Cubs: Jed Hoyer brutally honest about potential trade deadline mass exodus

The Chicago Cubs have to face reality and listen to offers at the MLB trade deadline, according to team president Jed Hoyer.

Cubs team president Jed Hoyer was talking about being a buyer at the trade deadline just a couple of weeks ago. Now, his tune has changed.

Chicago was closing in on a playoff run. Then they fell off a cliff, tumbling down the standings amidst an 11-game losing streak that has completely changed the complexion of their season.

“Life comes at you fast,” Hoyer told reporters on Thursday, per ESPN. “Eleven games changes a lot of things.”

MLB trade deadline: Cubs president Jed Hoyer is brutally honest about a mass exodus

The Cubs finally broke their slump on Wednesday with a much-needed win over the Phillies. The damage has already been done to their hopes of strengthening for a final ride with their current core.

“When you’re in this moment and your playoff odds get into single digits, at this time of the year, you have to keep one eye on the future,” Hoyer said. “You would be irresponsible not to take those phone calls and think through them.”

Those calls could involve a handful of players who were key to the team’s World Series success in 2016. However, many of the veterans who pushed that run are heading for free agency at the end of the season, including Javy Baez, Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel and Anthony Rizzo.

If Chicago isn’t in a position to chase a postseason run, those players are more valuable as trade assets than anything else this year.

Realistically, a rebuild is inevitable. Admitting that now is the time to start could be key to future success for the franchise, even if it will be painful to let a handful of team legends go.

Other teams will certainly be circling like sharks hoping to bite off a piece.