Cubs rumors: 3 trade deadline deals to make, 2 to avoid

The Cubs have found themselves in a tough spot, not sure whether to sell or buy at the deadline. Which deals should they make and which should they avoid?

The Cubs are in one of the toughest spots in the MLB this year. Before the season started, they weren’t projected by many to finish too high in the NL Central. They weren’t likely able to pitch with the Brewers or hit with the Cardinals. But after half the season, the Cubs are right in the mix of things. In fact, FanGraphs gives them a 15 percent chance to make the playoffs.

The odds aren’t great, but they are enough to consider keeping some of their rental players in order to make a push for the division, rather than blowing their roster up and selling at the deadline. Which players should they keep, which should they trade, and what do they need to make a playoff push?

The Cubs should reunite with Aroldis Chapman from the Royals

It is almost certain that the Royals are going to empty their major league roster at the deadline. Nobody on their trade block will be sought after as hard as their flame throwing lefty, Aroldis Chapman. Any Cubs fan can remember the days of Chapman firing fastballs in their World Series season.

Chapman was incredible as a Cub. He was able to throw over 26 innings allowing just three earned runs in that half-season. A reunion may make perfect sense for the Cubs, especially if they could work on an extension with the reliever. That may only be a one-year extension, but it would be at a friendly price tag, and it could fit for the team making a push this year or next. They are still within range of competing for the NL Central.

Chapman is back to his old self this year, with the velocity and strikeouts have moved back to his All-Star days. With him looking like a shutdown reliever again, Chapman could be the perfect 8th inning guy for the Cubs in order to bridge it to their closer, Adbert Alzolay. This 1-2 combo to close out games could be tremendous at Wrigley Field.