Countdown to MLB Trade Deadline: What to Expect

The MLB trade deadline is just four days away, set for 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, July 30. As teams look to make moves, there’s excitement in the air.

As of now, two trades have already been made. The Marlins traded reliever A.J. Puk to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a couple of minor leaguers. Meanwhile, the Rays sent Randy Arozarena over to the Mariners for some prospects and a player to be named later.

Interestingly, a year ago, the Arozarena trade would have made headlines, but his performance this season hasn’t been stellar, although he’s shown signs of improvement lately.

In the next few days, fans will hear a flurry of trade rumors. However, it’s important to take them with a grain of salt—many are simply speculative or planted by those seeking attention.

The Cubs are in a unique position this year, with Jed Hoyer indicating a reluctance to add any rental players. With the team sitting 5½ games behind the last wild-card spot, it seems wise to consider focusing on the future.

This brings up the question of which players could be traded away. In my opinion, the Cubs shouldn’t part ways with Jameson Taillon or Nico Hoerner. They may not be superstars, but they can certainly contribute to the team’s success.

Instead, I think the Cubs might look to deal some of their relief pitchers, such as Hector Neris, Drew Smyly, and Mark Leiter Jr. These players have some trade value and could be replaced by key relievers coming off rehab assignments, like Caleb Kilian, Adbert Alzolay, and Keegan Thompson.

This article is meant to spark conversation about potential trades as we approach the deadline. I anticipate the Cubs will make a minor trade or two, but nothing major.