MLB Trade Rumors: 5 blockbuster deals Cubs should consider before deadline

The Chicago Cubs are one of the best surprises in the National League but do they need to make a blockbuster trade or two to stay in the wild card race?

For the last few years the Chicago Cubs have been among the bigger sellers in baseball when it came to trades. Team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer flipped short-term assets for long-term assets as they attempted to build the franchise from the ground up.

An emphasis on stocking a farm system that was devoid of impact talent was their primary goal and stockpiling young bats and arms that were under team control at team-friendly contracts were a stroke of genius considering the team is competing for a wild card berth.

First-year manager Joe Maddon has the team on the cusp of competing for the playoffs for the foreseeable future with an infield with two young All-Stars in first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro and two of the best young talents in baseball in third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Addison Russell. He has an improving starting rotation led by Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks and a bullpen stocked with power arms but the roster is far from complete.

The Cubs will be buyers at this year’s deadline and could make a splash similar to the one they made in 2003 when former general manager acquired Aramis Ramirez and Randall Simon that helped get the team to the NLCS.

Armed with one of the game’s best farm systems and money to spend, the Cubs will be in the middle of trade discussions for the top available talent, so let’s take a look at five blockbuster trades Epstein, Hoyer and the Cubs should consider before the July 31 deadline.

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