The Cubs were reported by The Athletic this morning to not anticipate buying at the deadline. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer essentially confirmed this in a chat with reporters just before tonight’s matchup with the Brewers.
Hoyer mentioned that the front office will focus on the future at the deadline. He stated, “Where we are right now, I would have to say that moves only for 2024 – unless things change over the next week – we probably won’t do a lot of moves that only help us for this year,” Chicago’s baseball ops leader said. “If moves help us for 2025 and beyond I think we’re exceptionally well positioned.”
Hoyer hinted that the situation could change this week, but made it clear how he expects to handle the deadline. He openly discussed the team’s “poor position” for this season. “We simply dug a hole with underperformance for two months. That doesn’t affect how I view the organization or how I view things going forward but it certainly affects 2024,” Hoyer said.
The Cubs are not pursuing impending free agents. Hoyer did not categorize Chicago’s approach as buying or selling. This leaves the possibility of acquiring MLB talent under team control beyond this season. While not common, it is not unprecedented for teams to acquire controllable players at the deadline despite being out of contention.
Chicago’s strong farm system gives Hoyer and his team leverage to make deals for controllable players of note. The Cubs may end up moving a few short-term veterans instead of pursuing a complete teardown, as Hoyer stated that it’s not an option. Core pieces under contract or team control beyond this season are unlikely to be dealt.
The Cubs have few rentals to offer, with Kyle Hendricks, Drew Smyly, and Jorge López being the notable ones. Hendricks and Smyly have their respective challenges in attracting interest due to performance and contract situations.
If the Cubs look to prioritize 2025, they could consider offers on role players controllable beyond this season. Interest has been shown in various players on the Cubs roster, indicating potential trade opportunities.
The Cubs should be open to offers on bullpen players like Neris, Leiter, and Miller. Each player has their own strengths and weaknesses, with potential trade interest depending on the offers received.
While the Cubs are not entirely out of the Wild Card race, they are behind in the standings. The front office believes they are a long shot to make the postseason and will consider reshaping the roster with an eye on the 2025 campaign.
