The Chicago Cubs are stacked with talent this season.
They made a number of offseason moves aimed at improving their roster, and so far, those decisions are paying off in a big way.
One of the biggest acquisitions was Kyle Tucker, who was brought in from the Houston Astros in a deal that sent Cam Smith and Isaac Paredes the other way. Tucker has been outstanding under manager Craig Counsell, though the departures of Smith and Paredes are still being felt.
The Cubs currently sit atop the National League Central, and unless the St. Louis Cardinals continue their recent surge, Chicago doesn’t appear to face much serious competition in the division.
With that in mind, the Cubs are expected to be aggressive buyers at the trade deadline. They’ll likely target upgrades at several key positions as they attempt to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL pennant.
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Who Might the Cubs Trade to Land a Big Name?
The Cubs are expected to be highly active on the trade market. Starting pitching is their biggest need—an area that was already thin entering the season and has become more dire following Justin Steele’s season-ending injury.
Names like Sandy Alcántara and Luis Castillo have been floated as potential targets. Both come with longer-term contracts and have shown flashes of brilliance. However, they’re not short-term rentals like someone such as Erick Fedde.
To pull off a blockbuster deal, the Cubs would have to part with some of their top prospects. So, who might be on the trade block?
OF Kevin Alcántara
The Cubs don’t have a surplus of high-end minor league talent they’re willing to trade. Prospects like Matt Shaw and Cade Horton are reportedly untouchable, making Kevin Alcántara a likely trade chip.
With players like Pete Crow-Armstrong already in the majors and plans to potentially sign Tucker long-term, Alcántara may be expendable. Currently, he’s hitting .237/.324/.397 for their Triple-A team. He’s seen as a longer-term project, but he could be the centerpiece in a major deal.
2B/OF James Triantos
Another intriguing prospect is James Triantos, a versatile player who could be big-league ready—just not in Chicago.
He’s currently slashing .250/.304/.313 over 33 Triple-A games. While his power numbers are down this year, he showed much more pop last season with an OPS nearing .800. Known for his defensive versatility and speed, Triantos doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in Chicago, making him a logical piece in a trade.
