Just two short weeks ago, on July 17th, the Chicago Cubs had a 6% chance of making the playoffs (via FanGraphs), and found themselves with a record 43-50 after losing to the Washington Nationals.

Fast forward to July 30th and the Cubs now find themselves sitting at 53-52 and rattling off a streak of 8 consecutive wins in the process. They are now given a 31.5% chance of making the playoffs, and sit 4 games back in the NL Central, and 3.5 back in the NL wild card race.

Cubs fans can now rejoice, as sources told ESPN on Sunday morning that the Cubs have pulled former NL MVP Cody Bellinger’s name from any potential trade talks. In just half a season with the team, Bellinger has captured the hearts of Cubs fans and in the month of July has returned to his MVP form slashing .406/.439/.698 with 8 HRs and an OPS of 1.137 while playing gold glove defense in both CF and 1B, two positions the Cubs severely lacked in 2022.

What about Stro?

While we can say with certainty that Bellinger will not be moved at this years deadline, we cannot say the same for teammate Marcus Stroman.

Stroman signed a 3 year deal with the Cubs in 2022 that included an opt out after 2023, which Stroman is likely to exercise, making him a free agent after this season.

In the case of Bellinger, if the Cubs are unable to work out an extension, they can place a qualifying offer on him, and receive draft compensation in the event that he signs elsewhere. In 2021, Stroman accepted the qualifying offer from the Mets, which means that the Cubs are unable to place one on him in the offseason, running the risk of getting nothing in return for him if a deal can’t be reached between the two sides.

Stroman boasted an impressive 2.28 ERA prior to his start in London on June 25th, and was slated to receive the honor of starting the all-star game for the NL.

Unfortunately, Stroman would be forced to leave that game early with a blister, and since that start he has struggled, posting an 8.00 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 6 starts (27 innings), leading many to speculate that said blister injury has effected the way he is throwing.

It seems that the Cubs are likely to keep Stroman. While he was likely due for some regression after his stellar start to the season, Stro has always been a master at getting soft contact on the ground, and is the perfect fit for a team featuring the best defensive middle infield in baseball with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.

If the Cubs aren’t blown away with a trade package, they will keep Stroman and be counting on him to get back on track down the stretch and help get the team back to the playoffs and win their first playoff game since 2017.

What Are the options?

The Cubs farm system is currently valued as the third best in baseball with Pete Crow-Armstrong headlining, and they may have the most depth in their system, giving them plenty of pieces to play with if they so choose. With Jason Heyward still being paid $22 million, the Cubs currently sit around $10 million under the luxury tax, meaning there is some room to play with if they choose.

Playing meaningful games late into the season is important, and with the weak NL Central, the Cubs have a real possibility to sneak into the playoffs. While they are likely a year or two away from being real contenders, they should still look to add a few young, team controlled players who can be contributors for many years to come, or a cheap veteran player who can be more productive than the current veteran players taking up roster spots. They are likely to target bullpen help, and/or corner infielders.

Possible Targets?

The Cubs have been linked to Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Candelario was actually a member of the 2016 World Series team, taking 14 ABs for the big league club and he received a ring. Jeimer can play both first and third, and provides consistent offense that the Cubs have lacked from Patrick Wisdom, Trey Mancini, and Miles Mastrobuoni.

Mets utility man Mark Canha could also be a cheaper option, and is likely available with the Mets selling big time. While he wouldn’t be the sexy acquisition, he would be a massive step up from Mancini.

Rumblings out of Seattle say that Ty France could possibly be available. He is a former all star who is having a down year, who has 2 more years of team control. He could benefit from a change of scenery. Another option for the Cubs would be to promote from within, and give Matt Mervis another stint in the big leagues.

From the bullpen side of things, the Cubs have frequently done business with the cross-town White Sox and have been linked to Aaron Bummer. Brent Suter or Brad Hand could also be options from the Rockies. All three arms would give the Cubs lefty help in the pen, which they’ve lacked.

Perhaps the most exciting rumor is the Cubs being interested in Pirates closer David Bednar. Bednar has three years of team control, and paired with Adbert Alzolay at the back of the bullpen would create a nasty combination to finish off a game. However the Pirates trading their star closer with three years of team control doesn’t make sense, especially to a division rival.

Pulling off a trade would likely mean the Cubs including some of their top prospects such as Kevin Alcantara, Cade Horton, Jordan Wicks, or Alexander Canario to name a few. Names that Cubs fans would likely grimace at the idea of trading.

The Cubs have plenty of AAA players, or MLB ready players who likely lack a path to the big league team. Players such as Yonathan Perlaza, Nelson Velazquez find themselves in a crowed OF system and could be pieces included in a trade.

The deadline is August 1st, at 6pm EST.

What should the Cubs do for the 2023 trade deadline? Leave a comment down below , or let us know on Twitter @WeLikeSportzPC what you think!

– Zachary Lory

Follow me on Twitter for more @Swervin32_

*Photo courtesy of ClutchPoints