3 Chicago Cubs who won’t survive the trade deadline and why

Will the Chicago Cubs be buyers or sellers? That much isn’t so clear, as Jed Hoyer suggested the team isn’t a position to trade away young assets.

While the Cubs won on Wednesday night, they remain four games under the .500 mark. Should they not dramatically improve before the deadline, it’ll be tough to justify being buyers to the front office.

Yes, the NL Central is one of the worst divisions in baseball. David Ross admitted as much just a few short days ago:

“Thank goodness for the s—-y play of everybody in the division,” Ross said.

That’s all fine and good, but when Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins decide upon their trade deadline plans, longevity will be key. Making the postseason in a bad division and all but ensuring a first-round exit isn’t a good business strategy, especially when it involves trading top prospects away.

“It’s a real factor in every season, right? Whether you’re looking for reinforcements, whether it’s a year where you’re selling, every team has it. You want to act with conviction when you get there — either direction. Like I’ve said all along, I want nothing more than to be on the (buy) side of the transaction,” Hoyer said, per The Athletic.

The alternative to buying is to trade off assets on an expiring contract, and refurbishing the farm system in return. But is that feasible in Chicago?

Cubs who won’t survive the trade deadline: Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman has a player option after this season, and if he continues to pitch at this rate, he’ll exercise that and become a free agent. Stroman is arguably having the best year of his career, or at the very least dating back to his rookie campaign in Toronto. Signed to a three-year, $71 million deal currently, he can assuredly receive more money on the free-agent market this winter.

FanSided’s Kevin Henry made the argument that Stroman could be a good fit on several contenders, specifically the Rays, Blue Jays or even Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona, with one of the better farm systems in the majors, could be an attractive trade destination from the Cubs perspective as well:

"“Somewhat surprising contenders although many of us saw this coming, the Diamondbacks are one of the few teams in baseball right now with a desperate need for a starting pitcher. It doesn’t even have to be of Stroman’s caliber. Beyond Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, there isn’t much in the rotation. Stroman is the kind of piece they should look to acquire as long as the Cubs play fairly and acknowledge he might be just a rental.”"

Trading Stroman does come with some risk in Chicago. First, the rotation is far from a strength as is, despite the play of Justin Steele. If they trade a player like Stroman, the Cubs better have a backup plan this winter.