The Chicago Cubs are in an intriguing situation in the midst of the season. Do they become buyers at the trade deadline, or will they sell? Common sense predicts that they will sell by the deadline. However, it is unclear whether the team will offload some of its assets in order to restock for the following season.
Starter Justin Steele is the Cubs’ most valuable asset in the lineup. Steele, who has been terrific all season, has been mentioned in numerous trade rumours as the July 30 deadline approaches. Many teams are interested in acquiring the new All-Star starter. According to The Athletic, the Cubs are determined not to trade Justin Steele.
“The Cubs have at least one intriguing player in Steele, but there is little reason to believe he will be traded. Steele, like Garrett Crochet, the Chicago White Sox’s trade target, is an All-Star lefty who made his major-league debut in the bullpen and has multiple years of arbitration remaining, according to the report.
“Again, the Cubs would set such a high price that there is no anticipation that Steele will be moved. The Cubs have not approached him about a long-term contract extension, although that option may be considered this winter. He’s a player to build around as a homegrown pitcher who leads by example for teammates, collaborates well with the coaching staff, and interacts with the fans,” the report said.
It makes sense for the Cubs to retain Steele. He is a cost-controlled asset that they can keep for the foreseeable future at a reasonable price. Building around Steele would not be a bad idea for this squad going future. If a team offers a king’s ransom for the lefty, Chicago would be unwise to refuse it.
Chicago Cubs’ dismal season
After nearly making the playoffs last season, the Cubs have regressed significantly in 2024. The squad has failed to gain traction in the NL Central, which is rather weak. They are five games below.500 at the season’s de facto midpoint. It’s been a difficult season for Chicago.
At the very least, the pitching has been quite consistent. Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele constitute one of the league’s best starting pitcher duos. The Cubs’ tandem made the All-Star Game this season, demonstrating their talent. However, the rest of the team has struggled to help them. This season, the hitting has been particularly poor.
Even if the Cubs do not trade Steele, this season is almost certainly over. With the fight for the NL Wild Card as competitive as it is, the Cubs will have a difficult time securing the final three positions. They are also 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top seed in the National League Central. Still, having an elite starter like Steele should give them some hope for the upcoming season.
Hopefully, they can find some hitting.
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