At MLB Trade Deadline, Cubs Poise to Strike But Don't Get Chance to Pounce

[Matthew Trueblood]

The Cubs explored some big moves in the runup to the 2024 MLB trade deadline, but no second major transaction came to fruition. Still, they used this week to make a major pivot and upgrade their present and medium-term future.

Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The late-developing theme, as the trade deadline passed Tuesday evening, was a lot of teams shrinking from prices they perceived as too high for controllable players who might have changed hands, and a few last-second price drops on the part of semi-desperate sellers. The Cubs were concertedly non-desperate, so they stood pat for the afternoon, after cashing in Mark Leiter Jr. for two low-ceiling prospects who will need to be placed on the 40-man roster this fall to stay in the organization.

Other, much splashier moves briefly flared up into the realm of possibility, but the Cubs and their would-be trade partners couldn't match up, partially because of the similarity of the timelines on which they each want to win. Thus, the team held on not only to Jameson Taillon, Nico Hoerner, and their other high-priced stars, bur also to their small battery of theoretically desirable relievers. The team is still under the competitive-balance tax threshold in projected 2024 payroll, and they still have all the players who looked like potentially key contributors to their 2025 roster.

We can start to pencil players into various roles for that season, now, but it can wait for an evening. Tuesday night saw Ethan Roberts activated in the stead of Leiter, while Isaac Paredes made his team debut and Miles Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Though it was (for some fans) a reluctant turn, the attention shifted from the tantalizing rumor mill to the real business and pleasure of the game. Justin Steele, who never came close to being traded as things turned out, took the mound to continue establishing himself as an ace. The team doesn't enjoy a high-stakes or exciting present, but their future looks brighter, thanks to the trade for Paredes. The pitching staff will see some new faces and some protracted trials for players still getting their feet wet in the majors over the final two months, and the team can try some of the things that didn't come together Tuesday again in the offseason. Until then, the game gets the spotlight back, and as fun as rumors can be, it's a bit of a relief to have them out of the way for a while.

Specifically, the Cubs tried to trade for a controllable hitter who would have added an impact bat at a key position, not just in 2024 but well beyond. The cost turned out to be prohibitive, though, so that vital but very difficult task will again be the front office's top priority this fall. It should be slightly easier then, because they should have a few more options. The areas of opportunity at this deadline were mostly for teams ready to act as decisive sellers of players who will be free agents this winter. The Cubs weren't in such a situation, and elected not to push the issue by forcing a move involving Hoerner or Taillon. Each of those guys will have trade value this winter, too, if they elect to pursue it. They didn't feel they were getting offers that reflected the value of their medium-term team control, so they moved on to big swings that didn't quite connect. Hopefully, the rest of the season puts them in position not to need such a moonshot in the offseason, or at the next trade deadline.

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