MLB rumors: Brave tenor ahead of deadline, Cubs deals, when trades will happen
By Josh Wilson
Two massive stars probably just got pulled off the trade market
I found myself on Friday night enjoying a board game at Guthrie’s Tavern on Addison as the Cubs were wrapping up their electric victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. A massive roar went out from the patrons when Mike Tauchman snagged a near home run to end the game.
Chicago residents know what I’m getting at here. Cubs baseball is back, and there’s excitement in the air all throughout Chicagoland to prove it.
There is lots of reporting to indicate the front office feels the same way and has seen enough to convince itself that selling, once viewed as a no-brainer for the Cubs, is not the way forward. Chicago is good enough that the best path forward is actually looking like standing pat. No buying, no selling. Just seeing what the magic of this roster has left in store.
Jon Greenberg was convinced as well, penning a column in The Athletic suggesting as much on Friday titled, “Why I think the Cubs aren’t selling at the trade deadline anymore” (subscription required).
Jon Heyman also reported the Cubs are rethinking things, which is almost certain to pull two massive trade pieces off the market.
The Cubs understandably are said to be rethinking their earlier inclination to sell thanks to a 6-game winning streak that has lifted them to .500 and 4 out for the Wild Card. That could remove two key pieces — Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman — from the trade market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 29, 2023
Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman are two of the best pieces available leaguewide. If the Cubs are firm on holding onto what they have, that makes an already limited market even smaller.
For Cubs fans, it’s exciting. It lengthens the possibility of re-signing Marcus Stroman in the offseason, and perhaps even Bellinger, too. Bellinger is a straight-up free agent, and Stroman can enter the open market with a player opt-out which he’s likely to exercise.