Latest Cubs breakthrough could put a star on the trade block

The emergence of a Chicago Cubs player could have them thinking about opportunities to trade a star who has rebuilt his name.

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Cubs might be on their way to the top of the NL Central. That’s not to say that, even if they make it there, they’ll be very long for the top spot. This division has been all over the place this year and welcomed multiple teams to the division lead for extended periods of time.

Each team in the division has held the lead for at least two consecutive days. But only the Pirates and Brewers have held it for 10 total days or more.

Pittsburgh conceded the lead back to Milwaukee after the Cubs swept Pittsburgh last week at Wrigley Field. The Reds appear on the up and likely to take the lead next, especially with Joey Votto back in the fold. But perhaps the Cubs will be on their way there soon, too?

Chicago is 7-3 in its last 10. There’s reason for optimism, but at one point the Cardinals had a similarly positive run of games, yet ended up falling back behind and now sit last in the standings.

So, Chicago is at a crossroads. It needs to decide how much it believes in itself and to what degree it will be a buyer or seller at the trade deadline, which is coming quickly. Or, if it will merely stand pat.

The way one scenario is trending, though, the Cubs could possibly trade a star who has been re-emerging on the Northside all season.

Cody Bellinger shaping up to be a logical trade piece

Mike Tauchman has been a great add for the Cubs this season. He has a .767 OPS and the team’s best on-base percentage. Of players that have played 25 games or more this season, Tauchman has the fourth-best OPS+ on the team at 112. Over the last nine games, he’s racked up eight hits (including a home run and two doubles) and four RBI, good for an OPS of .929.

When you consider why he was brought on the team in the first place, it’s not hard to draw the line to trade opportunities. Tauchman was called up when Cody Bellinger went to the injured list. Bellinger has since come back to the active roster, but Tauchman remains, as Chicago opted to send infielder Matt Mervis down as the corresponding move.

That in itself doesn’t indicate a trade or that the team is necessarily more confident in Tauchman than Mervis. Though his bat has been more consistent, the Cubs needed to clear space in the infield for Bellinger to play first base because he’s still not able to sprint at full speed.

But Bellinger does stand out as one of the best pieces Chicago could dangle in trade talks.

Bellinger’s stock tanked to an all-time low with the Dodgers last year. The former MVP had fallen off a cliff in terms of production with a 44 OPS+ in 2021 and an 80 in 2022.

This year, though, he’s back up to 115 with the Cubs. He’s been everything Chicago hoped when they signed him to a one-year prove-it deal.

And therein lies the reasoning for considering trading him. Teams would love the opportunity to add a hot bat to their lineup, one that could DH, play the outfield, or first base. Typically, competitive teams love to add expiring contracts as well because it’s essentially a rental on their payroll that they won’t have to commit to in future years. Current Cub Trey Mancini was just that for the Houston Astros last summer.

With Tauchman earning his spot in the outfield and giving the Cubs confidence to bring Bellinger back up as early as possible in an infield role, there’s reason to believe Bellinger could be moved, given his contract.

Certainly, Bellinger could even be added to a deal with Marcus Stroman, their clear and away best trade asset, to sweeten things if Chicago wants to squeeze out additional prospects at the deadline.

It still wouldn’t be a shock to see Chicago hold with Bellinger, but there’s a case to be made for him to be dangled in the trade market now that the Cubs have backfilled his primary position.