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

[Tryptamine]

I doubt the Padres are moving Morejon, so who else is out there to make a 2nd splash in the bullpen?

[squally1313]

2 minutes ago, tartan22 said:

one thing it seems like they've earned some goodwill on is having a good eye for which prospects it's OK to give up on

devils advocate: the main prospect that was just used to get tarik skubal says otherwise

[Tryptamine]

Just now, squally1313 said:

devils advocate: the main prospect that was just used to get tarik skubal says otherwise

They got a top 5 to top 10 1B in baseball. I'm not going to give Jed guff about trading Hope.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

I doubt the Padres are moving Morejon, so who else is out there to make a 2nd splash in the bullpen?

I don't see it.  At some point, there just isn't room left on the roster for more pitchers.

[muntjack]

Holmes just doesn't give up HRs, which is wonderful.

He will make about 10 starts for the Cubs if everything goes perfectly,  which is not enough to justify a top-50 ish prospect.  

I was willing to part with anyone for the younger guys with team control ala Detmers or Gore. 

The Cubs did not pick up anyone who will be a favorite in a game 1 or a game 2 with LA, Milwaukee or Philly.  

I'm not upset, and I'm glad Jed is trying something.  I just don't love it. 

[Jason Ross]

I'll be the first to  tell you Rojas for Holmes/Taylor is steep, and I probably wouldn't have done it, but the Cubs didn't treat Rojas like a top-50 prospect in the same deadline they clung to Owen Ayers. Internally they did what you'd hope; they picked their guy and they traded who wasn't. Stand on business. 

The Cubs haven't gotten fleeced under Hoyer. They didn't get fleeced when they traded Christopher Morel. They didn't get fleeced when they traded Cam Smith (so far). They didn't get fleeced with Ferris and Hope for Busch. Maybe this is the time they get fleeced; it happens. But based on history, the team has known when to sell on a guy, and when not to. And at worst, when they've traded a prospect who was good, they got good back.

 

[tartan22]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

devils advocate: the main prospect that was just used to get tarik skubal says otherwise

i thought about caveating that for this reason but. one guy who hit (and not even at the ML level yet) is still a really good rate, and that's more of a "gave something legit to get something legit" situation rather than a "we're comfortable dumping this guy for a short-term asset" situation

[squally1313]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

I doubt the Padres are moving Morejon, so who else is out there to make a 2nd splash in the bullpen?

I think that plan is probably internal reinforcements at this point. Even baking in pitching attrition, you've got Holmes/Gausman/Boyd/Shota/Cabrera as your rotation in the next week or two, then there's the tier of Rea/Assad/Peterson, then there's Brown and Steele and Palencia ramping up. 

[Dfan25]

I probably would have given up Adyers for 2 years of Detmers instead of Rojas for 2 months of Holmes . Assuming the Angels didn’t want a top prospect as well as the 2nd piece .  I am saying this if in fact the Cubs back away because of Adyers ( We don’t know that )

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I doubt the Padres are moving Morejon, so who else is out there to make a 2nd splash in the bullpen?

Cabrera has been squeezed out. Brown is on the fence. Those 2 would provide a big power boost to that corps.

[mul21]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

devils advocate: the main prospect that was just used to get tarik skubal says otherwise

A lot of people would say that the Tigers got an underwhelming return and that Hope isn't that good but has a decent amount of Dodger prospect helium.  And they also have a starting 1B from that deal, which was previously a black hole of production.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I fine with moving Rojas in this deal.  Was it an overpayment? Probably but I don't care. Holmes/Taylor improves the 2026 Cubs and that is what matters to me. And if the Cubs are good at development, they can developed another Jefferson Rojas. 

[Dfan25]

I  am pretty sure they are done . Very active deadline and they didn’t wait until the last minute ! Hated to lose Rojas however 

[JBears79]

Just now, NorthsideAvenger said:

I fine with moving Rojas in this deal.  Was it an overpayment? Probably but I don't care. Holmes/Taylor improves the 2026 Cubs and that is what matters to me. And if the Cubs are good at development, they can developed another Jefferson Rojas. 

Fernando Cruz, your table is ready.

[Tryptamine]

A little surprised that Kepley didn't go. I figured of all the prospect they have that he was the most likely one out the door.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Dfan25 said:

I  am pretty sure they are done . Very active deadline and they didn’t wait until the last minute ! Hated to lose Rojas however 

My guess too. I had four names: 2 SP, 1 BP and 1 bat as my guess and they got all of those things. I suspect we are mostly done. 

IF they do anything else, I think it's small stuff where they shuffle a few prospects who they have to protect in the winter but aren't planning on it.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Dfan25 said:

Zeferjahn strikes people out but he also walks a lot of people  . They need to get another proven reliever or Holmes . If this is it I am underwhelmed 

It does worry that Zeferjahn has walked a lot of guys in the minors too.  But I guess Mo has some warts too. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Just now, NorthsideAvenger said:

I fine with moving Rojas in this deal.  Was it an overpayment? Probably but I don't care. Holmes/Taylor improves the 2026 Cubs and that is what matters to me. And if the Cubs are good at development, they can developed another Jefferson Rojas. 

Yeah this is kind of where I’m landing, is it a good value trade? No, almost certainly not. Would I rather have Detmers for Ayers/Kepley +? 100%. But boy am I glad that 60% of starts will no longer be going to Assad, Rea, and Peterson.

[Radar3454]

5 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I think that plan is probably internal reinforcements at this point. Even baking in pitching attrition, you've got Holmes/Gausman/Boyd/Shota/Cabrera as your rotation in the next week or two, then there's the tier of Rea/Assad/Peterson, then there's Brown and Steele and Palencia ramping up. 

Shelby Miller possibly in the bullpen as well - Milner 2

Edited 1 hour ago by Radar3454

[JunkyardWalrus]

Does this feel like enough to compete with Milwaukee and/or LA in a series to anyone?

[Dfan25]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

My guess too. I had four names: 2 SP, 1 BP and 1 bat as my guess and they got all of those things. I suspect we are mostly done. 

IF they do anything else, I think it's small stuff where they shuffle a few prospects who they have to protect in the winter but aren't planning on it.

Would like to move Rea if possible 

[Hortonhearsawho]

Unless they get some reliever like Kittredge cheaply it seems like they are done and I can't really complain about the haul. Just gotta hope that they play good baseball from here on out and make it worth the prospect capital that they spent. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, JunkyardWalrus said:

Does this feel like enough to compete with Milwaukee and/or LA in a series to anyone?

Brewers, absolutely. Dodgers, that was always going to be up to luck regardless of what happened at this deadline.

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Thank goodness someone says this. We aren't going to care about Jefferson in 3 months and there will be another Jefferson to take his place. The farm system is there to supplement the big league team. Just let Jed cook.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Braxton really isn't getting the love he should. 

Agree, solid piece.