August 3, 2026 Trade Deadline Rumors/Gossip/Speculation Thread

[ILMindState]

 

[ILMindState]

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

We've cleared out basically none of the logjam of the blocked position players, unless for some reason the Angels reliever that wasn't in the top 80 guys listed costs way more than I thought. 

Yeah this dam has to break. We can't hold onto these guys into the winter. 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

We've cleared out basically none of the logjam of the blocked position players, unless for some reason the Angels reliever that wasn't in the top 80 guys listed costs way more than I thought. 

Ballesteros.

They wanted a top-50 prospect from an NL-East team FWIW.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Right now I'm whelmed to underwhelmed. One more good sized move is need for it to me a homerun for me.

Right now if nothing else happens it is a decent TDL. Good starting pitcher to pitch a playoff game and a solid pen arm. Better than last year. And maybe a piece for the rotation next year. But they need more done to call it a good TDL. Either Holmes or one of the ranger pitchers. Or make Detmers happen. Figure it out.

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

 

Good for Mo! They just opened a spot for him. 

[squally1313]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

As an asset, Alcantara has been misused about as much as possible. Guy has to have very minimal value at this point.

I doubt there's anything worthwhile to get back in return, but was thinking in the last couple days that he'd be a good fit for the Rockies with their giant outfield. And then they went and traded Brenton Doyle, so they could use an outfielder. Senzatela maybe?

[Dfan25]

Ballesteros ?

[Bertz]

Just now, ILMindState said:

 

Holy horsefeathers

Z's really good but also Mo's value is clearly down more than I expected

[Stratos]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Interested to see what Zeferjahn costs. With 4 years of control beyond this year, it has to be a fairly notable piece. 

Maybe.  Still a pen guy though, so cost shouldn't be crazy, and not at the top of other teams' lists right now.

Jed doing the buy-low thing with relievers as usual.  Has he ever just went and bought a good closer-type?  I don't think so.  He's never been the guy to go out and grab a Hoffman or Morejon and pay the going rate.

[muntjack]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

 

Oh my.  I like Zeferjahn but that is an overpay in my opinion. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, ILMindState said:

 

Pricy, but the Cubs must be as down on Ballesteros as I am. He got hard exposed in the major this year.

[mk49]

1 minute ago, ILMindState said:

 

Does this mean most likely, we're keeping Ayers, and we're not getting Detmers?

It's kinda sad to see Mo no longer a Cub.

[BKHoo]

Mo Baller?!

Say it isn’t true. 

[17 Seconds]

feeling like another disheartening tdl

[Dfan25]

Man.  IDK about this one 

[Brian707]

15 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Cerami sticking to his guns for now

 

 

This dude has never been wrong or jumped the gun before.

 

Please be right sweet prince

[Funky-daddy]

Mo has been awful in AAA so I don’t mind moving him. McGwire hurts more imo

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

Pricy, but the Cubs must be as down on Ballesteros as I am. He got hard exposed in the major this year.

You can read the tea leafs. The Cubs have refused to move Ayers and even when they might have, they were in on young backstops to fill that. 

[Hortonhearsawho]

Seems like a lot for a middle reliever.  That's their catcher though so definitely no Detmer trade happening now. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

This is probably good for Ballesteros, but it still feels like a high price to pay for a middle reliever type.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

You can read the tea leafs. The Cubs have refused to move Ayers and even when they might have, they were in on young backstops to fill that. 

Between moving Ballesteros and the mention of Kelly being potentially available, the Cubs are clearly very high on Ayers.

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

Wow goodbye mo balla.  Will root him on

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

This is probably good for Ballesteros, but it still feels like a high price to pay for a middle reliever type.

I think that's an underestimation of his potential.

[squally1313]

Jumping to conclusions, but the Cubs pulling out of a Detmers trade because of Owen Ayers would be absolutely infuriating. Again, hypothetically.