Chicago Cubs Rumors: Trade targets on team’s radar

We check in on some of the latest rumored trade targets for the Chicago Cubs.

As we speak, the Chicago Cubs are just 1.5 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central division lead. This year’s pennant race looks to be one of the closest in recent memory, too, as the Milwaukee Brewers are just 2.0 games back and even the Pittsburgh Pirates (7.5 games back) and Cincinnati Reds (8.0 games back) are not considered out of it.

Thus far this season, the Cubs have struggled to find an identity. It’s looked like the same story from the past two years at times, with the team unable to string together run support for strong pitching performances. Some moments, there have been flashes of the 2016 crew. Other times, though, you wonder where the magic went.

A lot of criticism has been pinned on manager Joe Maddon and the man in charge, Theo Epstein. Maddon has played around with his lineups, per usual, which have resulted in a lot of confusion and fans wondering just what his plan has been all along. Epstein, meanwhile, has been criticized for how he’s handled the Addison Russell situation. It’s clear Russell needs to go, but will Epstein pony up and make a move?

Speaking of making moves, the Cubs would shock nobody if they made a trade before the July 31 deadline. Most would guess they are going to look at either another bat to slot into the order, or another bullpen arm — or both.

The Cubs certainly have their issues, but one or two moves made could be the difference in another World Series run. Who are the latest names on the radar for the Cubs? There are a few which have been mentioned in reports recently. Let’s dive into each of those just a bit.