Cubs rumors: Two trade targets identified as transition to buyer becomes real

The Chicago Cubs have officially become buyers rather than sellers in the MLB trade market, and their first two targets have become clear.

The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak and are creeping up the NL Central standings. With the wins has come every reason for the front office to believe that the roster they trusted they built for wins in the offseason has finally clicked.

As such, the Cubs — who at one point looked like near-locks as sellers for the MLB trade deadline — are transitioning to become buyers, or at the very least, stand pat.

They indicated as much when they took Cody Bellinger off the trade market, perhaps one of the most marketable bats available at one point.

So, now that the Cubs are potential buyers, who are they looking to acquire? Targets have started to reveal themselves in the latest MLB rumors.

Cubs already eyeing two potential trade targets

According to Mike Rodriguez, the Cubs are showing interest in David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Jeimer Candelario of the Washington Nationals.

Bednar, a reliever, is putting up a 1.30 ERA and 2.11 FIP this season with a rock-solid 1.032 WHIP. He’s accrued 21 saves, already two more than his career high of 19 achieved in 2022.

Candelario is a first- and third-baseman slashing .258/.341/.482 this season with an OPS+ of 127. He’s racked up 30 doubles, the Cubs leading double-bagger is Ian Happ with 21. Candelario would have the third-best OPS+ on the Cuibs behind Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel.

Candelario could slot in at first or third to give Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom off days. Mancini’s bat has been extremely cold, so there’s a chance an addition of such a player would relegate Mancini to more regular bench duty.

That said, Candelario has only started 60 career games at first base, and he hasn’t played the position since 2019. Adding him to the roster creates some tricky fit conversations, though the team would love to have his bat.