Teams looking for help will ask about young players who aren’t even 25 yet. According to MLB, the Cubs organization recognizes that securing impact players frequently demands trading away young talent. It’s a painful math problem. You can keep the kids, or you can try to win this year. You can’t do both easily.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell put it bluntly recently. “It’s kind of [a] risk for the organization in terms of the future and now,” he said. He noted that players and fans don’t like talking about the future. But Jed Hoyer has a job to do. He must balance the now with what comes next. For background, see PCA’s 109 mph blast not enough for Cubs in St. Louis.
The First-Round Trade Bait
Matt Shaw is the name that will come up first. The 24-year-old infielder spent last season as the team’s third baseman. He is currently on the injured list with a left hand sprain. That doesn’t stop other teams from calling.
Shaw is no longer a prospect. He was the 2023 first-rounder and is under control through 2031. He has no fixed home right now for the North Siders. Teams needing a bat for second or third base will ask about him. He is ready to play today, which makes him very expensive in trade talks. TJ Edwards Must Be Cut After 2026 to Save Chicago Cap covers the wider picture.
Then there is Pedro RamÃrez. He is only 22 and has been used at multiple positions while Shaw rests. The switch-hitter has strong skills with the bat and the glove. He hit .319 with a .832 OPS through 38 games this year. That number shows he can handle big league pitching.
Before his late May promotion, RamÃrez demonstrated a significant surge in power within the Minors. His promotion was so good he graduated from the top prospect lists. A team looking for a versatile player will want his name. He fits the mold of a utility guy who can hit.
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Moisés Ballesteros is the system’s top catcher, but his numbers have lagged. The 22-year-old was the No. 1 prospect on the Top 100 list to start this year. Functioning as a designated hitter and part-time catcher, he secured a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Struggles in May and June sent him back to Triple-A Iowa. He has made strides on defense and still has strong offensive upside. This makes him a tricky trade chip. Some teams see the potential. Others see the recent failure.
Kevin Alcántara is another name in the mix. He came from the Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo trade back at the 2021 Deadline. He is an outfielder with a lot of raw tools. Teams will ask about him too.
The clock is ticking down to Monday’s 5 p.m. CT buzzer. The Cubs want to add talent for the final two-month sprint. They already moved for Kevin Gausman on Sunday night. That deal cost them something. The next deals will cost more.
Fans want to see the team win. But the price is high. The front office has to decide if the risk is worth it. The answer will be clear by Monday evening.
