Da Windy City
Fansided

5 Players Chicago Cubs Need to Target at the Trade Deadline

The Cubs offense has been abysmal since May 1 and the relief pitching is starting to break down early in the year. Several key trades could bolster the lineup and the closing role to switch into win mode.

By Larry Goldman

It is hard to believe Kyle Finnegan will not be an All-Star this year. The Cubs could use an All-Star in the 9th inning.
It is hard to believe Kyle Finnegan will not be an All-Star this year. The Cubs could use an All-Star in the 9th inning. / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

The Chicago Cubs find themselves in so many worlds of hurt that it is hard not to give up on the season. As of June 19, the Cubs find themselves in last place in the NL Central. According to MLB.com, they are 26th in team batting average, 20th in home runs, and 24th in slugging. With runners in scoring position, especially in May and June, the Cubs are close to dead-last, only in front of teams like the Oakland A's and Chicago White Sox.

The Cubs do not have a hitter batting over .275 (RF Seiya Suzuki is batting .271) or an OPS over .800 (Suzuki is at .793 and LF Ian Happ is at .745). In the lineup on June 18, the Cubs had four hitters batting below .200 - 3B Christopher Morel, CF Pete Crow Armstrong, C Miguel Amaya, and C Yan Gomes.

But it isn't like the Cubs front office to give up. Last season, the Cubs were not in last place, but were not in a good position either and were buyers at the trade deadline and almost made the playoffs. The 2024 roster was built to avoid a photo finish, but they sure aren't making it easy on themselves.

Standings-wise, this situation is not as dire as it may seem. There is really only one win separating the Cubs, Pirates, Reds, and Cardinals. Milwaukee has an 8.5-game lead over the Cubs for first place. The Cubs will try to rectify the situation.

On the trade market, they need to target a few hitters. Several potential trade candidates look extremely inviting, both contract and performance-wise. On paper, it feels like the Cubs are a powerhouse at the plate. Who would you really want to swap out? But it is really hard to call anyone a powerhouse right now. Here are a few options.

Home/Chicago Cubs